Old bears, new duds

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I’ve knit about a zillion of these since this set was knit circa 1987. I’m only exaggerating a tad. I’ve posted photos on Ravelry showing 30 of these bears that I’ve knitted over the years. My son was a toddler when I knit this trio. He turned 30 recently and has a toddler of his own now.

This is Lesley Anne Price’s, “The Bears,” from her 1984 Ballantine-published book, Kids’ Knits. Unfortunately the book is out-of-print now. If you can find it at your library or on Ebay it’s definitely worth a look-see. These bears are just one pattern among many that merit a knitter’s attention.

These bears didn’t always look so felted and mangled. They used to be quite the fine fellows, decked out in sweaters or vests. Recently I decided some hot water and a bit of felting would be a good thing to be sure that they’d be rid of all their decades-old dust. And clearly they needed some new duds.

Look at them now!

old_bearsPapa, Mama and Baby Bear are lookin’ fine! Soon they will be gifted to my son’s children. And so that big wheel just spins and spins.

Here’s a closer look at Papa Bear and his sweater, which is Jacquelyn Smythe’s contribution to another out-of print publication: The Designer Collection (for Bears). It is a collection of outfits sized for smallish bears and was a fund-raiser for The Children’s Aid Society. In addition to Smythe, there are patterns from Meg Swanson like this one, modeled by a bunny I knit for Isaac. The list of luminaries who contributed to this 1993 pamphlet, edited by Judith Shangold, includes Kaffe Fassett, Norah Gaughan, Nicki Epstein, Nancy Marchant, and Deborah Newton.

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All the new finery is knit in Plymouth Yarn Worsted Merino Superwash. Papa Bear is pleased and hasn’t even complained that his head had to be a bit squashed to fit into his roll-neck sweater.

papa_bearMama Bear spent three nearly three decades wearing a rather unsightly garter stitch vest and so she requested something fancier this time.

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This is Judith Shangold’s sundress pattern from one of her Bear in Sheep’s Clothing pamphlets. I know you don’t really want to hear it but, yes, it’s out-of-print too. At first Mama Bear was skeptical that this was going to be much better than her old garter stitch vest. But once she tried it on she pronounced it almost perfect.

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She’s been heard to mumble that I could have done better with the back straps. And she thought Papa Bear might have appreciated a less modest neckline.

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I told her she could just wear it backward if she wanted to be daring. Besides, I tend to knit these small bears without facial features and it’s hard to tell if she’s coming or going since the family came out of the washer and dryer. (But I suppose she and Papa Bear know the difference,)

And here’s Baby Bear’s vest.

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There are actually two Shangold Bear in Sheep’s Clothing pamphlets, one published in 1991 (and that’s where the vest pattern is from) and one in 1992. Such a sweet easy pattern.

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My son’s son won’t be two until October and my son’s daughter turns two months soon. I’m planning for the perfect occasion to gift these guys to the children. I’d sort of like them to know that they were their dad’s stuffed buddies too.

These stitches we knit? Pretty special stuff sometimes.

Building a bunny

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This is a “Long Eared Bunny,” a free Lion Brand pattern, available on their website once you register. I had plenty of Martha Stewart Crafts Extra Soft Wool Blend left over from my Le Cirque playmat and so I knit a number of critters from this set. My modifications were to gather the neck a bit and sew creases into his leg joins to help him sit. I also embroidered the face with yarn rather than use felt, as called for in the pattern.

Oh yes, I knitted a little bobble for his tail rather than a pompom. I am sort of a pompom adverse knitter. The first time you wash a pompom it looks more like a mopmop.

bunny_buttBunny looked so…so…naked. I settled on a sweet hoodie that Meg Swanson designed for a 10-inch bear. It’s part of a 1993 booklet that included many top knitwear designers, edited by Judith Shangold: “The Designer Collection (For Bears).” The booklet was a fundraiser for The Children’s Aid Society. Vogue Knitting was associated with the project, which included designs for a 10-inch Boyd Bear that was being sold in many local yarn shops when the booklet was first available. In addition to Swanson, there are sweaters and outfits by Kaffe Fassett, Nancy J. Thomas, Nicky Epstein, Deborah Newton, Norah Gaughan, Nancy Marchant and others.

Here’s the Swanson design (I added the bunny tail hole, the earholes are Swanson’s):

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The hoodie pattern is knit all in one piece. It took me several tries to get the zigs and the zags figured out. It would make an interesting baby sweater, but I don’t think I have enough knitting IQ points to figure out how to make that happen.

The hoodie fits bunny just right. He especially likes that he can wear his hood low–almost over his eyes.

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And he can still easily twitch his tail.

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