Thursday, February 23, 2012

Hello, Bearlo


Unfortunately, it is sometimes so exciting to make toys for younger kids, that it's easy to forget that older kids like toys, too.  Joanna was more than a little jealous to see the bunny I made for Josh and the dinosaur I made for Arlo.  When I saw the Barnaby Bear pattern in Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders, I knew it would be just the thing for Joanna.  I had plenty of soft corduroy and fleece left over from a previous pattern.  We named him Bearlo, after her new cousin Arlo.  She's quite taken with him (the bear and the baby).


Even though this bear is for an eleven year-old, I decided to hand-embroider the eyes, instead of using plastic eyes or buttons.  I like the look just as well, and there is no possible way the eyes will fall off.  Anyone who is making this project for a very small child should be sure to hand stitch the eyes - anything plastic could potentially fall off.


If there is any advice that I have for others making this same project, it would be to make sure you don't over-stuff the arms and legs.  It will be much less of a headache to finish assembling the bear if he isn't super full.

Josh says that he would like a bear for himself, and I'll happily make one when I have more corduroy (or possibly velveteen!!!).  But for now, there are clearly no hard feelings.

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