The story of T's bear

Once upon a time there was a pre-adolescent girl who watched her mother knit bears for all the rest of her siblings. While she thought she was too “old” and “mature” for stuffed animals her mother could tell that she really would like to have one. Mom, knowing that smaller was better in this case, started out on a journey to make a miniature bear for her oldest daughter……


The journey began. I decided that this bear’s skirt needed to be made a little bit differently than the other ones. The pattern says to pick up 20 stitches on the front and knit the skirt, pick up 20 stitches on the back and knit the skirt, then seam the sides together. WELL – I always have trouble when using variegated yarn, making the front of the skirt

match the back of the skirt
Even though I try to remember where I am in the color design on the ball of yarn, I never seem to get it quite right.

So…..I decided to knit the skirt in the round. I decided this after I had picked up the stitches for the front. I then put another needle in to all of the stitches waiting to be picked up for the back of the skirt. Then I decided that the sides of the bear needed to be seamed. The first side seam went great! It was only as I was starting to sew the second side seam that I realized that my needles were sticking out of the sides of the bear

How was I supposed to turn this right side out??? Well, the only thing to do was to pull the needles out – thank goodness that MOST of my knitted projects have had to have some frogging at some point so I have become quite good at picking up stitches after pulling the needles out. The skirt was knit in the round and I like the outcome much better.

front of skirt



back of skirt

Pattern: Mother Bear Project

Started: 7/18/08

Finished: 7/27/08

Size #10 Crochet Cotton

in white, light blue, a blue variegated (stuff that was lying around)

Needles: Size 00 for bear, Size 1 for scarf

cast on 80 stitches for the scarf

T is very happy with this bear. She loves it, she loves the color and I am happy I could make her something that she really wanted.

All the sibs together.

small bear measurements: 5 1/2 inches head to toe and 4 1/4 inch wingspan

big bear measurements: 15 1/2 inches head to toe and 13 inch wingspan

Daughter #2 rewarding her bear for a successful photo shoot with an apple jack :o)

More hats

These hats are for a good friend of mine who is expecting twin boys. They are the Marjan Earflaps hat pattern without the earflaps. A lot of these have shown up on this blog. I love them, they fit well and are really easy to make.

Both hats were made using less than one ball of yarn, but since the balls were "leftovers" I didn't have the bands. Note to self: keep the bands :o)
Started: 12 July 2008
Finished: 21 July 2008

Started: 16 July 2008

Finished: 21 July 2008

Kid's summer fun

Clothespin dolls!

This was so-o-o fun for the kids and for me as well. A few wooden pins, a few colors of paint and a nice summer afternoon = recipe for relaxation.
Even the boys loved this "art" project.

Our whole clothespin family. The one with the polka dots up on the right is mine. That's right...I got to make one too :o)

Technical difficulties fixed

Our computer was on strike, hence the long absence. We have now negotiated quite a deal and are back on-line :o). What better way to come back than with some long awaited finished project pictures.

Chevron Trim Top by Knit One Crochet Too

Started: March 31, 2008

Finished: July 20, 2008

Worn for the first time: July 22, 2008 and I LOVE it!

Yarn: Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton

75% Cotton 25% Acrylic

Needles: US8

This was a very easy simple knit. If I hadn't put it down repeatedly to work on other projects, it would have been done lickety split. I would definitely knit another one.......after all the WIPs have been worked - so maybe when I'm 90!