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From: ittycritters
Date: 05-03-2005, 04:11 PM (1 of 13)
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I am about up to my ears in teddy bear heads!!! I make teddy bears, and i usually needle felt. But I wanted to get back into hand sewing them... but everytime I turn them out, i have stitches showing, I have gone thorugh tons of fur, and I can't get this fixed!!! HELP ME!!! PLEASE!!!
Just when I thought it was over....
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User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50 
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From: MyGirlFriday
Date: 05-03-2005, 07:08 PM (2 of 13)
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Ittycritters~ Welcome to the forum! We are always glad to have new members along with all of their sewing abilities! Making Teddy Bears sounds neat! My Mother made one for me when I was a young girl. Not sure what would help you with the stitches.....Hopefully someone will post with some help for you! I just wanted to welcome you!  mgf~ 
Blessings & Smiles
Frogs have it easy....they just eat what's buggin' them. |
User: MyGirlFriday
Member since: 12-05-2004 Total posts: 288 
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From: ittycritters
Date: 05-03-2005, 09:16 PM (3 of 13)
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Thanks, i think it's great to find a forum like this one!
Just when I thought it was over....
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User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
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From: paroper
Date: 05-04-2005, 12:30 AM (4 of 13)
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It depends. When you sew fur-like materials, the long fibers get caught in the stitches. You just need to comb it out. If the problem is that they stitches are just too prominent after the your get the fibers out of the seams, I would check to see if the tension is too loose. You'll need to decide which tension is wrong. To do that, put a different color on the top than the bottom, sew a couple pieces of scrap fur together, turn the seam open like you would be looking at it when the bear were turned and see which color thread is the most dominent. This will tell you which tension to adjust. The threads should meet dead center of the seam. It is also possible that both tensions need to be adjusted slightly if the seam just seems too loose, that may be the problem.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: ittycritters
Date: 05-04-2005, 03:18 PM (5 of 13)
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Well that would have been my first guess, if i was using a machine, you see, i handsew all my miniature bears (2-4") they are almost impossible to sew on a machine. If i make my stitches much tighter, then the fabric will have a gathered look... i'm baffled, maybe it's just the way i sew... though that never used to happen. i haven't sewn in about two years, i may just be out of practice! thanks for your reply though. ~Krys 
Just when I thought it was over....
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User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
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From: Sparky
Date: 05-04-2005, 04:34 PM (6 of 13)
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Ittycritters (love your name!), I've never done much hand sewing or made bears, but one thing that came to mind was, could you be stuffing your bears too full? If they're overstuffed that might put pressure on the seams and make the stitches show, wouldn't it? Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: Magot
Date: 05-04-2005, 04:43 PM (7 of 13)
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What stitch are you using? When I hand sew toys I sew them from the right side with a matress stitch and pull it closed untill it seems right. There may still be fur caught in your seams even if you are hand sewing - are you able to ease it out with a needle? I assume the stuffing is not showing. Do you usually use fur - you said you use needle felt. Often when sewing with fur it is advised to trim or shave inside the seam allowance as it helps in the way the item goes together. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: ittycritters
Date: 05-04-2005, 10:37 PM (8 of 13)
thank you so much for the advice. I usually use a backstitch as that's how most do mohair bears. I thought that it was the stuffing too, but it is showing even before i stuff the bears! ~sigh~  It is just getting so annoying. can i post pictures on here? maybe i could show y'all what it looks like?~Krys Just when I thought it was over....
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User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 05-05-2005, 07:42 PM (9 of 13)
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Itty, I can picture just what you're describing, and I think it can be fixed by using a different hand stitching technique. I'm racking my brains trying to remember the names of the stitches, but I'll get the info to you!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 05-05-2005, 08:14 PM (10 of 13)
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Itty, first, to make sure we're talking about the same stitches, this site shows pictures of a handful of hand stitch techniques. http://www.bobvila.com/FixItClub/Subject/Decor/Miscellaneous/FIG_Sewing.html I use what they refer to as a slip stitch to hide my threads on a stuffed animal. The illustration makes it look like you'd see the stitches: ---|-|-|-|-|--- But I think that's b/c they drew it such that you could see the steps well. When I've done it, I've had success hiding the stitches. Does this help? Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: ittycritters
Date: 05-05-2005, 11:47 PM (11 of 13)
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Andrea, thank you for the reply, i use the slip stitch to close my bears after i have turned them back out, and, yeah, you're right you cannot see those stitches.... oh my baby is crying, write more later! ~Krys Just when I thought it was over....
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User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 05-06-2005, 10:11 AM (12 of 13)
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oh my baby is crying, write more later! ~Krys There you have it, folks. The hardest part of sewing!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: ittycritters
Date: 05-07-2005, 05:22 PM (13 of 13)
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ok, now i'm having another problem... please read my new thread!!! uh... sometimes i wonder if i should sew at all!!! hehe...kidding! ~krys
Just when I thought it was over....
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User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
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