My son has a stuffed tiger (named Baby) who is literally in shreds....My son is 10 and sleeps with his "Baby" everey night. I am so scared that his little head is gonna fall off, it is attached by a strip of fabric. This Tiger had been re-sewn several times and has no eyes, no nose and kind of resembles a bear, rather than a tiger..lol. He is a part of our Family, though and I am DESPERATE to find him a "medic"...I have tried to put him away, (in a shadow box) but Patrick refuses!! I would forever be grateful if someone could help us, or knows someone who can...
P.S. I CANNOT sew!!
I had a bear like that that my parents just threw away!!! (they thought it was the right thing to do). They had no idea the "trauma" that would cause me. Even in shreds, I could have kept him on my dresser. He is blessed that you recognize that "baby" is precious to him. Lots of nice responses offering to help you....I'd take them up on that! :)
Hi L.-
I would be inclined, since the bear is in really bad shape, to get some REAL bandages, gauze, band-aids, Popsicle sticks (for splints) and have your son help bandage the tiger...
No sewing involved...PLUS your son may realize that the tiger is very old...and may need to 'retire'.
Best Luck!
michele/cat
Would you be willing to ship him to Pittsburgh?
I know someone who might be able to do this.......
usually there are seamstresses at your dry cleaners we have one just down the street that has sewn "fluffy" and "puppy" back together many times.
If I were nearby I would volunteer to help. I would probably get a soft but sturdy fabric (like upholstery velvet) and re-sew it by hand over the weak and worn places (even if that was most or all of the animal). I have done this with flannel on one of my husband's old animals--none of the original fabric shows, just the eyes. Another one we made a pattern and took it apart and I am making a replacement (this animal was originally made by his parents and replaced at least once). Good luck.
You can just let the stuffing go. Let him be a shell.
I wouldn't try to resew with new fabric, he will lose who he is.
I took teddy to college
We have my old stuffies, about 4 of them, Teddy included, and my husbands one teddy bear on the rocking chair in our room.
Be sure to read "The Velveteen Rabbit" to Patrick.
Here's our Lovey story.
My daughter has Lovey. We lost Lovey in a hotel once and she was traumatized, as traumatized as one gets at 2 1/2 without one's lovey.
SO We called Walmart and made sure they still carried him. We then took our daughter to go find Lovey. I removed all the other boxes with Lovey's except one, put them on the high shelf. THen put Lovey front and center at her level. She was in the other aisle looking for Lovey with Daddy. I called Oh I found him, I found him.
For a long time my daughter thought Walmart was the Lovey hospital. She still sleeps with him, and she is now 17.
I would see if your local senior center has a knitting/sewing group - many do and see if they can help. Or if you attend a church I am certain there is a woman who will be happy to help!
Ah, I have no ideas for you - everyone has covered that :)
But, I am 47 now, I still have my teddy bear from when I was about 2. His fuzz is all worn down, his music box long silent, and his ears have been sewn back on many times over the years. My son and I call him "Old Teddy", and he sits in a place of honor on my dresser.
Good Luck with Baby - with the right "surgery" he can bring years of comfort and warm memories to your son. How lovely.
if he's repaired too well, he may not be as familiar and soothing to him. I would hand sew with a needle and thread all the connecting parts that hold it together. Use Catwalks idea and out bandaids and turniquets on everything else.
