#seven bear

[silverfoxstole]

Today is apparently National Teddy Bear Day…

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The Who bears are ready for Christmas!

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Looking back, I didn't make as many bears this year as I was intending to, but the ones I did create I’m really proud of.

Anne Bearleyn (whose head did unfortunately come off as I was making her):

Ace Bear Mark I:

Ace Bear Mark II (given to Sophie):

Seven Bear Mark II (for Sylvester):

Bush Bear Mark III and Eight Bear Mark II (for Paul):

I also completely remade the original Eight Bear’s NotD costume so that it was the same as the improved version I’d given to Paul (I think he must be on his third shirt, coat and waistcoat by now, plus his second lot of boots and gaiters):

I do intend at some point to make a Fifth Doctor bear and possibly a Sixie if I can get my head round trying to recreate that coat in miniature…

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“Aaaace!!”

Seven Bear is finished and he hasn’t turned out too badly if I do say so myself.

I decided to go with beige bear and brown jacket in the end as the dark brown fur makes it hard to see any expression and I thought beige bear, beige jacket would be overkill in the beige department.

He has all his bits and pieces; I think counting up all the different items this is the most I’ve made for any bear so far: nine in total! This is the first time I’ve sewn a tie of any kind but that wasn’t the difficult bit; not having worn one since I was at school thirty years ago I had a bit of trouble remembering how to knot the thing! Fortunately it’s not really visible so my bodge job doesn’t matter.

Tie, scarf, pocket hanky and hatband are all made out of some paisley print cotton. The pullover is cable knit jersey with ribbing for the bands. I embroidered on the chevrons and question marks, though I haven’t yet done the back; the front took forever so as they won’t be seen I’ve chickened out of doing the rest for now.

Hat and brolly are both made of felt. The hat I’m not over the moon about but I couldn’t get any thicker felt for the brim so it’s about as good as it’s going to get for now. The brolly is just a roll, snipped into at the top with a couple of paperclips covered with more felt for the handle.

Of course, once he was finished Eight Bear had to come and have a chat with his predecessor (and pinch his hat):

[silverfoxstole]

Finally made a start on Seven Bear today, after getting distracted with my Dark Eyes jacket.

Still got his jacket, hat and umbrella to do!