Teddy bears are friendly characters who have appeared in songs, children's stories, TV shows, movies and even in computer games. Known for being cuddly, loyal and cute, these stuffed-toy animals are owned by children everywhere (and probably quite a few adults too!). Visit thebearclub.co.uk to experience some fun with the family.

Although teddy bears are mass-produced, generally quite cheap to buy and are available just about everywhere, we think of them as being unique characters who are inseparable from our childhoods.  But how much do we really know about teddy bears, their manufacture and the simple definition of what exactly a teddy bear 'is'?

When teddy bears were initially made by small-time toy manufacturers, each bear was hand-made.  The felt, fur or fabric used to put the bear together would have been cut into strips and shapes that fit the pattern set by the designer, and would then have been stitched together either by hand or with a sewing machine.  Depending on the design of the bear it may have had movable arms, legs and a head or been a single stuffed body without sockets or joints.  These days the single body design is much more common simply because it is easier and cheaper to manufacture.  The real secret with stuffed toys is that their seams must be stitched up almost entirely before they are stuffed, leaving only a small gap for the stuffing to be pushed into.  Once stuffed sufficiently the gap can be hand-stitched closed, and then the features of the bear can be added (the stitched nose and mouth and the glass button eyes).

Nowadays teddy bears are made almost entirely by machines and have lost a great deal of their craftsmanship.  If you are hoping to purchase a 'real' teddy bear as distinct from a 'prefabricated' bear, make sure you look around for the tag 'handmade'.

Keep up to date with the latest teddy bears online with the Christmas Toy Guide, because when is there ever a better time to buy a teddy bear for someone special than for christmas. You can find all sorts of teddy bears on the highsteet, as well as online with shops like bizzybears.co.uk and teddybearspersonalised.com. Teddy bears are great for all kinds of celebrations. You will see them on valentines day, mothers day, easter, christmas and all year round in birthday shops like Clintoncards.