Teddy Bears - Why Not Make your Own?

By: John Gibb
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:20:46
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

A really great present to get for your own child or a relative’s is a teddy bear that you’ve made yourself. Basic teddies are actually surprisingly easy to make, but you’re free to put as little or as much effort in as you want. If you spend a long time on it, you can make a teddy to rival anything put out by the big teddy manufacturers.

Although there are many fabrics and methods you can use to make a teddy, probably the best is knitting with yarn. It is easy to find yarn in a very good teddy-like shade of brown, and teddy knitting patterns are readily available all over the Internet – search for ‘teddy knitting’ to find whole sites devoted to knitting teddies and other soft animal toys.

Once you have the pattern, you need to find a good stuffing for the teddy. Cotton wool is an easy to find, cheap and soft material, but you can stuff a teddy with almost anything you want. Avoid man-made materials and stick to the natural stuff and you shouldn’t go far wrong.

When it comes to making the eyes and the nose, plastic buttons will do, but the best material to use is glass beads. Two black glass beads will give your teddy beautiful, friendly eyes, and they don’t even cost all that much from most craft stores.

To finish the teddy off, you can tie a silk bow around its body or its hair, to make it look like a really pretty present. Fix it in place with a few threads so it can’t come untied, and it can become a permanent feature of the teddy.

One warning, though: making teddies can be very addictive! Once you’ve made your first one, it’s tempting to just keep on going. But then, there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?

John Gibb is the owner of TeddyBear-information.info, For more information on Teddy Bears check out http://www.TeddyBear-information.info

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Crafts category

  • Homemade Baby Shower Favor Ideas - By: Jnet Verra
    Baby shower favors, to be exact, are keepsakes given to baby shower guests before they leave the event. These favors are a true memento to remember a wonderful affair that shows love and gratitude to the new family.
  • Carpentry: Tools and Tips - By: Jo Harris
    Basic tools used in carpentry and tips on using them
  • Steps in Creating a Personalized Miniature Doll - By: Rianne de Leon
    Miniature dolls that are personalized are fast-becoming the craze today. People are entertained to see a mini version of them - cute caricature dolls that look like them. These stuffs are popular for corporate gifts, wedding gifts for couples, and just for laughs item in your office table.
  • Laminating Your Artwork - Four Reasons For Artists to Laminate - By: Jeff McRitchie
    There are many ways that all of your precious artwork, designs, portfolios, and photographs can be ruined accidentally. This no longer has to be the case! For years, professional artists have been laminating their end products for safety and longevity. Here are some top reasons for using lamination to protect your creative craftsmanship.
  • There are different reasons why a grand parent and family portrait painting are made - By: Britney Simpson
    Most people are wanting too hard to come up with a family portrait painting. This is because the art is considered as a representation of what the family is about. Aside from leaving a legacy behind for the future generations of the family, a grandparent portrait painting is something that grandchildren will also appreciate. In some instances, your children and grandchildren looks at the painting as something your entire clan will truly be proud of. Making these masterpieces boil down to the following purposes as well:
  • Make Your Own Craft Stiffener - By: Joanne Jones
    Have you ever had a crochet project and you wanted it to hold a certain shape? An easy way for your projects to hold their shape is by using a craft stiffener. You can either buy it from the store or you can make your own. Here are a few different recipes for making your own craft stiffener.
  • Tips On Keeping Fabric Clean - By: Joanne Jones
    Whether you are doing embroidery, sewing or cross stitching, you want the finished result to look the best that it can. One key to having beautiful needlework is to keep the fabric clean. Here are some simple tips to prevent the fabric from getting dirty and how to clean if it should ever become dirty.
  • The Best Gifts for Cross Stitchers - By: Joanne Jones
    Do you know someone who loves to cross stitch, but you aren't sure of what gift to buy him or her? Don't worry. Even if you don't know what supplies they already have, it's easy to get them a gift that they are sure to love. Here are eight great gift suggestions for anyone who cross stitches.
  • Preserving Cut Flowers - By: Timothy Spencer
    As much as we adore receiving a bouquet of flowers, we would love to enjoy these blossoms for a long time. We may not avoid fresh flowers from wilting but we can definitely prolong their vase life. This article shares some tips on how to extend the shelf life of a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers.
  • Traditional Scottish Gifts - By: Michiel Van Kets
    You might find plentiful of traditional Scottish souvenirs and gift ideas that spring to mind, but none will ever be as familiar as Scottish tartan.