Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I think this is the cutest idea! I'd love to host, although I'm not sure if there's anything very exciting where I live. I'm sure I'll think of something!

Oh...the suspense...

Goodness, Estelle! It's a wonderful idea, of course! And you are so kind and generous to even think of doing something like that!

I don't see it either. I didn't notice either, til you mentioned. Wonder how long it's been gone or moved or lost???

Lucky, indeed! He is just too cute with his little snowman!

Aww...little Rusty lives in Australia now. I was pretty proud of him. He was the first of my bears to travel internationally.

Yes, I've thought of the silk embroidery thread too. I think they would probably makes very nices hats or little crocheted flower embellishments.

So, exactly, how many bears do you have lying around waiting to be put together?    I'd love to see some pics!

Yes, they will stretch. Some will stretch more than others depending on the thread or yarn. Last night I squeezed a bear I had completed a while back. I was surprised that it wasn't as hard as I thought it was. Maype because it's polyfil because I know I stuff them as much as they will hold! I like to stuff mine this way because I have noticed that when I have finished the crocheting part, the pieces don't usually look the right size, especially the body. The length of the body always looks too short. When I stuff it, it does stretch, and becomes longer the way I want it. However, it doesn't stretch so much that it looks bad or is too gappy. The tops of their feet are my trouble areas as far as gapping. I have yet to find a solution to that.

Anyway, once you start stuffing your pieces, I'm pretty sure you will just "know" when to stop.

P.S. If you keep posting crochet subjects, we won't need a special forum for crocheted critters; we'll just take over the mini forum! 

I just use plain old polyfil from Walmart. I stuff them pretty hard otherwise they don't really take the shape they're supposed to have, in my experience anyway.

Thanks, Winney, for the nice compliment. I used pearl cotton on his foot pads. The bear I'm working on now, I used ultrasuede on his footpads. Hopefully I'll get him done soon!

Okay, here's some of what I use.

Angora yarn (unsplit) size 6. I'm not sure of the metric equivalent for that one. A size 7 is 1.65mm, so a little bigger than that. That's what I used in my avatar bear and I think he was about 3 1/2" or so.

Angora yarn (split-using 1 ply) size 12. I'm thinking that's probably the same as a 1.00mm and produces bears about 2", give or take.

The smallest hook I own is a 14/.075mm. I don't use that one too much. It's really too small for any threads or yarns I have. I have used that hook to make some dollhouse-sized doilies using a single-ply of embroidery thread. That's enough to make me go blind!

I have have some lace-weight cashmere which in size compares to pearl cotton #5, so I use a 12 hook for that too.

I usually do a practice run using different hooks, and use the smallest one possible without it being to difficult to grab the threads.

Oh, I have used punch thread once and I believe I used a 12 for that too.

I bought some other threads but haven't tried them out yet. They are made by Rainbow Gallery and are used for cross-stitch or embroidery. I bought some fuzzy looking stuff, actually now that I think about it, I think it is mohair. Anyway this company has tons of cool threads but they come on small cards and aren't real cheap, so I don't know how much it would take to make a bear and if it would be worth the cost. I guess I really should try it out. It's been in my drawer for months...after I looked so hard to find the darn stuff!!

Well, I have no plan to starve myself. I love to eat! I'd like to just trade in some less-healthy choices for more healthy choices just for the sake of being healthier-not as a diet. And I know I'll still eat the junk too, but just not as often. I've never had a weight issue until post-pregnancy. Most of it has melted away by doing absolutely nothing, but those extra pounds are visibly hanging around my waist. So exercise is the real key for my success...which I have finally started! 

Sophie is so right! You are all deserving of awards!

Very cute pic, Shelli!

Winney, when you say "strand baby yarn", do you mean using it exactly as it comes off the skein or do you split the plies and use a single ply? Just curious, cause I split the plies in my yarn sometimes. I'll add to your list after I take a peek and my hooks. 

I like the ones that make you feel better about yourself and give you that extra boost.

Well, only if Santa puts some in my stocking next year!

We only got one decent snow this season, but it melted too quickly. 

Hee hee...that was so fun to read, Daphne! I'm a younger 70's child, but still a 70's kid nonetheless.

I didn't beg Santa for a Simon; I really wanted the Easy-Bake oven and the Barbie McDonald's set.

I had a blue banana seat bike, although I felt a little dorky with it because by the time I got that one, everyone else was getting 10-speeds.

I loved Strawberry Shortcake and they've made a comeback so now my little girl loves her too! It's so cool. I think I buy her this stuff more for my nostalgic reasons! So I guess those marketing guys knew what they were doing. Strawberry, along with the Care Bears too. My mom kept all my Barbies from my childhood. She dug them out of the attic recently and also found a handful of Strawberry Shortcake dolls. I was so giddy to see them again!

I loved watching the Muppets and the Smurfs. Does anyone remember Fraggle Rock? I love that one too.

And we still make a big deal out of the Wizard of Oz's yearly TV appearance!

I'll trade my sun for some snow! Come on, it's January! I want to build a snowman with my little girl, but apparently that's not going to happen this year. 

Nancy's right! We'd love to have you join in. Everyone here has been new at some time or another. The only way to get past it is to start talkin! 

Thanks, Deb! I don't have that song stuck in my head but it made me think of a song that likes to get stuck in my head! Actually, I don't mind if my fiancee is home at the time, because it drives him crazy. And I do so enjoy that.  It's from the Lime-Coke commercial a while back...you put the lime in the coke, you nut, and drink it all together...

She's stunning! I love her outfit...gorgeous! Well done, Shelli. Good luck!

Another wonderful creation, Shelli! She is a real sweetheart. Best of luck!

He is oh so cute! I LOVE his color, very beautiful!

Oh, Nancy! Don't be reluctant to show us your little gal! I think she is adorable! I have to keep scrolling back up to have another peek at her; she's just too sweet. I love her little front paws...so cute. Best of luck, Nancy! You've done a wonderful job with her and you should be proud!

Wow, Shelli, she is just over the top!! You should be extremely proud of yourself for creating this beautiful girl! I have to go take a peek at your others still, but I'm pretty sure this little piggy is gonna be the favorite!

Wow, it looks really great, Paula! Beautiful bears and a really neat spread. Congrats again!

Very cool, Debbie! I really enjoyed your pics of Amanda and all the info about her.