I have some older cuddle bodies I got from Sandies.
I am having the hardest time sewing up the bits. I thought maybe I had dull needles or old lady fingers but for goodness sake it’s thick-ish fabric and just not working.
Any advice or tips?
I almost thought of using fabric glue or hot glue but I didn’t want seams opening up and making a mess later down the line.
Since the fabric is a bit thickish maybe you need to try a thicker needle (such as one needed to sew denim?) Also you may need a different thread. I had a singer machine back in the day and it sewed beautifully but it had a mind of it’s own. As long as you used the proper thread, with the proper needle for whatever fabric you were sewing, it was Amazing!!! Maybe it could help.
While I have never closed up cuddle bodies using a fabric glue, I have used this glue to repair my grand daughter’s stuffed animals when they get a hole. I can tell you it holds up fabulously! So if you want to use a glue, use this one. It is like super glue for fabric. I have also used it on leather to repair a rip in an old 1960’s leather covered exam table at work. The only drawback to this product is that it does not dry totally clear. So if you use it, you want to make sure it is hidden down inside the seam and that you do not saturate it so that it bleeds through the fabric. Otherwise, it works great!
Upholstery thread and needle
Stab your needle into a bar of soap….helps it go through thicker fabric.
Geez, regarding my other post-----I misunderstood. I thought you were talking about actually sewing the body, but according to everyone’s replies you seem to have meant Closing up the openings after stuffing? So ignore my earlier post, sorry. Just try a thicker thread and needle, you should be ok.
Get a set of these rubber finger tips for counting money they let you grip the needle really well and makes it easier to pull through. I also use my desk top to push against the end of the needle if I can’t get it going.
Thank you everyone. Makes me think I should have taken better advantage of that body sale BB had. I do NOT like sewing up these bodies the fabric is weird. Thank you everyone for you help I really appreciate it. Going out to the studio determined to get these cuddles done today!
To those who were helpful, I realized my mistake. I was accidentally using old needlepoint needles that I bought a million years ago, didn’t even look at the package. I had no idea how stubby they were! It was me a thing not a fabric thing, damn getting old kinda sucks sometimes. Went out and got some standard sewing needles and viola all is good. I still hate stitching up cuddle bodies though what a pain. Thank you again.
Note: I sure miss having a Joannes Fabrics near me.
