How to Make a Mohair Teddy Bear

Mohair is a silky-textured fiber that was used to make early Teddy Bears. It is soft, durable and lightweight.

Mohair is the hair of the Angora goat which is then spun into yarn and used in knit, crochet and woven applications. Because of its strength and durability as well as its light weight, mohair is popular in application as knit or crochet scarves.

Mohair is a fiber that is commonly used in creating Teddy Bears. It is soft and "furry" and creates a beautiful and endearing effect.

While Teddy Bears did go through a dry spell when cheap synthetic fibers were more popular than the natural texture of the mohair, many artisans are going back to the roots of the Teddy Bear crafting in order to create unique and classic bears.

Teddy Bears come in a variety of sizes. You can make them very large or very, very small, depending on your preferences and whether or not you are sewing the bear for a toy or as a collectible. Unless your bear is particularly small, you have a choice of whether or not to stitch your bear by hand or by machine (I recommend hand-sewing very small Teddy Bears).

That being said, hand sewing your Teddy Bear is considered traditional and gives you significantly more control over the pile (the fur) of the fabric. Having sewn bears and other plush toys both ways, I personally very much prefer to do this work by hand. Unless your bear is particularly large, you won't gain a lot of speed on a sewing machine.

Just be sure to reinforce your seams if you are stitching by hand.

• Mohair Fabric. Please purchase the fur!


• Microfiber or felt for paws if the pattern calls for it.


• Sewing machine or sturdy hand-sewing needle.


• Filling/stuffing. I use polyester fiberfill but there are other fibers available.


• Doll joints for a jointed bear.


• Teddy Bear Eyes.

The decision of whether or not to purchase a Teddy Bear pattern or to create your own is entirely up to you. There are books (some of which are listed below) which will teach you how to create a Teddy Bear from scratch, including teaching you how to make your own pattern.

Creating a pattern from scratch isn't particularly difficult, though it is ambitious. You will need to know Teddy Bear basics, including details such as how to create and sew the head gusset (shown in the video above). Purchasing a good instruction book or taking a class in bear-making is an excellent way to learn these skills.

In any case, I recommend starting with a pattern that has already been put together for you. While this method isn't fool proof by any means, it will make your journey into learning to make Teddy Bears much easier. You will be surprised by how easy and fun it is!

Teddy Bears make fantastic gifts for "children" of all ages. Whether you are looking for an excellent keepsake for a new baby in the family or are trying to comfort an elderly relative who has lost his or her spouse, a Teddy Bear is a great way for you to show somebody how much you love them and know them.

It is absolutely worth it to try your hand at making your own Mohair Teddy Bears. It is much easier than you may initially think and is very much worth the time it takes to put together a new friend.

Better yet, making your own Teddy Bears gives you a hobby that can be very fulfilling and even financially lucrative! If you get the hang of making these little darlings, you may even find yourself creating your own patterns -- in giant sizes or in miniatures.

Teddy Bears have so much personality because their artisans have such personality. There are many, many great patterns available and some excellent artists.