Well hello my lovely ones! How are we all? Feels like it has been ages since I have posted! I do apologise! My bad!!! I’m not sure where the time has gone or even, where it goes!! My days are filled with the usual homey business of children, toys, cuppas, cleaning, crocheting, yarn loving, eating, cooking, swimming, school runs, activities, baking and playing… It’s all go. I think my motto of squeezing every inch out of every minute of everyday, is quite strong at the moment!!! Maybe that’s why my days seem to be zooming past!!
I was able to spend some time with my sister this weekend in York. It was so nice to see her and enjoy some quality time together. There was a lot of chatting and catching up going. And not to mention some yummy food…
This was Dyl’s in York. An amazing cafe bar by the river, with some seriously yummy delights.
Well, it would be rude not to have a dinner out too!! And The Press Kitchen didn’t disappoint.
And of course a few little beverages…
I managed some daytime crocheting on the train on the way up there, which was lovely!!! It was very strange being able to do this in the day, but definitely rather lovely!! I had my trusty purple flask and iPod to keep me company too. Heaven…
It’s amazing how people choose to spend their time on a train. Obviously for me, it will always be a crocheting opportunity!! I mean, I would love to sit and read a book, but my heart and head just want to crochet!! It’s become a natural thing for me to do now. My crocheting can always be found in my pocket or bag, or even in the bottom of the pram, as someone spotted the other day!! Whoops!! Showing my true colours there. Haha! Waiting rooms, kid’s parties, car journeys, holidays, bath time, watching TV… you name it, there’s always a crocheting opportunity!!
Crocheting in the car with travel sickness bands on, because of the Welsh roads being so bendy!!! Yup!! Done that!!!!
I mean, I have even been known to crochet in the car at night!!! Can’t beat a good Lite Up Crochet Hook!!
I think my husband despairs with me with my crocheting opportunities, but for me there is one huge, hang on, no, major benefit of crocheting – you can talk, chat, watch, converse and join in with anything and everything that is going on around you, whilst crocheting!! It’s just the best benefit of crocheting and one of the main things that I love about crocheting. Just the best!!!
I find it fascinating, when you can look around a waiting room or around a train and the overriding site is of people on their phones!! Now I know it’s naughty, but I do sit there and feel rather smug of the fact that I am not one of them!! And 9 times out of 10, someone asks me what I am doing or making. Last week in a doctor’s surgery, an older lady couldn’t get over how fine and delicate my latest project was. It was a cashmere lace weight yarn, so it was rather delicate, but the lady then spent the next 10 or 15 minutes telling me about what she used to crochet and how she missed it. It was so lovely.
Another crochet opportunity that brought about a special moment, was when I was in the park with my son. And he was happy as larry playing and zooming around the park, so I saw just a little opportunity to have a quick crochet of some socks. Luckily I can now crochet quite quickly standing up and know my sock pattern off by heart, so I can pick it up and drop it down if needs be. So once the ball of wool is snuggled in my little over the shoulder bag, I can crochet away to my hearts content and help and play with my son as and when he needs me.
But as it happens, there was another little boy in the park and he was rather taken with my sock crocheting. He couldn’t understand the difference between knitting and crocheting at first. But once his enquiring little mind was happy with the use of only one hook, he decided that my sock could be a bag for a daisy collector!!! Bless him. My son then joined in on the fun!!! So cute!! They spent ages picking daisies and putting them in my sock!! So sweet.
I remember talking to one lady in a car dealership for about half an hour about crocheting!! She had been crocheting and knitting for years, but was adamant she couldn’t crochet as quick as me. I don’t think I am that quick, but I can definitely whip up projects quicker than I used to. Think it’s just practice and confidence in what you’re doing.
So I think for all you lovely ones who crochet and knit and take all these lovely yarny projects around with you like I do, I salute you. Let our crafty little ways, make opportunities with others to chat and converse! May our moments of crafty craziness, fill others with wonder and joy and maybe even inspire others or plant that tiny seed for even, just one other person, to join us!! Now isn’t that a lovely thought!!!
Here’s to crocheting and knitting and all those yarny activities in the world that brings us all together.
Warning – this is one soft teddy bear!!! And yes it is crocheted!!!
How mad is that!!!
Sorry. I am still getting over the shock of this little bundle of soft fluff!! And I have my daughter and the lovely Debbie at wool on the exe to thank for this one.
Think Eddie is rather enjoying a peaceful moment with the Brio trains!! Bless!!
So I had heard about this faux fur yarn, but I had never thought about using it for a teddy bear. My friend, had used it once before and said how good it was, so I have always been intrigued, but never seen it to have a go with. So when my daughter and I found our way into wool on the exe, a magical yarny shop last week and this yarn caught my daughter’s eye, I just knew I needed to accept the challenge.
My daughter, like myself, likes all things soft! Especially yarn! Soft yarn – you just can’t beat it!! Now these little balls of yarn were tucked away under the window display in the shop, but were hawk eyed by my little lady and brought to my attention with squeals of excitement and joy. So when I said I would make her a teddy bear out of it, well you can imagine what kind of crazy, bouncing jig she was doing!! Bless!! So here we are, a few days after visiting wool on the exe and this little fluffy ball came to play.
Here’s the link to the amazing wool on the exe yarn shop if you fancy buying some of this incredible furry soft Sirdar yarn.
Now making this little ball of fluff from the yarn is an interesting one, as it is a little on the tricky side. Only in the sense that you can really see where you are crocheting. You can to some extent, but not as easy as normal yarn. So here’s a little video on how to use this amazing yarn.
Top tip for this project – count your stitches as you are making them in the round. It’s just another way of checking that you haven’t missed any stitches, as they are rather tricky to see.
Level – Moderate (Only because, you really need to know where your stitches are by how it feels, as it is rather tricky to find them amongst the fluff!
Supplies –
Right then, so for this pattern I have used this fabulous faux fur yarn from Sirdar. It’s 100% polyester, which I don’t tend to work in, but by golly it’s soft. I have used 3 balls of wool for this teddy bear, but as I usually say it depends on how your tension is as to whether you need less or more.
You will also need a pair of scissors, a blunt ended tapestry needle, a 7mm crochet hook, some toy stuffing and some toy safety eyes and nose.
Stitches –
Magic Ring (mr) – For a magic ring, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a tail. (Make sure the tail is under the working yarn.) Now insert your hook into the loop, from the front to the back. Wrap the working yarn around your hook and pull the yarn through and pull tight to create a ring.
Slip stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.
Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.
Double Crochet Decrease (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. So insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert again through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Now yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches, so you will then have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops. And there is your 2dctog. (Basically 2 double crochet stitches crocheted together.)
Ok so let’s go…
Body –
1 – Start by making a magic ring. (Don’t forget there is a tutorial and a video on Magic Rings, if you are unsure.) Here’s the link to the video.
Now chain 1, then 6dc into the ring. (You can see in the photos below, what the stitches will look like.)
Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. Now as I have explained in the video tutorial, you need to work 2 knots at this stage. This is to secure the magic ring as this yarn is so lovely and soft, it tends to come open a bit. (6)
2 – Now work *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)
3 – *1dc, then 2dc into next stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)
4 – *2dc, then 2dc into next stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)
5 – *3dc, then 2dc into the next stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)
6 – 7 (2 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (30)
8 – *3dc, then 2dctog.* (If you are unsure on how to work a 2dctog stitch – see tutorial above or you can also find it in the video tutorials. Work ** 6 times. (24)
9 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (24)
10 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (18)
11 – 13 (3 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (18)
14 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (12)
15 – 1dc in each stitch. (12)
Ok, so now would be a good time to stuff your bear’s body.
16 – Work *2dctog*. Work this ** 6 times. (6)
17 – 1dc in each stitch. (6)
Now slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail. Use the tail to sew up the top of the body to make a nice flat little ledge for the head to sit on and leave a tail to sew on the head.
Legs x 2
1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then 8dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. Don’t forget to work 2 knots so that the magic ring is secure. (8)
2 – 13 (12 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (8)
Now slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail so that you can sew it onto the body.
When you stuff your legs, stuff the feet with quite a lot of stuffing. This will give the feet a nice shape, then only put a little in the legs, to make them nice and squidgy and soft.
Arms x 2
1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then dc6 into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. Don’t forget to work 2 knots so that the magic ring is secure. (6)
2 – 14 (13 rounds) Work 1dc in each Stitch. (6)
Now slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail so that you can sew it onto the body.
When you stuff your arms, stuff the hands with quite a lot of stuffing. This will give the hands a nice shape, then only put a little in the arms, to make them nice and squidgy and soft.
Head –
1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then 6dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. Don’t forget to work 2 knots so that the magic ring is secure. (6)
2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)
3 – *1dc, then 2dc into the next stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)
4 – *2dc, then 2dc into the next stitch.* Work 6 times. (24)
5 – 7 (3 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (24)
8 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (18)
9 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (12)
10 – *2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (6)
Now you can stuff the head, then slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail so that you can sew it up after you have attached the eyes.
Nose –
1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then 6dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. Don’t forget to work 2 knots so that the magic ring is secure. (6)
2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)
3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)
4 – *2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (6)
Now slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail so that you can sew it onto the head.
Here’s a photo with his little safety nose attached. (Will talk about those later on in the pattern.)
Ears – Make 2
1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then 6dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. Don’t forget to work 2 knots so that the magic ring is secure. (6)
2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)
3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)
4 – *2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (6)
5 – 4 – *2dctog.* Work ** 3 times. (3)
Now slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail so that you can sew it onto the head.
(Don’t stuff the ears!)
Sewing up – the fun part!!
Ok, so now that you’ve got all your body parts, it’s time to sew it altogether. Now I usually start with the legs, as they tend to be the hardest to align. So basically for each body part, use the tail that you left to stitch around the top of the body part on to the body.
You just need to make sure that you work all the way around and fasten off your yarn securely by weaving it through the body and out the other side before cutting it off. The reason I do this is because the body stuffing will help it to be secure and not work it’s way free.
Then I would do the arms next, this will give you a nice flat platform for the head to sit on. Now add your ears onto your head. Don’t forget to align them as bets you can with the other body parts.
And then finally the nose onto the head and then then head. Now before your seal up the head and sew on the nose, you need to add the safety eyes and nose. Now these can be quite tricky! But basically you need to make absolute sure of the place you want them to be, as once they have been fitted, you can’t really get them off! So double, triple check!! So place the eyes where you want them and then turn the head slightly inside out to attach the back of the safety eye. It looks a bit like a washer. Now push the back of the safety eye on, with the dome part facing out.
And secure it in place. Once you have both eyes secure you can then sew up the head.
Now for the nose, as before place the nose where you want it to be and turn the nose inside out and then place the back of the nose on, with the dome part facing out. Finally put a little more stuffing in your nose and attach it to your head, sewing your way around the edges.
And there you have your finished Teddy Bear!
Really hope you have enjoyed this pattern. Can’t wait to see all your amazing creations. If you have any questions or problems, please don’t hesitate to contact me!!
Happy hooking!!
🌈Xx
(Free pattern designed and brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it. ☺️Xx)
