I am endlessly impressed by
Made by Joel. He makes such beautiful, simple, wonderful things! I recently came across his
Climbing Gorilla tutorial and found myself wishing (again) that I knew how to woodwork. I looked around for a tutorial for someone who doesn't have tools at home and I couldn't find much. And is I was looking, someone else might be too. Here's what I came up with:
Supplies:
Wool Felt (I used an old, felted sweater scrap)
Beans
Yarn or String (aprox 3 feet)
2 Medium Sized wooden beads
Pattern
1.) Print the pattern at the bottom of this post (should be 4.5"x4.5", or desired size) and cut it out.
2.) Cut 2 bears out of felt.
3.) Pin and sew along dotted lines. Leave gaps right through the middle of the arms for the string. Make sure to backstitch when stopping and starting. Notice that the bear has dotted lines from shoulder to armpit? Sew there! That's so beans don't wiggle out of his middle and through the string holes. Be sure to leave a gap to stuff him!
4.) Fill the bear with dried beans or dried peas. Don't pack them in too tight. If he's too heavy it will put unnecessary stress on your seams...and who wants to re-sew anything?
5.) Sew opening shut.
6.) Feed string through the holes, top to bottom. Tape the ends with scotch tape to make it easier! Tie beads at the ends of the string.
7.) Done! Now you hang it on a door know and practice wiggling the strings back and forth to make the bear shimmy up and down!
And
here is a no-sew, no-tool version.
