Rachel, from Cwtch Patterns has been supporting Loop since July 2022, allowing us to use her Betsy Bear sewing pattern to create teddy bears for our clients.
 
We wanted to share more of an insight into how our teddy bears came about, so we asked Rachel some questions about her business, what inspires her and what it’s like for her to be supporting Loop. 
 
Cwtch, pronounced, ‘kuch,’ is a Welsh word meaning a cuddle or a hug, but as Rachel says, “not just any hug…a cwtch is a hug that is a safe place,” a place which her bears symbolise and create. 
 
The initial concept for Rachel’s business was born in 2017. She would use clothing that held memories and turn them into keepsake teddy bears for her clients, and did so for five years, whilst slowly developing new patterns and designs for different bears and soft animal toys. This enabled Rachel to experiment with her creativity, empowering her to break free from her shift work at her local supermarket, and work from home, giving her more time to spend with her daughter. 
 
Today, Rachel spends her days completely focussed on designing new sewing patterns for her customers to create their own bears to share with their loved ones. The first pattern she wrote was for a doll for her daughter. “I sewed her several dolls, and then because I had such a clear idea of the type of doll I wanted to sew but could not find a pattern for, I wrote my own dolly sewing pattern.” Rachel’s daughter is now entering her teenage years and although she may begin to outgrow her teddy bears, she has the support of her mum when she needs due to the lifestyle Rachel’s business has provided her and her family. 
 
Loop uses Rachel’s Betsy Bear teddy pattern, which originated from her first bear design, the Charlie Bear in 2020. In response to us asking what it means to her to be supporting Loop, Rachel said, “I am pleased to be involved with Loop. Loop are looking for solutions to textile waste, and this type of waste is a major environmental concern for our planet. The creation of clothing uses an enormous amount of our planet’s precious resources such as water. And then once we are finished with our clothes, they cause a second environmental issue if they go to landfill. Loop are using my Betsy Bear patterns to turn excess textiles into new (and super cute!) creations.”
 
Learning of the origins of Rachel’s business makes the collaboration between Loop and Cwtch Patterns even more special. We share so many similarities in our origin story and vision for the endless possibilities for upcycling textile waste. 
 
It was so lovely to hear from Rachel and know that working with different shapes, fabrics and colours in her creative process truly brings her joy. Rachel loves to see what her customers create and, “support the businesses that have grown,” from using her patterns. “As well as Loop there are lots of memory bear makers using my patterns around the world, and I love to see their work and cheer them on.” 
 
Thank you, Rachel, for supporting Loop and sharing your skills and creativity with us. We are so grateful that you share our vision for creating positive impact in our communities and sharing the joy of each teddy bear. 
 
If you would like to create your own teddy bear or explore the possibilities through Rachel’s many soft toy patterns, visit her website, www.cwtchpatterns.com.
 
You can also follow her on Instagram @cwtch.patterns to keep up to date on what she creates next!

Madelyn Sumner, November 2024