“Bear” Stanley and the Backstory of the Grateful Dead Bears ![]() While you don’t need an advanced degree in semiotics to uncover the mysterious magic of the dancing bears, some crib notes certainly won’t hurt. Where symbolism is concerned, the dancing bears are certainly nutrient-rich, chock full of good-for-you allusions, metaphors, and insinuations. Let’s get up close with Grateful Dead’s surreal and iconic dancing bears. Then you’re going to want to strap in for this one, because it’s going to be quite a ride. That's it your bear body is now finished.Consider yourself a dyed-in-the-wool Deadhead? A lover of the cultish and mysterious? A fan of all things Ursa (that’s bear in Latin for the kids at the back)? Basically your just making a poofy set of spats for your shoes. Added a piece of elastic to hold them in place. Then took a similar pattern just a little smaller to the original, then attached them to the other along the ankle hole, stuffed the center and sew the bottom edges together. Sewing them together at the top leaving a hole large enough to get your foot through. For the feet I took a set of my shoes, and cut 4 pieces of fabric a bit larger than the shoe. Also added some belt loops, and made the waist hem large enough to fit the belt through it by cutting a slit on each side of the head to carry the weight. Then sew them on front and back just the top edge will be fine. Cut 2 pieces of fleece for the bandana and cut around the neck in the front. I used a combo of machine, and hand sewing on the head to secure it in place. Attach the head to the body just below waist height. I also added a little tail in the back as well, similar to doing the ears. Turn body inside out and sew the arms in, then you can sew the arms shut. Cut a oval shape on each side of the body just below your hips, about the size of the arms. Stuff the arms with the hanger in the center, and leave the end open for the time being. Take a metal hanger and make a round end on each side to prevent it from poking through the fabric. Pretty simple oval shape into a tapered line for the arm. On each leg sew from the crotch down the legs of the bear, then from the crotch sew the two pieces together. ( kind of) The crotch or the bear will be at your knee's, from that point the pattern will go straight up to about your crotch, then taper in for your waist. Take a pair of pants fold them in half, this ongoing to give you an idea of cutting shape. For stuffing, I used poly fill, but any thing will work. Flip head right side out again and stuff the head. Figure out your placement (seemed best right outside the hem ) then cut a slit in the head and flip inside out again to sew them on. Make your ears the same way sew around the edge and flip right side out. Cut a piece of felt for the mouth and ears, and sew it on, hand sewing worked the best for that. ( I bought them at Jo Ann fabric but you could use felt as well) Poke the nose and eyes through and attach the backings. ![]() Sew each side of the top of the head to the edge of the strip, and flip it right side out poke holes in it for the eyes and nose. Then take the long piece and center the small rounded end at the tip of the nose. Start by sewing from the nose down to the base of the neck. I found out you don't need the cut out for the mouth so just continue the circle past it. The ears you will need 4 pieces of fabric, and the long strip you will only need one. ![]() ![]() The one that looks like a bear you will need 2 of when cutting fabric. There are 3 templates you will use when making it.
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