Frankenteady aka the world build my bear Sign up CLOSED Send by 1 March

[Luckie_Strike]

Yup, that's about right.     The joints I use usually have one of the discs permanently attached, but the two sided one is good too--maybe better, because you can balance (center) it a bit more.  Just make sure they are tight (sometimes it's really hard to push the discs on), and maybe try putting a square of interfacing inside the fabric where you're making the hole, for added strength.  I've also used a piece of felt on both sides of the joint too, but the interfacing is good enough. HTH.

[craftADDchick]

Thanks Luckie Strike! And thanks for the tip on the interfacing. I was a little worried about the fleece ripping when I put the holes in. That should give it some decent reinforcement. I'll be making a practice bear tomorrow, I think!

[Rosemary]

Net was down last night and now I gotta go to work!

but I found this on joints.
http://www.ehow.com/how_17081_make-cloth-doll.html

[glittergirl94]

Sendout's are this week right?  I'm leaving for Florida on Friday(23rd) morning so I either need to send before then(or at least have everything packaged and ready to go so my hubby can drop them off for me) or I can send when I return(March 2nd).  Everything is cut and ready to package!  I can't wait to see what kinds of fabric everyone else used, and, more importantly, how the finished bears look!!!  Great swap idea Rosemary!!!

[Luckie_Strike]

oh, and another note about joints...make the hole you're pushing the post through small, and let the post enlarge it (sort of like when you're putting a larger gauge of ear or body piercing in).  This will keep it from ripping too much or being too big.  Another thing for cottons and other frayable fabrics, is adding a bit of fray-check or watered down fabric glue to the edges of the cut (sort of like what Rosemary suggested for fabrics for the body).  Fleece and stretchy fabrics usually don't fray, so they're good to go, but the interfacing keeps the hole from stretching and the weight of the arm or leg ripping the joint out of the body.
I think I've gone on long enough...   I've made jointed stuffies and baby dolls (the reborn type with the weighed bodies) and, uh, learned along the way. 

[craftADDchick]

Here is my practice bear, a small one, made out of grey fleece (he's cuddly soft!). His nose is a bit crooked, so I may re-embroider it, but I still think he's pretty cute. I placed the eyes and ears where the pattern indicated and I wasn't too sure I was going to like it, but once he was finished, the placement looked okay. I also tried out the doll joints, and I think they came out okay (although they show when his arms and legs are in certain positions). I put interfacing where the joints were and made small holes, as recommended by Luckie Strike, and it seemed to work okay. I only had to rip out one seam, so I think I'll be all set when it's time to build my Frankenteddy!

[Rosemary]

I am sooo lovin' the practice bears that are comming out.
And yes the sign ups do end very soon. They end tomorow by my clock.  But I am Australian.

Because of my Australian timezone I will be closing the sign ups after work the day after tomorow.

and on a side note AAAAAAHHHH! DID YOU KNOW FULL TIMES JOBS TAKE UP A LOT OF YOUR TIME.
but Don't worry, another reason I haven't be on a lot recently is also because I have been socialising like every day after work and over the weekend recently and I do plan on ignoring social invitations for the day of the sign up close because I am dedicated to making this work.
It is my first swap orginisation thingey and I want to do it right.

and now to accept those swap applications that I have been ignoring for FAR too long.

[Rosemary]

alright!
Signups accepted!

Let me know if I missed anything!

[jesa]

ok, I'm officially in...and now I'm TOTALLY NERVOUS!  HAHA!

[craftADDchick]

I also tried out the doll joints, and I think they came out okay (although they show when his arms and legs are in certain positions).

Okay, I had a feeling that the doll joints were not supposed to show...so I did some searching and found this site ( http://www.prillycharmin.com/supply/hjoints.htm ) which explains how the ones I have go together...I wish I had seen this earlier! I thought one of the pieces went between the arm and body on the outside...bummer! I'm not unstitching and unstuffing the bear to fix (and replace) the joints, at least not now.

Maybe when I get around to fixing his nose...