knitting a teddy bear

In the latest book from Femma you can find a pattern for a lovely knitted teddy bear.

I couldn't resist to knit one, just for the fun of it. 
He's a super cute cuddly bear, with a little green jacket.  I added a little piece of felt under the buttons for the eyes. Those buttons are old leather buttons from a sofa we had a long time ago. 

The button on the jacket has an anchor on it, so I guess the bear used to sail the seas before ending up with us.  I'm sure he has many interesting stories to tell from all his travels. 

it says 'hand knitted' on this little wooden heart.

 I used the Scheepjes Stone wash XL, knitted with 4mm needles.  The green jacket is on 3.5 needles.

int. doll and teddy bear show in Brugge

some pictures of a lovely day in Brugge !

bears & dolls, great combination

the show was at the centre of Brugge : the Belfrey

the colourful bears of Andy Cunningham

lots of dresses, hats, accessories

and who was there too ?  Bart & Francis - how lucky was I ?

owww - those new silks and their colours !

a little bear-quilt, sooooo lovely

Don't you love this old sewing box ?

this little fellow, I want !

these were knitted by my friend Barbara

an old treasure and a question for you

I met another knitter in Bruges, and we had a very nice conversation.  This lady knits all sorts of clothes for dolls and teddybears.  She uses old cottons and linnens, with stains and colour fading.  That is how she obtains a result that looks very old, but in fact was knitted only last week... !  How clever is that !

it is such a fine knit, only 7 cm big !

 She has a very special pattern for a little hat, and I couldn't resist buying one.  It is so cute !  I think it is based on a pattern used in the Netherlands, for traditional headwear of the Dutch women in one of the regions there. Am I right ?   Perhaps one of my Dutch followers knows more about it ?  I would appreciate it very much if you could give me some more information about this pattern, it seems very exciting to knit !

I like the 2 colours she used, she started with the circle

such a fine finishing, all knitted scallops

Even in het Nederlands :

Ik had een gesprek met een mevrouw uit Brugge, die poppenkleedjes en berenkleedjes breit.  Ze gebruikt daarvoor oude resten katoen en vlas, met vlekjes en kleurverschillen in.  Zo verkrijgt ze een oud resultaat, maar zijn de kleertjes wel nog maar pas gebreid.  Leuk gevonden !
Maar wat ik heel mooi vond is een speciaal patroon dat ze gebruikt voor een mutsje.  Het wordt gebreid vanuit een cirkel, waaraan ze dan de rest verder breit, zodat er een soort kapje ontstaat.  Volgens mij is dat een patroon dat ook gebruikt wordt in de Nederlandse traditionele dames kostuums.  Meer weet ik er niet van, uit welke regio of stad, maar misschien kan er iemand van mijn Nederlandse volgers een tip van de sluier oplichten ? 
Het lijkt me een prachtig patroon om te breien... !

no longer naked !

At last, I have made a little dress for my handmade teddybear.

a real lady !

isn't she gorgeous now ?

I've been looking all over the internet for a nice pattern, but I suppose I'm very difficult.  Nothing that I really really like.  So the only solution is : make one yourself...
I got some quite old embroidery cotton, and I used a needle nr 2, very fine.
I started with the skirt in crochet.  then I picked up the stiches and continued for the body in knitting.  With  a little ajour so that I could add a ribbon.

Ok, this is what I like.  I feel like a fashion designer now.....

Karin & her bears

Every wednesday, Karin joins us at the knitting club.  She has become a good friend, and we share a passion for knitting and... teddy bears.  She designs her bears herself, gives them all different names and gets them dressed in colourful scarfs.  That is where the knitting comes in...
I admire the humor she puts in the little creatures.  They have an audacious look, like a little rascal you can't be mad at because he looks so cute.
see for yourselves :

 

this one looks like her dog, Bor

and these little friends are wearing the knitted scarfs with pride.

thanks Karin for sharing - I am inspired by your bears.  And need to find the time to finish my new bear... ain't gonna happen this weekend, to busy with other stuff - or just maybe if I can get up very early....

a little sister bear

Bonjour,
I am the new member of the bear family at Rozemie's.  I was created this week.  

Originally the pattern spoke of 'Barnaby', but as I was stiched together, and filled with soft woolly stuff, I had these very graceful arms and legs.   My overall  appearance was definately elegant and sophisticated.

My beautiful sharp nose, reminded my creator of Queen Cleopatra. 

Therefore it was decided that I was going to be the sister in stead of the brother they were waiting for....

Who are you guys ???

What are they doing in my bed ???

Pleased to meet you !

Hello,
let me introduce myself : I am Henry.  I am the first teddy-bear made by Rozemie. 

I am completely hand stiched, no machine was used in the proces of making me.
My creator did have a bit of help from the world famous teddybear maker Karin. 
And also from her sister, Veerle, the second best bear maker of Flanders.

I must say, she did make a few mistakes.  I have a little trouble sitting up straight because my joints are just a tiny bit too loose, it seems.   But hey, who's perfect ?  And anyway, perfection is boring.

I am also proud to present my little brother : Paldi. 

He's a German bear, a cute little fellow.  He's the second bear she made, in a weeks time.  Perhaps my creator is becoming a bit obsessed....   she hasn't made any mistakes with this one, he can sit up straight !  The only thing that is worrying us, is that we feel a bit naked.  perhaps someone will knit us something nice to wear ?

here I am, still blind...  where are my eyes ???

They are right there in the box, with my ears...

Who's that nice lady helping me with my ears ?

Oh !  It's Veerle.  she knows what she's doing !

Yep !  looking better.

Helloooow world !

In the proces of making my little brother Paldi

eyes and ears ok, now for the nose....

We are sitting together

waiting for another brother.....