How to Make a Chenille Bedspread Bear

Chenille bedspreads are like a warm hug from Grandma. Craft a chenille bear using a chenille bedspread and have a daily reminder of Grandma's hug. This bear uses minimal sewing skills, in fact, you won't even need a sewing machine. The whole thing is hand sewn and hot glued and very quick to assemble.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chenille bedspread
• Compass
• Scissors
• Hand sewing needle
• Heavy thread
• 3 buttons each 5/8 of an inch
• Glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Wide ribbon
• Stuffing

1. Using the compass, trace on the chenille bedspread and cut out one 16-inch circle for the body, one 10 1/2-inch circle for the head, four 7-inch circles for the hands and feet and three 4" circles for the ears and nose.

2. Sew a large running stitch around the edge of each circle. Gather circles and stuff firmly. Close the opening.

3. Using the glue gun, apply a lot of glue to the gathered stitches of the chenille bears body. Set the chenille head on top of the chenille body with the gathered stitches in the glue. Squish it together tightly until the glue has cooled.

4. Position the hands a couple of inches apart just below the neck. Apply glue to the gathers on the chenille hands and put in place. Squish it together tightly until the glue has cooled.

5. Position the feet right below the hands and slightly further apart. Apply glue to the gathers on the chenille feet and put in place. Squish it together tightly until the glue has cooled.

6. Position the nose on the front of the head. Apply glue over the gathers and put in place. Squish together tightly until glue has cooled.

7. Position the ears on top of the head. Apply glue over the gathers and put in place. Squish together tightly until the glue has cooled.

8. Glue a button to the tip of the nose and the remaining two buttons above the nose for the eyes.

9. Tie wide ribbon around the bears neck and into a bow. Trim the ends.

Tips & Warnings

• You only get one chance to glue the parts in place. Hot glue is not very forgiving if you choose to move anything around. Be sure it is where you want it the first time.
• Wide strips of fabric are a wonderful alternative to wide ribbon.
• If the bear is for a young child who will be playing with it, be sure to sew the buttons on tightly or use felt in place of the buttons.