Now you can carry your bear with you everywhere you go!  

This unique class is designed for the intermediate to advanced bear making student, who already has a  good understanding of how a bear is put together, and  has solid hand-stitching skills.  

Students will create a fully jointed, 15 inch teddy bear shoulder purse, complete with plenty of space to house all your essential carry along items!      

Course Synopsis  

• Traditional Teddy Bear Making
• Special Joint Considerations for the Purse.
• Easy 'Antique' shading and finishing
• The body of the bear as a purse.
• Closure using a flap.  Alternate closures are also discussed.  
• Creating a  purse strap.

Supplies List

You'll need polyester fiber-fil, and thread; both regular and heavy duty in colors to match your fur.  
For those of you that do not have a kit, you'll need to purchase the following supplies:

You'll need to purchase the following supplies. 

• 1/4yd mohair fabric in a color, density and pile-length of your choice. Mohair or a woven synthetic is preferable to a synthetic plush with a knit backing. Knit back synthetics will not produce as nice of a finished bear because the intended shape 'str-e-t-c-h-e-s during stuffing. The weight of objects in your purse can also stretch the backing unless it is fully lined like genuine fur. Genuine fur is also not recommended due to the special techniques required to work with it. Again, weight within the purse and stress to the strapping can cause genuine fur to tear.
• 1 pair 10 or 12 mm glass eyes in black or a color of your choice.
• An 8 inch square of felt or ultra-suede for your paw pads. Leather, suede or lined (interfacing) cloth is also acceptable.
• Pearl cotton for the nose. You'll only need about 48-60 inches.
• A 1 inch square section of black felt
• 3 45 mm joints
• 2 55 mm joints
  I prefer to use fibre board joints with a lock nut and set screw arrangement for attaching the joint. You can use epoxy lock nut, lock nut or pop rivet joints if you like.
• A spool of polyester thread in a color to match your mohair.
• A sheet poster board for pattern template preparation and a glue stick.
• 1/8th yard of fabric that complements your mohair for the inside of your purse. The fabric should have a stable weave that resists fraying.
• 1/8th yard of cotton broadcloth or fusible interfacing to line weaker fabrics.
• 1/8th yard of quilt batting or arctic fleece to line the body of your bear. (This will give his body some 'body.')
• One large snap closure, or belt buckle closure.
• Leather cords, belting, beads, or chain for the strap of your choice as described in chapter four. (You can wait to purchase or locate this item to see which you'll like best.)
• One purse clasp closure. (Optional) again this is discussed later in the course and you shouldn't worry about purchasing this until later. You can also find old purses at thrift shops that will have suitable closures.
• 2 D rings. Available at craft or sewing supply shops. D rings should be 3/4 to 1 inch wide.
• 2 3/4 inch metal washers with a 1/8th inch diameter opening. (Or an opening small enough to accept the peg of your joints, and not so large that the nut will fall through the center hole.

Tools  

• First there is the sewing machine. 
• Second there is the pair of small sharp scissors. 
  I like to use a pair that have between a 2 and 4 inch length blade.
• You should have several hand sewing needles, in different lengths at your disposal. 
• Pins. 
• Needle nose pliers. 
• A bottle of a good quality tacky glue such as Magnatac. If you don't have any, you can buy it from Edinburgh Imports.
• A thimble. 
• A stuffing stick.
• A pair of paper cutting shears or scissors.
• A pair of heavy duty side cutters and a pair of strong hands to use them. Side cutters are meant for cutting metal wire. In this case you may need them to trim screws in your joints. Read more in the class to see if you'll need these.
• A box end ratchet or a wrench that fits around the nuts you are using in your joint sets. them. (Especially important if you purchased a kit. You'll need this tool to secure the set screw nuts.)

Course Duration: 30 days with a 15 day grace period.
Course Fee: $55.00 USD

Purchase supplies from Edinburgh Imports the official supplier of the eBearZ University!

       

You will receive a access details 1-2 days prior to the class start date.  If paying with Paypal, you will receive an automated receipt.  Please print the receipt for your records.