Winner Announced!

I've chosen a winner for the Bearskin Rug challenge...

My absolute favourite was this snowy white delight - made by Katt!

Now the Clever Katt gets to tell me what to design for the next knitting challenge - time to put the thinking cap on...

I did have a couple of other favourites though.

Like this Intellectual Soul, knitted by Col:

And this unfortunate one named Lucky... who came to his tragic end when struck by a motorbike, courtesy of Julie:

And my dear friend Leah, who insists she can't knit - came up with this delight, which she's aptly named "Pimp My Bear"

It never ceases to amaze me, how many DIFFERENT looking projects can be born from the SAME pattern. People are immensely creative!

Bearskin Buddies

Just a quick reminder that today is the LAST DAY of July... 

So if you're participating in the Bearskin Rug Challenge, you need to post your finished photos today.

Meanwhile, I had a craft meet at my place today - and Daphne brought over her black bearskin rug.

Couldn't resist popping the two of them into a photo together...

Don't they look adorable? And so, so cuddly?

July Challenge

Well.

It's the beginning of another month, and we all know what that means...

IT'S CHALLENGE TIME.

What do you think of this fabulous bear skin blankie???

It's a knitting challenge and the pattern will be FREE to those participating.

You need to make the rug and post photos before the end of the month. As always I will choose my favourite one, and then that person tells me what to design for the next knitting challenge.

Fuzzy measures 51 cm (20 in) in length and 36 cm (14 ¼ in) in width.

He is made using 150g of 10 ply/worsted weight yarn and a pair of 4.5 mm (US 7) needles.

Interested?

Send me a message with your email address…

And I look forward to seeing what you create!

As plain as the nose on your face...

I thought I was so clever...

Teddy was finished and no sign of the baby yet...

Something looked a little odd about the bear.

But I convinced myself that it was just the eyes...

All the other bears I have made from this pattern have had embroidered eyes - so these safety eyes make him look really different!

And then one of the kids announced:

Mummy. Why doesn't he have a nose???

Hmmmmmmm....

THAT'S why he looks odd!

Baby Gift Time

My next door neighbour is pregnant.

Really - Really - Really Pregnant!

Overwhelmingly Pregnant...

Like "due last week" kind of pregnant!

So I've gone back to my traditional baby gift teddy...

I've made so many of these guys over the years - at least 30 or more!

My book is almost in tatters from overuse.

I should probably know the pattern off by heart by now - but I don't.

Here's all my pieces - seamed and ready to stuff...

I wonder if I will finish before the baby arrives???

The Nan Bear

Isn't he adorable? I've lost count of the number of bears I have made from this Jean Greenhowe pattern - and they all turn out brilliantly!

Want to see some progress photos?



First up - I always use new stuffing... I haven't yet found a recycled alternative which is low allergen and gives the same shape and softness.



Starting with the head...



Add some ears...



A nose and a mouth...



And if it was socially acceptable, that's exactly where I would stop!

The head is the fun part... that's where all the features are... and the personality.

The rest of it is kind of boring, but unfortunately most people would find it a little macabre if you were to gift a bear head - so I always feel obliged to add the body and limbs!



Some legs..



And arms...



And a ribbon to finish him off...

Plus I always keep my scraps:

Progress on a Bear

I know that I've mentioned this to you all before... but I REALLY LOVE Jean Greenhowe's patterns. If you love to knit softies, and haven't seen her work yet - do yourself a favour and check out her website.

The patterns are incredibly well written - very clear with lots and lots of detail, and the softies themselves are beyond adorable. If you'd like to see a sample, there is a page full of free patterns here.



So I've been working on a very special bear. It's a gift for my brother and his wife, who are expecting their first child in around seven weeks.

If you've been following my blog for a while, then you'll know that my dear Mum passed away a couple of years ago... at a very young 58 years of age.

Well, I've reclaimed the yarn from one of her cardigans... and I'm using it to make this bear for my brother's baby. Mum would have been SO involved in this whole baby thing if she was still here, and I mean REALLY involved - she would have been all over it. Her baby is having his own baby. I really feel sad for my brother that she can't share this experience with him.

But in this teeny tiny way, Mum can still be a part of it all.

The yarn itself is pretty fine, so I've worked with two strands held together as one and 2.75mm needles. I probably could have even used three strands of yarn... but it's done now:

 

Pop back tomorrow, and see how he comes together!

In the meantime, you can take a look back at this bear from a few years ago.