SKL Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 OK I know this is something most of you probably do yourselves with a little stuffing and needle and thread. And obviously I could do that. But I am wondering if there are any conventional ways to outsource the repair of Crabby Baby Bear and his siblings, or to make it a fun (and successful) project for my kid. PS this is *the* bear and its owner expects to it to go to college with her .... Wondering if craft stores ever do this or maybe Build-a-Bear or similar (though we did not buy them at Build-a-Bear)? Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Do you have photos of the injuries so we can see how much repair is needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Well, mainly they need some stuffing, as my daughter is concerned about the necks being floppy. Some of them have holes on the paws that need sewed up. The other thing, which may not be fixable, is bald patches where she used to pull the hair out. I have washed the bears many times, and I'm actually impressed that they have held up as well as they have. But apparently they get more floppy each time, and with the seams coming out, I am reluctant to wash again without fixing them first. Which needs to be fairly soon, since she sucks on them and they smell. :P I don't have photos - the photo size limits on this forum would make the photos unhelpful, I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Ask around for a personable tailor or seamstress. If that doesn't work see if you can find a fabric store, preferably one that offers sewing lessons. It seems quite possible that you could get lucky and outsource it to someone who will do a little tutoring for your kid at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 I've had a couple of stuffed animals doctored in the past. I can't remember the name of the one we used, but you can find quite a few options on the internet. (stuffedanimals.com, cheryl's doll hospital, teddybearrepair) I would look for a place who gave estimates before starting the work. We sent the animals to them, they emailed an estimate back. If we didn't like the estimate, they sent the animal back to us. Also, look at the pictures on the website & see if you like *HOW* they redo an animal. You'll understand if you see the variety of ways things can be fixed (major, minor). Also, you might need to be specific as to what you want changed vs. what you don't want touched. It took a couple of months total (including shipping) because of the wait time in the hospital. We were kept up to date on progress. They even sent a small stuffed animal "friend" back with one of them so our guy wouldn't be scared & lonely while in transit on the way back. :coolgleamA: These were DH & my sibling's animals - not my kids', BTW. They were extremely well-loved. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth it for us. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotherGoose Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 I have no advice on outsourcing, but since you can do basic sewing, might this be a good time to teach 6th graders to sew? If you didn't know I wouldn't say that. They could probably fix holes and stuff. Fixing fur is another matter. But maybe that could be s sentimental LOVE injury? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 Depending on where fur is missing, clothes could cover. Build a bear, if the size is right, or craft stores sometimes have t-shirts for bears of different sizes, or even an infant-sized shirt (one of mine has a series of infant shirts from different places, which help reinforce a multitude of worn spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 I looked up the place we used (HannaBruceBears) - but the owner has retired from doing stuffed animal repairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 I thought it might be time for this "Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."... Seriously though I'd probably just grab a needle and thread and tackle it myself... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 This was a project I dreaded. My son's favorite stuffed animal is a dinosaur that was one of the $5 ones from Kohls. In other words, not the highest quality stuffed animal ever. It certainly wasn't meant to be chewed on, wrestled with, or washed umpteen million times. Dinosaur was looking pretty pitiful.l I swear I have in the past 10 years repaired just about every seam. Adding additional stuffing wasn't difficult, I added it through an existing hole and then stitched it closed while watching tv. After I finally did it, Dinosaur looked so much better. I wished I had done it a long time ago. I know you would prefer to outsource, but I bet you can find a YouTube video that could teach you how to do it even if you only have very basic sewing skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted September 11, 2017 Author Share Posted September 11, 2017 This was a project I dreaded. My son's favorite stuffed animal is a dinosaur that was one of the $5 ones from Kohls. In other words, not the highest quality stuffed animal ever. It certainly wasn't meant to be chewed on, wrestled with, or washed umpteen million times. Dinosaur was looking pretty pitiful.l I swear I have in the past 10 years repaired just about every seam. Adding additional stuffing wasn't difficult, I added it through an existing hole and then stitched it closed while watching tv. After I finally did it, Dinosaur looked so much better. I wished I had done it a long time ago. I know you would prefer to outsource, but I bet you can find a YouTube video that could teach you how to do it even if you only have very basic sewing skills. Part of me doesn't want to take the blame if I change it in a way that upsets the owner.... I am a wuss. We do need to buy some bear clothes anyway, as my daughter believes that will help the bears last longer. So I was thinking a Build-a-Bear type place for that reason. I am sure it would be an expensive option, but for "the" special lovey, I don't mind a one-time investment. Our bear was also a $5 wonder from Borders, and we ended up with 3 of them because a friend of mine bought us 2 after we bought the first one. I only bought the bear because my [then 1yo] kid had grabbed it and started sucking on it in the store. :P 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Part of me doesn't want to take the blame if I change it in a way that upsets the owner.... I get that, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 I'd turn to social media. Ask if one of your friends can mend it (& attach a photo to the post). It's a fun repair for a sewist. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Wash on delicate cycle in a lingerie bag. Forget about the bald spots - they add character. Add filling through a seam hole. Seams are easy to repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 I've had a couple of stuffed animals doctored in the past. I can't remember the name of the one we used, but you can find quite a few options on the internet. (stuffedanimals.com, cheryl's doll hospital, teddybearrepair) I absolutely love the before and after photos on those sites! Wow! What a neat service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Do you have a vet school nearby? Ours has an annual teddy bear hospital. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.