I made this photo tutorial so you can see how to sew my Best Dressed Bear Pattern. This is a pattern for a memory bear pattern with built-in shirt & pants (trousers) details. This teddy bear pattern lets you use pre-loved, clothing items to create a memory bear OR use all new fabrics with the included collar, cuffs & bow tie pattern pieces! PLUS the pattern for the felt waistcoat is included! He’s conveniently sized to fit an adult collared shirt – a perfect “grandpa” or “dad” bear.

 ~> Scroll down for
step-by-step photos!

 

 

*** PLEASE NOTE – this is ONLY a PHOTO TUTORIAL ***
The FULL PATTERN IS NOT included here.
It is NOT A FREE PATTERN.

I have made this photo tutorial so people who have purchased the pattern can SEE how to sew a dressed memory bear from clothes (I wanted to explain this so you are not disappointed if you have found this page via a search engine and not from the link in my Buttons Best Dressed Bear pattern!)

 

First choose some fabric…

Buttons Bear can be sewn in most fabrics. I created this Best Dressed Teddy Bear Pattern  with memory bears in mind so you can use any clothing items – see the question below if you are making a memory bear from clothing.

 

Must you use interfacing for a memory bear?

Use interfacing to line fabrics that are thin and very stretchy. This allows you to mix different types of fabrics.

 

How to line a memory bear with interfacing:

1. Trace all of the PIECES, including all the ‘reversed pieces’, onto the smooth (NON-STICKY) side of the iron-on interfacing.
2. Cut out the interfacing pieces, adding about 3mm (⅛ inch) around them.
3. Iron the interfacing pieces onto the fabric of the clothing items, with the glue (STICKY) side facing the BACK of the fabric.
4. Cut out all the pieces on the traced outer line.

 

Embroider some special details!

Buttons has FOOT PAD PIECES with a large flat area for embroidery – great for adding names & dates to a memory bear!

 

 

How to embroider a memory bear:

You can embroider by hand or machine. Use the 4 inch (10cm) grid markings on the FOOT PAD PIECE to centre the embroidery design. 

 

With machine embroidery – do this FIRST…

 

 

… BEFORE you cut out the FOOT PAD PIECES.

 

 

 

Right, let’s get sewing!

 

FACE & EARS:

STEP 1

Sew the FACE PIECES together from A – B.

STEP 2a

Sew the EAR PIECES together in pairs, leaving the bottom edge open.

 

STEP 2b

Clip the seam allowance of the EARS very well, turn them right sides out. 

TIP: I like to use a wooden chopstick to turn the seams. Run the end of the stick back and forth along the stitching inside the EAR PIECES until the seam is nice and smooth. 

 

STEP 2c

Pin the EARS closed along the open edge. *** Please DON’T stuff the EARS or they will look like 2 blobs instead of cute little cups! ***

STEP 3a

Pin the EARS to the FACE PIECES using the pattern markings to guide you. 

TIP: The front side of the EARS must be pinned touching the FACE PIECES. (In this bear, the black stripey fabric is on the front of the EARS and the spotty fabric is on the back of the EARS).

 

STEP 3b

Sew the EARS in place with a 3mm seam allowance.

 

NOSE & MUZZLE:

STEP 4

Fold the NOSE PIECE with the fabric right sides together and sew the nose darts closed as shown on the pattern markings.

TIP: Use a matching thread to sew the nose so you won’t see the stitches on your finished bear.

STEP 5

Pin the NOSE PIECE to the MUZZLE PIECE along the nose seam, with the fabric right sides together, and sew from D – C – D.

TIP: If you are using interfacing or thick fabrics this seam can be hard to sew. It helps a LOT if you tack (baste) the seam with a hand stitch, so you can remove the pins before you sew the nose seam.

 

STEP 6

Sew the NOSE & MUZZLE to the FACE PIECES, from E – B – E.

TIP: Take your time and use LOTS of pins!

STEP 7

Sew the NOSE, MUZZLE & FACE PIECES closed from K – E – D – T.

 

BACK HEAD:

STEP 8

Sew the BACK HEAD PIECES together from A – F.

 

STEP 9

Sew the BACK HEAD PIECES to the FACE PIECES from G – A – G, with the EARS in between.

 

CRAFT EYES:

STEP 10

If you are using CRAFT EYES, insert them now. (If you are hand embroidering the eyes, you will sew them after he is stuffed.)

TIP: I have a tutorial to show you how to insert craft eyes on my blog.

 

PLACKET:

STEP 11a

PLEASE NOTE:
I have included full instructions for making the PLACKET from scratch.
You can skip STEP 11a – 11b and cut a length of placket from a man’s collared shirt to use instead!

 

Fold the side edges of the PLACKET PIECE to the center with the WRONG sides of the fabric together.

 

STEP 11b

Iron the PLACKET so the layers stay folded in this position and mark the button positions on the RIGHT side of the fabric of the PLACKET PIECE.

 

STEP 12a

If you are using a man’s shirt… cut a length of placket and mark the button positions on this.

 

TIP:  If you cut the piece of placket from the bottom of the placket (below all the buttons) – you will get a piece without any buttons/button holes on it.

 

STEP 12b

Sew the PLACKET to the SHIRT FRONT PIECE with a 3mm(⅛ inch) seam allowance. 

 

STEP 12c

Sew 3 buttons to the PLACKET & SHIRT using the pattern markings to guide you.

 

SLEEVES & HANDS:

STEP 13a

Sew the SLEEVE PIECES to the HAND PIECES.

 

STEP 13b

Sew the SLEEVE & HAND PIECES together in pairs, leaving them open at the top and leaving the gap open for turning (see the black arrow in the photo below).

 

STEP 13c

Clip the seam allowance, turn the SLEEVE & HAND PIECES right sides out and use a chopstick to smooth the seams. 

 

STEP 13d

Fold the SLEEVE PIECES, as shown on the pattern markings, so that the seams line up in the middle (center), and pin the SLEEVES closed at the top. 

 

SHIRT FRONT & BACK:

STEP 14a

Pin the SLEEVE PIECES to the SHIRT FRONT PIECES using the pattern markings to guide you. Sew them in place with a 3mm(⅛ inch) seam allowance so they won’t slip as you sew.

 

TIP:  PLEASE check that the stuffing gaps on the SLEEVES are facing the back (NOT facing/touching the SHIRT FRONT PIECE) so you don’t sew the arms on backwards!

 

STEP 14b

Sew the SHIRT BACK PIECES to the SHIRT FRONT PIECE from G – N, with the SLEEVES in between.

 

TIP:  It’s easy to get the sew the SHIRT BACK PIECES the wrong way round! PLEASE double-check that you have matched up the letters of the pattern markings correctly!

 

STEP 14c

If the toy is for a young child, go back and zig-zag across the top of the SLEEVES to make them nice and secure.

 

PANTS(TROUSERS):

STEP 15

Sew the INNER LEG PIECES to the PANTS FRONT PIECE matching the single dot pattern markings.

 

STEP 16a

Sew the OUTER LEG PIECES to the PANTS BACK PIECES matching the double dots pattern markings.

 

STEP 16b

Sew the PANTS BACK PIECES together from P – M.

STEP 17a

Sew the PANTS FRONT & INNER LEG PIECES to the PANTS BACK & OUTER LEG PIECES from U – R (along the top of the legs and up the side seams).

TIP: Clip the very curved parts of the seams very well so the seams turn nice and smoothly.

 

STEP 17b

Sew the PANTS & LEG PIECES closed along the bottom, from V – M – V.

 

FOOT PADS:

STEP 18

Sew the FOOT PAD PIECES to the LEG PIECES matching U, V and X.

TIP: Use lots of pins and take it slow! I have a blog post about sewing perfect plushie feet without any wrinkles! ~> Click HERE to check it out!

 

WAIST SEAM:

STEP 19

Sew the SHIRT PIECES to the PANTS PIECES along the waist seam, from Q – L – Q.

 

PLEASE NOTE:
The side seams of the shirt and pants do not line up. The seam at R on the pants matches up with point R on the shirt, not with the seam of the shirt at N.

TIP: I find the easiest way to pin the waist seam is to turn the SHIRT PIECES upside down and position them ‘inside’ the PANTS PIECES with the fabric right sides together. Pin the bottom of the SHIRT FRONT & PLACKET to the top of the PANTS FRONT PIECE at L first, then pin the pieces together at Q at the back and then pin the rest of the waist seam (in between these pins).

SEW THE HEAD TO THE BODY(NECK SEAM):

STEP 20

Pin the head to the body at the neck seam. (Pin the FACE & BACK HEAD PIECES to the SHIRT PIECES.)

TIP: I find the easiest way to pin the neck seam is to turn the head right sides out first then push the head (top first) into the body. Pin the pieces together at the neck seam, with the fabric right sides together.

 

BACK SEAM:

STEP 21

Pull the HEAD back out of the body so the PIECES are wrong sides out again. Pin and sew the bear closed at the back from P- Q – S on the PANTS & SHIRT BACK PIECES and from H – F on the BACK HEAD PIECES (leaving the gap open for turning).

 

STEP 22

Turn the bear right sides out through the stuffing gap. Stuff the NOSE and MUZZLE firmly, then the rest of the head. Stuff the foot area well then the legs and body. Lastly stuff the arms. If you are hand embroidering the eyes, sew them now.

 

STEP 23

Sew the stuffing gaps on the SLEEVES and SHIRT BACK PIECES closed with a ladder stitch.

 

FELT WAISTCOAT:

THIS MUST GO ON BEFORE THE COLLAR!

STEP 24a

Cut out the WAISTCOAT PIECES from felt – if you have a big enough piece of felt you can cut the WAISTCOAT as ONE piece.

 

STEP 24b

Sew the WAISTCOAT PIECES together at the back centre seam.

 

STEP 24c

Pin the seam open and sew it down on either side of the seam.

 

STEP 25

Sew 3 buttons on one side of the WAISTCOAT – see the pattern markings for placement. Pin the WAISTCOAT on Buttons and hand-sew (or glue) it together where the pieces overlap under the arms and at the buttons.

 

COLLAR:

STEP 26a

PLEASE NOTE:
I have included full instructions for making the COLLAR from scratch. 
If you are going to cut the collar from a man’s collared shirt you can skip STEPS 26a – 27b.

 

Make sure to cut the COLLAR PIECES on a fold. Line only 1 COLLAR PIECE with iron-on interfacing. (I found that lining both COLLAR PIECES made the collar too hard to turn). Sew the COLLAR PIECES together leaving the turning gap open (see the black arrow in the photo below).

 

STEP 26b

Trim the seams at the corners and turn the COLLAR right sides out.

TIP: I use a wooden chopstick to ‘poke’ out the corners so they are nice and pointy!

 

STEP 26c

Tuck the seams in at the turning gap and sew right around the COLLAR 5mm(¼inch) in from the outer edge. 

 

STEP 27a

Fold the COLLAR as shown in the pattern markings and press(iron) it. Sew a button on one side the COLLAR  and a button hole on the other side and put the collar on the bear.

TIP: I can’t sew button holes so I hand-sewed the COLLAR on BUT you can use velcro or ‘snaps’ to close it instead.

 

STEP 27b

Lift up the COLLAR at the back and sew the inner layers to the bear to make sure it’s nice and secure!

 

CUFFS:

STEP 28a

PLEASE NOTE:
I have included full instructions for making the CUFFS from scratch. 
If you are going to cut the cuffs from a man’s collared shirt you can skip STEPS 28a – 28d.

 

Sew the CUFF PIECES together in pairs, leaving the gaps for turning (see the black arrow in the photo below).

 

STEP 28b

Trim the seams at the corners and turn the CUFF PIECES right sides out. Tuck the seams in at the turning gap and sew right around the CUFFS 5mm(¼inch) in from the outer edge. 

 

STEP 29a

Press the CUFFS flat then fold them ‘in half lengthwise’ using the pattern markings to guide you and press again. Sew a button on one side of each CUFF.

 

STEP 29b

Put the CUFFS on your bear and hand-sew them closed. Sew through all the layers so the buttons look like cuff links!

 

STEP 29c

Fold back the outer layers and stitch the inner layers to the bear. (If you really hate hand-sewing you can glue them in position with fabric glue!)

 

BOW TIE:

STEP 30a

Fold the BOW TIE PIECE, sew it together along the long sides. Turn it right sides out and press it flat so the seam is at the back. 

 

STEP 30b

Fold the open edges of the BOW TIE PIECE to the centre so they overlap by about 12mm(½inch) and tack(baste) the edges to hold them in this position.

 

STEP 31a

Fold the sides of the BAND PIECE to the centre and fold it in half again then press it flat.

 

STEP 31b

Wrap the BAND around the BOW TIE so it overlaps at the back by about 12mm(½inch) and tack(baste) to hold it in this position.

 

STEP 32

Pin the BOW TIE on Buttons then hand-sew (or glue) it in place.

 

Your teddy bear is ready to LOVE!

 

 

Want to win a
FREE toy pattern?

 

It’s so EASY to enter our Pattern GIVEAWAY!

 

ALL you need to do is post a photo of a FUNKY FRIENDS FACTORY toy that you have made on the Funky Friends Factory Facebook Page .

At the end of each month I draw a winner and post the winner’s name on the Blog the following MONTH. I have an Album on Facebook for all the MAKEROFTHEMONTH winners. You can check it out HERE!

 

 

NOT on Facebook? ENTER by email! 

*** You can send me your photos by email too!

 

 

So come on! Share your photos  ~>

The next winner could be YOU!!!

.
Till next time,

Happy Sewing,
Pauline
xxx