Make Your Own Teddy Bear

If you want to make your own teddy bear, there are many options open to you. The teddy bear is a staple of childhood, and making one for someone can be a very powerful gesture. It can be a milestone for a child in your life and accompany them for years, or it can be a gift for an adult.

A homemade teddy bear for an adult can be a reminder of their childhood, or just a tender thought.

The Basics

Of course, the first thing you need to do when you make your own teddy bear is to find a pattern that you like. There are hundreds of patterns available free online for you to make your own teddy bear, ranging from beginner to advanced skills. Make sure that you get a pattern that you can handle. Too many people get patterns that are too advanced for their abilities and get frustrated with it.

Once you have your pattern picked out, it is time to choose your materials. Find something that you like but that is easy to work with. You don,t want to be getting mad at the material or your sewing machine!

Make sure you get enough material to do the job. This may not be a whole lot, but there is a good chance it is going to be more than you expect, so double check your measurements.

Remember to refer to the instructions frequently as you make your own teddy bear. This way you are less likely to make mistakes, and if you do make them you will catch them early.

Cut out the pieces for your bear, making sure to work with the pattern on the material if there is one. To make sewing them together easier, try and lay the pieces out either in a bear shape on a table, or in the order that you are going to need them.

Sew the pieces together according to the instructions, add the eyes and nose, and stuff. Your bear should now be ready for giving.

Make Them Fun and Funky!

Who says your homemade teddy bear has to be brown and just fuzzy enough to be cuddly? Why not make your own teddy bear with ultra-long purple hair?

There are so many fun materials out there, it seems a shame to only make "normal" teddy bears. If you go to a store that sells stuffed animals, there is a good chance that you will see all different colors of bears, and they will have different types of fur.

If you are making this bear for yourself, make it how you want it. Who cares if it isn't "the norm?" That’s the charm of making your own stuffed animals. If you are making the bear for someone else, personalize it to them.

You could easily make your own teddy bear in a certain color in order to match the recipient’s favorite or a certain room in their home. For boys you could use a material with a sports or cowboy theme, for girls you could use a princess or floral theme. While a material may not seem like something you would use for a bear, that doesn’t mean you can't use it. Just try and make sure that the material is pliable and durable enough to be used for the pattern you are making.

The more fun and unique a homemade teddy bear is, the more likely it is to be treasured for years.

Use Recycled Materials to Make Your Own Teddy Bear

Something that many people are starting to do is to seek out old materials to make their homemade teddy bear out of. While this may not always work, it may be worth looking into.

If you are interested in trying this, thrift and secondhand stores are a great place to start. You can often find old curtains and blankets that can be cut up and sewn into stuffed animals. You may even find old battered stuffed toys that can be taken apart and reused to stuff your bear or make new patchwork bears.

Keep in mind that some clothing can be good to make a homemade teddy bear out of. You may be able to cut the pattern out of clothing or use soft clothing to partially stuff the bear. If you are making the bear for a child who just outgrew their favorite pajamas or something similar, see if you can't incorporate bits of those favorite clothes into the outside of the bear.

We hope you enjoyed our "make your own teddy bear" suggestions. If you've made your own bear, or have other suggestions you want to share, we'd love to hear from you below.