Home This piece was written by Mama Bear (Sally Stearns) in 2001.
THE STORY OF MOHAIR AND STEARNSY BEARS.

IT IS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THAT'S HOW OLD MOHAIR IS. MOHAIR FABRIC IS FASHIONED FROM THE FLEECE OF THE ANGORA GOAT. IT IS ALMOST A FABLED MATERIAL, PRIZED OVER CENTURIES FOR ITS SOFTNESS, DYED BRILLIANCE AND DURABILITY. IT IS STILL VALUED AS A STAPLE OF THE FASHION TRADE, BUT CONSIDERED THE ULTIMATE MATERIAL FOR COLLECTIBLE TEDDY BEARS. THAT'S WHY OUR MOHAIR STEARNSY BEARS ARE SO IMPRESSIVE.
MOHAIR INFLUENCES THE PERSONALITY OF OUR BEARS WITH A QUALITY THAT SETS THEM APART FROM ANY OTHER HANDMADE BEAR. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE COLLECTOR RECOGNIZES MOHAIR AS VERY VALUABLE, A GOOD INVESTMENT, AND WORTH ANY EXTRA COSTS. PRICES VARY FROM $100 TO $225 PER YARD [EXPENSIVE, BUT WORTH IT]. WE CONSIDER IT QUITE A COMPLIMENT WHEN A COLLECTOR COMMENTS THAT OUR MOHAIR STEARNSY BEARS CAN SIT ON THE SAME SHELF WITH THEIR COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE TEDDY BEARS.
TODAY, ACCORDING TO MOST ACCOUNTS, SOUTH AFRICA IS THE LARGEST SUPPLIER OF ANGORA FLEECE IN THE WORLD. EVEN MORE INTERESTING, THE ANGORA GOATS ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1849, SETTLING IN TEXAS, AND STILL TODAY, TEXAS IS, BY FAR, THE CENTER OF THE ANGORA GOAT BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PROCESS IS VERY FASCINATING. TYPICALLY, THE GOATS ARE SHORN TWICE A YEAR, THEN THE FLEECE IS COMBED, CARDED, AND SPUN INTO YARN. FINALLY, AT THE MILL, THE LOOM WEAVES TWO SLICES OF COTTON FABRIC WITH MOHAIR WOVEN IN BETWEEN, RESULTING IN FABRIC THAT HAS A COTTON BACKING AND MOHAIR PILE. WITH THIS WOVEN BACKING, THERE IS NO STRETCH OR GIVE. MAKING THE FEATURES OF THE BEAR TO APPEAR EXACTLY AS YOU HAVE SEWN THEM.
YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE THE FRESHLY WOVEN FABRIC AS "STRING," OR UNFINISHED, MOHAIR STEARNSY BEARS MADE FROM THIS "STRING" ARE A FAVORITE WITH OUR COLLECTORS. MIZ SALLY LOVES THE SPARSE FABRICS WHICH LOOK AGED, AND VISUALLY RESEMBLE OLD BEARS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE COUNTLESS VARIATIONS. TO GET THE SOFTER PILE, IT IS STEAMED, BRUSHED, DYED AND FINISHED—KINKED, CURLED, FEATHERED, WAVED, SWIRLED, SHORN, MATTED, DISTRESSED OR PLUCKED— TO CREATE THE MAGICAL MATERIAL WE KNOW AS MOHAIR.
THEREFORE, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY WE HAVE SELECTING COLOR AND TYPE OF MOHAIR TO CREATE OUR WONDERFUL STEARNSY BEARS. ALSO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY YOU MAY HAVE IN SELECTING A STEARNSY MADE FROM BEAUTIFUL AND EXQUISITE MOHAIR. MANY OF THE VERY FIRST TEDDY BEARS WERE MADE OF MOHAIR, THOUGH COLOR AND STYLE WAS LIMITED.
DURING THIS, OUR 20™ ANNIVERSARY, CREATING STEARNSY BEARS, WE CONTINUE TO OFFER MAJESTIC HANDMADE HEIRLOOMS OF MOHAIR, AND OTHER UNIQUE FABRICS AS WELL.
WITH LOVE AND LAUGHTER, WE MAKE MEMORIES FOR YOU, OUR COLLECTORS AND FOR THE STEANSY BEAR FAMILY THE MAMA BEAR, MIZ SALLY

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