.

Textile/Fabric Art Projects

Calico Signature Bear

Suitable for:

Primary levels

Materials:

Construction of the bear, cream sewing thread, sharp sewing needle, long handled paint brush (for filling), sharp scissors, acrylic filling – approx 250g per bear, commercial eyes and nose - optional.

Each bear has been sewn with polyester thread and reinforced at stress point for added strength. With cutting, filling and some simple stitching completed, students are free to dress and decorate their bear in a variety of ways.

Decoration and dressing could include fabric markers, paints, crayons, dyes, sequins, buttons, felt, fabric.

How to Make a Calico Bear:

Marking & Trimming the Seams

1. Draw a cutting line all around the bear about 5mm out from the stitching line.

2. Using sharp scissors and taking care not to cut the stitching, cut along this line.

3. When you get to the filling hole, leave an extra 1cm of fabric along its border.

4. Now very carefully snip the fabric inwards towards the seams on all the bends and corners. (This helps to give the bear a smooth edge when it is turned right side out.)

Turning Out

1. To turn the bear, pull the fabric through the filling hole.

2. Gently work the seams with your fingers to make them sit flat, especially the ears, groin and centre front seam.

The Ears

1. Use the end of a paint brush to push a small amount of filling into the ears, working it right into the seams with your fingers.

2. With a doubled sewing thread and sharp needle, stitch along the base of the ear with small stitches.

Commercial Eyes and Nose

1. Once you have decided where you want the eyes to sit in the face, fold the head along the centre front seam and push a needle through both thicknesses to locate the eyes symmetrically - mark carefully.

2. Now make a hole on these marks with sharp scissors or a knitting needle.

3. The eye shank needs to push through this hole from the front or right side of the fabric.

4. When it is flush with the calico, push the circular clip onto the shank as tightly as you can - from the wrong side inside the bear. (Fit a cotton reel over the shank and hit or push it sharply to help tighten the fitting.)

5. Fix the nose in the same way, taking care to make the hole slightly to one side of the seam and not through it.

Filling the Bear

1. Use the paint brush again to push the filling into the bear. Begin with the feet, legs and arms and work towards the filling hole until the bear is plump and firm. 

2. Fold the raw edge of the filling hole in and stitch the hole with small, firm stitches.

Eyes, Nose & Mouth

The creative possibilities for making your bear an individual are endless.

Features could be drawn with a fabric pen give character, or consider sewing eyes and mouth with coloured thread using a variety of decorative knots and stitches.

Beads, buttons, joggle eyes, felt are all alternatives for eyes.

To give your bear a more obvious neck, tightly tie some strong embroidery thread or ribbon around it.

Extension Ideas

  • Bears could be dressed to suit a special theme of study eg. 
  • Historic Bear - gold miner, bushranger, undertaker, explorer.
  • Hero Bear - sporting events and competitors - Olympic Games, World Cup, Wimbledon
  • LOTE Studies - national costume, national identity, famous historian, artist etc.
  • Literary Studies - Book Week - character from a book.
  • Bears could be presented with all the appropriate equipment, memorabilia, tools and setting in which they live.
  • This activity also makes an ideal project for end of year. 
  • Children could make a graduation or signature bear.

© Copyright Zart Art 2009. Activity and teacher notes written and designed by Zart Education.

Key words: Art, craft, activity, activities, children, kids, school art activities, graduation momento, soft toy, gift idea, teddy bear, art ideas