{"id":24320,"date":"2022-03-21T10:25:28","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T10:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.funkyfriendsfactory.com\/blog\/?page_id=24320"},"modified":"2025-09-09T08:18:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T08:18:37","slug":"beginner-bear-pattern","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.funkyfriendsfactory.com\/blog\/beginner-bear-pattern\/","title":{"rendered":"Beginner Bear photo tutorial"},"content":{"rendered":"

I made this photo tutorial so you can see how to sew this easy memory bear pattern – Ben the BEGINNER Bear.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Scroll down for
\nstep-by-step photos!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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*** PLEASE NOTE – this is ONLY a PHOTO TUTORIAL ***<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe\u00a0FULL PATTERN IS NOT included here.
\nIt is NOT<\/strong> A FREE PATTERN.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have made this photo tutorial so people who have purchased the pattern can SEE how to sew this easy memory bear (I wanted to explain this so you are not disappointed if you have found this page via a search engine and not from the link in my Ben the BEGINNER Bear sewing pattern!)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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First choose some fabric…<\/span><\/h2>\n

You can sew this easy memory bear pattern from MOST fabrics. I sewed him in quilting cottons but he will also look great in knit\/stretchy fabrics like fleece and Cuddle.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Prepare the pieces:<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Must fabric pieces be lined with interfacing?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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I don’t like to make EXTRA work for myself\u00a0 – so I DON’T<\/span> normally interface toys. MOST of the time it is NOT necessary<\/span>! \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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When you DON’T NEED <\/span><\/b><\/span>interfacing<\/span>:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

From experience I’ve found that I don’t need to use interfacing when ALL\u00a0 of the fabrics I’m using are the SAME TYPE. For example:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \n
  1. I don\u2019t use interfacing if the fabrics I’m using are ALL woven fabrics<\/span><\/strong> (like quilting cottons and corduroy) because they do not stretch<\/span> out of shape.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. I also don’t use interfacing if the fabrics are ALL knit fabrics<\/span><\/strong> (like fleece, minky or Cuddle) because they will all stretch the same amount<\/span> BUT I take care not to over-stuff my bear – if these fabrics stretch too much he\u2019ll be very chubby!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    When do you NEED to use <\/span><\/b><\/span>interfacing<\/b><\/span><\/span>?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. If I am making Ben from clothing items<\/strong><\/span> , very thin or stretchy fabrics<\/strong><\/span> or fabrics that fray easily<\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. or when I am using a<\/strong> MIX of woven (non-stretchy) and knit (stretchy) fabrics<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      HOW TO use iron-on interfacing<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

      \"How<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Trace all the pieces, including all the \u2018reversed pieces\u2019, onto the smooth (NON-STICKY) side of the iron-on interfacing.<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Cut out the pieces adding about 5mm (\u00bc inch) around them.<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Iron the interfacing pieces onto the fabric of the clothing items, with the STICKY (GLUE) side facing the BACK of the fabric.<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Cut the pieces out on the traced lines.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        Why not<\/span><\/p>\n

        Embroider some fun details!\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

        Ben has a big flat, single-piece TUMMY<\/strong><\/span> and large FOOT PADS<\/strong><\/span> especially for embroidery. Look at this sweet bear with embroidery details – sewn by Emma Woodley of The Sewing Bumble Bees<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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        Ooooh!
        \nhave you seen?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

        \n

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        I have a *FREE*
        \n<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

        \ud83e\udd73\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Toy-Making Course! \ud83e\udd73<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

        I know you\u2019re keen to get sewing your first bear BUT take a look at my FREE toy-making Course<\/a><\/span><\/strong> first, especially if you\u2019re NEW to sewing toy patterns – I share ALL the tips & tricks I\u2019ve learned about sewing soft toys over the last 20+ years in a daily email series packed with photos, diagrams and videos. This FREE toy-making Course<\/a><\/span><\/strong> includes everything you\u00a0 need to know about sewing toys from how to read a pattern to how to stuff a toy AND includes my easiest pattern – Plattie Platypus.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        (Yes! It\u2019s FREE!)<\/span><\/p>\n

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        \"Toy<\/p>\n

        \n<\/blockquote>\n

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        Even if you\u2019re NOT a NEW sewer,
        \nyou\u2019ll find great tips like this in the course ~><\/span><\/p>\n

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        \u00a0My # 1 Tip
        \nto avoid getting stuck!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

        Transfer ALL THE MARKINGS & LETTERS<\/strong> from the pattern pieces onto the fabric<\/span>, then you can\u2019t go wrong because it\u2019s like snap – all you have to do is match up the letters!\u00a0<\/span>I know it seems so simple BUT don’t let this fool YOU! It\u2019s my BEST tip EVER ~> because it seems to help 99% of people who get stuck!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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        GENERAL SEWING INSTRUCTIONS:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n