Teddy for Deb

Since Debra is an amazingly creative soul I thought that she

would enjoy watching me create her teddy:

This is her beloved mother's mink stole 

ready to be transformed into a huggable teddy bear.

As you can see, I have removed the lining 

the pelt is in very good condition

it is a thin pelt which will make it easier for me to hand sew.

The only complication that I see is that the stole is small

and the pelt strips are narrow:

at the widest point it is only about 2 1/2 inches

the narrowest end is 2 inches.

Why is this an issue? 

I need to fit my pattern piece within this 2 to 2 1/2 inch area.

It does not matter so much for the body or limbs to have "ridges"

caused by going over ... but we definitely do not want 

a head with ridges.

Next step is to choose one of my patterns that will work

... but I will probably still have to make some adjustments to it.

Update July 10

This is the pattern that I think will fit 

within my space limitations. 

Of course, I will make the adjustments to change

the pattern from a panda to a teddy bear.

I think this bear stands at 10 or 11 inches

which is probably as big as I can make

with the pelt strip width limitations.

I designed this pattern in 2007 and this is still

one of my favorite patterns.  I call this pattern "Hugs".

Update July 12

I didn't do any sewing on Friday because it was my day with Mom. She is 91 and it takes all day to do her grocery shopping because she walks with a walker and a cane ... but she is still walking and that's the most important thing. We ended our shopping day with visiting my dad's grave site. My mom had a good day.

I took my Hugs panda pattern and made
a Hugs teddy bear pattern

There is a strip of leather between
the pelts of leather

The head pattern is too big for
the width of the pelt

Solution to problem: divide the
head pattern in an area that
won't be too obvious

Next step: I will make the head first ... if the head turns out good then I will continue on to the rest of the body. If I have problems with the head then I will still have enough good pelt to make another head.

But I won't get much sewing done today because today is Saturday. Saturday is the day that I spend with my husband. My husband is a man that loves his "routine". We start our Saturday with our Tai Chi Chuan class, after class we go to the ReStore (the Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store) where I always find good "junk" to use in my garden, then we go to our local Saturday Farmer's Market to buy our locally grown fruits and vegetables. Then we end the morning with lunch at The Habit Burger. Since I am a Pescetarian (the only meat I eat is fish) I get their Garden salad with fresh grilled tuna. Of course since this is our regular Saturday routine everyone knows us at all of the places we go ... yeah, it makes me feel like an "old person" sometimes to follow such a set routine but it's also nice to be recognized and acknowledged by the same people who eventually become our "Saturday Friends".

Update July 16

 I am happy with the head ... so now I can make the body.

To see the finished teddy please CLICK HERE