Slow Stitch Polar Bear Review

I’ve spent the past couple of months trying out a new-to-me craft called slow stitching. I got a beautiful Wattle & Loop Slow Stitch Polar Bear kit from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest review.

The full-color instruction booklet provided very detailed step-by-step directions for completing the project. Other than the photos and diagram, there is no pattern, so no two projects will end up exactly alike.

That leaves room for improvisation, which is great if the person doing the project is extremely creative or values freedom of expression.

For more methodical artists or those with little prior experience plying needle and thread, I’d suggest making photocopies of the master diagram to use as a pattern for cutting out the various scraps of fabric.

I did okay just eyeballing the shapes for the icy ground. But when it came time to cut out the polar bears, I wanted a little more help.

The copy paper pattern worked like a charm. I made three copies so I could cut out full back pieces despite the fact parts of the shapes were hidden by more forward elements.

Also be aware that the fabric scraps supplied in the kit won’t necessarily match the patterns shown in the photographs. There was not as broad a range of colors in my scraps as was pictured, but you can use darker and lighter threads for the top-stitching to add more depth and variety.

You’ll want to follow the directions closely for the best results. I forgot to fray the edges of my fabric pieces before stitching them on the background (note all the straight edges in the photo above). So I had to go back after the fact and use my needle to pull off the outer threads of those layers, leading to the shaggier, frayed edges you see which mimic fur in the photo below.

Would you or someone you know like to give slow stitching a try? [2026 UPDATE: Although Timberdoodle no longer carries this Slow Stitch Polar Bear kit, you can still find it here.]

And while you’re on the Timberdoodle website, I’d encourage you to look around. We love everything we’ve ever ordered from this small family-owned company!

Be sure to sign up for their Doodle Dollar program to save on future purchases. And to see more of my Timberdoodle Reviews, simply scroll to the bottom of my Homeschool Help page, and you can read them all!

PLEASE NOTE: As a member of the Timberdoodle blog team, I routinely receive free or deeply discounted products in exchange for writing honest reviews. Opinions expressed in these posts are 100% my own. I’ve been a happy and enthusiastic Timberdoodle customer for decades — long before I ever started blogging for their company.