How to make a teddy stand up ?

[ISOBEL20]

Has anyone got any good ideas how best to make a teddy be able to stand up ? I have been roped into making a bear for a craft project for the WI and I think it would be better if he could stand up. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Isobel x

[Rich1988]

Hi Isobel,

A project for the WI sounds great. Show them what the bear worlds about :6045:

As for standing it's not something I've ever done but from things I've read (and DVD's) I knote it really comes down to balancing the body and the pattern parts. Making sure he's not too heavy up top and has enough leg (and more importantly ankle) to hold himself up. You also need a good solid flat foot to stand on, foot will need to be of a good size and might be worth lining the foot with card.

Hope this helps in someway? Will have a look through my books and see if I can find the parts I'm thinking of to add more information.

Good Luck. Hope we get to see the bear at the end?

Richard
x

[SalmonofDoom]

I've read over a few ways to make a bear stand although I've never used these methods!

The first on was to line the pad with card or some other solid material.

The second was to cut the leg piece with the bottom of the foot curving inwards slightly - this is apparently because when you stuff a foot, the paw pad bulges out, so by cutting the side of the foot so that the bottom curves upwards, when it is stuffed, his foot should be flat :) (I'll try find the website that the tutorial was on because I know my instructions aren't very clear!)

Either way, big feet with some weight in them will help and not too much weight in his body :)

Hope this helps!

~Sammie

[dutchy.bears]

Try putting steel shot in the feet, automatically makes the bear bottom heavy, and make sure the leg joints are nice and stiff. Hope this helps and otherwise someone else who has done it before may have even better ideas. (thats what i love about this forum)

-xxx-
Annette

[shebob bears]

Another tip I found was to make the legs a little bit shorter, but nice and chubby, and make the footpads fairly wide. Put plenty of stuffing in the legs, especially at the ankles, and do ensure the joints are very firm, or else he will stand for a few seconds and then bend over as though he was trying to touch his toes! :D
Anyone else got some good ideas for us all to try :6044:
Sheila

[StarHawk2003]

I agree with everyone else.

Correct joint alignment to get the balance right.
Tight joint's so he stands in place.
Bigger soles (well usually wider), the bigger the soles, the more surface for him to balance on.

Heavy feet help too. If you place that thin craft foam in the soles of his feet then add steel shot, the shot wont leave imprints on the fabric over time, plus with add more stability, unlike cardboard that can bend and "crack". You add the Steel shot to the bottom of the foot, then stuff you want that ankle to be stuffed really well. You can also add some quilting to the foot of the bear to help with the steel shot showing or even sew a bag the size of the sole pad and put that in the leg if you don't want the shot in there on it's own.

If you decide not to add weight, I'd still add the foam and stuff with the sole on the table. I find it stays flatter. But I'd really advice to add it :)

If you want a photo of the foam I use I can find one online :)

Star~

[dutchy.bears]

Foam stuff sounds interesting Would love a photo:),
I used cardboard in my latest elephant so that the foot pads would be nice and flat (doesn't need to stand) Never thought about the fact that it could crack.... :( hopefully it won't.

-xxx-
Annette

[ISOBEL20]

Thank you so much for all the advice - I will certainly have a go with all the suggestions and let you know how I go on. Isobel x:)