How to Make Heirloom Teddy Bears

Description

Teddy bears are an iconic symbol of childhood. They are often our first and best-loved toys right through to adulthood, often passed on to our own children to enjoy. This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide takes you into the magical world of teddy bear making and shows you how to create your own traditional bear to hand down through the generations. The book begins with a short history of the teddy bear, followed by detailed information on tools, materials and essential bear-making techniques. There's guidance on finding design inspiration, and three complete step-by-step projects to get you started. There's then detailed guidance on how to create different eyes, ears, noses and mouths to give your bear a unique personality, and sewn outfits to dress them in. The book ends with notes on care and repair, ensuring your treasured creation will last a lifetime.

Bestselling author of How to make Little Felt Animals, Sue Quinn has been designing and making teddy bears and other animals since childhood. After moving to Scotland she developed her range and sold to small shops in the area. She named the business Dormouse Designs, as one of her first creatures was a small felt mouse called Timothy. Her collectible bears are now so sought-after that Sue's work can be found in teddy bear museums in Britain, Japan and collections worldwide. Sue lives in Kilbarchan, Scotland.

Beautiful pictures and great instructions, I've begun making my first bear and he's coming together well! Can't wait to keep making more, what a great book! It comes with patterns and a tips on how to personalize your bears along with clear instructions on the techniques you need to use. -- Rebecca Ridyard * Customer Review * Wow. What a fantastic book. Ideal for beginners or more experienced makers alike. The included patterns are clear and easy to trace off if you don't want to spoil the book. I will make two bears, a boy and a girl, as heirlooms for my two grand children. Very highly recommended -- Jane Dunkley * Customer Review * Fabulous book for those who love making teddy bears. Well illustrated and written with many ways to tweak your bear to make it unique. Love the clothing templates and the use of different fabrics to make the bears. Can't wait to get started -- Suan Watts * Customer Review * The cover of this book has a really inspiring vintage style picture featuring a bear with a beautiful face. The binder is extreamly clear it will stand out on any shelf making it easy to find. The information in this book takes you on a journey from the origin of teddy bears through to making and dressing your own heirloom bear and also includes simple restoration of and old loved bear. The instructions are very clear and include many photographic illustrations and tips on construction of the bear. The patterns are full size so bear making can begin straight away- how exciting! Sue Quinn's little characters all have such adorable faces who wouldn't want to make one of their very own.....if not all three and then more! This book is a must for every bear makers shelf. -- Gaye Parker * Customer Review * An enchanting book which begins with a brief history of teddy bears and their origins. It goes on to reveal lots of facts about the making of teddies and gives very useful and inspiring hints, tips and ideas about how to make your own teddy bears, the tools required and essential techniques. This beautifully bound, colourful book contains templates and step by step instructions and templates to make teddy bears in three sizes for you to enjoy making, to keep or if you can bare to, give to friends and family which themselves could become much loved heirlooms. Sue even suggests making clothes for your bears and provides templates for these too. This is a must have book for any toy/teddy enthusiast and beginners alike. Learn how to make your heirloom bear and how to care for it, so that it brings joy for many years to come. I can't wait to make them for my grandsons. -- Jan Buckley * Customer Review * This is an amazing book, It is clear this author is passionate about making these bears. The book is very well laid out. very clear and beautifully presented, plenty of pictures with step by step taking you through every stage, including placing the eyes and features. Full size templates at the back of the book even for the clothes. How to repair old bears is also covered. You do not have to be a seasoned toy maker, this book encourages those who have wanted to or have never even thought of making one to make one. A really easy to follow book. A must have for any crafter who likes sewing. The ideal gift for someone or yourself. If you only want one book on this subject this is it. My book came from Search press art & craft books, a wonderful array of craft books for those wishing to give or buy for themselves. -- Kim Williams * Customer Review * I'm so thrilled with this book, I've been a collector of Sue Quinn's bears and woodland creatures for years so would have bought this book for the wonderful photos and illustrations alone but it's so much more than that, I've had a bear making kit for a while now but hadn't started it because I needed clear guidance, this book gives me that with clear photographed step by step instructions in every stage of making a bear, also a section on making clothes and ageing bears as well as instructions for repairing old bears, I also love the sections throughout the book on collectors of Sue's bears, even if you don't know or collect Sue's bears this is the best book I've seen for making a bear from scratch, it also contains templates for the bears shown, all in all a wonderful book to get if you want to make teddy bears or are just a collector who wants to know how to care for your bears xx -- Sue Griffiths * Customer Review * Who does not love a teddy? This is a comprehensive guide to making your own heirloom bears. Discover the tools and materials, know-how and techniques to get make your own bears. Full-sized templates are included for the step-by-step projects. See how to create features and clothing to give teddy some character. This book is full of inspiration. Care and repair are also included. Superb book for any bear fanatic. * Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *