Laying Out The Pattern: Lay all of the pattern pieces on the fabric back with the arrow on the pattern pointing in the same direction as the arrow you drew on the side of the fabric. Leave enough room around the pattern pieces for straight of grain adjustments when marking. Verify you have a right and left side of the head, ears, front, back, arms and legs.
Marking The Fabric: If so desired, the pieces may all be pinned in place before any tracing is done, but if you do, you may wish to print the pattern on plain paper for easier pinning. With a marker that won't show thru to the front of the fabric, select one pattern piece and re-fold it in half. Hold it by one side in the selected place on the fabric back. Insure the grain is straight by aligning the fold exactly to a straight thread of the fabric grain. When it is in perfect line, and while still holding the pattern securely by one side, open it out again. Do not let it slip!! Trace around the pattern piece, marking it directly onto the fabric backing. Mark all construction points, letters and limb numbers, and then remove the pattern piece. Move on to the next pattern piece and repeat the procedure until all the pieces are marked onto the fabric back. Mark all the jointing dots very lightly on the outside of the fabric.
Cutting Out: When cutting the fabric, cut thru the fabric backing only. Do not cut the fur on the face of the fabric, or the seams will be bald (see working with fur fabrics). The whole pattern may be cut out at once, or you may cut only the pieces needed for the section being constructed. The remaining pieces will be cut when they are needed and as construction progresses. This eliminates chances for error in putting wrong pieces together, especially when dealing with right and left sides. The remainder of the instructions will assume that the "as needed" cutting method is being used. If you wish, using a scissor and laying it flat in the fur, trim the fur on the muzzle and two of the ear pieces so it is shorter than the rest of the fur on the bear. You may also use a different color or type of fabric for these pieces for contrast.
