Noses

[Andrel13]

Hiya just wanted some advice on waxing noses could anyone give me some idea's how to do it :6044:

ps. Also before i forget trimming fur back around muzzle you all seem to get it so neat could use a few hints thanks again :6086:

[Jenny]

Hi..I pluck the hairs from around the nose before I embroider it. Then I draw the shape of the nose with invisible pen. I then paint the nose with PVA glue before stitching it while it's still tacky. I do two or three layers.
With the wax I found the easiest way is to heat the wax on the gas cooker..I use an old measuring spoon. I heat it till it melts, then I paint on a layer of wax...then I use my hair drier to re-heat the wax on the nose and it soaks in. Do this a couple of times then polish to a shine with paper..I use scrunched up fax paper but others may say different...EZYwax or bees wax..same method applies!


Good luck!!

[Vicky Allum]

Hiya

Like Jenny I pluck the area that's going to be embroidered, then take a piece of felt cut to the right size and pin it on where I'd like the nose to be. Then I start stiching, first making an outline around the felt - 2 along the top to make sure the line is firm, one along the bottom and the up the sides bringing the last stich out on the seam on the middle of the muzzle under the nose. Then stitching over the threads of the outline fill in the gap. Usually after the first lot of stitches I run another long stitch along the top and bottom and go again. Then just finish of with the mouth.

I use a piece of "Prices" beeswax candle for waxing, melted in a microwave in an old mug, painted on while it's still hot, re-melted with a hairdryer and then rubbed with greaseproof paper. Usually it takes a couple of coats to the desired effect.

As for trimming the muzzle, Jennys the expert on that bit, mine are quite strait forward. Starting at the nose area, with the scissors open, start to partially close them and slide/drag them through the fur, pulling them up through the pile so that the fur where you started cutting is shorter than the fur further up the muzzle, it should help give a graduated effect - I'm not sure I've explained that very well, let me know if it doesn't make any sense.

Hope this helps!:6087:

[All Bear]

239

I use the same method as Jenny and Vicki for waxed noses ... I like to use the back of an old butter knife to smooth the remelted wax before it dries and I prefer to use brown paper to buff.

As for nose embroidering, I always think the key to a decent nose is to have the nose end of the muzzle well stuffed and the gusset stitched in centrally. If those two things are a bit squiffy you'll probably be disappointed with your finished nose however hard you try to stitch it beautifully. The other thing that's relevant is to maintain equal and firm tension with the embroidery thread as you sew.

It's worth giving thought to what kind of thread you want to work with before you start. Embroidery perle comes in different thicknesses and what might suit one size bear, won't always suit another. For coloured noses, I like to use dmc embroidery threads ... but be careful with those as they aren't twisted and need a careful handling to achieve a good nose.

I always start in the centre of my nose and stitch out to one side, then return to the centre and stitch out to the other side. I don't use any templates or sticky stuff, I just eyeball what I want and go for it! I find a couple of layers of satin stitch usually does the job.

Main tip ... take your time and look carefully at where your needle is entering and exiting ... try to follow the weave of the mohair backing, if your gusset is cut out straight, you should be able to follow the tiny holes in the backing as a guide. Keep checking your nose is straight and even by holding your bear head so he looks back at you every so often, as his nose starts to take shape!

[Andrel13]

Thanks so much for the advice guys I've just finished my nose on my newest bear just wanting for the bees wax to turn up, ill put up a picture of him once his done thanks again :6045:
ps i love that purple nose :P

[Chowlea Bears]

Paula - is there a trick to doing the final stitches. You know - if you start in the middle and work out, the final threads at each side can be difficult to keep in place.- they 'fall off' the nose so to speak. :6022:

Good grief - did anyone understand that?

[Ruth]

I often turn heads upside down to check eye placement and levelness of the nose (I suppose this is more of a check for minis !):6087: :D
Ruth