Yeeeeehar!!!!
My new Keepsake Bear Pattern photo tutorial is ready ~> scroll down for step-by-step photos!
This baby-faced teddy bear was designed specifically for sewing keepsakes! With an adorable heart-shaped nose, a cute little upturned muzzle, swinging arms and legs, (sewn into seams for easy construction), 4 large flat spaces for embroidery (tummy, back, arms AND footpads) and a chubby little bottom (for extra “hugginess”) makes this the perfect pattern for you to sew lovely keepsakes! Create a special memento as a cherished reminder of your baby’s first years, to mark a special occasion or milestone or in memory of a lost loved one to bring comfort when words aren’t enough…
or to sew
a keepsake bear
~ just for YOU!
*** 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 my Keepsake Bear Sewing Pattern can SEE how to sew a keepsake teddy bear! (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 Keep Me Keepsake Bear Sewing Pattern)
Prepare the fabric pieces…
STEP 1a
I used fabric from about 11 baby clothing items which were of very different thicknesses, textures and degree of ‘stretchiness’. I used interfacing to line them all so that they would all ”behave” like woven/non-stretch fabrics.
To line the pieces, trace all the pieces including all the ‘reversed pieces’) onto the smooth (NON-STICKY) side of the iron-on interfacing. Roughly cut out the pieces adding about 3mm (1/8 inch) around them. Iron the interfacing pieces onto the fabric of the clothing items, with the STICKY (GLUE) side facing the BACK of the fabric.
STEP 1b
Cut the pieces out accurately on the traced lines.
TIP: I used 11 items of baby clothes for my keepsake bear. Mix and match your fabrics to make your keepsake bear unique. If you are making a ‘patchwork bear’ (with many different fabrics) – take a photo of the pieces all cut out. It is easy to forget where you wanted to place things as you go along!
SEWING THE HEAD:
STEP 2
Sew the FOREHEAD PIECE to the SNOUT PIECE matching point A.
STEP 3
Sew the FACE PIECES to the MUZZLE PIECES from B – C.
STEP 4
Sew the FACE & MUZZLE PIECES together at the front from D – C – K.
STEP 5a
Pin the FOREHEAD & SNOUT PIECE to the FACE & MUZZLE PIECES .
TIP: This is a hard seam to sew, so take it slow and use LOTS of pins!
STEP 5b
Sew the FOREHEAD & SNOUT PIECE to the FACE & MUZZLE PIECES from E – B – D – B – E.
TIP: Sew this seam with the FOREHEAD PIECE facing down. That way you can smooth out any ‘wrinkles’ as you sew.
STEP 6a
Clip the seams well, especially the very curved parts of the seams.
STEP 6b
Fold and pin the FACE PIECES with the fabric right sides together and sew the face darts as shown on the pattern markings.
EYES:
STEP 7
If you are using craft eyes, insert them now.
TIP: I have a tutorial to show you how to insert craft eyes on my blog.
EARS:
STEP 8
Sew the EAR PIECES together in pairs, leaving the straight edge open. Clip the seam allowance of the EARS very well and turn them right sides out. **Do NOT stuff the EARS!
STEP 9a
Pin the EARS to the FACE PIECES, using the pattern markings to guide you with the placement.
STEP 9b
Sew the EARS to the FACE PIECES with a 3mm(⅛ inch) seam allowance to hold them in this position.
FRONT PIECES:
STEP 10
Sew the FRONT PIECES together along the front seam from K – O.
STEP 11
Sew the FRONT PIECES to the FACE PIECES from H – K – H (at the neck seam).
BACK:
STEP 12
Sew the BACK HEAD PIECES to the BACK PIECES from H – J (at the neck seam).
TAIL:
STEP 13a
Sew the TAIL together, leaving the straight edge open.
STEP 13b
Clip the seam allowance of the TAIL very well and turn the TAIL right sides out. Stuff the TAIL with toy stuffing (don’t make it too fat). Pin the TAIL closed along the straight edge.
STEP 14a
Pin the TAIL to one of the BACK PIECES, using the pattern markings to guide you.
STEP 14b
Sew the BACK HEAD & BACK PIECES together along the back seam. Sew from F at the top of the BACK HEAD PIECES to L at the bottom of the BACK PIECES, leaving the gap open (between R and Q) for stuffing.
ARMS:
STEP 15a
Sew each UPPER ARM PIECE to an UNDER ARM PIECE, leaving them open as shown in the pattern markings and leaving the gap open for stuffing.
STEP 15b
Clip the seam allowance, turn the ARMS right sides out and use a chopstick to smooth the seams.
STEP 15c
Fold the top of the ARMS so that the seams line up in the middle (center), and pin the ARMS closed.
STEP 16a
Pin the ARM PIECES to the BACK PIECES, matching the 3 dots of the pattern markings, so the UPPER ARM PIECES are closest to the neck seam.
TIP: NB* It is very important to check that the stuffing gap of the ARMS are facing towards the BACK PIECES when you pin the ARMS on or the ARMS will be on backwards!
STEP 16b
Sew the ARMS to the BACK PIECES with a 3mm(⅛ inch) seam allowance to hold them in this position.
BACK and FRONT:
STEP 17a
Pin the FACE & FRONT PIECES to the BACK HEAD & BACK PIECES (along the sides) with the ARMS and EARS in between.
TIP: USE LOTS of pins so the pieces don’t slip as you sew!
STEP 17b
Sew the FACE & FRONT PIECES to the BACK HEAD & BACK PIECES from M – F (at the top of the head) – M on the other side.
STEP 18
Fold and pin the BACK PIECES with the fabric right sides together and sew the back darts as shown on the pattern markings.
TIP: This is what the pieces should look like from the front now.
LEGS:
STEP 19
Sew the LEG PIECES together in pairs leaving them open at the top and bottom and leaving a gap open for turning and stuffing.
STEP 20
Pin and sew the FOOT PAD PIECES to the LEG PIECES.
TIP: I have a tutorial on my blog to show you how to sew perfect plushie feet – it’s easy when you know how!
STEP 21a
Clip the seam allowance and turn the LEGS right sides out and use a chopstick to smooth the seams. ** Do NOT stuff the LEGS now.**
STEP 21b
Fold the top of the LEGS so that the seams line up in the middle of each LEG, and pin the top of the LEGS closed.
STEP 22
Pin the top of the LEGS to the TUMMY PIECE , using the pattern markings to guide you, and sew them to the TUMMY PIECE with a 3mm(⅛ inch) seam allowance. To make sure the bear’s LEGS will face the front, you must pin them with the “toes” touching the TUMMY and FRONT PIECES. Check this now before you sew the next step!
TIP: If the toy is for a young child, go back and zig-zag across the top of the LEGS to make them nice and secure.
TUMMY & BASE:
STEP 23
Pin the BASE PIECE to the TUMMY PIECE with the LEGS in between. Sew from M – P – M with the top of the LEGS in between.
TIP: This is what the pieces should look like, from the front, with the top of the LEGS sewn between the TUMMY and BASE PIECE and the ‘toes’ facing the front.
STEP 24
Push the LEGS ‘inside’ the body so you can pin the TUMMY & BASE PIECE to the FRONT & BACK PIECES, with the ARMS and LEGS ‘inside the body’. Match points O (at the front), points L (at back) and points M (on both sides). Sew the TUMMY & BASE PIECE to the FRONT & BACK PIECES, sew right around (without a gap).
TIP: This is a tricky seam to sew so use LOTS of pins so the pieces don’t slip as you sew. Take your time as you sew. Sew with the TUMMY & BASE PIECES down.
ASSEMBLY:
STEP 25
Turn the bear right sides out through the turning gap. Stuff head and muzzle area first.
TIP: Make sure the MUZZLE area is nice and firmly stuffed so that it makes it easy to sew the NOSE and mouth.
STEP 25
Stuff the body firmly then sew the stuffing gap closed with a ladder stitch. Stuff the ARMS and LEGS and sew the stuffing gaps closed with a ladder stitch.
FACE:
STEP 27
If you are hand-embroidering the eyes, sew these now. Cut the NOSE PIECE from felt and pin this in position. Sew the mouth, hiding the starting and finishing knots under the felt of the nose. Using the photo to guide you:
- Sew into the MUZZLE at A and come out at B.
- Making sure you keep the mouth stitches rounded, sew back in at C and come out at D.
- Sew back in at B and come out at A to create the “smile”.
- To create the long downward stitch from the nose, sew back in at B and come out at A.
- Finish off with a knot.
Sew the NOSE in place with embroidery thread and a blanket stitch.
TIP: If the toy is for a young child use embroidery thread to hand embroider eyes using a satin stitch. instead of craft eyes. I have a post about toy safety on my blog with more toy safety tips and guidelines.
Your Keepsake Bear is ready to LOVE!
Come join the fun on Facebook!
I LOVE to see how your Funky Friends toys turn out!
If you sew lovely keepsake with this pattern – come show them off ~>
post a photo on my Funky Friends Factory Facebook page for me to see and YOU could win a FREE PATTERN!
Till next time,
Happy Sewing,
Pauline
