Follow these simple instructions to transform your tea towel into your very own Donna Wilson bear.
You will need:
– a Make Your Own Bear Tea Towel Craft Kit – a pair of sharp scissors (ideally fabric scissors) or pinking shears – dressmaker’s pins – a sewing needle and thread (for hand stitching), or a sewing machine – material for stuffing your bear (this can be toy stuffing, yarn scraps, pulses – whatever you prefer to use!) – a steam iron
Instructions:
1. Iron your fabric so to remove any creases. 2. Cut around each shape using a sharp pair of fabric scissors. Put the blue neckerchief to one side for now. 3. Place the front and back of the two brown bear shapes right sides together, line them up and pin the two sides together. 4. Using a sewing machine or by hand, sew a line 1cm from the edge of your cut shapes – be sure to leave an opening of around 5cm so you can stuff your bear later. If you’re using a sewing machine, use a backstitch to reinforce the opening. 5. Remove the pins and turn the sewn shape through the opening so that the right sides are now on the outside. 6. Fill the bear using whatever material you choose. We recommend using recycled polyester toy stuffing (you can buy this from a haberdashery shop). You can also use any scrap fabrics or yarn that you might have at home – even a few old pairs of socks or tights – or dried pulses such as lentils. 7. Once you are happy with the shape and feel of your bear, sew the opening closed by hand using a needle and thread. 8. To make your bear’s blue neckerchief, fold the shape over 1cm from the edge along all three sides – and pin to secure. 9. Hand or machine sew along each edge, around 0.5cm from the fold. 10. Tie the neckerchief around the bear’s neck.
Congratulations – you’ve made your very own Donna Wilson bear!
Discover our other Make Your Own Kits and products here.