Stana's Critters Etc.: Bears

Showing posts with label Bears. Show all posts

Jan 21, 2022

Toys, toys, toys....

Toys and more

I have to admit, my favorite knitting projects are usually toys. I love to make them and even more I enjoy giving them away. Sometimes I get to do special requests toys that require me to be creative and use more than just knitting needles in order to capture the image or an idea. In the collage picture above, you can see some of the toys I have made over the past few months.

The large picture has our dog posing with a large teddy bear and a small cat. They were both Christmas presents for two small children. The two dolls in the bottom corner were created to replicate drawings of a young artist, and they were received with a huge smile on the artist's face. The cat in the top corner was made for a colleague of mine at work. One day we were talking, and he showed me a picture of this peaceful looking yoga posing cat and I tried to recreate that image, while adding the coloration of his own cat.

At the moment I am working on a new toy mystery KAL. I have to get the PDF files ready with all the clues and set the dates and hopefully it will bring some smiles to anyone who will participate. I will post more information as soon as I have everything ready. Here is a sneak preview of the yarn I am using for Cleo.

Cleo, toy mystery KAL

I spent yesterday evening knitting a new sample for my older pattern named Grande Gatto. Here is a link to the original blog post about the pattern. The jumbo weight yarn that the original Grande Gatto was made in has been discontinued and I have received new yarn from Knitpicks to give the pattern an update. The original Grande Gatto made in jumbo weight yarn measured about 15" / 38 cm, the new resized Grande Gatto is about 10" / 25.5 cm, which is still a decent size for a huggable toy or a cool decoration. It might be on a smaller size as a pillow, but I may make another sample with different stitch counts and rounds to make the Grande Gatto closer to the original size.

Grande Gatto

Thank you for visiting.

Mar 6, 2021

10 years of work in progress

Ten years ago I have started this blog with a help from my friend.

Here is a link to that first blog post: Welcome to Stana's Critters Etc Blog.

The image from the first blog post is a whole bunch of knitted teddy bears and a pink polka dot dog and a yellow striped cat. All of these toys were given away either to my kid, my friend's children, my kid's friends, or variety of charitable organizations.

When I started this blog I really didn't know what to expect and what would happen. Somehow my love for knitting has evolved into a small side business and in the process I have managed to write and publish almost three hundred knitting patterns. As of today, officially, there are 295 published knitting patterns in my Ravelry store, and my patterns were published in seventeen different knitting books, as well as variety of websites and magazines. To have my work accepted and published by a variety of third parties I have learned the different ways to submit my ideas and inevitably also understand that the rejections happen more than the acceptance, and usually it has nothing to do with the idea itself but rather with how the different ideas from so many other talented creators fit together.

I do not know what the future holds, but I know for sure that I will continue to knit one stitch at time. That way I am sure that I will manage to finish this Bernie Sanders doll, my current work in progress since January 2021.

Thank you for visiting and reading.

May 28, 2019

Woodland KAL

During the month of June, into the first week of July I have a woodland animals and objects themed KAL hosted in my group on Ravelry.
It is a fun event with people knitting various knitting projects of animals, and things that can be found on your walk through the woodlands. The participants will have a chance to win one of my knitting pattern and the grand prize winner will select my next toy animal design pattern.

To start off this fun event I offer 25% off all of my woodland animals knitting pattern. More details are available in the thread in my Ravelry group Stana's critters etc.
Here is the link to the group:
Stana's Critters Etc
and here is my designer page:
Designer page

Here are pictures of some not all of the patterns that are eligible.

Mushrooms

Oriana

Ralph

Fredrick

Have fun knitting, and thank you for visiting.

Aug 8, 2015

Toys for Library

Once again, our local library have the summer reading program for children. The program encourages them to read. The volunteers record the time and books the children read, and for their time and participation the children receive raffle tickets. Each week there are plenty of prices to choose from.

I think that this year is my fourth or fifth year that I have donated several of my knitted toys towards the weekly prices. Each week one of my knitted toy find a new home. I see the amount of tickets in the container in front of my knitted toy each week, and I must admit it is rather enjoyable feeling to see how many children are interested in winning those handmade toys. Whenever we visit the library to pick our books, the librarians tell me all about how much joy and smiles the children had when they came to pick up their new toy.

For me personally, this is what knitting is about. The joy and happiness a handmade gift can bring.

Thank you for visiting.

Jun 14, 2015

Knitting Pattern for Baby Bear in PJ

Ever since I made the first teddy bear for my kid I have been knitting toys. I personally find that knitting toys and giving them away is more rewarding than knitting anything else.

Teddy Bear Nr. 1

My knitted bears have evolved over the years. The first teddy bear is 14.5" (37 cm) tall.

Bears in PJ

My Bears in PJ are about 10" (26 cm) long and last night I made a baby version of Bear in PJ.

Bear in PJ and Baby Bear in PJ

Baby Bear is 7.5" (19 cm) long. The two bears in PJ are knitted from one ball of yarn 2 oz ( 56.7 g) Sugar and Cream 95 yards/ 86 meters, and small amount of yarn in brown color. Here is the pattern for Baby Bear in PJ:

Baby Bear in PJ
by Stana D.S.

Finished Toy Size: 7.5" / 19 cm tall

Yarn: Approximately 40 - 50 yards/ 36.5 - 46 meters of MC and 15 yards / 14 meters of brown yarn.

Recommended Needle size: DPN US #5/3.75mm (set of 5)

Notions: Yarn needles, crochet hook, stitch holders, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), small amount of black embroidery yarn.

Abbreviations:
KFB= Knit in front and back of the same sts, this creates 2 sts from 1 st.
SSK= slip st, slip st and knit the 2 sts together. This decrease 2 sts to 1 st.
R = rounds
I-cord= the sts are knitted from one needle to second needle, do not turn the needle with sts around, just push the sts to the beginning of the needle and knit again. This technique makes tube.

INSTRUCTION:

First Leg: With yarn in PJ color and three double pointed needles cast on 8 sts. Place a stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
R 1: Knit around (8 sts total)
R 2: KFB all around(16 sts total)
R 3 - 16: Knit (16 sts total), transfer the sts to 2 needles (or use the stitch holders), 8 sts per needle. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail.

Second Leg: With yarn in PJ color and three double pointed needles cast on 8 sts. Place a stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
R 1: Knit around (8 sts total)
R 2: KFB all around (16 sts total)
R 3 - 16: Knit (16 sts total), transfer the sts to 2 needles, 8 sts per needle.

Continue with Body:
R 17: Knit 8 sts from the first needle of second leg, knit 8 sts from the first needle for the first leg, continue with the next 8 sts from the first leg and finish the row with 8 sts from the second leg (32 sts total).
Thread the tail of yarn from the cast on stitches on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the legs with fiberfill.
R 18 - 33: Knit (32 sts total). Continue stuffing the bear with fiberfill.
R 34: Change yarn to face color, Knit (32 sts total)
R 35 - 45: Knit (32 sts total)

Continue with Hat:
R 46: Change yarn to PJ color. Knit (32 sts total)
R 47: Purl (32 sts total)
R 48: Knit (32 sts total)
R 49: *SSK, knit 6; repeat from * around (28 sts total)
R 50: *SSK, knit 5; repeat from * around (24 sts total)
R 51: *SSK, knit 4; repeat from * around (20 sts total)
R 52: *SSK, knit 3; repeat from* around (16 sts total)
R 53: *SSK, knit 2; repeat from * around (12 sts total)
R 54: *SSK, knit 1; repeat from* around (8 sts total) Finish stuffing.
R 55: SSK all around (4 sts total). Continue I-cord till the length of I-cord is approximately 4" long. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail. and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needle, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure. Make a knot with the I-cord.
Thread the tail of yarn from top of the first leg on a yarn needle. Stitch through the stitches in between the two legs to close the hole, and stitch to secure.

Arms (make 2):
With yarn in PJ color and crochet hook pull through 5 sts per needle (10 sts total) through the side of upper body of the teddy, start 5 rounds down from the beginning of face color, and continue down the other side. This will save you sewing on the arm. See this post with pictures how to attach the arms.
If this direction is not completely clear, begin with yarn in PJ color and 3 DPN and cast on 10 sts Place a stitch marker on the first sts, and begin working in the round.
R 1 - 10: Knit (10 sts total). Begin to stuff the arm with fiberfill.
R 11: Change yarn to face color, Knit (10 sts total)
R 12 - 14: Knit around (10 sts total)
R 15: SSK all around (5 sts total) Finish stuffing. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.
Repeat on the other side of teddy for the second arm. If the arms were knitted separately, sew them on the side of teddy, using the picture as a guide.

Finishing: Cut a long piece of face color yarn and thread it on a yarn needle. Begin by one arm and weave the yarn in and out around the teddy's neck, tie the two ends of the yarn together to shape the neck. Embroider the face of teddy, using the picture as a guide.

Copyright: This pattern was designed and written by Stana D.S.
The pattern is for personal use only.
Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.