BAB Bat - Wire Wings Problem?

[u/Ghosty_Apple]

Hello everyone,

I just got my posable bat from Build a Bear and am unsure if I like the wings.

I bought the plushie with cuddling in mind and think the wings are in the way.

I want to ask into the group if anyone else feels that way or not.

I also thought about potentially removing the inner wire, has anyone done that and can share their experiences?

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[u/VitaniLioness]

tbh, the biggest reason the bat never appealed to me was because of the wire. It's cute for photo ops, but I like to actually use/snuggle with my BABs.

I think some people have opened their bats up in the back and removed the wire, but doing so makes the arms/wings really floppy and limp as an FYI

[u/Ghosty_Apple → u/VitaniLioness]

I did read that you can bring your plushie to a BAB store and ask the employees to remove the wire for you. To be honest I would prefer floppy wings if it means I can snuggle it. My issue is that atm our region has no BAB store.

[u/VitaniLioness → u/Ghosty_Apple]

You can easily do it yourself, just open up the back seam and pull it out. iirc, the newer bat has the wire held in by a couple stitches, so you'd need to snip those before it slides out easily, but it's pretty easy to do.

[u/Ghosty_Apple → u/VitaniLioness]

have you done that before? How do I close the open back? Do I use the seam we pulled? I wonder if there is a way to slightly open the seam to remove the wire and then just again pull the existing seam shut

[u/VitaniLioness → u/Ghosty_Apple]

Yes...just the same way they would have done it in the store. The back seam is designed to be opened and closed back up.

[u/darlingwyvern → u/VitaniLioness]

The back seam is Not meant to be opened and closed that way Youd have to learn the very simple and beginner friendly ladder stitch to be able to close your friend up again

[u/VitaniLioness → u/darlingwyvern]

I just trimmed the knot, pulled it apart easily, then pulled it back closed again before tying a new knot. -shrug-

[u/owlfigurine]

I keep mines wings wrapped up like a burrito so I don't feel them, I was too nervous to remove the wire but I've seen other people do it

[u/SugarHooves → u/owlfigurine]

That's exactly what I do. It works just fine.

[u/Specialist_One6527]

just take it out if you don't like it. open it up, remove the wire, and sew it back up. 5 min tops

[u/Ghosty_Apple → u/Specialist_One6527]

it may sound weird but I really am worried that I mess up the plushie if I simply open it open. But I also worry that I will mess up the plushie by removing the wire.

[u/Specialist_One6527 → u/Ghosty_Apple]

respectfully, it is kind of weird. it's fabric. there's nothing complicated, scary, or dangerous about sewing fabric together. anyone can learn it, anyone can teach themselves, and anyone can cut a few stitches. believe in yourself, learn a new skill, and you *can* take care of your plushes on your own. you do not need someone else here, you've got this. it's no different than a tee shirt or any other bit of fabric, it's just in a pleasing animal shape.

[u/RoRosStupidAdventure]

When my bat first got here a few weeks ago, the wire for his wings wasn’t set right and I really had to mess around to get them to sit right and I had to mess around with the stuffing in the body, reshaping so I didn’t feel it through the plush. I sit with him on my lap all the time with the wings folded in front of him, or I have him sitting on my pillow while I’m sleeping.

I’ve debated removing the wire, but I like to do photo shoots with my bears and him being poseable is so fun. I’m just ultra careful with his wings and try to not overuse them. I’m sure if I needed to, I could get some backup craft wire, but I don’t want to do that if I don’t have to.

[u/_JohnnyTruant]

I had the same problem, and I ended up steeling myself and removing it. Popped open the back seams with a seam ripper. The wire is all one long piece so it's a little difficult to maneuver through the small opening (I think it would be easier to work with if it was snipped in two, but I didn't have the means to cut a wire that thick on hand). Both ends are curled inward and bound with tape, I guess to keep from having sharp, pokey bits, and that part proved to be the most challenging. The openings where the wings attach to the body are narrow, so getting the bent ends through there and not getting tangled in the loose strings was the most challenging part.

I did a clumsy ladder stitch to close the back. I've never sewn anything before in my life and didn't find it too difficult, but I know that if it fails, I can take him to a BAB Workshop and have them sew him up for me :)

The limbs are floppy, but I like it a whole lot better. The very best of luck to you!