Introducing Theodore Edward Bear

Here he is, all 17 1/2 inches high.  He has been made from a faux suede and fleece child's gilet that Ivan found at the bottom of his work ragbag.  He had to be handsewn, as the sewing machine flatly refused to have anything to do with it.  His head and paws have plastic joints in them, so that he is posable, and he was incredibly good fun to make.

His little waistcoat has been made from the offcuts of Harris Tweed Tartan that I used for Ivan's tablet case, and has been lined with a all over rose patterned red cotton quilting fabric.  The buttons are mother of pearl and there are snap fasteners stitched underneath.

I'm really pleased with him, and he is going to be the first item in my Folksy shop, once I get it set up, I hope, fingers crossed. 

Now all I need is to find other pre-loved fabrics that I can turn into Teddies.  I'm considering making one from leather, although it will have to be the very old and soft type.  Watch this space.

Teddy Bears

This is Victor Wilfred Bear, sporting his natty red ribbon tie.  He is currently sitting in the shop window at The Sewing Space in Hythe, Kent.  His sister, Jessica Bear, turned out to be camera shy (forgot to photograph her)  and is sitting at the back of the shop in amongst the display of beautifully patched and quilted baby quilts made from the same brushed cotton material.  Lovely stuff to work with as it has a little bit of stretch that makes it easy to manipulate on the fiddly bits, like sewing the head and body together via the neck edge which is about an inch wide, making it tricky going on the sewing machine. 

Ivan, has a ragbag at work (painting and decorating technician at a local college) and the tutors often donate outgrown children's clothes to it.  He was given a very nice suede and fleece look child's body warmer, far too nice to chop up, so it has made it's way back to the recycling emporium that is my home, and will be turned into a much larger teddy, hopefully, so long as there is enough fabric.  If not I can see a nice suede effect bag appearing. 

Finished Objects at long last

I have finally finished the Fairisle tank top (sleeveless top) that I have been working on since end of February, and here it is:
                                                                  
I haven't been able to deliver it to the customer yet as she has been unable to get into Hythe to collect it.                                     

Fairisle Sleeveless Top knitted in Rowan Pure Wool

It was Ivan's birthday last Tuesday, and he has bought himself a Tablet at last, so I made him a case to go with it

The outer case is made from Harris Tweed Tartan, and it is wadded and lined with brown cotton.  The whole case is then bound with bias binding made from the same cotton, and then I cannibalised a new belt to create the clasp.  I have a gizmo that attaches eyelets to whatever, which obviously incorporates two different sized punches to create the holes for the eyelets to go into.  I used this to make holes in the leather around the outside and then sewed it into place.  I did consider riveting the belt to the case, but decided that the rivets could scratch the tablet inside.  Ivan loves it, and I think it looks very masculine.

I'm in the middle of making Teddies at the moment.  Little ones with semi-stuffed legs so that they sit independently.  I've just finished one made with a fat quarter of VW campervan cotton. He is going to be called Victor Wilfred Bear, and I will get round to taking his mugshot, probably tomorrow.