Bear's Christmas Surprise

BEAR:
Finished bear is approx 50 cm (19-3/4 in) tall.

You need:
Download the Twinkle Motif chart (PDF format requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)

.60 m off-white fake fur with 2.5 cm (1-in) pile, 115 cm wide
Matching thread and buttonhole twist thread
Blue embroidery floss
2 blue snap-on glass eyes, 16 mm in diameter
Polyester fibrefill
Water-soluble fabric marker
Darning needle, 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 in) long
Brown paper

To make:
Notes: Enlarge pattern by squaring method as follows: On brown paper, draw grid of horizontal and vertical lines 2.5 cm. (1 in) apart. Each square on diagram equals a 2.5 cm square on your paper. Enlarge by drawing each line of the design onto the corresponding square on your paper. Transfer any markings. Seam allowance is included.

Cut all pattern pieces with nap running in same direction. To determine direction of nap, stroke fabric along length to see which direction feels the smoothest and makes it lie the flattest. Snip through fabric backing with scissor tips only, to avoid cutting pile.

Along edges, smooth pile toward centre of each piece; stitch pieces, right sides together, using closely spaced machine stitch and 6 mm (1/4-in) seam allowance, unless otherwise indicated.

Backstitch at beginning and end of each seam. To fluff pile along seam lines, pick it out of stitching with darning needle if necessary. Carefully clip or notch seam allowances at corners and curves.

1. Lay pattern pieces on wrong side of single thickness of fur, reversing pieces as indicated. Trace around each piece with marker and transfer any markings. Cut out.

On head gusset (snout section only), snout, soles and both (inside) ear pieces, trim pile to approx 6 mm.

2. Head: Stitch number dart along broken lines on each head piece. With A to A and B to B, stitch inner edge of 1 snout to each head piece. With back neck edges even and seam on 1 snout/ head piece aligned with broken line on gusset, stitch together around top of snout and head, down back of head to neck. Stitch other side edge of gusset to second snout/head piece in same manner. Stitch chin seam from snout tip to front-neck edge. Turn head right side out. Baste under 6 mm around neck opening. Firmly stuff snout and head.

Attach each eye securely where indicated by dots, following manufacturer's instructions.

3. Ears: Stitch each pair of ear pieces together, leaving open edge where indicated; turn right side out. Baste under 6 mm around opening.

4. Torso: Stitch front pieces together down centre-front edge only and back pieces together down centre back edge only. With C to C and D to D, Stitch armhole edge of 1 arm to each armhole edge of front and back, beginning and ending seam at X. With armhole seams aligned, pin front to back around arms only; stitch around each arm, pivot at armhole seam and stitch along shoulder.

5. Legs and feet: Stitch top edge of 1 foot top to bottom edge of each leg front. Stitch top edge of 1 heel to bottom edge of each leg back. With seams aligned, pin front to back down each side edge, from underarm to bottom edge of foot top/heel; stitch. Pin, then stitch, from bottom edge of foot top/heel up inside leg edge, around crotch and down to bottom edge.

Matching Xs, stitch each sole to bottom edge of 1 foot top/heel. Turn bear right side out. Baste under 6 mm around neck opening.

Keeping soles flat, firmly stuff feet, then stuff legs. Lightly stuff hands and arms, then firmly stuff body, creating round stomach.

6. Butt neck edges of head and body; pin. With 2 strands of buttonhole twist: slipstitch edges together, adding extra stuffing to firm up neck, if necessary; slipstitch unstuffed ears across head-gusset seams, approx 10 cm (4 in) apart, on top of head.

7. With 12 strands of floss: satin stitch nose at tip of snout, stitching a second layer to make it firm.