Maybe you haven’t sewn a toy before and are wondering how long it takes to sew a soft toy or you’re hoping to find a pattern to sew a toy in one sitting, or you’re looking for a memory bear pattern and want to know which memory bear pattern is the best or can be sewn the fastest?

This blog post answers
ALL these timely questions!

⏰Question 1: How long does it take to sew a Funky Friends Factory toy pattern?

ANSWER: I find this hard to answer because people have different skills, work styles, and experience levels. The time will be quicker if you choose one of our easy toy patterns but this answer also depends on how long you take to chose your fabric combinations, and how many breaks you like to take! SO, I usually say:

 

“Any FFF pattern can be sewn in an uninterrupted afternoon (for the easy patterns) and a day (for advanced patterns)!” 

 

 

Timing Tips:  

 

💡 The first time you sew a pattern takes the longest.

 

WHY? It’s because you are becoming familiar with the pieces and how they fit together. Remember to use the step-by-step photo tutorial included in each Funky Friends Factory pattern! The link to the photo tutorial is in a box called See Me Sew, and it’s usually on page 3.

 

 

 

💡💡Try to give yourself three undisturbed sessions:

 

1) for reading through the pattern and planning fabric placement (add more time here if making a clothing keepsake)

2) tracing and cutting out the fabric pieces

3) sewing and stuffing/finishing the toy.

 

 

 

⏰Question 2: What’s the AVERAGE time it takes to sew a toy?

ANSWER: When we asked the members of our Pattern Fan club this question, the answers range between 2 to 7 hours to completely make a toy, from start-to-finish. Where you will land on that spectrum largely depends on which pattern you select and how long you’ve been sewing.

Why be average ~> it’s up to YOU how long you take!😄

 

⏰Question 3: How long does it take to sew a Keepsake toy / Memory Bear from clothing?

ANSWER: If you’re making a keepsake toy or memory bear from sentimental clothing, this will take longer than a regular toy. Even experienced keepsake makers often take 5 hours to make a toy. WHY? This is because you’ll need to use interfacing, plan fabric placement, and make a practice version of the pattern (at least once) so you won’t make any mistakes on the actual precious garments.

 

Keepsake sewing tips:  

 

💡 Know when to use interfacing:

 

You’ll want to use interfacing (or sew-in lining) if the clothing is stretchy (t-shirt material and onesies always need interfacing or lining) or you are using clothing items made from different fabrics. 

The BEST interfacing to use for memory toys is a medium weight, woven interfacing like Pellon SF 101, or the UK/Europe version Vlieseline G700, or Bosal 100% cotton fusible interfacing (If you can’t find fusible interfacing or it is too expensive, you can make a lining from quilting cotton or fleece but this does take some extra time.).

 

 

💡💡 Sew a Test Toy!

 

This is extra important if you are using precious clothing items and you can’t risk making a mistake with them! For your test toy, try to find a piece of clothing similar to the one you’re using on the final toy. Charity shops are great places to look for a variety of fabrics and used baby clothes.

 

 

 

 

⏰Q4: Which Toy Patterns are the fastest to sew?

ANSWER: Generally, the fastest patterns are the ones with larger pieces AND fewer pieces. I’ve compiled those here in the Easy / Beginner Patterns section HERE on the website so you can see them all together.

 

If you’d like to see photos of people holding these toys for scale, we’ve got you covered! Just go to the “Easy Patterns” section of the Gift Giving Guide HERE. It’s toward the bottom, so scroll down. If you’re specifically looking for a teddy bear pattern, head to the next section of this blog post.

Click HERE to buy the Scrap Snake Sewing Pattern.

Click HERE to buy the Mix & Match Monsters pattern.

 

 

⏰Question 5: What’s the fastest Teddy Bear pattern to sew?

ANSWER: This is a hotly debated question! It’s right up there with “which bear pattern is easiest?” and “which memory bear pattern is best?” We get these comparison-type questions so often that we compiled an “all you want to know” blog post called “Compare the Bears.” If you ask 3 people this question, you’re likely to get 3 different answers, so use the criteria in the blog post to decide which pattern  is best for your particular needs and skills.

 

 

⏰Question 6: How to choose which teddy bear pattern is best for YOU?

ANSWER: The compare the Bear blog post gives you a detailed comparison of all of the Funky Friends Factory Teddy Bear patterns. It contains size comparisons, photos of people holding the toys, and an FAQ section with questions like “which bear is best for use with t-shirt logos.”

The blog post has two main sections. The first half contains a detailed description and comparison details for each of the bear patterns. The second half of the blog post is the FAQ section, and that’s where you’ll find a section devoted to which bear is “fastest” to make. 

 

The main factor here is personal preference.

For example, Do you want a teddy bear pattern with jointed arms and legs that are movable, so your bear can be sitting or stand up? Calico Signature Bear is a button-jointed teddy bear pattern. If you think that joints will slow you down considerably, you may want to try an un-jointed teddy bear pattern like Ben the Beginner Bear or Melody Memory Bear.

In another example, Do you want a memory bear pattern with a snout/muzzle? Ben the Beginner Bear has a separate snout which is great for adding a ‘pop of colour’ to a bear’s face and Buttons the Best Dressed Bear has a large snout with an easy sewn-in nose! If you don’t like the look of a distinctive separate muzzle section, you may want to try Calico Signature Bear or Melody Memory Bear.

 

Choosing a teddy bear pattern is… personal!😍

 

 

And last, but not least…

 

IMPORTANT Reminder:

 

💡 Don’t forget to have fun!🥳

 

The most important thing about your sewing experience isn’t how long it takes. Did you have fun? Remember to leave time for enjoying the sewing experience itself!

 

I’d love to have YOUR feedback! Leave me a comment below to let me know:

Which Funky Friends Factory toy pattern did you find the quickest to sew?

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Till next time,

Pauline
xxx