We are going to learn how to sew an articulated teddy bear from start to finish. Do not worry if you have never sewn anything before, this DIY project is suitable for beginners. You can use a sewing machine, or you can do it entirely by hand if you do not have one. Here below, you will find the list of necessary supplies and the free 3-pages printable pattern in A4 format. You can use any type of fabric, given that it is thick enough not to tear when you will insert the articulations. This article breaks down the process with pictures, and you can find the video of the making process at the bottom of the page.
- Faux fur fabric:
10mm | Light brown n° 11 - Faux suede fabric:
Dark brown - Set of plastic joints:
5-Piece kit 35 Ø
- Plastic eyes:
15mm | Black - Velvet nose:
14mm | Dark brown - Polyester fibre:
“Soft flocks”
- Wooden button: « Handmade with love »
- Tag: easy to customize
- Embroidery floss + sewing thread: DMC
- Scissors + sewing punch
- Pins + needles
If possible, start by washing the fabrics in a washing machine. This way, the fur will shed less when you work with it. On the wrong side of the fabric, transfer every piece of the pattern and trace the outline (with a pen or a pencil, do not use felt-tip pens as they can stain your hands and thus, the fabric you are handling). Then cut them, leaving at least 1 centimetre of seam allowance. For some pieces, cut a second time by flipping the pattern on the other side to have a mirror image of the first one. Do not forget to make reference marks for the joints. You should end up with the following pieces:
- Head
- Back
- Belly
- Leg
- Forehead
- Outer arm
- Inner arm
- Sole
- Ear
- Head
- Back
- Belly
- Leg
- Forehead
- Outer arm
- Inner arm
- Paw
- Sole
- Ear
I. SEWING THE LEGS: fold one leg in half lengthwise on the right-sides, so that you work on the wrong side (image 1), pin it then sew along the dotted line on image 2, leaving an opening for the sole, and another one to turn the fabric right-side out and to stuff the leg later.
II. SEWING THE SOLES: take one of the soles and put it against the dedicated opening. Make sure that the good side faces the inside of the leg. Pin the outline and sew it to attach the two pieces together (image 3). You can now turn the leg right-side through the opening. Repeat the process and you should end up with two beautiful legs, each complete with their sole (image 4)!
Click on the pictures to show them in full size.
Put one of the palms at the bottom of an inner arm piece (image 1), paying attention to which side it goes on (left or right). Turn the palm towards the top and pin it (image 2). All that is left to do is to sew the two pieces together (image 3). Repeat these steps to end up with two inner arm pieces with their palms attached (image 4).
Take an inner arm piece and put it against an outer arm piece, fur against fur (image 1). Pin it all the way around, then sew along the dotted line on image 2, leaving an opening. Turn the arm right-side out. Repeat the process so you end up with two complete arms, a left one and a right one, with their palms turned inward (image 4).
Connect the two back pieces together, fur against fur, then pin them and sew along the dotted line on image 2. Do the same thing for the belly. You now have one back piece and one belly piece. Lay those two pieces against one another, the right-sides facing, pin them then sew all the way around (image 3), leaving an opening near the middle, between where an arm and a leg will be. Turn the body right-side out (image 4).
This is the easiest part. Take two pieces and put them against one another. Pin them and sew the outline, leaving the bottom part open (image 2). All you need to do now is to turn it right-side out and do the same thing once more to have a second ear (image n°4).
Pin the two head pieces together, fur against fur, and sew the snout on (image 1). Add the forehead piece (giving the impression of an elephant’s trunk), pin it then sew the small part indicated by the dotted line on image 2. Shape the head progressively on each side (image 3): sew the dark blue part to the light blue one, and then the red part to the pink one, until you reach the neck that you will leave open. Make sure to also leave an opening (one or two fingers wide) at the back of the head (left or right). This small opening is not mandatory, but it will help you attach the neck joint more easily later on. Turn the head right-side out (image 4).
- Leg
- Arm
- Head
- Ear
- Body
We are going to use a set of 4 safety joints to connect the body of the teddy bear. Each joint is made up of three pieces: one disk with a pin, one support disk with a hole, and one locking disk that holds the joint in place (the transparent one with a hole). Make the holes using a sewing punch (or any other sharp object except for scissors), then put the first disk into the limb, making the pin stick out (image 1). Insert it in the body, add the support disk, then secure it with the locking disk (image 2). If you are unsure about the placement of the joints, stuff the limbs temporarily to have an idea of the result before securing it all (image 3). There you go, the arms and legs are now attached to the body (image 4).
Before adding the joint that connects the head to the body, you need to attach the face elements, which require the neck to still be open. We are using plastic eyes and a velvet nose (we will embroider the smile in part II). In order to be certain about the placement of the different elements, you can temporarily stuff the head (image 2). Use position eyes or simple round headed pins to visualise the placement of everything. For the nose, use a sewing punch to make a hole at the intersection of the three pieces of fabric (the two parts of the face and the beginning of the forehead), put the element in, but do not secure it with the locking disk yet. Do the same thing for the eyes (image 2). If you like the look of it all, secure the elements in place from the inside of the head (image 3).
For more detailed information about safety eyes and noses, take a look at this article.
The process for the head is a little bit different from the one for the limbs. To start, stuff the head through the opening of the neck (image 1). Once well shaped, sew with a running stitch all the way around the neck like shown by the dotted line on image 2. Add the disk with a pin inside the head, making the pin stick out (image 3), then pull on the thread to close the neck and tie a knot (image 4).
Make a hole at the top of the body where you wish to attach the head (image 2), then put in the pin that comes out of the head. Secure it from the inside of the body by adding the two disks: the support disk (image 3) and the safety disk (image 4). Optional: to push the pin in more easily, put a finger in the opening that you left at the back of the teddy bear’s head, then close it.
You can now stuff each part one by one in an even way. The type of stuffing you use is important, the firmer it is, the more muscular your teddy bear will be, and the lighter and fluffier it is, the softer it will be.
Close the bottom part of the ears by sewing them by hand (image 1). You can leave them empty (so that they are soft) or stuff them (so that they are well shaped). Once closed (image 2), pin them to the head of the teddy bear, preferably with large pins (image 3), then sew them in place using a ladder stitch (image 4).
We will now finish the face! I like to do this step once the head is definitively stuffed and attached to the body. Embroider the smile you wish to give the teddy bear, while pushing the fur to the sides. Prefer a thick thread of the same colour as the nose. With the help of small pliers, take out the stuffing that might come out with the thread.
For more detailed explanations on embroidering smiles, this article is here for you.
This is an optional step, it allows you to customise your teddy bear. I suggest making a navel out of a button. I am using a wood button with “handmade with love” written on it, and a customised tag at the bottom of the bear’s back, just like the teddy bears from the stores! Insert the needle through the opening of the body and make come out in the navel area (image 1). Insert the needle through the opening of the body and make it come out in the navel area. Insert the button into the needle, then put it back into the belly (image 3). Pull, then tie a knot (image 2). For the tag, simply sew one end with a thread of a similar shade (image 3).
The last step before cuddling your new teddy bear is to close all the openings. One for the body, one for the head, and one for each limb. Use a ladder stitch to make the seam invisible. Hide the knot by starting from the inside. Once the openings are closed, take out the fur that might be stuck.
Do not hesitate to leave a comment below, you can even attach a photo of the teddy bear you made with this tutorial and this pattern. 🐻
Where can I get the patterned and disk?