Galloping Free Pattern

Instructions for Making a Tiny Teddy

by Denise Ilmanen

907 Sunnybrae Lane, Novato, CA 94947*415-898-1427*email:

Supplies needed: Upholstery velvet, ultrasuede, template plastic, needle, pins, paper brad, 2 pop rivet washers, regular sewing thread, heavy duty thread, embroidery floss, polyfil, 2 small-ish beads (or

2 mm onyx beads if you have some), bamboo stick for stuffing (or other implement you like to use), very sharp, small scissors, silk ribbon or other ribbon of your choice for the bear's neck.

Bear parts:

2 head pieces 2 outer arms (longer) 4 leg pieces

1 head gusset 2 inner arms (shorter) 2 foot pads

2 ear pieces 2 paw pads 2 body pieces

Transfer the pattern (located at the end of these instructions) to the template plastic and cut out. Trace pattern pieces (except feet and paws) onto the wrong side of the upholstery velvet. Trace the paw pads and foot pads onto the ultrasuede. Cut out all pieces just inside the line.

All pieces are sewn with right sides (fur sides) together using a double or single strand of thread (whichever you are more comfortable with). Use backstitch for all seams, sewing approximately 1/16" from raw edge.

HEAD: Sew head pieces from point A (base of neck) to B (tip of nose). Do not cut the thread! Stitch gusset to one head piece from tip of nose to back of neck. Repeat for other side of gusset.

LEGS: Sew back of legs, from point A to B, then from point C to D, leaving an opening where indicated.

FOOT PADS: Insert foot pad into bottom opening of leg. If necessary, secure with pins in seam allowances to hold placement. Stitch around foot pad. Repeat for other leg.

ARMS: Sew a paw pad to each of the inner arm pieces. Sew inner arm pieces to corresponding outer arm pieces from points A to B, leaving open where indicated.

BODY: Sew around body from points A to B, leaving open where indicated.

EARS: Fold circle in half and stitch around the curve.

Carefully turn all pieces right side out (except for the ears - we'll do those later) using hemostats or tweezers. Using small bits of polyfil, stuff head beginning with nose. Be sure to stuff nose firmly so you have a solid base on which to embroider later.

When fully stuffed, run a gathering stitch around the neck edge but don't pull up tight yet. Slip one washer over the prongs of the paper brad and insert in head with prongs hanging out of the neck. Now pull up gathering threads, taking a few more stitches around the neck before knotting. Do not cut the thread!

EYES: Bring threaded needle up to place you want one of the eyes to be. Take a small stitch about 1/8" across eye area and bring needle back out through neck. Pull thread tightly to make an eye socket.

Secure with a knot and bring needle up to other side; make another eye socket and knot securely at neck. Bring needle back up to one eye socket and cut thread near the needle, leaving two long strands of thread. Re-thread one of the strands and bring needle out at other eye socket; remove needle. You now have one strand of thread hanging out of each eye socket. Thread an onyx bead onto each thread, now re-thread needle and secure bead, coming out at neck. Knot and cut thread.

ATTACHING HEAD TO BODY: Push the prongs protruding from the head into the top of the body. By carefully wiggling the head you can ease the prongs past your stitches and into the body. Place the remaining washer over the prongs inside the body. Using your hemostats curl the prongs over the washer. Stuff the body and close with a ladder stitch.

STUFFING ARMS & LEGS and JOINING TO BODY: Stuff all arm and leg pieces and close with a ladder stitch. Select placement of arms & legs by running a long pin or needle through them and the bear's body. When satisfied with location you have chosen, use a marking pen to make a small dot where pins exit and enter body, and the pin locations on the insides of the arms and legs. Thread needle with single strand of carpet or upholstery thread. Insert needle anywhere in body near a leg area, sink knot, and bring needle out at a leg mark. Insert needle into one leg, taking a small sideways stitch on the inside of the leg, making sure to have the correct leg on the correct side of the body. Reinsert the needle into the body and come out at other leg mark on the body. Repeat the process, and finish with an invisible knot. Do the same for the arms.

EARS: Cut open on the fold, stopping short of the seam. Turn right side out. Select placement by pinning ears on head in different positions. Find one you like. You'll notice how your bear's look changes depending upon where you place the ears. Sew onto head using whip stitch.

NOSE & MOUTH: Using embroidery thread (or silk thread if you have it), stitch a nose and mouth on your bear.