CHOOSING YOUR FABRIC
(Density, Style/Finish,
Pile Length, Color)
The
choice of fabrics in our inventory is so endless and sometimes overwhelming
that I thought a little bit of information to point you in the right direction
might help you to make the decision.
Makes
an extra soft, furry and fluffy teddy bear. You will not see the backing
through the fur. It is slightly challenging to work with in the seam areas
since there is more fur per square inch to sew through and the seams are
therefore thicker.
Gives
average fluffiness to your teddy. Normally the backing will not show through
the fur unless a specific finish swirls the fur to show it a bit in places.
This density is easy to work with. Since the seams are not too thick, it is
more manageable than the dense fur. This density is recommended for most bears.
Sparse
Gives
the look of an older, worn teddy. Many artists choose this density to make
their bears look well loved and a bit scraggly and antiqued. The backing will
show through the fur. A different color or shade on the backing gives a nice
contrast to the fur. It is very easy to sew with since there is not much fur to
deal with in the seams.
Our
fur comes in 3 densities. The density is the amount of fur woven in to a
specific area on the backing. For someone who is just beginning to make bears,
a regular (medium) density fur is recommended. The more fur woven into the
back, the denser the fur is and the more challenging it is to sew. The medium
or regular density fur gives the beginner the feel for working with the fur
without the added challenge of a dense fur. Although the sparse fur would be
the easiest to work with, it may not give the fluffiness that usually attracts
a beginner to teddy bears in the first place. Don't panic if you absolutely
fall in love with one of our dense furs and have to use it for your first bear.
Because all of our fur is tightly woven into a cotton backing, all three
densities are very easy to work with.
Who
ever thinks about the backing underneath the fur? If you are a bear artist, you
have to! If you use a sparse fur, the backing will show through the fur adding
to the character of the bear. Many artists shave the muzzle of their bears,
making the face the color of the backing. Many times it is hard to get an exact
match for the paw/foot pads in Ultrasuede® or felt. There is always the option
of either shaving the fur from the fabric or reversing and using the cotton
backing for paw/foot pads for a perfect match. A bear made with fur that has a
contrasting backing has a wonderful look of depth.
Take
the contrast a step further by using tipped fur. Shave the muzzle down to the
backing. Shave around the face only taking off the tip color, leaving the base
color of the fur showing. You have 3 different color shades showing on your
bear using only one fur!
Pile length is the actual length of the fur measured from the backing to the tip of the hair. If I had to give a standard pile length for specific sized bears it would probably be the following:
1/8" to 3/16" for bears up
to 4"
3/8" for bears from
5" to 7"
1/2" to 5/8" for bears
8" to 10"
5/8" to 3/4" for bears
11" to 14"
1" for bears 15" to 22"
Although
these may be considered a general idea of ³standard² lengths for the
corresponding size bears, pile length can creatively be used to push your bears
beyond "standard". A stripe of 3" pile fur down the center of the head and down
the back can transform your bear into a dragon. It can change the same pattern
from a rather thin, antique, classic, worn bear (using short sparse fur) to a
furry, fluffy and fat teddy. Long pile fur on the head with a shaved face can
be combed and styled like hair. The same color and style fur in a different pile
length can make different parts of your bear furrier than others. For example,
use a short pile length on the paws or inner ears and longer on the rest of the
bear. Be creative and play with the different lengths.
Bears
don't have to be all the same color (or the standard gold or brown). Pandas are
perfect examples. Try complimentary dark & light shades for your next panda such as purple & pink, mocha brown & tan, forest green & mint green. Use
your imagination! Make the inner ears a different color; try an inset belly or
face in a different color. All of our fabrics come in a variety of colors that
make it very easy to mix and match and still use the same fur. Try dyeing it
yourself for even more variety!
Here
is where we have the most creative fun! I can never decide which type (finish)
of fabric is my favorite; it just depends on the bear in my head at the
moment! Here is a general list of the different finishes we have available:
Gives the bear a smooth, new looking, well-groomed, neat look.
Gives
a cuddlier soft look with lots of small curls.
Gives
a more tailored and groomed look to a curly bear with uniform tight rows of
curl waves.
Loose
random waves and large swirls give the bear a more comfortable look.
Large
waves of fur lying in random directions gives bear a well loved and often
hugged look.
Tight
Curl
Looks
great on a larger bear where you can see the repeat of the consistent large pin
curls throughout the fur.
Tight,
fuzzy, teased curls gives a "less refined" soft texture to the bear.
This
straight and wispy finish gives a more fragile, sparse, windblown flat look to
the fur.
Larger
bunches (or tufts) of fur woven into the backing gives the fur a kind of bumpy
look.
This
is the original state of the fur fabric just after the mohair string is woven
into the backing. After this stage, all of the above finished can be applied.
Using the fur in this original state gives an interesting raggedy, stringy look
to the bear.