Computer screen displaying a collection of guides and patterns, including a booklet titled "Hershey" with a teddy bear on the cover, alongside several notebooks.

Step by Step guides

A collection of 12 Bear Making patterns, & 12 Step-by-step photo guides. Build your patten collection with this beautiful range of bears.

From miniatures to mink, beginner to advanced This collection has it all!

Computer monitor displaying a slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with an image of a plush mink toy and decorative pink and polka dot background.

Mink Masterclass videos

A focused video bear making workshop, in the comfort of your own home. Watch, re-wind, re-watch, whenever, wherever.  Follow along learning all the techniques to master.

I show you my top tip and bear making hacks how to make bears using all the hacks I have developed over the years making and improving my bears.

Ready to access it all in once place?

Bundle includes the guides, the mink Masterclass videos and access to the Bare Cub Designs pattern library

Price is $89 AUD (approx $59 US)

Please check conversion rates

Ready to enjoy bear making?

Everything you need in one place to Master Bear Making

Check out the bundle

Three brochures featuring plush teddy bears, each with a different name: Cadbury, Moda, and Malt, from Bare Cub Designs.

New!!

The Pattern Library

A collection of my very own patterns used to make the Bare Cub Designs available for your enjoyment!

Bear Making Members
$89.00
One time

Learn how to make beautiful bears mastering all the tips and tricks.

A cover of a book titled "Vol 1 Snuggle" featuring a plush teddy bear with a plaid bow tie, and an inset image of a white teddy bear holding a driftwood. The top displays a logo for Bare Cub Designs with a cute brown teddy bear illustration.

1 Snuggle

Learn to sculpt and shade eyes. Learn a special way of inserting eyes that you can do all on your own, while still getting that nice "sculpted" look, using the "Button Method" No more ugly dimples on the back of your bears head. This bear was nominated for Toby Award.

Cover of Bare Cub Designs catalog featuring two plush teddy bears, one large and one small, with pink flowers on the larger bear's head, titled vol 7 Blossom.

7 Blossom

An introduction to needle felting, this issues shows you the tools and gives you the felting knowledge to create a master piece, starting with a simple felted nose. Pulled paw pads are also covered in this issue.

12 Step By Step Guides

These guides include tips and techniques, tools of the trade and step by step photos showing how to master the methods that you can then use on any pattern once you know how. Learn all the techniques I use to create perfect bears without all the hassles.

A plush teddy bear sitting on a small wooden chest, with a wooden headboard behind it. The cover is from Bare Cub Designs, volume 2 Jester.

2 Jester

Learn how to make miniature bears using the "Slit Jointing Method" A great way to close the arms and legs without the ladder stitching showing along the seam lines

A plush teddy bear with brown fur, large dark eyes, and a black nose, sitting on a soft floral fabric. The image is part of a product cover for 'Bare Cub Designs,' featuring the text 'Vol 8 Hershy' at the bottom.

8 Hershy

The bumper mink issue, over 150 photos showing every step from cutting out the pattern to scissor sculpting the perfect cheeks. This is like a one-to-one workshop with me, except you can look at it over and over. I believe this is one of the most important skills to master, you can create this finished look with mohair and alpaca too.

Cover of Bare Cub Designs magazine featuring a teddy bear dressed in a cloth, sitting on a table. The magazine is titled 'Vol 3 Alfred' and has a decorative header with an image of a bear at the top.

3 Alfred

Make a beautiful antique style bear, learning the ageing techniques to make your bear look

very loved. Make little overalls from a old flour or rice calico bag. The easy overall pattern can be used for any bear just reduce or enlarge the one-piece pattern. Stuffing options revealed, using the right stuffing for miniatures, larger bears and even antique options.

A cute plush teddy bear with butterfly wings, sitting on the ground. The image is part of a cover for a craft pattern collection titled 'Vol 9 Firefly' by Bare Cub Designs. The cover has a decorative header with a small bear image and the text 'Bare Cub Designs by Helen Glesson.'

9 FireFly

Another miniature bear, this time with antenna and wings. Learn how to make your own.

A handmade beige teddy bear holding a small branch with green leaves and orange fruit, displayed on a textured background. The top has a logo with a brown bear and the text "Bare Cub Designs" by Helen Gleeson. Below the teddy bear, it says "Vol 4 Duo" in light blue text.

4 Duo

Working with colour create a simple bear in 2 colours and learn how colour can work for you, blending them together with the 2 colour raised appliquedéd paw pads that are a beautiful addition to any bear.

Cover of a pattern book titled "Bare Cub Designs" by Helen Gleeson featuring a plush toy resembling a puppy with fluffy fur and a small, round face, with the subtitle "Vol 10 Ginger." The cover has a light blue border and includes a small teddy bear logo at the top left.

10 Ginger

Learn the easy way to add open mouth and tongue to any bear. Another beautiful mink pattern.

Bear Making Members
$89.00
One time

Learn how to make beautiful bears mastering all the tips and tricks.

Price is $89 AUD (approx $59 US)

Please check conversion rates

Cover of a craft book titled "Vol 5 Teddy" featuring a plush teddy bear with dark fur, a rounded nose, and butterflies on its chest, set against green foliage background, with a logo "Bare Cub Designs" at the top.

5 Teddy

The first bear to use mink, as an insert muzzle, not only do you get to work with mink, but this pattern can be made from any fur and alpaca or mohair to create fluffy cheeks.

Cover of Bare Cub Designs book featuring plush teddy bears on a light blue background with the title 'Vol 11 Zhu Zhu'.

11 Zhu Zhu

Time for a challenge, try a 40 + piece pattern, including the double jointed neck that allows bears to look up to the stars and down to form many poses. Add an optional open mouth, appliquéd paw pads. This pattern makes a beautiful panda or sun bear. The perfect realistic award winning bear pattern.

Cover of a catalog titled 'Bare Cub Designs' featuring a plush white bunny with long floppy ears and blue accents on its paws, sitting on a patterned fabric background, with the text 'Vol 6 Briget' at the bottom.

6 Bridget the bunny

Create a sweet faced bunny with long ears and soften the look by using flannel for the inner ears and paw pads. Learn how to make your own bendy limbs for a fraction of the price of the ones you can buy, allowing your bears and bunnies to bend arms and legs for posing

Cover of a pattern book titled "Vol 12 Tiger Lilly" featuring a plush bear in tiger colors with a pink background, and additional small images of related designs. The top of the page shows a logo with a small plush bear and the text "Bare Cub Designs by Helen Gleeson."

12 Tiger Lilly

By popular demand another mink pattern, This bear was featured on the cover of Teddy Bear Review (US) and on the cover of Bear Basics and Beyond (by Helen Gleeson) and nominated for Golden Teddy awards. This issue shows how to add the eye accents and dark fur patches under the eyes. Make your very own famous Tiger Lilly Bear.

Mink Masterclass Video course

The Mink Masterclass is created so you can watch as I create a bear from start to finish and learn along the way. There is over 4 hours of video, broken down into easy to watch bite sized chunks to fit into any busy lifestyle. Watch on the go or at home enjoying a creative weekend workshop in the comfort of your home. The overview of the course is listed below

Computer screen displaying a presentation titled 'Mink Masterclass' with an image of a plush mink toy and pink floral decoration in the background.
Computer screen displaying a presentation titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a plush mink toy and pink flower decoration.
Computer screen displaying a slide with the text 'Mink Masterclass' and an image of a plush mink toy.
Computer monitor displaying a slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a plush mink toy and pink floral decoration.
Computer screen displaying a slide for a 'Mink Masterclass' with an image of a plush mink toy and pink flowers.
Computer monitor displaying a slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a plush mink toy and pink flower decoration.
Computer screen displaying a presentation slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a picture of a plush teddy bear and pink flowers.
Computer screen displaying a slide with the text 'Mink Masterclass' and a picture of a plush toy mink.
Computer screen displaying a
Computer screen displaying a slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a plush mink toy and pink flowers in the background.
Computer screen displaying a presentation titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a stuffed mink toy and pink flowers in the background.
Computer screen displaying a
Computer monitor displaying a screen with the text 'Mink Masterclass' and a plush mink toy on a light pink and gold polka dot background.
Computer screen displaying a presentation slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a teddy bear plush toy and a pink flower in the background.
Computer monitor displaying a presentation slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a plush mink toy and pastel pink flower in the background.
Computer screen displaying 'Mink Masterclass' with a plush mink toy, pink flower, and polka dot background.
Computer monitor displaying a slide with the text 'Mink Masterclass' and an image of a plush mink toy.
Computer screen displaying a slide titled 'Mink Masterclass' with an image of a plush mink toy and a pink flower in the background.
Computer screen displaying a slideshow titled 'Mink Masterclass' with a plush toy mink alongside pink flowers and a light polka dot background.
Computer monitor displaying a presentation titled 'Mink Masterclass' with an image of a plush mink toy and pink decorative elements.

Mink Masterclass Preparation

Introduction - Before we begin

4:55 minutes

What you’ll need - Tools and Supplies

4:08 minutes

3 x Bare Cub Design Patterns for you to use

1:52 minutes

Mink Masterclass Sewing the Bear

Fur - Garment deconstruction Trace, Line and Cut

19:56 minutes

Sewing the bear - Backstitch

10:44 minutes

Mink Masterclass - Using the slit jointing method

Slit jointing method - slit and turn the limbs

8:12 minutes

Slit jointing method - stuffing the limbs

9:48 minutes

Slit jointing method - Jointing the limbs

18:37 minutes

Mink Masterclass - Creating the head - with loads of trimming along the way!

Head - Stuffing

9:17 minutes

Head - First trim

13.31 minutes

Head - insert eyes with button method 1/2

25:08 minutes

Head - insert eyes with button method 2/2

25:14 minutes

Head - sewing the mouth

10:53 minutes

Head - turning the ears

5:43 minutes

Head - Making the Clay Nose

4:43 minutes

Head - Finishing the face - Trimming the Face and adding colour

8:56 minutes

Head - Finishing the face - nose and panda patches

6:26 minutes

Head - Finishing the face - attach the nose and ears

23:37 minutes

Mink Masterclass - Finishing your bear!

Head - Joint the head

26:04 minutes

Head - the final trim - of course

7:27 minutes

Bear Making Members
$89.00
One time

Learn how to make beautiful bears mastering all the tips and tricks.

Price is $89 AUD (approx $59 US)

Please check conversion rates

Access the Bare Cub Designs Pattern Library

Three catalogs featuring plush teddy bears from Bare Cub Designs, with the names Cadbury, Milda, and Malt, each showcasing different teddy bear designs.
Bear Making Members
$89.00
One time

Learn how to make beautiful bears mastering all the tips and tricks.

Price is $89 AUD (approx $59 US)

Please check conversion rates

Free - 3 day Mini Bear Mastery Course

Cover page for Bare Cub Designs featuring a teddy bear logo, pink and blue text, and a kit checklist for bear making, with a background of polka dots and scissors.
An image of a handmade teddy bear with cream-colored fur and a fluffy hat, set against a blue sky background. The image is part of a design collection called 'Bare Cub Designs' by Helen Gleeson, with the word 'Bliss' written at the bottom in pink.
Book cover titled 'The Mastery of Bear Making: Perfect Clay Noses' by Bare Cub Designs with a small teddy bear logo and a pair of clay modeling tools in the background.
Advertisement for Bare Cub Designs featuring a plush teddy bear with black eyes and nose, promotional text for online bear making workshops, including an Enroll Now button and a computer monitor displaying a smaller bear image and the words 'Mink Masterclass'.
Computer screen displaying an online course titled 'Bear Making Mastery' with a free 3-day mini course offer, featuring a clipboard with notes and a smartphone showing a picture of a fluffy white dog.

Day 1 - Bear Making Kit

First lets review and upgrade your bear making kit so you will love using it. Be ready to get sewing in and instant and pack up in no time.

9:59 minutes

DIY Stuffing Bag

No I know it’s no Chanel, but it’s a long way from a plastic bag. Make your own bag and you’ll enjoy stuffing your bears from it for years to come.

DIY Pin Cushion

This is the one product I cant live without. I even made one myself. You can find these online if you hunt around, but I’ll show you how t make your own.

DIY Mood Board

A great way to store your bulk joints, eyes etc. Learn how to create these beautiful storage and note boards to organize your sewing space.

Day 2 - Patterns and storage

Watch as I show you how to create your own templates and store our patterns so they are always ready to use. To get you started you will be able to download your own Bare Cub Design pattern.

4.03 minutes

Day 3- Perfect Clay Noses

Ever taken the time to make a bear only to be let down by an uneven nose? Watch as I make a clay nose. Then make your very own. The best psrt, if it’s not perfect - dont use it.

7:08 minutes

Still Want More?

Bear Making Members
$89.00
One time

Learn how to make beautiful bears mastering all the tips and tricks.

Price is $89 AUD (approx $59 US)

Please check conversion rates

Poster for Bare Cub Designs advertising online workshops on bear making, featuring a plush teddy bear holding a yellow ticket, with a computer monitor displaying the same bear and a small logo of a teddy bear in the top left corner.

Bundle includes the guides, the mink Masterclass videos and access to the Bare Cub Designs pattern library

Collage of various teddy bear-themed logos and brand names, including Teddy Bear Times, Teddy Bear News, Bears & Buds, Teddy Bear & Friends, Australian Bear Creations, Teddy Toby, and New Zealand Teds.