Easy pattern for total beginner?

[Beartrande]

My friend wants to make a bear (I'm spreading the bug!) and has never made one before either. She's also not had much experience at sewing.

But she'd still like to make a nice bear with simple joints, preferably in faux fur so its not too expensive.

Anyone got any suggestions as to what kit or kits she could try?

Thanks :6024:

[Rich1988]

I say it to everyone but I can't recommend Tolly by Christie Bears enough. Beautiful bear, simple enough pattern, full kit with everything you'll need is cheap and it's Mohair. It was my first bear so I may be a little biased but I still love my own little Tolly.

Richard
x

[Moosick]

How about Nancy's pattern that she has just shared?

[baildon bears]

Most patterns you buy from Christie bears or bear basics are quite simple and are made for beginners, I would say it would be much better to buy a small piece of Mohair, you can get quite cheap pieces if you shop around or synthetic from a bear suppier the results will be much better as the backing fabric is much easier to work with. Hannah

[Moosick]

I agree with Hannah about the fabric. All of the faux fur that I have bought has had a knitted back so it stretches when you stuff the bear. Which then alters the shape of the bear. I tend to line mine with a cheap muslin to help reduce the stretch.
But faux fur is cheaper, and you don't want to invest in a costly piece of fabric and then mess it up, so I can see why you want to work with faux fur first, plus I prefer the faux fur, but only because I can't afford the really lush long pile mohair! I bought a couple of cheap pieces of mohair from Christie bears, I still have not used the black and white (hmm wonder what I was planning to use that on) but I did use the other piece and really enjoyed working with it.. And the bear was lovely. But... I do like my faux fur! :D

If anyone knows of a good faux fur supplier where the backs are NOT knitted I'd be grateful if you shared hehe

[dutchy.bears]

If you want a woven back synthetic try www.probear.com (http://www.probear.com) they are situated in germany, do send to England so postage is pricey they ship buy weight if you stay under 5 kilo's it's 13 euro's shipping costs. They don't work with fat quaters but sell by the meter (I have there sample cards and the synthetics are so soft) they also have alpaka, cotton all woven backings. Pity they don't do the british fairs yet good for me they do a couple of dutch ones :6045:

-xxx-
Annette