How to Make Your Own Christmas Sweater With a Teddy Bear
A festive homemade teddy bear Christmas sweater is created by using an iron on transfer, appliques and a few basic sewing skills. To create a wash and wear sweater it is important to use a machine washable sweater, and good applique material. Canvas fabric is a great choice for appliques, because the fabric is pliable but firm enough to retain its shape as it is being worked with. It is also completely washable. The wash and wear Christmas sweater is nice enough for special occasions, but its wash and wear design is perfect for daily wear, as well.
Things You'll Need
- Transfer pencil
- Tracing paper
- Iron
- Solid color sweater
- Scissors
- Canvas, assorted colors
- White fuzzy fur trim
- Quilters spray adhesive
- Needle
- Thread, various colors
- Embroidery floss, assorted colors
- Christmas tree applique
- Braided gold trim
Instructions
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1
Draw a 12-inch tall line drawing of a seated teddy bear wearing a Santa's hat onto tracing paper. Keep the outer figure lines simple. A completed bear has several features. His body is black. The bottoms of his feet are black with dark brown ovals in the center. The center of his chest is defined with a dark brown oval that covers some of his chest area. The Christmas bear wears a Christmas shirt, so make sure you draw the outer lines of the shirt onto the tracing paper, too.
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2
Lay the tracing paper, pencil side down, onto the center of the black canvas. Iron on the image. Apply firm pressure as you move the iron across the paper. Cut out the bear.
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3
Determine the dimensions for the detailed elements. They will piece together on top of the black canvas bear. Cut out the bear's shirt, hat, stomach and feet details from colored canvas. Use red for his hat area, dark brown for his lighter fur sections, and medium green for his shirt. Set the sections aside.
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4
Spray the back of the bear with quilter's adhesive, and then carefully lay the bear onto the center of the sweater. Whip stitch the edges of the bear in place with black embroidery floss. Spray the back of the light brown pieces with adhesive and place them onto the bear's chest and feet. Add adhesive to the back side of the bear's green shirt and Santa's hat. Attach them in place. Secure the bear's shirt and other details with a whip stitch.
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Cut a section of fuzzy white fur that is slightly larger than the hat brim. Apply spray adhesive to the back of the fur, and then carefully attach it to the hat. Add stitching to secure it in place. Cut a small round section of fuzzy white fur and attach it to the end of the Santa's hat.
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Select store-bought embroidered eyes, nose and Christmas tree pieces. Spray the back of the embroidered pieces with the spray adhesive. Carefully place the eyes and nose onto the teddy bear's face. Stitch the bear's mouth and nose onto his face with light brown embroidery floss. Add the Christmas tree to the center of the teddy bear's shirt. Stitch the store bought pieces in place. Attach golden braid trim to the bottom of the teddy bear's shirt, his neckline and to the ends of his shirt sleeves.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
