Sandy Lada
Sandy Lada shares, “I make bears for family and friends who have lost a loved one. They provide me with the clothing to make the bears out of them, and we sew and stuff the bears with Fairfield’s Silky Soft Ultra Plush Fiber to make them hug-gable for everyone. My friend and I started making bears after we lost our loved one, and we have now expanded our efforts and make bears for others as well. We take pleasure and comfort in providing these bears, because it helps rekindle the lost connection. Since we have started making bears, we have provided 300 of them to friends and family. This year alone we have made at least 100 bears.”
That is such a wonderful idea! I wonder if you have a pattern you use, or, if you created one?
Thanks,
Mary Ann Evanoff
Look for Simplicity pattern # C5461 it is a re-make of the pattern we use but I can find no differences in the new and the old. Two sizes of bears and the large one is very nice especially if made out of an old quilt or some such material with batting .
Edie — I use the same pattern for the Memory Bears I make. However I found that by putting each piece on my printer & reducing it to 85% of the original size (of the smaller bear pattern), it seems to work better on most clothing items. Also, very sadly, I have had to reduce it to 75% & even 50% to make Memory Bears for babies & newborns who became Angels way too early.
We did try shrinking the pattern as well, but it gets very hard to sew the head on. We use a stabilizer on the material if it is stretch. Otherwise your bear will get very fat when you try and stuff it. We used a Simplicity pattern 5461. You may be able to find Simplicity A2115, it is the same thing.