Monday, April 23, 2012

Make It Monday: Round Bear and free pattern!

Round Bear is an adaptation of a crocheted amigurumi bear I saw somewhere. It stuck in my mind, so I had to try it in felt. Follow along and you'll have your own right away. It only took me 30 minutes from start to finish!


Supplies:
sewing machine (optional)
needle and thread that matches your felt
felt scraps
something for eyes (I used flat marbles)
embroidery thread in contrasting color
fiberfill

First thing is go get something to drink, turn on you favorite soap, and sit down with your felt scraps in front of you. Can you see your tv program? Good. You can keep up with Sam and Taylor as you make your  new little friend.

Pin all the pattern pieces to appropriate pieces of felt. Since felt doesn't have a right and wrong side, nor grain lines, it's easy to fit the pieces onto some scraps.

Cut out the pattern pieces in the quantities indicated.

Starting with the head, first sew the darts on the front of the head and on the back of the head. Place both pieces right sides together, and pin. Stitch all the way around, leaving gaps to insert arms and leaving the bottom open. Turn right side out and set aside.



Pin two arms pieces together and stitch, leaving ends open. Do the other two arm pieces the same way. Turn right side out and stuff only the "hand." 

Sew across the "arm" about half way down. This will make the "elbow" so the arm will bend more naturally.

Next, do the same thing with both legs, sewing around the edge and leaving the end open. Stuff, turn, and sew "knee."

The last pieces to sew are the ears. You will do them exactly like you did the arms and legs, but don't stuff them. There is enough thickness in the felt alone to make a nicely shaped ear. Stuffing the ears would make them look more like horns (though if that's the look you're going for, by all means stuff away!).

ASSEMBLING THE ROUND BEAR

Insert the arms into gaps left on the head/body and stitch. I just used a whip stitch, but you can use a ladder stitch if the visible stitches bother you. If you will be giving this toy as a gift to a child under 3, please insert safety eyes now. (Follow manufacturer's instructions.)

Stuff the head firmly. Insert the legs and sew the gap shut. Attach buttons, googley eyes or flat marbles with hot glue (alternatively, you can sew the buttons on).

Embroider the nose/mouth and you're done! How cute is that??!

Oh, yeah. I promised you the pattern, didn't I? Well, here it is! Just click on the image to download.


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