How to sew a memory bear- Free sewing pattern

How to sew a Memory bear. Free pdf pattern

How to sew a memory bear

Welcome to our guide on How to sew a memory bear. As well as a full, step by step tutorial, we have also added a free bear sewing pattern in 3 different sizes.
Although this pattern may look confusing at first. It is however, surprisingly easy and perfect for beginner and intermediate sewers.

Throughout the pattern pieces, you will find some dashed lines. Overall, these lines are a guide to indicate where you need to sew. These markings DO NOT need to be transferred onto your fabric pieces.
Additionally, if you have any problems downloading or creating your bear; don’t hesitate to message us at evacole2019@gmail.com.

Good luck and we would love to see your finished projects.

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What you need- How to sew a memory bear

To begin our guide on How to sew a memory bear, we will take a look at what you need.

Fabric-
Most commonly, to make these memory bears, people often use old clothing or baby clothes. However, you can also use fabric from a roll. On the whole, we would suggest not using any stretchy fabric. As well as this, you can find an amazing range of different fabrics HERE.

Stuffing.
Although each bear will require a different amount, you won’t need more than 300g of stuffing. You can get stuffing at amazing prices HERE
Eyes and nose.
During this pattern we will be using plastic eyes and nose that are held in place with eyelets. However, if you are able to embroider, you could also embroider the eyes and nose onto your bear.
Sewing machine
Fabric scissors
Paper scissors.
Thread

Key words and terms to know. How to sew a memory bear.

Moving on in our How to sew a memory bear tutorial, we will look at Key words and terms that you will find within this project. Although this free memory bear sewing pattern is easy to use and is certainly a good pattern for beginners, there may still be many terms you may not have heard before.

Right sides together

Without a doubt, this is a term that you will come across many times when sewing. In summary, this is when both corrects sides are touching. In short, the correct, or “right” side of the fabric is the side that you will see. For example; if patterned, this would be the side with the pattern on.

Pattern markings

Although you will find some markings to transfer onto your fabric, it is important to note that the broken lines indicating the seams are NOT markings to transfer onto your fabric.
Furthermore, these are also not used to indicate where to sew on your fabric, they are for reference purposes only and are used to help you follow to pattern easier.
As well as this, it is also important to note that the eyes and nose markings should only be transferred onto 2 mirrored pieces.

Seam allowance

The seam allowance for the free memory bear sewing pattern is 3/8 inch throughout.

Basting stitch

Another common term that you will hear a lot throughout sewing is the basting stitch. This is simply a temporary stitch that is most commonly removed once the sewing is complete. Together with this, the basting stitch is used to temporarily pieces in place. As a result, the fabric piece wont move out of place when sewing. To complete a basting stitch, adjust your machine to a long running stitch with very little tension and DO NOT back stitch at the beginning or end of the stitch. This stitch can easily be removed. You can find more about basting stitches HERE.
As well as this, you can also find many other sewing terms HERE.

Making your bear- How to sew a memory bear

Part 1

To begin making your free memory bear, you first need to choose the size that you would like to make; small, medium or large.
Once you have decided what size you would like, you next need to download and print it out. After the pattern has been printed, carefully cut out the paper pieces with your paper scissors.

Part 2

Next it is time to pin your paper pieces to the fabric. It is important to take note of how many pieces of fabric you will need to cut for each piece. To help with this, we have stated this on each piece of the free memory bear sewing pattern.

In addition to this, it is also important to ensure that if you are using patterned fabric, that the pattern is the correct way before you pin.
Once all of your free memory bear sewing pattern pieces are pinned, carefully cut them out.
Although many people like to cut round the pattern piece when pinned, you can alternatively draw around your pattern pieces, un-pin and then cut.

Fabric Cutting Tips

As you progress in your sewing journey, you will soon find that cutting correctly is extremely important. For this reason, we have added a few small tips that we find useful when cutting out the pattern and fabric.
1- Never use your fabric scissors to cut paper, as this will ultimately ruin your scissors
2- Ensure that your fabric scissors are sharp to avoid ripping or tearing your fabric
3- Use a rotary cutter when cutting thicker fabrics
4- Always cut your fabric on a solid, sturdy surface
5- Buy scissors that are comfortable to hold and use

Part 3

After you have cut out your pieces, it is extremely important to transfer all of the markings onto your fabric. As a result you will find it much easier to line everything up when you begin to sew. Furthermore, if your piece requires 2 pieces, these have to be mirrored. Therefore, cut on folded fabric. NOTE- ONLY TRANSFER EYES, NOSE AND EARS ONTO 2 PIECES (1 pair). As mentioned above, you do NOT transfer the dashed lines onto your fabric, these are simply a guide on where to sew.

Part 4

Next in our How to sew a memory bear tutorial, we come onto the exciting part of putting it together.
To start, you will need pattern piece 1. Although this may not look like much right now, this will soon be the bears arms.
Throughout this pattern, you will find black dots that signal an area NOT to be sewn. After the sewing has been completed, these holes will be used to stuff the bear after it has been made.

As indicated on the pattern piece, the arms require 4 fabric pieces. Separate these into 2 mirrored pairs and pin them right sides together.

Part 5

Next, using the pattern piece as a guide, sew around the arm as shown in the image, back stitch at the start and end of the black dots and ensure that you don’t sew between these. Once the sewing is complete on the arms, gently snip around the curved edges as this will help keep the shape when turned the correct way round. It is also extremely important to make sure that you don’t cut through the stitches when snipping.

Part 6

Moving on in our guide on How to make a memory bear we will make the legs and feet, from piece 2. In addition to the main seam shown in orange (seam c), you will also find a green seam (seam D). DO NOT sew seam D first.
Again, separate your 4 pieces into 2 mirrored pairs and pin right side together. Once you have done this, sew around seam c, avoiding between seam D and also between the black dots.
Once again, gently snip around the corners.

Part 7

After you have completed seam c, it is time to move onto seam D. This seam is indicated in green on the free pdf memory bear sewing pattern. To complete this seam, first, open up the leg and lay flat so that seam D is facing you (see pic). Next, take both fabrics in your hands at the inside point and open, line up the top and bottom fabric and pin. Finally, sew across this with a 3/8 inch seam.
Once complete, turn the correct way round.

Part 8

Next we move onto piece 3 of our free memory bear sewing pattern; the bears body front. Overall, the body is the simplest part.
In order to complete the front of the body, you first need to pin your pieces right sides together, as you did with the others. After this, its time to sew seam G, indicated in pink.
Again, it is very important to back stitch at the beginning and end of your sewing.
When finished, put this piece to the side.

Part 9

Another step in our How to make a memory bear tutorial, is the bears back. Again, as with some of the others, this has 2 different seams; seam E and seam F. Pin your pieces right sides together and sew down seam E, ensuring that you don’t sew along the line marked with seam F or between the black dots.

Part 10

Once this has been sewn, open up your piece and lie flat with the right side facing you. As you did with the leg, open out seam F and fold the bottom of the body up so that right sides are facing. Again, line up the top and bottom fabrics of seam F and pin in place. Finally, sew along this line in order to make the memory bears bottom. As a result, the bear will sit up once stuffed.

Making the free memory bear sewing pattern

Part 11

Next, we come to piece number 5, which is the bears head.
Again, you should have cut 4 pieces of fabric for the head and therefore have 2 mirrored pairs. As noted above, you should have only transferred the eyes and nose markings onto 1 of these pairs. As well as this, you should also have transferred the markings for the ears onto both pairs.

Part 12

Once you have paired your bears head pieces, take the front head pieces (these pieces will have the eyes and nose markings).
Following this, it is again time to pin your fabric right sides together. After this, sew down the seam that is shown on the pattern piece as seam A.
Again, it is important to remember to back stitch at the start and end of your seams. After you have sewn the front of the head, repeat with the back of the head, sewing seam A again.

Part 13

Next we move onto the details of our bears face. During this tutorial and also on our bears shown , we have used plastic eyes with stoppers.
However, you can also buy iron on applique eyes, or you can hand embroider the eyes and nose if you feel comfortable. In addition to the eyes and nose, our bear now needs some ears. Compared to the other pieces, the ears of the bear will be stuffed before we sew them onto the face.

Part 14

Again, it is time to pair the ears into 2 mirrored pieces and pin them right sides together. Next, sew around the outside. As before, using your fabric scissors, gently snip around the curve as you did above on the arms and legs. Once this is complete, turn the ears the right way round and stuff.
After the ears have been stuffed, line up your ears with the markings right sides together and sew them in place.

Part 16

Finally, we come onto sewing our bear together.
To complete your memory bear, you first need to pin your arms and legs in place, right sides together. In order to do this, pin the arms and legs folding into the body, as shown in the image. Once in the correct place, use a basting stitch to temporarily keep them in place. Next, repeat this process with the bears head, placing them right sides together.

Part 17

Taking the remaining head and body pieces, place them right sides together as you did before and basting stitch in position.

Part 18

Now that the front and back of the bear is in place, it’s now time to pin the full bear together. In order to do this, simply tuck the ears, hands and feet towards the body. Then line up the bears head and body, with right sides together and pin in place. Once pinned, it is now time to sew around the head and body of the bear. Furthermore, you will not need to leave a gap when doing this, as it was added earlier in the process of making the bear. Sew around the bear with a 3/8inch seam allowance. As before, snip around the curved edges, ensuring that you do not cut the stitch.

Part 19

Finally, it is time to turn our bear the correct way round. Earlier in the How to make a memory bear tutorial, when sewing the body back (seam E), a gap was left between two black dots.
Once this has been found, use this hole to gently turn your bear the correct way. Next it is time to stuff your bear. Simply use the holes that you left in the body, arms and legs to push stuffing into your bear. Although you may want to use your stuffing sparingly, using more and packing it firmly will have a better result overall.

Part 20

After you have stuffed your bear, you are almost complete. Next it is time to close up the holes. In my opinion, it is always best to use a ladder stitch (also known as invisible stitch) as this will give an overall, better finish. However, If you are unsure of how to do this, you can find a full guide HERE

Part 21

Once you have sewn up your bear, it is important to check your bear and ensure that all of the loose thread has been cut.
And there you have it, your bear is now complete

Finally, we really hope that you have found this useful and enjoyable. In addition to this, we would love to see your bears, leave a picture in the comments below. Alternatively, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to message us or leave a comment.

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