............. bear making instructions .............

Making your Teddy Bear should be a fun experience and here is an easy to follow instruction on how to make your own bear which I use to make all my jennylovesbenny bears. I hope you find it helpful and please feel free to email me if you need assistance or have any questions...happy sewing :D

Instructions:
VERY IMPORTANT TO READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING TO MAKE YOUR BEAR!

Cutting your mohair/fur:

I know it can be daunting to cut expensive mohair for the first time... a friend of mine bought a MFB kit from me for her newly born 8 months ago and found it difficult to make a start. She'd spent the last few months, taking out the mohair, looked at it and folded it away...she did this a few times then finally, she asked if I can cut the mohair for her because she was too afraid to do it herself!

There are 2 important things to remember when cutting your mohair.
Firstly, lay out the mohair with the fur direction facing down towards you.
Secondly, after cutting out the pattern, lay out all the pieces on the back of the mohair before you start drawing to make sure all pieces fit on the material. Make sure the fur direction is the same as the arrows on the pattern.

Draw around the pattern. Mark all notches, eyes, openings and joint holes.
Check whether extra seam allowance is required but usually this is already included in the pattern.

Using a small sharp pair of scissors, cut out the backing.
Avoid cutting the fur underneath, otherwise, the seams will appear ‘bare’ when sewn together.

Cut small holes for the joints for the arms, legs and body where shown.
The holes should be just large enough for the joint stems.

Pin the pieces together before stitching. While pinning, push the fur away from the seam line.
This will make the pieces easier to sew and you won’t have fur caught in the seams when you turn your bear right side out.

Sewing and Stitches:

Depending on the size of the bear you are making, you can use a sewing machine to sew your bear but I find it's a lot more fun and nicer to sew by hand. Below are diagrams of stitches recommended only, feel free to use stitches which you are comfortable, just make sure the stitches are close together and tight! You don't want your bear to burst due the many hugs over your bear's lifetime! Try to use very strong thread, preferably upholstery thread for sewing. This will take a lot of frustrations from sewing your bear as you will find, with less stronger thread, they may break when you tie off or when you pull tight the stitches.

I normally start with a blanket stitch then go over sewing using a full back stitch.
This will secure the stitches and you can be sure your bear will last for many years to come.

Blanket-stitch

Back-stitch

Combined Blanket & Back stitch

Ladder-stitch

Gathering-stitch or Runner-stitch

Body

Pin and sew the two bodies together matching the notches.  Leave open the neck and centre back.  Then sew a gathering stitch around neck and pull tight leaving a small hole for wobbly split pin, knot and tie off

Arms

Pin and sew the two arms together and remember to leave open as shown on the pattern.

Legs

Pin and sew the two legs together and leave open as shown on the pattern.  Pin the foot pad to the foot, making sure the foot pad is centred with the foot and sew.

Head

Pin the two side heads together and sew the chin together.  Remembering to leave open the bottom.  Then sew the head gusset to the side of the head.  Make sure to centre the nose, pin around the head gusset making sure the ends meet before sewing. 

Ears

Sew the ears together and leave open as shown on the pattern.  Turn them right side out and sew the bottoms together using slip stitch.

Turning the pieces:

Turn the pieces right side out by using a small blunt stick and carefully work the arms, legs, head and body through the opening.

Stuffing:

The sequence for stuffing is to stuff the head, arms and legs with polyester first before stuffing the body.
Make sure the joints are stuffed firmly by using many small pinches of polyester. I think this method is better than using large clumps as the small pinches helps keep its shape. You can experiment by using a mixture of plastic pellets or glass beads and flock stuffing in his body making him nice to squeeze.

Head

When stuffing your bear's head, take care to stuff his nose firmly. Stop stuffing at approximately 5mm below the neck opening and run a gathering stitch (also known as runner stitch - see above) around the neck giving an opening about 2mm from the edge.
Continue stuffing up to the neck opening and place the neck joint in opening and pull gathering tight around the neck.
Tie off and reinforce by over sewing around the joint twice. I've recently discovered strong satin twine and I highly recommend using this to run the gathering stitch around the neck and also for the ladder stitch to sew up the opening after stuffing as it will not break when you try to tighten the thread. This is now available for purchase in my 'Teddy Bear Making Supplies" page.

Legs

Stuff firmly from toe upwards to the joint hole. Fit the joint in and then continue stuffing.
Ladder stitch up the opening (see above stitches).

Arms

Stuff firmly upwards to the joint hole. Fit the joint in and then continue stuffing.
Ladder stitch up the opening (see above stitches).

Making the Eyes, Nose and Mouth:

Trim fur from the nose and mouth areas. Sew the nose with vertical stitiches using embroidery thread.
Follow the 5 steps illustrations below. Try to keep the satin stitches firm and even.
!!Never unpick the nose ~ just keep going over it until it becomes even or the size desired.

STEP 1 ......................STEP 2................... .STEP 3 ...............................STEP 4............................STEP 5

Mark the eye positions using pins. Thread one eye onto strong thread and thread both ends onto a long needle/doll needle. Insert the needle into one eye position and exit close to the disc at the back of the neck.
Repeat with the other eye. Knot the two threads securely and bury the ends into the head.

Pin the ears in place, then ladder-stitch across the back and front of the ears to hold them securely.

Assembly and Jointing:

Attach the head first by inserting the cotter pin from the head into the small opening on top of the body.
Inside the body, attach the remaining disc and washer, then using a cotter pin turner or a long nose plier, roll the ends
of the cotter pin down onto the washer on both sides.

Now attach his arms and legs making sure the joints are on the correct side of the body.

Fill the body with polyester stuffing and stuff firmly. Sew up the opening at the back using ladder stitch.

Finally, check all the seams to make sure no fur is caught. If so, carefully pick it out using a needle.

Congratulations!! You have just completed your own teddy bear!!! Give him a big hug and cuddle.