The Repair Shop expert struggles to part with tatty teddy she’s ‘in love’ with

The Repair shop: Amanda Middleditch admits restoration was worse than she thought

The Repair Shop experts Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, who are known as the Teddy Bear Ladies, struggled to part ways with a stuffed bear they fell in love with on the BBC show.

A guest called James introduced Julie and Amanda to a shabby bear he’s had since he was a child which needed some serious tender loving care.

As the episode got underway, Julie got to work strengthening Lummy Bear’s fur with a lining while Amanda unpicked the stitching on his worn-out muzzle.

Amanda admitted: “The velvet is so frail because it’s just been kissed a lot and loved – but it is starting to rot now.

“So we have made a decision to actually replace this velvet muzzle,” she added. “This little muzzle with this separate velvet part makes this little bear so unique and it is really important we get this absolutely right, otherwise we lose the look of the bear that is so special.”

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After Amanda picked out the stitches, she had to make some pattern pieces for the bear’s replacement muzzle.

Julie then used cotton velvet which she dipped in tea to get as close a match as possible to what the bear’s original fabric looked like.

Later on, they restuffed Lummy Bear, giving him new paws and sewing on his new muzzle before adding in his eyes and attaching his head to his body.

The final touch was to add his floppy bowtie around his neck to complete the sweet restoration.

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When Lummy Bear’s owner James came to collect him later on in the show, Amanda admitted how much she and Julie adored the stuffed toy as they seemed reluctant to give him back.

“Julie and I adore every bit of this bear, it’s so quirky and cute, it just makes you smile and he knows it, just look at his face,” Amanda giggled.

When James walked into the barn, Amanda shared: “We’ve kind of fallen in love with him. We absolutely adore him!”

The guest said he could not remember seeing the bear sitting upright like he was on the BBC programme following the Teddy Bear Ladies’ hard work.

“Well, he is all yours now to take home and enjoy,” Amanda added. “It’s been a pleasure, we love him. You take care.”

After leaving the barn, James said: “This is how he should look for a mature teddy bear and I can’t wait to take him home and show everyone now.”

The adorable bear was gifted to James when he was a child by his godfather.

The Repair Shop episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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