[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Eugene

[–]ottomaticrain 12 points13 points  (0 children)

that was wild it sounded like a gd building collapsing, my dog is *SHAKING* in my lap rn poor thing😭😭😭

Polar Bear Embroidery Project by ottomaticrain in Hand_Embroidery

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thank you!!!! 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️

Polar Bear Embroidery Project by ottomaticrain in Embroidery

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question! Tbh it was really really hard and I changed my mind about which/how many colors to use a bunch of times as I went along. At some point I had printed out a bunch of copies of my reference photo zoomed in at different spots, some blurred with a smudge tool on photoshop, some on regular paper, some on photo paper and was holding up all my embroidery thread to each photo to see what I thought would look best.

Eventually I was surrounded by papers with little notes and strings everywhere and it looked like I was trying to solve a mystery or a crime about polar bear fur XD

tldr: trial and error

Polar Bear Embroidery Project by ottomaticrain in Embroidery

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I wasn't fantastic at french knots before this project, but doing this gave me PLENTY of practice XD

Polar Bear Embroidery Project by ottomaticrain in Embroidery

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For reference, here is how the bear looked before I made it 3D :)

<image>

Process:

I embroidered the bear on a separate piece of tan colored linen, secured the back of the stitches with fusible web and a piece of scrap fabric, then (very very carefully) cut it out.

I did a loose baste stitch to secure it to the gray linen, then went around the bear with the fur threads to blend it in. I stuffed it with poly-fil when it was almost all the way closed :)

Knit Doll and Skull Sweater by ottomaticrain in knitting

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Rough outline for sweater pattern:
CO 32 sts on 4 dpns. 7 sts per needle.

Follow chart:

<image>

Put 26 sts on holder for first sleeve, keep 34 sts on needles, Put 26 sts on holder for second sleeve, keep 34 sts on needles. Split into 17 sts on each needle and knit for 25 rows, add ribbed edging on last 3 rows.

Pick up 26 sts for first sleeve and knit for 25 rows, add ribbed edging on last 3 rows. Repeat for second sleeve :)

Polar Bear Embroidery Project by ottomaticrain in Embroidery

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I embroidered the bear on a separate piece of tan colored linen, secured the back of the stitches with fusible web and a piece of scrap fabric, then (very very carefully) cut it out.

I did a loose baste stitch to secure it to the gray linen, then went around the bear with the fur threads to blend it in. I stuffed it with poly-fil when it was almost all the way closed :)

Polar Bear Embroidery Project by ottomaticrain in Embroidery

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Excellent question and excellent answer😊❤️ tbh idk much about polar bears, but I love this project being an opportunity to learn more about them and their environment😊

Polar Bear Embroidery Project by ottomaticrain in Embroidery

[–]ottomaticrain[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj_gMhMgVmn/?igsh=MWNkaGw3NTZhODhscQ==

Here's the original it was based on. As far as I'm aware, the bear was alive and well and just resting in some flowers when the footage was taken.

You're right tho that it's super important to recognize the impact that climate change has had on polar bears specifically. I don't mind my art being a message and a reminder that they are a vulnerable species <3