How to Buy Teddy Bear-Making Supplies

Whether you're making a bear from scratch or repairing an old buddy, it's worth a bit of extra effort to get the right supplies.

Things You'll Need

• Bear-making Kits
• Embroidery Needles
• Embroidery Threads
• Stuffing Material
• Teddy Bear Eyes
• Teddy Bear Fabrics
• Teddy Bear Joint Sets
• Teddy Bear Patterns
• Dressmaker Pins
• Heavy-duty Threads
• Sewing Threads
• Tapestry Needles
• Thimbles
• Scissors
• Awl
• Needle-nose Pliers

Instructions

1. Define your project. This will entail figuring out what kind of bear you have (if it's a repair) or what kind you want to make (jointed, stiff, floppy, etc.).

2. Figure out what kind of supplies you will need. Variables include joints, consistency of stuffing (do you want a floppy bear or one that can stand?), synthetic fur vs. real fur (mohair, for example), embroidered or glass eyes, embroidered or appliqued nose.

3. Find out what kind of resources are available in your area - for example, Spare Bear, a prominent supplier of bear parts and supplies, lists local suppliers and trained technicians in all states on its Web site (sparebear.com).

Tips & Warnings

• Serious bear makers take their work very much to heart - for them, questions of synthetic fur vs. real fur are very important. But the simple beanbag bear you make for your niece or nephew with love is just as significant.

• If the bear that needs repair is an antique or valuable collectible, it's probably a good idea to take it to a professional. Bears are sometimes harder to work on than they look, especially if they're jointed and tightly stuffed.