Chester by Alison Plant of Apis Bears 

Chester is a handsome-looking you'll want to hug! Sewn from curly mohair he is wonderful to touch and would no doubt make a special addition to any collection. Once complete he stands 36cm (14") tall, so why not have a go at sewing him today?

Click here to print instructions | Click here to download the pattern templates 
You will need 
•	Approximately 75 x 45cm (30 x 18") curly or sparse mohair 
•	Thread to match backing 
•	Strong thread for eyes and finishing seams 
•	Ultrasuede or felt for pads 15 x 15cm (6 x 6") 
•	2 x 40mm diameter (1 ¾") nut and bolt joints (or cotter pin if preferred) 
•	2 x 35mm diameter (1 3/8") nut and bolt joints (or cotter pin if preferred) 
•	1 x 35mm diameter (1 3/8") cotter pin joint 
•	2 x 10mm black glass eyes 
•	Perle cotton for nose and claws 
•	Polyester stuffing 
•	Long 'doll' needle 
A 5mm seam allowance is included in the pattern (shown by the dashed line)
Step by step
1. Trace all the pattern pieces onto thin card and cut out, copying arrows showing the pile direction and dots indicating limb connection points. Note some pieces are copied but reversed pieces out too if you want to make sure you don't miss anything out.
2. Place all the pieces excluding the paw and pad pieces on the fabric, making sure the lie of the fabric follows the direction of the arrow on the pattern, and marking the joint positions of the fabric. Cut out carefully using sharp scissors, taking care to cut only the backing and not the pile. Place the paw and pad pieces on felt or ultrasuede piece and cut out. Trim the fur from the nose area as indicated on the pattern. You can also trim away 5mm mohair from seams to help neaten the turned edges, but be careful!
3. Close the darts on each body piece and place right side together. Sew from C to C*, leaving a slot open at the back. Turn right sides out.
4. Put inner arm piece and paw piece right side together, and sew. Place on the top of the outer arm piece, right side together, and sew all the way round from D to D*, leaving a slot open at the back. Turn right side out.
5. Put two opposing leg pieces right side together, and sew from E to E*. Insert food pad wrong side out and sew in place, lining up the toe and heel to keep straight. Stitch up the back of the leg a little way and knot off, leaving a slot in the back of the leg. Turn right side out. Repeat with the other leg.
6. Put two ear pieces right side together and sew around the curve. Turn inside out and oversew the open edges with a few small stitches. Repeat with the other ear. Brush out all the pieces, freeing any trapped mohair.
7. Taking small pieces of polyester stuffing, insert into head, making sure the nose is nice and firm. Shape the head into correct shape, leaving enough fabric to close together at the neck. Assemble 35mm cotter pin joint and insert into the neck disc first. Using strong thread make a running or 'purse' stitch around the neck and close with the disc inside. Knot firmly close to pin. Using strong thread, take several stitches back and forth through the bridge of the nose in the area of the eye to pull the nose together and shape the eye sockets. Fasten off securely to hold the shape.
8. Using a pencil or temporary marker, put a small dot where the eyes are to go, just on the outside of the nose seam, checking they are level! To position eyes, double a long thread an attach to eye loop by passing the thread through the loop and back into itself. Thread onto the doll needle and position on the dot, passing down to the base of the neck behind the concealed disk, repeat with the other eye. Pull down into the eye sockets, and knot together securely, concealing knot and trimming excess thread.
9. Insert one assembled joint at each marked position on the limbs making a small hole if necessary with an awl or scissors point. Use 40mm joint for legs and 35mm joint for arms. On the inside of the body, add another disc components of joint and tighten nut and bolt until seated firmly on the disc. Repeat for all four limbs. Now the bear is jointed insert the stuffing into the limbs until firm and sew up the back of each using strong thread in ladder stitch. Insert the head joint at the top of the body pushing gently through the seam and add discs as for limbs, turning down the cotter pin with pliers. Stuff the body firmly and finish as for the limbs.
10. To finish the head, position the ears using pins until happy with appearance, then ladder stitch in place. Using a small piece of black felt cut a 't' shape to slightly smaller than the required nose size and tack in place. Take a length of perle cotton and oversew the nose, starting in the centre in line with the chin seam and duplicating the number and position of stitches each side. Ensure the felt is completely concealed. Bring the thread back to the centre bottom of the nose and embroider the mouth using long stitches. Using single perle cotton embroider three long claws on each pad, taking the end just over the seam into the fur. Add a ribbon if required.
Collectors' Notes