Too Much Info on a Teddy Bear in One Post

This young lady...

dressed in grand mom's sweater...

10 inches tall...

 sleeping on a kitten...

 a sweet smile on her face...

hanging out with her friend...

 felted nose and paws...

using wire, foam perm rollers for her armature...

 http://desertmountainbear.blogspot.com/search/label/wiring%20limbs

 limbs wired the way I was taught...

 a flexible spine...

 super glued eyeball loops...

taxidermy eyes ready to use...

made in a modified realistic style taught to me by Joanne at:

http://desertmountainbear.blogspot.com/

Mini Fuschia Bear

Teddy Bear Dress: Finish

Time to sew the sides. Put the right sides of the front and back together and lift up and match the linings. The lining will be sewed along with the sides.

Then press. It looks like a dress.

This is how I do simple hems. First I press 1/4" around the entire bottom.

Then I fold another 1/4" and pin.

Then I sew around the hem on the machine holding the material taught and press.

A simple hook and eye will keep the back closed.

On the back side like so.

Mauve/Pink Bear can't wait to put it on.

She's already to go out...

...and happy as a lark!

I should have mentioned it earlier but this pattern is a McCall's Crafts #M4338

Teddy Bear Dress: The Back

We're basically doing the same as the front but now there's 2 pieces. Remember I ironed down the top of the liner straps 1/4". I sewed around the neck and the arm holes but left the tops of the straps open.

 

The above step is complete.

 

The pieces get turned and ironed. Here is the back and front turned.

This is again where I do my own thing. Instead of using these tabs to sew Velco to I'm turned them in and sewed them down. Avoid ironing the bottom half for now.
 

Ironed down.

I've sewed the 2 backs together in the middle from the bottom til 1/4" into the tabbed area.

Then I pressed it out at the bottom.

With front sides together I sewed the tops of the straps, front and back right where the linings are folded down. Try to match them up.

Now you can see that the rough edges tuck right in in the back openings.

With both sides connected to each other at the straps I sewed all around the neck including the back opening.

And gave a another good press.

Tomorrow the exciting conclusion!

Teddy Bear Dress: The Front

I mentioned earlier today that I was thinkin of modifying the dress pattern for a more rounded neck line. you may also notice that I already modified the pattern by not sewing in the darts. This gave the dress more room for a teddy bear.

I got out my tracing paper and got started. The lining piece needs to be 3/4" longer to make up for the missing darts.

Now both pieces are modified.

The front is on the fold and the back is in the middle.

Everything is cut out and accounted for.

The liner shoulder edges get ironed down a 1/4". You'll see why later.

The neckline and arm holes get sewed leaving the shoulder tops open.

I turned the front and liner and ironed it.

Tomorrow we'll do the back.

Just A Prototype

Mauve Bear is still with me so I wanted her to have a dress. Since I'm no seamstress I bought myself a pattern. I found a doll clothes pattern for size 11" - 13" and 14"- 16". It has lots of different outfits. I picked out the one that would be most likely to fit without too much modification.

This is the material I used for the lining of the crochet handbag from last week. William says that this material doesn't work with Mauve Bear.

But if this is only a prototype dress and I have better material just for her, then that's alright.

I modified the back opening, it was to accommodate Velcro. I didn't think she would like that, I'll put a hook in instead. I'd like to try a round neck in the front. Stay tuned.