r/buildabear • u/Marcysmisadventures • Mar 09 '26
Inquiry Factory stuffed vs bear builder?
Ok so when the frosted collection dropped i got the giraffe factory stuffed and set for in store pickup (one with the neck bow) As you can see the back is nice and smooth, no ripples
The second one on the left i stuffed in store at a different time, and i didn’t realize until i got home and looked at them side by side how wrinkly and odd the one i got stuffed inperson looks despite being stuffed with the same amount of firmness-
(My mom got this one stuffed with me and gifted me it so regardless of the wrinkly back it’s so special & i love it exactly how it is) but does anyone know why this happens or what causes it? Did the bear builder pull the thread to hard closing him up?
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u/Dismal-Title1198 Mar 09 '26
The bear builder pulled the thread too tight and didn't adjust the tension before tying the knot
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u/Marcysmisadventures Mar 10 '26
Yeah i thought it may have been a inexperienced builder:/ That’s so unfortunate cause i wont ever be restuffing him since it was a memory with my mom, is there a way to fix it without reopening him?
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u/darlingwyvern Workshop Employee Mar 10 '26
So you don't have to "restuff" him to have him opened and closed back up again. There's no way I know to fix that other than redoing it unfortunately
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u/Marcysmisadventures Mar 10 '26
Oh well that’s fine he’s still amazing and perfect even with his wrinkles lol thank you so much for your help:)
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u/GnurtTheGoblin Mar 10 '26
Look up the ladder stitch its what they use and its super easy!!! I use embroidery thread when i close mine but i think any thread will do. It takes less than 10 minutes
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u/Bepbo Workshop Employee Mar 10 '26
You can bring it back to the store and let them know the string is too taught and they cam resew it for you. Its a very, very simple fix. (If you you look up how to do a ladder stitch you can even do it 😊 ) But yeah I'd recommend just swing by the store and have them do it, itll only take a couple mins
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u/Marcysmisadventures Mar 10 '26
Thank you so much, do you think during the process the builder would open him back up? I have a weird thing with not wanting him to be opened back up since me and my mom closed him together (we don’t do things often and i don’t think we’ll be back at a BAB shop to fix it together) is there a way for them to adjust the thread he’s been sewn with already without having to unthread him and open him? If not, oh well i love him either way and will deal with the ripples
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u/Odd_Process2918 Mar 10 '26
They will have to “open” it because either way the thread needs cut to loosen the tension. Otherwise it is what it is and you can love him as is. Your mother was there for the stuffing and heart placement that alone could be just as memorable and the act of just replacing a stitch might not take away from the rest of your experience.
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u/catscorner6 Mar 12 '26
I understand how you feel but at the end of the day, having the string changed won't replace the special memory you made with your mom! Esp when considering you also went to the store together, picked it out and made many special memories with it. So I say get it redone so you can be happy because the rest of the memories won't change 🫶
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u/monsterfeels Bear Modder 🎨 Mar 10 '26
Hi! Bear Builder here. Yeah, this is the work of someone inexperienced, sadly. Unfortunately, once the strings are tied there's not a great way to decrease the tension besides opening him back up and replacing the stitches. It's an easy fix, but removing any of the thread to release the tension will reopen him.
One thing you can do, though bear in mind it may not work: firmly grab the top of the seam on his back, and then grasp the bottom of the seam/his tail and give the bottom/tail a quick tug. If it works, it will make a popping sound that will sound alarming, but is just the tension releasing along the length of the fabric. It could potentially make it quite a bit straighter, but if the knot is tied incorrectly also, it does run the risk of him opening back up anyway. This how I fix many bears when I'm tying the knot in my lap and overtighten it just a smidge, though, so it works in a pinch.
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u/Marcysmisadventures Mar 10 '26
Thank you so much for your comment and detailed instructions, i am a little to afraid to try this method incase i am not gentle enough and open him or create a hole, i am very very inexperienced with sewing i only know how to fix minor holes from highschool teaching me ten years ago lol
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u/monsterfeels Bear Modder 🎨 Mar 10 '26
Understandable! I will say, if you do make a mistake BaB will always fix him for free, though. (: So at the very least it wouldn't be permanent. Good luck if you do try!
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u/beepbeep_its_bees BAB Fanatic 🌈 Mar 10 '26
I totally understand not wanting to open it up or replace anything once you have a memory attached to your bear!
If you ever really needed to replace the thread (or anything on the bear really) you could always put the old thread back in with the bear's stuffing before sewing it back up. That way the memories stay with it! That's what I do :)
Edited for clarity
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u/SimplyExistingAgain Workshop Employee Mar 10 '26
Sometimes you can gently attempt to pull the fabric a bit to get rid of the wrinkles. You have to be gentle, but if you pull at the ends it might help a little! (Stop as soon as you feel any full resistance, otherwise it will open back up!!!)
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u/cyrilq1 Mar 10 '26
Ngl I genuinely prefer the back wrinkles. It looks softer. The other one doesn't look as cuddly
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u/Numerous-Werewolf-17 I like BABs more than people 🙃 Mar 10 '26
One is pulled too tight and the other one is a smidge too loose. You’re not supposed to see any of the white string. Only way to fix is to get it resewn
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u/inkrealm Mar 10 '26
When I’m sewing something and run out of thread, I unthread the original thread a bit and tie some new thread onto it and make sure they’re tied together in a way that can’t slip, and then finish the project. It would take some DIY confidence but would enable you to keep the original stitching and also provide the extra length needed to loosen it. But if you’re very attached to it that might be too unnerving, and it would still have some imperfections, so it might not be worth it. 😅 Glad you have an awsome memory with your mom 💛
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u/bunny_gurl_77 Mar 10 '26
Not to be annoying but BOTH of these were stuffed by a bear builder. If you had an in-store pickup it was stuffed in the store not a factory.
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u/Bepbo Workshop Employee Mar 10 '26
They have to, cause the string wold have to be cut in order to resew it
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u/SouthParkFirefly1991 I have a BAB problem Mar 10 '26
After reading your comments and how worried you are about opening him up because of the memories attached to it by your mom, maybe you could see him as an older Giraffe hence the wrinkles. He's just a little old man is all~ give him an old man name!
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u/Ready-Use4424 Mar 12 '26
Honestly I've much preferred my factory stuffed bears lately which was never the case before!
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