Tag Archives: stuffed animal

A Little Something Different

I think it will come as a surprise to exactly zero of you that I am a crafter. If it has to do with paint or glue or cardboard or fabric or yarn, I’m there, and I’m 100% in. And, as a crafter, I’m always looking for excuses to get making.

So, when my kid started getting invited to birthday parties this year (now that we can have in-person parties), I’ve been using it as an excuse to get out the craft supplies. And this time, I really think I outdid myself.

(This is by no means meant as a dig against non-crafty moms. This is truly just something I like doing, and after all, my kid can only play with so many cardboard houses and stuffed animals.)

It’s small.

And cute.

And, I love it so much!

I used Little Cotton Rabbits’ Free Teeny Tiny Knitted Toys and Itty Bitty Dress patterns to make this truly tiny bunny (she’s only about 2 inches tall, including her ears). I added a soft flannel mattress, a little pillow, and a teeny li’l quilt (which I’m probably going to cut down even smaller, because for some reason I’m being really “type A” about this project). And if I find the time, I might make a teeny little bedtime book, too, but we’ll see.

I really love how she turned out. Nothing like a bit of super-teeny, super-fiddly knitting to really start appreciating my chunky crochet project.

What’s the last thing you made as a gift?

Pattern: Bunny and Bear

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Last week, I told you about the kids I teach in my knitting class. They are all doing an amazing job, and they all like making different things. Some want to make tiny little projects they can finish in a day, some want to spend weeks working on a single item. Some only want to make garments for themselves, and some make garments for their stuffed animals.

But all kids love a new stuffed animal. (Or “stuffie” as my students say. Is that a regional thing? Or is it a generational thing. I never called them “stuffies” when I was a kid.”

So, I designed a pattern for two new stuffies, a bear and a bunny, that is easy enough for even an early beginner knitter. These two little guys are totally adorable (if I say so myself), and are made without any shaping, purling or other “complicated” knitting. If you can knit garter stitch, you can make yourself a new little friend. And, I’ve included step-by-step instructions, including pictures!But, I think my favorite part of this pair is their tiny little tails! (The bunny has a teeny pompom and the bear has an even tinier little nubbin. Adorable!)Are you a very beginning knitter looking to make something more fun than a potholder or a scarf? Do you have a kid itching to take up needles and yarn? Give these two a try!

bunny-and-bear

A Passel of Pigs

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Remember how I made all those teddy bears for the Mother Bear Project (which is still accepting bears). I used a bunch of leftover KnitPicks Swish that I had laying around-little bits that weren’t enough for a sweater, a scarf or a even pair of mittens.

Well, after the bears, I still had little bits left- tiny little balls of yarn the size of a golf ball. So, what’s a girl to do with amounts of worsted-weight yarn of 5 grams or less?

Make some Pigs.Chichester the Pig by Helen Apocalypse is one of my favorite I’m-bored-and-want-something-quick-and-easy-to-do projects. It has virtually no finishing, and I can blast my way through one of these tiny pigs in about a half hour. And, they’re flipping adorable.

In worsted weight on US6 needles, the pigs work up to just under 2 inches long- think just smaller than an egg. The pigs’ little ears and tiny trotters are all worked as bobbles- so there’s no futzing with sewing on little bitty arms and legs.And they’re a fun way to play with my collection of tiny safety eyes. I’m a particular fan of my evil pig with the red eyes.So, if you ever find yourself with a tiny bit of leftover yarn, a handful of stuffing and a half-hour of time, think of Chichester and all his little piggy buddies. But, now what should I do now with them, now that they have taken over my desk?

Mama Bear Update: Finishing

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We’re in the home stretch, folks! I wanted to send the bears out by Christmas, and I think I’ll make it. I’ve knit up seven bears in the last couple months, and they’ve all got faces. Now all I need to do is give them a little stuffing and make them lovely and chubby. Time to break out the poly-fill.

I started by fluffing up some poly-fill and adding it by small hand-fulls to my completed bear, massaging it as I went to avoid lumps. (He looks like a little zombie potato right now. Braaaains…. braaaaains…)

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Then, using the long tail left over from the cast on, I whip-stitched this guy’s head closed.

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And made ears by sewing a little diagonal running stitch seam at the base of each ear. (They turned out a little pointy, so maybe this is a teddy-cat, not a teddy-bear.)

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Then, to make a neck and get rid of the whole potato-head thing he’s got going on, I carefully ran my needle through around his neck, starting and ending at the back of his head.

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I tied the ends together tightly, and wove in the ends.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA This formed a a nice, round, non-potato head. Adorable!

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Then I wove in the ends on his little scarf and wrapped it around his neck, adding a little stitch to hold the knot in place. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Done! And, adorable!

Thinking about joining the Mother Bear party? It’s not too late! Get your pattern here!

Mama Bear Update: Faces

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Bears! Bears! Bears! They’re everywhere!

And, now, they’re looking at me!

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Look at them with their little noses, and their little beady eyes. Watching.

Although, I suppose I’m really the only one to blame. I did add the faces after all.

Want to see how these little faces came to be? I thought you’d never ask.

I’m usually a big fan of safety eyes, which, ironically are not safe for kids under 3 years old. Since I don’t know who the dolls are going to (and the instructions specifically asked for no safety eyes, and I follow rules), I made these faces with embroidery floss and little bits of felt. I think they turned out pretty cute!

I started by gathering my materials: 1 un-stuffed bear, 2 eyes (cut out of felt), 1 triangular nose (also felt), a big rectangle of felt, about the size of the bear’s face (something happened with the photos, but the green felt and the green yarn are much closer in color than these pictures would have you believe), a needle and coordinating embroidery floss.

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I used the same technique from when I made those teeny-tiny bears from Little Cotton Rabbits. I slipped the face backing into the bear’s head, and arranged the eyes and nose on the front. Then, I carefully sewed through the backing and the knitted face to attach the features. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA I used a back stitch to sew down the eyes and nose quite firmly. I want to be sure that the faces don’t fall off while the bear is being played with!

Then, I made two long stitches slanting away from the bottom of the nose to create the mouth. I like to give my dolls/stuffed animals as neutral expressions as possible, that way the kid playing with them will be able use their imaginations more freely.

Unfortunately, this bear ended up looking a little judgy.

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Oh well. He’s still cute.

Then, to give the bear a little life, I added a couple tiny stitches in white to add a ‘shine’ to the eyes. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Weird how something so little can make such a big change!

How are your bears coming along? Do yours have faces yet?

Wait- what’s that? You haven’t knit any yet! Get the pattern here!

Totally Bare Bears!

Pattern Spotlight: Itty Bitty and Teeny Tiny

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I love tiny things, it’s true. Especially really tiny things. Especially especially teeny tiny adorable things. It’s one of my weird quirks. When I’m feeling down, stressed, or just in need of a quick pick-me-up, one sure-fire way to raise my spirits is to make something cute, pointless, and tiny.

I’ve been keeping this pattern in my back pocket for years, waiting for a day when I would need a tiny, adorable, pick-me-up.

Well, that day came, and instead of moping around the house, I broke out my fingering-weight yarn and my US0 DPNs and these two little bears just about flew off my needles.

They are tiny.

Seriously. Tiny.They measure just under 2 inches tall from the tips of their toes to the tops of their ears. And the best part? Their dresses are removable- look at the teeny bare naked (naked bear) adorableness!And the best part? The pattern is well-written, clear and free!

Teeny tiny knitted toys by Julie Williams itty bitty dress by Julie WilliamsNext time you need a quick, fiddly and adorable project, remember to keep these little guys in mind!

(And, don’t worry about me. I just had a long day, but it was noting my tiny bears couldn’t handle!)

What do you like to make when you’re feeling blue?

(And don’t forget to order your Mother Bear Pattern for the first annual On the Needles Charity Knitalong!)

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