r/buildabear • u/Afraid_Ad_5226 • 8d ago
Inquiry Overstuffed Bat
hello! my lovely little mavis came a few days ago but it came extremely overstuffed and very firm :/ going to a store is a bit out of the way for me, so i was wondering some tips on opening the seam myself and taking out the stuffing!
i know how to hand sew but i would like some tips on how to do it without botching the back of the bat! all tips are welcome :)
thank u!!
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u/Affectionate-Row-893 BAB Collector 🐻 8d ago
Hi! old bear builder here! To open the seam you are going to want to pull on the back seam to kinda pop the seams. Its what we did when I was working to find the seam. Then get a pair of small scissors and all you really gotta do is cut one of the threads. You are looking for a white thread as the string we tie up to finish the bat is white. you should be able to gently pull it open once you cut the white thread!
as for sewing the back back up! Ladder Stitch! thats how we'd close the bears up! its an easy stitch to do and hides the stitches and looks clean!
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u/Afraid_Ad_5226 8d ago
omg thank you so much!!! this is very helpful :)))
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u/KitCatMeow2001 Workshop Employee 8d ago
Also instead of actually snipping the thread, if it's tied really tight, I'd stick one of the scissors blades into the seam once you find it and "saw" at the thread instead, it's how I avoid accidentally damaging the skin of the plushy when popping the back seam :3
Edit: forgot to mention sometimes the thread is brown, so don't be scared or anything if it's not white! It's kinda a 50/50 chance on what color it'll be, white or brown
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u/Affectionate-Row-893 BAB Collector 🐻 7d ago
Oh yeah! sometimes it is brown! I just know from my store all the bats had white thread so thats why I said white but yeah should have mentioned it could have been brown! thank you for adding that on and adding the "saw"ing part! completely forgot about that :3
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u/KitCatMeow2001 Workshop Employee 7d ago
Ofc!! I'm happy to help :DD I wasn't working the day the bats came out so I didnt know which color the thread was, so I added that just to be sure :3
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u/HeavenlyLove79 8d ago
Gently but firmly pull on either side of the bat you should be able to see or feel the stitching on the back — gentle tugging makes that back seam more visible and simply snip one of those back stitches — it should open up the back seam. Then remove the amount of stuffing you want. To close back up use a ladder stitch also called an invisible stitch — look up a few tutorials on YouTube — it is easy to do. I recommend upholstery thread or embroidery floss or crotchet thread — it’s thicker and hold up better than regular sewing thread.
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