How to Re-Stuff a Teddy Bear

Has your teddy bear suffered some damage? Or is he showing his age? Here is a moderately easy method to re-stuff your bear. This method also works when you have to give your teddy bear a thorough washing...sometimes you just have to make a slit and take the stuffing out completely, replacing it with fresh stuffing. The key is in the Ladder Stitch, which (if done correctly) forms a virtually invisible seam, no matter where the seam is needed on your teddy bear.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• teddy bear in need of re-stuffing
• stuffing, such as polyester fibrefill (available at craft stores or Wal-Mart's fabric department)
• needle
• strong thread to match the teddy bear's fur colour
• very sharp scissors

1. Begin by practicing the Ladder Stitch on a piece of scrap fabric. The right sides (i.e. front sides of the fabric) should be facing you.
   
   1. Butt the ends of the fabric that you want to join together. Allow them to slightly turn under, toward the wrong side (i.e. the inside of the teddy bear).
   
   2. Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric to the front at point A.
   
   3. Point B is directly above point A. Insert needle at point B, coming up again at point C.
   
   4. Point D is directly below point C. Insert needle at point D, coming up again at point E.
   
   5. Follow this pattern right to the end. Pull the stitches tightly, then tie a knot and clip the thread.
2. Let's take this step by step with an actual teddy bear, to make it more clear. I am using a miniature teddy bear, but of course this works for any size. Throughout, I am using a very dark, contrasting thread so that you will be able to see my stitches. You should choose a thread that matches your teddy bear's fur, or is a shade or two darker.
3. If your teddy bear already has a gaping hole or a split seam, then you can skip the steps involving opening a seam.
   
   Sometimes you will need to open up a teddy bear and remove its stuffing - such as if it begins to smell bad, or if you want to give the toy a very thorough washing.
   
   Begin by using your sharp scissors to clip a single thread along an existing seam. If you can't find an existing seam, try the back of the part you want to re-stuff. It's okay to make a small incision in the bear, even if it doesn't end up on a seam line. Just try to make it straight up and down (vertical), and not jagged.
4. Use your needle to pick the next stitch, then the next, opening up your teddy bear.
5. Here is my mini teddy bear, re-stuffed and ready to have his seam closed.
   
   If you are washing your bear, make sure it is completely dry before re-stuffing, then move on to Step 6 to begin closing the opening.
6. Now we begin the LADDER STITCH that you practiced at Step 1. I work from left to right, as I find it easier (being right-handed). You can work from the other direction, if you wish; just reverse all directional instructions.
   
   Thread your needle and knot one end. Insert the needle from the inside of the bear to the outside, at a point on the seamline, and a little beyond the end of the opening. Where the needle comes out will be Point A.
   
   Insert the needle at a point directly below Point A, coming up a short way to the left of where the needle went in. This will be Point B and Point C. SEE THE DIAGRAM AT STEP 1 if you are at all confused.
7. Insert the needle in the fabric directly above Point C, coming up a short way to the left of where the needle went in. These are Point D and Point E.
8. Insert the needle in the fabric directly below Point E, coming up a short way to the left of where the needle went in. These are Point F and Point G.
9. Follow the same pattern to make a stitch at Point H and Point I.
10. Continue in this pattern all the way to the end of the opening, and beyond it for a couple of stitches.
    
    On your final stitch, bring the needle up directly on the seamline rather than slightly above or below it, where most of the stitches have been made.
11. I like to turn the bear before pulling the stitches closed, so that I can continue working to the left.
    
    Press the needle's side along the stitches, as shown. Press downward, so that the stitches are being pushed toward the inside of the bear, and the edges of the fabric are tending to roll slightly inward.
    
    As you press, pinch the sides together. At this point, your pinched fingers should be concealing most of the stitching. Keep pinching as you lift or slide the needle back out.
    
    NOTE that in the photo, I have not pinched the sides - I wanted to make sure you saw what the needle would be doing.
12. Finally, while still pinching, pull the thread tightly. The stitches should just "disappear" into the seam, as in the photo.
    
    Knot the thread end around one of the seam's original stitches, or make a small knot by catching in some of the nearby fabric.
    
    After knotting, insert the needle through the bear from the point where the knot is, and out the other side of the bear. Clip thread very close to the exit point. If you pull the thread just before you cut, it should disappear into the teddy bear's insides.
13. Here is a photo of the happily re-stuffed teddy bear!
    
    If you encounter any problems, or have difficulty following these directions, please feel free to message me!