Tip of the week

[shebob bears]

How about sharing our tips on making bears, rabbits etc? Perhaps we have discovered an easier or more efficient way of doing things that isn't in the books.
My tip this week is - when sewing the footpads into the legs, I always begin at the back of the leg and work right round the foot till I end up where I started. That way the toe of the foot is always a lovely smooth curve.
Don't all scream at once telling me that is how everybody does it!
Sheila.:6013:

[shelly]

Hi Sheila , you are talking about the bit I hate the most. The last three rabbits I have made I have used different methods to see which one I 'enjoy' the most most and gives me the best results, so I will concentrate on your method.
The last one I tried was to work from the toe to the back on each side of the pad, and I always tack it.
I will have to perfect it because I don't want to end up not liking any particular part of rabbit making.
Shelly.:6084:

[Jenny]

I never tack mine..I just pin and machine them in. I start at the toe and finish where I started. I always draw my sewing line in..I have a template which I draw onto the pad..and I sew round that. I often line the paw fabric with iron on cotton so I can see where I am stitching. I even machine the feet in the little baby bear..I hate hand sewing if it's not what I call 'pretty sewing' like faces, noses sculpting...if it's just sewing it together..out comes the machine!!
Why have a dog and bark yourself...!!!? LOL

[Steffi]

I hate sewing in the feet. I pin and never tack but have yet to manage to machine them successfully so I end up hand sewing them. Always seems to slow me up as I put the job off until I have several bears in pieces and no feet on them! Can someone tell me which way is best? Is it best to pin and sew with the ultrasuede (or felt etc) uppermost, or better to hold the leg upright as it were and sew with the pad closest to the plate of the machine. I do hope that makes sense.

Hugs Steffi

[Jenny]

Definitely with the pad uppermost...you do have to squish the leg to one side quite forcibly...and pin hedgehog style with the point sticking outwrads so you machine over the thinnest part of the pin...I've never broken a needle yet.

[All Bear]

I mark my sewing line on the back of the paw pad like Jenny ... it gives a perfect finish that way. I also pin my pads in, then baste them before machining to ensure there's absolutely no chance whatsoever of the little devils slipping around! I always stitch with the pad 'on top' .. I think if you stitch with the leg fabric on top you'll run the risk of a very wonky shaped footpad.