Bear Necessities

I am currently working on an order (!), yes, someone is actually going to buy something I have made! Up to now, my projects have been 'trier-outs' to see a) if I could make them and b) if they were any good. As a result they have been presented as gifts - whether the recipients wanted them or not! lol So far the bags I have made have been well received - mainly by my Aunt who you could argue is slightly bias, but would say if she didn't like something so I guess they've been ok.

I have also made a few soft toys - see previous posts - of which most are still adorning the shelves in my office (along with sooooo much other stuff) but I have sold one Nelly, so again, result!

I came across a pattern for a teddy bear - http://www.howjoyful.com/2010/05/howjoyful-bear-tutorial-and-pattern/ - and thought it would make a good new project and challenge so that became the project I would do inbetween doing the hexie quilt (see previous post)

From our exclusive boutique I found a fleece onesie with a small heart design on it - perfect for my project;  cheap which is a bonus and big - even better just in case.....

My first task was to deconstruct it to make the most from the fabric. There was loads!!!  Check it out below....

So now I had the bits, the tedious cutting out of the pattern could begin.  I really, really hate this part. If I could pay someone to do this for me I would.  I hate it because if I'm going to make a mistake, this is where the plan goes pear shaped.  If I can get the cutting right, I'm usually in a good place for the sewing.  More than one mistake on the cutting and I might just as well pack up for the day!

Anyhoo, this time it went ok.  Not sure if it was because it was a new pattern or because I was really looking forward to doing some 'proper' sewing, I don't know but the cutting was ok and I even marked up all the pieces and put them in piles.  Once the scraps were cleared away, I set my stall out..

Coffee, DVD, Ironing board (I decided that the fleece was a little flimsy so was going to add a thin facing to the main pieces) and, of course, Lucy.

I followed the pattern for most of the time but it was a little sketchy in the middle so using the brain cell I have along with the photos, I managed to cobble together two, not bad teddy bears.  Don't look too close at the red one as I think I may have put her legs on the wrong way - i.e. left leg on the right side and vice versa.  However, first time sewing fleece - no major problems and the facing helped; first time teddy bear.  Not bad!  Take a look and see what you think.

The finished bear is quite tall so I might scale down the pattern if I decide - or am asked - to make any more.  Needless to say, there weren't many bits left over.

So the order I am currently getting psyched up for is for two panda bear toys.  I have already made one for a friend who then showed it to a friend who has asked for them.  Not having a pattern for a panda and not being able to find one anywhere online - I dare say there are some but not being tech-savvy, it would have taken too long to find.  So my one brain cell was put to work and using the teddy bear pattern and looking at lots of photographs of pandas I managed to work out where I could manipulate the fabric I was using to make the plain back of the teddy bear into a black and white mix.

I could just have sewn a strip of black to a strip of white to give the two tone back the distinctive markings but pandas don't have straight lines.  I know it is only a teddy bear but in my mind that would have been too easy and - for those of you who have read my previous posts and those who haven't but know me anyway - you will know that I always do things the hard way first and then find the easier route.  This being the first panda was going to be right no matter what then we would see.

So the bits of fabric were cut - black from an old pair of corduroy jeans for texture and white from a baby's blanket.  (I admit these were new ones but I didn't have any white in my stash only corduroy and I felt that wasn't right).  I know, I know, two very different fabrics again but I was able to level the field by adding some facing (again) to the softer material of the blanket.  The stretch on the corduroy didn't pose a problem either due to how I cut it.  There is still a little give but this helps give the panda some extra character.

As I was adding facing to the fabric I needed the ironing board handy so the office was reconfigured to be able to accommodate this as well - cosy!  Eldest daughter just 'eye-rolled' and laughed as she tried to move past giving up and going into the kitchen the other way - lol.

Not sure if you can see clearly on the desk but you might just be able to make out the right side of the back piece in the black and white pieces.  They are sewn together in a curve so the black piece ends underneath the arm of the panda.

As I had faffed about with the four pieces for the back - resulting in 8 pieces in total being sewn because I couldn't quite get my head around the opposite cut for the other side (again not the sharpest needle in the box!) - I did have to have a lay down in a darkened room for a while.  However, once the brain cell had recovered sufficiently, the rest of the 'build' went spectacularly!  The mix of the two fabrics worked brilliantly and were a dream to sew.  Michelle is really happy with her panda and as I mentioned, I have an order for two more. Happy day  :)