Crafting: July 2012 Archives
Lately, I've had a hankering to make a few, so I thought I'd test out Kwik Sew 3246. It has two different sizes of bears, and I chose the smaller of the two, which still comes in at an impressive 20 inches, so it's not exactly tiny.
I chose to make one version in Doux Cotton Velvet, and one in an upholstery-grade Antique Cotton Velvet, which is meant to withstand a lot of rubbing -- perfect for a cuddly stuffed bear!
I have made plush toys before, with varied results. Assembling them always takes more time than I expect it to. These took about three hours each, give or take. That being said, I had greater success with this pattern than with other plush patterns I have tried, and some of that slowness is admittedly born of the fact that I usually stitch apparel, so craft sewing is not my most practiced arena.
I will tell you this, the inside of a teddy bear is not pretty. Behold:
Once you flip it, things get a little better, but it's still a little dicey in the cuteness category. Those threads you see dangling are are attached to the eyes on the inside, and they're used to mold the face a bit once the bear's stuffed.
Here's the closeup on the Doux Cotton Velvet bear. I didn't end up doing a whole lot of shaping on the face, because I preferred it a little more au naturel.
Here is the face of the Antique Cotton Velvet bear. You can tell from these close up shots that my chin piecing technique needs some work. These guys both look a little dejected.
Here are my two bears, all assembled and ready for huggin'! 
Now that I have two under my belt, my mind is whirring with ideas. I want to make a feline version with pointy ears and a long tail. Maybe for Halloween. These would also be fantastic baby gifts, especially if you embroidered the baby's name and birth date on the feet.
Now my biggest question is: What should I name these guys?
I felt instantly head over heels for July's blog of the month, Dixie DIY, when I read her About page. It was a very "Jerry Maguire" moment; she had me at "quick, lazy and cheap". These 3 words I often use to describe myself though I try to throw in a "classically chic" when I think I might be overheard. Dixie has a penchant for crafting and telling it how it is. I love to read blogs that fit those 2 criteria. Dixie's blog is beautiful and easy to navigate. Her sidebar skills will blow you away. There you can find her own patterns, posts on other patterns she has made, projects made from scraps (hip hip hooray!), and craft tutorials. I mean, what more could you ask from a craft blog! Dixie claims that in order to finish projects quick she will over look details to get the job done. I say she is too hard on herself because from where I sit, the details are amazing especially on her Dia de los Wallet (see picture below). I especially love the old-timey feel of her pictures. They are quite good but also have a vintage feel to them that is refreshing and interesting. What is most mind-blowing are her ideas for modifying clothing. Dixie's Crochet Applique Little Black Dress is to die for (I want it in my closet right now). She has also made a bra with tips which is quite encouraging since this is a project I have always wanted to try. All Dixie's blog post are well labeled so you can easily find skirt, tops, dress and also feature the pattern company and number so you can Google it easily.
One section of Dixie DIY you don't want to miss is the Restyle page. It is full of ways to rework your wardrobe. My favorite is the gold tipped shoes. Don't forget to check out Dixie's current project: A Kwik Sew Ruched Halter Swimsuit. This is part 5 of a multi part series on swim wear that you don't want to miss. Dixie DIY can also be found on Burdastyle, Etsy, Sewing Pattern Review and Pinterest.
