The first thing you need to do when making a teddy bear is to find a pattern that you like which can be a challenge in itself as there are many choose from ranging from beginner to advanced skills.
Teddy bear making is one of my favorite homemade crafts. The two below are easy for beginners and created using very easy to handle patterns that can be made over and over again with different fabrics and materials, rather than extra levels of difficulty.
I mean, 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, that would make a lovely creative homemade gift. There are so many fun materials out there; it seems a shame to only make “normal” teddy bears.
The Simple Route – Teddy Bear Kits
The two bears below were a lot of fun to make and I would recommend having a go at making one from scratch. But if you want to start off with something a little simpler or if you are looking for a nice craft gift then a kit might be the best option.
There’s a huge selection of teddy bear kits and patterns on at places like Amazon to help you or your child make a fantastic teddy bear at home. You can even get them as no-sew kits which are great for children or to give as gifts.
How To Make A Teddy Bear At Home From Scratch
You can find cheap material by the yard on Amazon and often old curtains and blankets will work. Even a pair of favorite pajamas that your child has just grown out of can be cut up and sewn into stuffed bear or animal. You may even find old battered stuffed toys that can be taken apart and reused to stuff your bear or make new patchwork bears.
For Little Ted I’m useing a long thick fur, the great thing about using long fur (apart from looking wonderful of course) is that it doesn’t show up any flaws so the stitching doesn’t have to be perfect, which is good news because such thick fur can be hard work for a sewing machine, so I normally stitch this one up by hand. When using any other fur or fabric I would normally use a sewing machine.
How To Make Little Ted
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Ingredients
- Fake Fur (or cotton fabric Material – 3/8 yard)
- Polyester Fiberfill
- Teddy Bear Eyes (1/4 inch, or use buttons)
- Plastic Nose (or embroidery floss)
- Embroidery Floss (for the mouth – optional)
- Cotton Thread
- Fabric Ribbon
- Cardboard (a large cereal box is good for this)
Instructions
- Print off and cut out this free teddy bear pattern teddy pattern. Place the pattern on to the cardboard and draw around it then cut it out to make the template.
- Place the fur down back side up and place the templates on to it making sure you have the fur running from top to bottom. Draw around the templates with the marker or chalk then flip the templates over and draw around them again.
- Cut out all of the four pieces (two backs and two fronts). This pattern has been made to allow 1/4 inch seams. With right sides together, pin or tack the 2 front pieces together. Sew the two front pieces together; start at from the top of the bears head, down his nose, and finish at the start of the legs (see pins in pic). Repeat with back sections, but leave an opening in the middle of the back as shown in pattern (see middle pins in pic).
- Clip the curves (this helps to stop any puckering when you turn the bear right side out)
- If you are using a plastic shanked nose and eyes, attach them now.
- Pin and sew the front and back pieces together (wrong side out). You should have a space in the centre back to stuff and flip right way out.
- Turn bear right sides out, you may find it easier to use the handle of a wooden spoon in the arms and legs to push them out.
- Stitch along ear marks as shown on the pattern. Stuff the teds head with Fiberfill, using sufficient stuffing to give character to muzzle area. Once again a wooden spoon handle will come in handy here.Tie off the head area with strong thread by wrapping the thread around the neck of the bear and knotting it, this will be vitally unnoticeable later and can be covered by a ribbon. Stuff both arms and legs (using wood spoon if need be) then Stitch along marks as shown on pattern. Finally, stuff body cavity and sew up the opening in the back.
- Stitch on the buttons for eyes if you have not used shanked ones. pluck out any fur that’s got trapped in the seams
- If you have not used a plastic nose you will need to plan the nose shape. You can easily create a natural looking nose by stitching a triangle on to the muzzle, and then filling it in with vertical stitches. you may find it easier to cut a triangle from a piece of black felt and then sticking it on the bear before stitching over it, this will stop any fur poking through your stitching and give the nose a neat finish. Using a (Y) shape for the nose allows you to lead down to a mouth nicely. Finally, finish your homemade teddy off with a posh new ribbon.
Kid’s First Teddy Pattern
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Ingredients
- Fabric (1/2 yard)
- Polyester Fiberfill
- Buttons (or buttons)
- Embroidery Floss (for the mouth – optional)
- Cotton Thread
- Cardboard (a large cereal box is good for this)
Instructions
- Print off and cut out this free teddy bear pattern teddy pattern. To make your teddy template, place the pattern onto a piece of cardboard (an empty cereal box is good for this) draw around it then cut it out. Place the cardboard teddy template onto the wrong side of your material, check that any pattern on the material will be running the right way down the bear, then draw around the template, flip it over and draw around it again. Cut both pieces out.
- Place both pieces on top of each other, wrong side out. Sew together leaving a gap big enough to stuff the bear.
- To help to stop any puckering when you turn the bear right side out clip around the curves of the bear.
- Turn the bear right side out. You may find it easier to use the wooden handle of a wooden spoon to push out the arms and legs.
- Stuff the bear with poly fiberfill stuffing or a soft toy stuffing of your own choice, then Sew up the gap.
- For the teds eyes, I’ve used a couple of sew on button eyes, however, if the teddy is going to a small child its best to sew on some eyes with floss. You can plan nose shape by stitching a triangle, and then fill it in with vertical stitches. Using a (Y) shape for the nose will lead down to a mouth nicely.
- Now customize your bear with some ribbon; use a bow on the head for a girl or a bow around the neck for a boy
Of course, you don’t need to be a child to have one of these cute teds; these fun little teds can make a great gift when given as a pin cushion for mum or grandma!
Did you make your own teddy bear? What pattern did you use? Comment below & Send us photos!
