Teddy Triage and 5 Need-to-Know Hand Stitches for Bear Care

HEY, THERE!

We’re five days away from Paddington in Peru hitting U.S. theaters so if you don’t have Valentine’s Day plans, grab a ticket. 

We’ll dig more into the bear who is mad for marmalade later.

Today we’re keeping you in stitches. 

The hand stitches you need to know to make and repair a bear. 

If you have a bear of a certain age like mine, it's going to need some work done and you’ll want those stitches to be invisible.

Let’s get to it.

Next up in this issue:

• Parents are hot and bothered by a “Cougar” bear in a leather skirt.

• 5 hand stitches you need to know

• Wanted: Bear stories

First time reading? Sign up here. 

A MESSAGE FROM BEAR SQUARED
MAKING A BEAR IS THE NEW SELF CARE

Reclaim your calm with creative meditation that turns your stress and anxiety switches off. 

Get on the waitlist for the course that gives you the step-by-step method to making a huggable difference in your mental health.

Get on the waitlist today.

LINKS
TEDDY BEARS IN PUBLIC

❤️ VALENTINE’S GIFTS 

Build-A-Bear’s “Cuddly Cougar” bear, dressed in a faux leather skirt, sequin crop top and leopard print fur coat, had parents hot and bothered. (The Sun)

🚑 EMERGENCY CARE

The Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) Teddy Bear Program received 500 bears for ambulances and command vehicles from the Central Texas Public Safety Commission. (The Hoodline)

🚔  CRIMINAL COURT

A Connecticut woman, accused of putting a GPS device on a teddy bear and car to track the victim, was charged with electronic stalking and other offenses. (WDTV)

🚂  TRAIN TRAVEL

Two children up to age 15 - and their teddies - can catch a free ride (with a paying adult) on the Teddy Bear Express. It will be part of the Bure Valley Railway from February 15th to the 23rd in England’s Norfolk Countryside. (Eastern Daily Press)

DEEP DIVE
TEDDY BEAR TRIAGE: 5 STITCHES YOU NEED TO KNOW

Knowing something needs to be fixed and fixing it can be a big bridge to cross.

Bearfoot, the first bear I remember, has needed surgery for years. 

At 47, his ears are torn and the holes in his arms and legs seem more like accessories than accidents. 

His stuffing escaped on the regular and the clumps scattered like dust balls.   

And every night, on the regular, I tucked him under my head and said: 

Man, he needs work!

Admitting how slow I was to mend him is embarrassing, but understandable. 

We’ve both grown older. 

So I pulled out my needle and thread and got to work. 

From making bears, I know which stitch to use to keep him scar free. 

It’s called a ladder stitch and it’s one of five hand stitches you need to know when making - or repairing - a bear.  

Read on for a closer look.  

1. LADDER STITCH

A stitch used to join two fabric edges together in a way that makes the seam invisible.

This is what I used to mend Bearfoot.

2. BACKSTITCH

A seam that looks like it was done on a sewing machine. The stitches overlap and touch.

3. BASTING STITCH

A simple running stitch used to hold two fabric pieces together before machine sewing. Can be done in thread that doesn’t match the fabric.

4. RUNNING STITCH

A line of small even stitches that run in and out through two fabric pieces without overlapping.

5. SATIN STITCH

A series of flat, parallel stitches used to cover a section. Great for embroidering noses.

THE WHO OF YOU
WANTED: BEAR STORIES