Hi everyone,
Very glad to have found this forum. I think that KnittingHelp.com is one of the most useful sites on the Web today.
I’m working on a Debbie Bliss teddy pattern and have created a body piece that sort of looks like a butterfly (two triangles stuck to the bottom of a rectangle). Once I create an identical piece, the “to make up” instructions say that I should “join center seams” of body pieces. Does anyone know what that means? Which are the center seams?
Georgie
You may change you tune about the site being helpful from the advise I can give you on this. Without seeing the pattern, my only suggestion is to re-read the directions. Somewhere, either where you cast on, or decreased, or cast off they probably mention that ‘this’ is the center seam. For example it might say: Center seam, cast on xx; or Center seam, bind of XX.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful, but I’m only basing this on other patterns I’ve seen. Maybe one of our illustrious peeps here knows this pattern. 
Thanks for your reply. I would not have been surprised at all had I missed a line about “this” being the centre seam, but alas, there is no such line. Here’s the pattern for the body piece:
BODY (MAKE 2)
TO MAKE UP
Join centre seam on each body piece. Join body pieces together, leaving cast off edge open. Stuff and gather open edge, pull up and secure.
Actually, I didn’t understand what “Dec one st st each end of next row and 2 foll 3rd rows” meant either (the 2 foll 3rd rows part), but figured it wouldn’t make a huge difference in the way the piece looked.
I’m attaching a photo of my finished piece. Any help is much appreciated!
Are the two triangles on the bottom supposed to be legs?
Maybe a picture of the bear would help, since you have that ability.
Actually, a picture of the bear doesn’t help because all the bears in this book are wearing clothing that cover their body! But here’s a picture of the book’s front cover, which features the bear body for the bear I’m making:
The two triangles at the bottom maybe are supposed to attach to the legs, which are separate pieces (already completed). If I don’t find out what this “centre seam” is, I think I’ll just join the two body parts together to look like a pair of pants. They’ll be covered by a rugby shirt anyway.
[size=2]
**Mod Squad was here! 
[/size]
Yeah, I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out if you have to leave the cast off edge open.
I look more “put together” with my clothes on, too! :lol:
I joined just to reply to you! Isn’t it frustrating being stuck? I’ve made a couple of Debbie Bliss’ bears, but I think it was from another book. The center seams on the bears (and bunnies) were seams that were at the center back and I matched the center seams of the head and body. This is how I interpreted it.
We’re going out (4 minutes ago!) so don’t have time to dig stuff out right now. I’ll check the boards when I get back, so if you’re still unclear, I can try to help. (Also, I do have the book you’re working on.)
Now if somebody could help with my aran sweater question…
Good luck.
Carolyn
Thanks for your help, Carolyn. So, if I’m understanding correctly, I should just sew the edges of body piece 1 and 2 together and then line them up with the head pieces once completed?
I think you’re making the bear with instructions on page 33. (The directions for this bear is a bit different than the one I made, photo pg. 27) If this isn’t the pattern, let me know!
I would sew the seams of the body like instructions say. Take a look and see if in fact the seams should be centre back and front or on the sides. She may want the seams down the centre back and front because of the way the arms and legs are attached to the body. They move! There would probably be less stress on the knitted piece if the limbs weren’t sewn to a seam. (Somebody correct me if I’m wrong!)
You do leave the cast off edge open because you’re going to run a gathering stitch on this edge and draw it in after you stuff it. (I embroidered the face before I fully stuffed and closed the head.)
Your photo isn’t appearing on the screen, but I didn’t have the triangular pieces at the bottom. The only thing that I can think of is that it becomes the bear’s crotch??? The hip? Now I’m curious, but it may become more evident as to how to construct this bear once you start.
That is a darling pattern you chose. What color are you making the bunny sleeper?
Good luck. Let us know how you make out.
Carolyn
Oh, I didn’t see that you said the bear in the rugby shirt. The directions were the same, but when I look closely at the opening of the shirt, I don’t see a seam, but it might be hidden.
Carolyn
The bear I’m making is the one with the rugby shirt, but the body it calls for is the same as the bear in the nightshirt – the one on the cover of the book.
Do you know what the pattern means when it says to “Dec one st st each end of next row and 2 foll 3rd rows”? What does the “2 foll 3rd rows” mean? I interpret this to mean:
1st row: dec one at each end
2nd row: work 1 row
3rd row: work 1 row
4th row: dec one at each end
5th row: dec one at each end
But then why wouldn’t the pattern just say to dec one at each end of 4th and 5th row?
This is what you do.
Row 1: dec
Row 2: work across
Row 3: work across
Row 4: dec
Row 5: work across
Row 6: work across
Row 7: dec
The two following third rows=dec in the third and the sixth after you’ve done the first, so fourth and seventh.[/u]
Ohhhh!!! I get it now. In other words, the two following rows after x row. Thanks a lot for your help!
I am having difficulty putting together bear as well!! If I was ably to load a picture of the pattern that would be nice
We can’t print the whole pattern here because of copyright problems but a small portion at the point that’s causing confusion would be helpful.
Here’s a link to Jan’s directions for posting photos in case you need it.
http://forum.knittinghelp.com/t/new-how-to-post-a-photo?t=80610
Thanks for replying! I have never stitched together anything before and am not sure if I need to purchase a big needle and sow it closed or if I knit it
There are several ways to do this depending on the types of seams (sides of stockinette or cast on and off edges) and on personal preference. Here’s a link to a backstitch which works for most cases
and also one to mattress stitch which is a nice invisible join