Make ZhuZhu: An Advanced Artist Bear
Double Neck Joint • Neck Wedge • Sculpted Expression • 32+ Pattern Pieces • Optional Appliquéd Paw Pads
Sometimes a bear’s personality appears in the smallest movement: a lifted chin, a curious turn or a head tilted gently towards you.
ZhuZhu invites you to explore how construction, movement and expression come together in a more intricate artist bear.
With 32 core fabric pieces, a shaped body and a separate neck section, this is a project to settle into slowly. The matching pattern, written instructions and photographed neck-jointing lesson help you work through each stage.
A bear with another way to move
A double neck joint connects the head to a separate neck section, then connects that neck to the body.
Together with the neck wedge, this gives you more ways to position your bear’s head. You can explore a lifted gaze or a thoughtful tilt, discovering how a change in posture alters the character you see.
The guide takes you through constructing the neck section, fitting the joint discs and assembling these connections.
What you’ll explore
A more intricate pattern
ZhuZhu’s construction includes an eight-piece body, a head gusset, a neck wedge and circular pieces that form the jointing surfaces.
Working with these smaller sections offers opportunities to explore shaping and contrasting fabrics. The guide includes both ZhuZhu and the grizzly-style variation, Basil, as inspiration for your own choices.
Double neck jointing
Follow the step-by-step photographs to prepare the head base, construct the separate neck and connect it to the body using nuts, bolts and joint discs.
You’ll see how the individual sections fit together to create a posable bear.
Building an expressive face
The written instructions cover eye placement, white ultrasuede eye accents, mouth stitching and finishing touches.
For the detailed eye-sculpting lesson, the guide refers you back to Snuggle. You can bring that earlier learning into a more involved project and consider how the face works with your bear’s posture.
Optional appliquéd paw pads
For another variation, you can make the paws in fur and appliqué suede pads over them.
This detail introduces another texture or colour, giving you a different finish from the sewn-in paw pads included in the main construction instructions.
A little observation to try
Look at a finished bear with its head facing forwards. Then gently change its position.
What happens when the chin lifts? How does a slight downward gaze change its expression?
Notice how much the posture contributes before you alter a single facial feature. This is part of the pleasure of making a bear with more movement.
Skills to carry into future bears
Understanding the double neck joint can open up possibilities for other designs.
The important relationship is between the head base, the neck ends, the body opening and the joint discs. Adapting the method to another pattern requires these areas to fit together properly.
ZhuZhu gives you a pattern on which to practise that construction before exploring your own variations.
What’s included
An 18-page digital guide, with the matching ZhuZhu pattern supplied separately.
A design using 32 core fabric pieces, with optional variations.
Materials and tools guidance.
Written bear-construction and assembly instructions.
Step-by-step photographs for the neck wedge and double neck joint.
Eye-accent instructions and facial finishing guidance.
An optional appliquéd paw-pad detail.
Choose dense alpaca, mohair or a suitable synthetic fur for the look you would like to explore. Materials and tools are gathered separately.
Some optional techniques draw on earlier guides in the collection, including eye sculpting, clay noses and the open mouth.
A project to enjoy in stages
There are more pieces here, and more connections to understand. Give yourself room to become familiar with them.
Lay out the sections, read ahead and work through one part at a time. Each completed section brings you closer to discovering the bear taking shape in your hands.
Explore ZhuZhu inside the Studio
ZhuZhu is one of 12 bear-making photo guides with matching patterns inside the Beauty in Bear Making Studio.
The collection also includes nine additional patterns, three digital magazines, six Studio Companions and a four-hour mink bear-making video masterclass.
One-time payment of AU$89, with lifetime access.
When you feel ready for a more intricate project, ZhuZhu will be there to explore at your own pace.
Bare Cub Designs by Helen Gleeson