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Past Time Bears - Artist bears designed and handcrafted by Sue Ann Holcomb
Shelli Makes - Teddy bears & other cheerful things by Shelli Quinn

lovenshire Love and Cuddle Nursery
Missouri
Posts: 945
Website

I have a problem...I love the new bent legs and arms on my latest teddy however, they take up so much room on the mohair!  On a fat quarter of mohair I get everything except one leg...A one legged teddy???  I really can't afford to put 1/2 yard into each bear and like to keep them to 1/4.  With the straight legs there is no problem but I love the way she sits with her bent legs.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I have run out of ideas!

teeeej Brisbane
Posts: 623

It sounds like you bear is a little bit big for that piece of mohair. You could try decreasing the size of your bear or maybe you could buy a smaller piece of mohair just for the leg - 1/8 or 1/6th??

When you lay your pieces on the fabric do you put them really close together or do you have big gaps in between?

lovenshire Love and Cuddle Nursery
Missouri
Posts: 945
Website

Oh boy, no gaps!  I am a seamstress and I can see where I could get so much more out of the fabric if I could turn some of the pieces upside down...drives me nuts but the nap or fur runs in one direction!  I have thought of making the pattern a bit smaller...that is the only solution that makes sense...I just hat to because I love her size but I also don't want to buy so much mohair at such prices!  If I have to buy 1/2 yard pieces I am going to make her a tad bigger...

Clarebear Fulrfun Bears
Alice Springs
Posts: 503

One bent and one straight?

teeeej Brisbane
Posts: 623

If its a matter of a single leg just buy yourself a smaller piece. That way it won't cost so much.

suejennings TeddyBuys
Kent
Posts: 1,154
Website

Reducing the size of your pattern slightly would be my choice.  I have an 'all in one printer'.  It prints, photocopies, faxes, scans etc.  It wasn't very expensive and is a godsend.  It is very easy and quick to reduce or increase the size of a pattern and photocopy it.  If you have included a seam allowance in your pattern, be aware it will increase or decrease the allowance as well.  The printer really gets rid of that ' oh, I haven't got quite enough mohair to make that bear' frustration.  My printer has really reduced the number of remnants I end up with as I am able to make best use of what I have.

Regards

Sue

lovenshire Love and Cuddle Nursery
Missouri
Posts: 945
Website

Yes Sue, I have one too and I am going to have to use it for this pattern...
The only thing I came up with was perhaps making the legs two pieces...slashed at the knee area.  I was hoping someone would suggest this with success at doing it but alas no one has.  I may try it with some cheaper material!

2catkiss LALand Bears
Oregon
Posts: 448

bear_grin I was going to say how about making your pattern two pieces for the leg, so you can lay them out straight. Be sure to add seam allowance on both.....
But, I can't tell you I have had any success with it.....have never tried....

Take Care
Lee Ann  :rose:

Additional thought - are you using short nap mohair?...or a sparse mohair?....This "knee" seam will be more visible....with shorter fur....

Clarebear Fulrfun Bears
Alice Springs
Posts: 503

I have tried it (by accident)!  ((That's a whole other story)) it does work but better with a thicker, longer mohair and no matter what it will always be felt (the extra seam)!  I did the top and bottom of the legs seperately.

karenaus Melbourne
Posts: 694
Website

How many bears are you going to make with this pattern? If it's more than one, you might find you can fit two bears onto a half a yard, even tho you can't fit one onto a quarter. Sometimes it works, if you don't mind having two of the same bear  in the same fabric it might be worth a try.

lovenshire Love and Cuddle Nursery
Missouri
Posts: 945
Website

Hum...I never thought of that!  I will take a 1/2 yard piece of something I have and see what fits on it...good idea!

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