There are sooo many out there. These are the ones we think are the best, most useful, or most unusual and innovative.
There were about 20 pieces to this little bear man. A fun project because it was like putting together a three dimensional puzzle. Creating the face was an interesting experience - giving him personality in his slight smile and choosing just the right eyes. As soon as the eyes were in place (done last) he took on real life and sometimes I feel like he’s staring at me.
He’s about the size of a one-year-old child and his arms and legs move. Propped up carefully he’ll actually stand up. His head swivels side to side, too. Because of his little parts (eyes, arm and leg joints) he’s not a good toy for a small child, but he is a wonderful decoration and cuddler for the small child in me.
This was the “Jack” pattern from The Knitted Teddy Bear, the same pattern as “Catherine” (large bear in the middle in the picture on the left (click for large picture)), but with contrasting hands and feet. My version is definitely a boy bear, though I didn’t necessarily plan it that way. He just became a boy when I put him together. Don’t you think he looks masculine?
Made with Katia Papiro, cotton/linen blend, in colors 85810 (light brown) and 85815 (dark brown), 93yds and 20sts/4 inches. This pattern took 5 balls dark brown and less than one ball of the light brown. (I think this yarn is since discontinued (check eBay)
The Knitted Teddy Bear : Make Your Own Heirloom Toys with Dozens of Patterns for Unique Clothing and Accessories
Author: Sandra Polley
At first glance, all the bears in this book look too similar to justify a whole book. But on closer inspection, you’ll see that each bear has a personality all it’s own - from sweet teeny tiny bears to great big huggable teddys. Some of the designs allow for moving arms and legs, others are all yarn and stuffing, perfect for babies and little kids. Tips are included for personalizing the expression on the little guys as well as instructions for making them appear ‘old’ and ‘ready-loved’. There are patterns for clothes made to fit the various body sizes.
Read more and see sample designs from the book.
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It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen a book of patterns where, not only did I want to knit every other pattern I saw, but I felt a sense of excitement in the discovery to come.
When you’ve been knitting awhile, and collected a substantial library of books as I have, after awhile, everything starts to look the same. You begin to feel like there’s nothing left to learn - and it’s the discovery that I find fun in knitting. I’ve never been one that found peace in endless hours of stockinette or rib or moss stitch. Give me something I don’t know how to do, something I couldn’t write the pattern for myself, something unusual and beautiful and wearable and (and and and !) my heart starts to sing.
That is what I’ve found in this new book by Norah Gaughan:
Knitting Nature : 39 Designs Inspired by Patterns in Nature
Author: Norah Gaughan
Unusual and inventive designs. A book an advanced knitter can pick up a few new ideas from…and then actually wear the finished object. Thank you Norah!
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Pattern after pattern after pattern. Not only are these interesting and unique patterns, but this is great fashion.
Has anyone ever had a subscription to Knit Alert Magazine? It’s expensive, at just under $200 an issue coming out twice a year. From their web site:
knit!Alert is…a full-colour ‘trend book’ which is more than hundreds of sweater ideas, more than dozens of seasonal patterns for both sweater and circular knits, more than just hundreds of photographs from Pitti Filati and Expofil, more than storefronts and marketplace photography, and more than a CD-ROM with sweater rendering tools for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator®.
I’ve been getting interested in the design process and the textile/fashion industry as a whole, color trends, etc. and any input on the subject would be welcome!
Familiar with Debbie Bliss’ Toy Knits? I think being able to make little toy creatures for kids has got to be one of the greater joys in life. I made one of those lamb kits - it had giant boucle wool, filled with lanolin, and wool stuffing…I need to photograph that little guy and show you. His eyes are crooked and his ears don’t match, but he has become the fearless mascot of my knitting basket. Today I discovered Vivian Høxbro (thanks to a link from dangerouschunky). Vivian is the author of Domino Knitting and she also has some adorable free patterns for dolls and teddy bears. So cute! Love it love it love it.
I’m headed to San Francisco this weekend and hoping to finally make my way to some SF Yarn Shops. Art Fibers is on my list - does anyone have any other suggestions? We’re also headed to Monterey and Carmel; trying to see as much as we can before Bob finally moves home at the end of this month. He’s been in Oakland for 4 months, which was about 3 months, 3 weeks too long! 
Happy weekend knitting!
There were about 20 pieces to this little bear man. A fun project because it was like putting together a three dimensional puzzle. Creating the face was an interesting experience - giving him personality in his slight smile and choosing just the right eyes. As soon as the eyes were in place (done last) he took on real life and sometimes I feel like he’s staring at me.
This was the “Jack” pattern from The Knitted Teddy Bear, the same pattern as “Catherine” (large bear in the middle in the picture on the left (click for large picture)), but with contrasting hands and feet. My version is definitely a boy bear, though I didn’t necessarily plan it that way. He just became a boy when I put him together. Don’t you think he looks masculine?
