Open mouth bear.

[Moorland Bear]

Hi, I've just started making an open mouth bear from a book by Brian and Donna Gibbs and I think I may have a problem with the open mouth :( There aren't many instructions in the book on how to make the open mouth so I just did my best and it doesn't look too bad. But what is concerning me is that when I stuff it the inner mouth will bulge outwards.

I did a search on the Bear forum and found the link to an article about Open Mouth Design which looks good and the section on full open mouth matches pretty well with what I have already done :)

I have a collection of Charlie Bears laughing bears and I've been looking at their mouths and they seem to have stitches at the back of the open mouth in the centre. Do I do this needle sculpting before or after stuffing? In the article is says after stuffing and would it help if I stitched at the corners of the mouth as well. Can anyone help?

[MommaBear]

not that I've done it but I believe to keep the inner mouth in a couple stitches pulling it into the head, so into the mouth and out towards the joint, should hold it back?
Just thinking aloud here mind!

[Moorland Bear]

A bit like when you attach the eyes. That seems on the right track I think, thanks. Any more ideas anyone?

[brenda128]

The easiest way I know of to make an open mouth:
Do not stuff, make it as you would make an ear.
Turn right side out then sew edge at back of mouth piece to neaten, then holding from fur side, pinch in the centre to make a crease - check how far up the tongue you want this crease and then sew a couple of stitches (as you would for a tiny dart) from the fur side. Then attach the whole lower mouth to under the bear's chin.
This worked for me but it may not be everybody's preferred method!

[Rich1988]

If I've understood you're question correctly my suggestion would be to stuff a little more loosely or, to add a piece of cardboard to the top of the mouth to keep it flat and realistic looking.

Richard
x

[lovenshire]

I do it like Brenda!

[brenda128]

This is a photo of an open mouth bear I made from a Monica Spicer pattern, using the afore-mentioned method.
:)

[lovenshire]

Love it Brenda....

[Moorland Bear]

Thanks everyone for the advice I feel a bit more confident now about how my bear will look when finished. And I shall be making a note of everyone's ideas.

Your way of making an open mouth Brenda sounds really good and I think I will adopt this method in the future. The thing is though, I've already stitched the open mouth into place, and it was when I turned the head right side out that I realised I may have a problem when I came to stuff the head.

Brenda I love your bear he looks so cute you have a real talent.

[brenda128]

Well, I did make that bear but I didn't design it, so I can't take any credit for that!

I hope your bear turns out how you want, I'm sure it will and please let us see him or her when finished.

[Moorland Bear]

Well, I did make that bear but I didn't design it, so I can't take any credit for that!

I hope your bear turns out how you want, I'm sure it will and please let us see him or her when finished.


I was busy stitching away the other day watching one of my favourite costume dramas on DVD when I suddenly realised I had only cut out 2 pieces for the legs instead of 4 :eek:

At the moment I'm attaching the lining to each piece to stop stretching so it's taking me longer, but I will post a picture as soon as I've finished him or her. Not sure which, although the pattern is called Poppy in the book I thought it might be a him.

Any name suggestions for a laughing male bear?

[brenda128]

I was busy stitching away the other day watching one of my favourite costume dramas on DVD when I suddenly realised I had only cut out 2 pieces for the legs instead of 4 :eek:

At the moment I'm attaching the lining to each piece to stop stretching so it's taking me longer, but I will post a picture as soon as I've finished him or her. Not sure which, although the pattern is called Poppy in the book I thought it might be a him.

Any name suggestions for a laughing male bear?

Looking forward to seeing your new bear. As for names, how about Chuckles (although that does sound a bit like that horrible ventriloquist's dummy) or Giggler, Jester or Happy Harry? I'm sure you can think of something MUCH better! :)