How to Choose the Right Size Eyes for your Teddy Bear
The most commonly asked question I get from beginners is, "What size eyes should I use for my bear?"
There really is no hard and fast rule for a creative task like designing and creating your own teddy bear. There are several factors you will want to consider when choosing the size and colour of eyes for your bear. Are you creating a classic teddy bear or a more whimsical, fantasy bear? Is he/she a young, playful bear or a wise, older bear? What kind of personality does he/she have? Here are a few thoughts to consider:
Larger eyes will make your bear appear younger. You will want to place the eyes further apart to convey a more childlike innocence. Smaller eyes, placed closer together, will give the appearance of an older, more mature bear. Solid black eyes will appear larger than eyes with a coloured iris and black pupil. At Shamrock Rose Teddy Bear Supplies, we carry an amazing variety of eyes, from the basic solid black to coloured eyes in a number of different styles and special effects: multicoloured eyes, radiant eyes, hologram eyes, spiral eyes for trolls and other fantasy creatures, cat eyes, dragon eyes with slit pupils and character eyes with many different expressions.
Eyes are measured from the outside edge across the middle of the eye. All sizes are listed in millimeters. Here are some general guidelines for choosing the eye sizes:
For a 1" to 2.5" bear: 1mm eyes (glass beads are recommended)
For a 2.5" to 3.5" bear: 2mm eyes (glass beads are recommended)
For a 3" to 4" bear: 3mm or 4mm eyes
For a 5" bear: 4mm to 6mm eyes
For a 6" bear: 5mm to 7mm eyes
For a 7" bear: 6mm to 8mm eyes
For an 8" bear: 7mm to 9mm eyes
For a 9" bear: 8mm to 10mm eyes
For a 10" bear: 8mm to 11mm eyes
For an 11" to 12" bear: 9mm to 11mm eyes
For a 13" to 15" bear: 10mm to 12mm eyes
For a 16" to 20" bear: 12mm to 14mm eyes
For a 20" to 27" bear: 14mm to 16mm eyes
How to attach plastic safety eyes or nose:
1. Use a fabric awl to create a hole where you plan to insert
the eyes or nose.
2. Insert the eye or nose.
3. For plastic washers, place the
plastic washer over the shank, with the rounded side of the washer facing up. (Sometimes it helps to soak the plastic washer in hot water for 5 minutes to soften it up a bit.)
For metal washers, insert the washer
with the flat side out. Those little ‘barbs’ dig into the fabric and keep the
eye from rotating.
4. With your thumb supporting the front of the eye or nose, begin to push
the washer down.
5. Some people like
to use a metal disc to help install a small safety nose, as the metal disc provides
more leverage, thus easing the installation process. Place the metal disc over the washer. The metal washer helps to
increase your leverage, making it easier to push the plastic washer down with
less effort and pain.
Extra tip: Sometimes it helps to run the shaft of the
eye or nose lightly over a bar of soap.
We also carry two types of insertion tools to help push the washers on to the back of the eyes. See below.
How to Choose the Right Size Nose for your Teddy Bear
There really is no hard and fast rule for a creative task like designing and creating your own teddy bear. When choosing the size of the nose in relation to the eyes for a classic bear, some designers like to use a ratio of 2 to 1 or 3 to 1, meaning that the nose should be two to three times the size of the eyes.
There are several factors you will want to consider when choosing the size and colour of eyes and nose for your bear. Are you creating a classic teddy bear or a more whimsical, fantasy bear? Is he/she a young, playful bear or a wise, older bear? What kind of personality does he/she have?
Here are a few thoughts to consider:
Larger eyes will make your bear appear younger. You will want to place the eyes further apart to convey a more childlike innocence. Smaller eyes, placed closer together, will give the appearance of an older, more mature bear. Solid black eyes will appear larger than eyes with a coloured iris and black pupil.
At Shamrock Rose Teddy Bear Supplies, we carry an amazing variety of eyes and noses, from the basic solid black to coloured eyes in a number of different styles and special effects: multicoloured eyes, radiant eyes, hologram eyes, spiral eyes for trolls and other fantasy creatures, cat eyes, dragon eyes with slit pupils and character eyes with many different expressions. We have life-like noses with nostrils, koala bear noses and standard oval or triangular shaped noses. It really is just a matter of your personal preference which style or size you choose.
Many people have difficulty pushing the safety washers onto the post of the safety eyes.
This amazing little tool makes it much easier!
This tool is a more deluxe version of our basic insertion tool with a larger handle that is molded to the shape of your hand. It comes with a magnet attachment for metal washers, to hold the washer in place while you work, so you don't have to worry about dropping it on the floor and losing it. The magnet attachment is available in size small and medium.
How to use:
First, use a fabric awl to create a hole where you plan to insert the eyes.
Place the washer, flat side out, on the tip of the magnet.
Then insert the eye through the fabric, from the front to the back.
Use the tool to push the washer onto the post. The tool holds the washer steady while the pressure from your palm helps to smoothly and easily push the washer onto the post.
NOTE: Before you press the washer the final few millimeters, make sure you turn the teddy bear head right side out and check that the eyes or nose are positioned exactly where you want it. Otherwise, you may end up with them securely fastened upside down or at an angle!
Once you are satisfied that the eyes are positioned correctly, push the tool until the washer clicks down the grooves of the post and it sits firmly against the fabric.
Many people have difficulty pushing the safety washers onto the post of the safety eyes.
This amazing little tool makes it much easier!
It is a metal tube with a wooden ball handle which makes it very comfortable to hold.
How to use:
First, use a fabric awl to create a hole where you plan to insert the eyes.
Place the washer, flat side out, on the tip of the metal tube.
Then insert the eye through the fabric, from the front to the back.
Use the tool to push the washer onto the post. The tool holds the washer steady while the pressure from your palm helps to smoothly and easily push the washer onto the post.
NOTE: Before you press the washer the final few millimeters, make sure you turn the teddy bear head right side out and check that the eyes or nose are positioned exactly where you want it. Otherwise, you may end up with them securely fastened upside down or at an angle!
Once you are satisfied that the eyes are positioned correctly, push on the wooden ball until the washer clicks down the grooves of the post and it sits firmly against the fabric.
