Buddy Bear Pattern

Here is a sweet crocheted bear pattern for sharing. Skills needed are single crochet, crocheting in the rouad, increases and decreases. It's fairly easy and you can pretty much use any yarn that you like. I used a light worsted/sport on the pink and yellow bears and worsted weight on the brown bear which came out slightly larger. The pattern is written for a striped bear but feel free to use two colors to achieve a more traditional looking Buddy Bear. Enjoy and let me know if you make one!! I've posted this on Ravelry so welcome new friends!

Buddy Bears*



Materials:
1 - 2 skeins of worsted weight yarn or 2 - 3 skeins of acrylic/cotton blend yarn (sport weight)
size H hook (for worsted weight yarn) or size G (for sport weight yarn)
stitch marker or safety pin
Buttons
stuffing (Polyfil)
yarn needle

Gauge:
gauge is not essential to this pattern. Just be sure to match the correct hook size to the
weight of yarn that you choose.

Abbreviations:
sc - single crochet
sc2tog - single crochet 2 together (decrease)
m/r - magic ring

Notes:
If you are unsure how to start off with a magic ring just chain two and create the appropriate
number of stitches in the first chain instead.

Remember to use your stitch marker to keep your count correct.
You will not be joining at the end of the rows, you will be crocheting in a spiral.

The number at the end of the row instructions are the number of stitches you should have after each
completed row.

Stuff your bear fully so he's not too floppy. If you think it's not enough stuffing it probably
isn't :P

The color changes listed in the pattern below are for a bear wearing a t-shirt, socks and
mittens. The colors are just an example and you can use whatever color combos you like
and can add stripes on the body, arms and legs as you wish. You can also do everything in
one color as well.

COLOR A - Pink
COLOR B - White
COLOR C - Light Brown
Color D - Yellow

Head & Body:

With color A -
6 sc into m/r (see note) - place marker in last stitch and move with each round so as not to
lose count - DO NOT JOIN
2 sc into each stitch (12)
(1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (18)
(1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (24)
(1 sc in first 3 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (30)
(1 sc in first 4 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (36)
(1 sc in first 5 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (42)
(1 sc in first 6 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (48)
(1 sc in first 7 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (54)
(1 sc in first 8 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (60)
1 sc in each stitch around for 12 rounds (60)
(1 sc in first 8 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (54)
(1 sc in first 7 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (48)
(1 sc in first 6 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (42)
(1 sc in first 5 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (36)
(1 sc in first 4 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (30)
(1 sc in first 3 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (24)
Change to color B -
1 sc in each stitch around for 3 rounds (24)

STUFF HEAD

Change to color C -
1 sc in each stitch around for 1 round (24)
(1 sc in first 3 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (30)
(1 sc in first 4 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (36)
1 sc in each stitch around for 5 rows (36)
(1 sc in first 5 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (42)
1 sc in each stitch around for 2 rows (42)
Change to color B -
1 sc in each stitch around for 2 rows (42)
Change to color A -
1 sc in each stitch around for 4 rows (42)
(1 sc in first 6 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (48)
1 sc in each stitch around for 6 rows (48)
(1 sc in first 6 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (42)
(1 sc in first 5 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (36)
(1 sc in first 4 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (30)
(1 sc in first 3 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (24)
(1 sc in first 2 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (18)

STUFF BODY

(1 sc in first 1 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (12)
(sc2tog) repeat around (6)
finish off leaving a long tail (about 10 inches), Thread yarn needle onto tail and weave in and
out of remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close up the circle. secure the thread with a knot
and bury inside of body.

Ears (make 2):

With Color A -
6 sc into m/r (see note) - place marker in last stitch and move with each round so as not to
lose count - DO NOT JOIN
2 sc into each stitch (12)
(1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (18)
(1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (24)
(1 sc in first 3 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (30)
1 sc in each stitch around for 4 rows (30)
finish off leaving a long yarn tail (about 12 inches). Thread yarn needle onto tail and fold ears
in half to sew them to the head. I find it easier to place the ears if I pin them to the head
before sewing down and only locking in the yarn tail (after sewing) once both ears are on.
That way it is easier to pull out your stitches if you need to reposition the ear.

Nose:

With Color B -
same as ear instructions though do not fold in half. Place on face and stitch down, leaving a
space to stuff the nose and then closing up and locking in yarn tail.

Tail:

With Color A -
6 sc into m/r (see note) - place marker in last stitch and move with each round so as not to
lose count - DO NOT JOIN
2 sc into each stitch (12)
1 sc in each stitch around for 1 row (12)
finish off leaving a long yarn tail (about 6 inches). Thread yarn needle onto tail and sew tail
to the behind.

Legs (make 2):

With color B -
6 sc into m/r (see note) - place marker in last stitch and move with each round so as not to
lose count - DO NOT JOIN
2 sc into each stitch (12)
(1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (18)
(1 sc in first 2 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (24)
1 sc in each stitch around for 4 rows (24)
(sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 stitches) 4 times, 1 sc in next 8 stitches (20)
1 sc in each stitch around for 5 rows (20)
TURN (you will start working back and forth in rows to create the heel)
sc2tog, sc 1 in next 8 stitches, sc2tog TURN
sc2tog, sc 1 in next 7 stitches, sc2tog (this will connect the first decrease you made in the
last row and the stitch below it) TURN
sc2tog, sc 1 in next 6 stitches, sc2tog (this will connect the first decrease you made in the
last row and the stitch below it) TURN
sc2tog, sc 1 in next 5 stitches, sc2tog (this will connect the first decrease you made in the
last row and the stitch below it)
DO NOT TURN  (you will return to crocheting in spirals)
sc 1 in next 7 stitches, sc2tog (this will connect the last stitch before the heel ridge and the
first stitch on top of the heel ridge), sc 1 in next 6 stitches (place marker) (14)
1 sc in each stitch around for 1 row (14)
Change to color D -
1 sc in each stitch around for 10 rows (14)
Change to color C -
1 sc in each stitch around for 2 rows (14)
Change to color A -
1 sc in each stitch around for 10 rows (14)
finish off leaving a long yarn tail (about 12 inches). Stuff legs. Thread yarn needle onto yarn
tail and attach legs to bottom of body

Arms (make 2):

With color B -
6 sc into m/r (see note) - place marker in last stitch and move with each round so as not to
lose count - DO NOT JOIN
2 sc into each stitch (12)
(1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc into next stitch) repeat around (18)
1 sc in each stitch around for 4 rows (18)
(1 sc in first 1 stitches, sc2tog) repeat around (12)
1 sc in each stitch around for 1 row (12)
Change to color D -
1 sc in each stitch around for 6 rows (12)
Change to color A -
1 sc in each stitch around for 6 rows (12)
Change to color B -
1 sc in each stitch around for 2 rows (12)
Change to color C -
1 sc in each stitch around for 5 rows (12)
finish off leaving a long yarn tail (about 12 inches). Stuff arms. Thread yarn needle onto yarn
tail and attach arms to the side of the body

Sew on buttons for eyes, nose and belly button. Stitch on upside down "Y" for mouth.



Buddy Bears make great friends. Mine are currently hanging out in the craft room.



Try mixing up all sorts of colors.



The orange one was made with 100% cotton and is a little rougher than the others but could certainly take a bit more of a beating. :) I need to give him a face! You can see here how the worsted weight yarn gives you a bigger bear.


* Buddy Bears are my personal pattern. Please feel free to use this pattern to make fun friends of your own but please give me credit for the pattern! Thanks!

Thrift Share Monday - Fabric Finds

While I haven't been too lucky in the thrifty department lately I did want to share some of the fabric finds I've scored through out the year. The post was inspired by the fabric and apron I scored last week:



I am LOVING that red, white and blue fabric. It's screaming beach bags to me for some reason. (Maybe because I only seem to make bags and toys, perhaps?) The green fabric on the right is actually an apron:



The top is a pretty patchwork and I believe this was the style that was pinned to your top as there are no neck ties. I will probably use this as fabric but I'm still on the fence.

Here are some of my past vintage fabrics finds:



This is an appliance cover much too small for any that I own. I adore this pattern!



Another apron with no strings destined to be transformed.



I love this fabric. It's a heavy almost canvas feel and there are maybe 4 yards of it. What to do, what to do?



This is very light weight and drapey. It reminds me of vacation scarves and I think I'll try making my own. I may even try doing a hand rolled hem. LOVE those red feathers!



There is a ton of this and I am not sure what I'll ever do with it. It' very gauzy and almost see through but was a steal at under $2 and I couldn't leave it behind. Any thoughts?



I found about 4 yards of this vintage madras more than a year ago. And just so you don't think I'm just sitting over here hoarding:



A fun summer bag! (are you surprised, lol?)



While I love the polka dot lining I sort of wish I had left off the pocket on the front and have been considering removing it. I think it takes away from design. What would you do?

Thanks for stopping by! I love reading your comments and ideas. :)

Swaptastic

I'm so lucky to have such fabulous crafty friends. When I found out I wasn't going to be involved in a Vintage Vacation Swap this summer my friend Elise suggested she and I do a swap instead. I'm so glad we did!



Look how cute! I love cute packaging. I think it really makes a swap feel even more like a special gift.





I love the brooch she put on the cute straw tote. I'm sure I'll be sporting this on a coat come fall.



And inside the bag? A great knitting book and needles!



Perhaps my favorite part is this cute clothes pin dolly all ready for collecting shells on the beach.



So many goodies were tucked into the big box including vintage Aunt Martha's transfers, some cute stamps and little vintage book page birds!



She also made me a lovely pennant banner out of vintage sheeting (which you know I love) and even made a cute card with the fabric scraps!



I also love this cute shell encrusted candle holder/vase. It reminds me of Sailors Valentines. And how cute are the little scrabble seashells tiles? Along with the great jar of beach glass all of these things are already on my sun porch which is decorated in a pretty pale blue beach theme. Thanks, Elise! What a great swap. :)

Of course I forgot to take photos of what I sent her but I chose a vintage kitchen theme and included a vintage chopper with wooden handle, loads of vintage linens, some cute little heart shaped tins and other goodies. Elise just welcomed her latest addition to her family yesterday so stop by her blog and say welcome to sweet little Violet!

And please also stop by and see my latest Trash to Treasure article at the Examiner, a cute ruffled pillow made from a t-shirt and dress shirt from Tricia at Oh So Crafty!

xoxoxo ~ rr

Pink and Black Parisian Bridal Shower

My cousin Katy is getting married in December. She also is moving to San Diego to start a masters
program and will only be back in her home town for wedding planning and fun once before the big day. So her mother, my Aunt Glor, decided to throw her a surprise shower before she headed to the west coast. She got my mom and Auntie P. involved to coordinate and of course they put my sister and I to work.

Somewhere in the planning process we decided on a Parisian pink and black theme. You know I love a good color combo! The event was fabulous and the bride to be was surprised and thrilled.



One of my favorite projects is this Bon-Bon banner for the sweets table.



Mom and I collaborated on the design and had a blast using her new Cricut Expression machine.



The paper bride's crown and pins I made for the bridal party were well received.



We even got my dad in on it. He made this wishing well for a previous shower . . .



. . . and the Eiffel Tower centerpiece on the buffet table.



We, of course, included a fun candy bar . . .



. . . and decorated the shower umbrella made by my great grandmother that has been used at every shower in the family since the 60s. I also made on of my traditional banners for the bride to take home.

It was a blast creating and collaborating for this event but it was even cooler to see how much fun was had by Katy.

Want to know more and read some handy budget friendly tips on party planning? See my latest article for the Examiner HERE.

hugs ~ rebecca

Staying Afloat

Hello! Can some one please throw me a life preserver?

Things have gotten crazy! I really miss everyone. I'm not only behind on posting but on my blog reading as well. The good news? I got a new job! I start at AT&T on August 16th. The bad news? I've felt the need to fit in a million things before I go back to work which has now led to me having some kind of nasty summer cold and that over all feeling of malaise . . . sigh . . .

So today I'll rest. And read some blogs. And upload some fabulous pictures form a fun surprise bridal shower we threw last weekend. Sneak peek?



Remember that crown I made? This shower was the inspiration. I can't wait to share it with you. We made some really beautiful paper crafts. Better then any in the past, I think. :)

In the meantime, I'm going to doggie paddle around for a bit and hope to be back to my old self in a few days.

Have a moment? Please check out my latest article on all the free eBooks and patterns available from Interweave Press. You can see it HERE.

hugs!

Happy Together: Runaways: The Dish & The Spoon (Free Pattern!!!!)

Happy Together: Runaways: The Dish & The Spoon (Free Pattern!!!!)

Purge

I'm purging. I have gathered three bags of donations just from crap in the craft room alone. Not only supplies but some of the things I've collected to sell. I've realized I just don't care for dealing with Ebay and the things I have wouldn't fetch great prices anyway. Oh and I'm tired of the clutter. I think I'll still keep the Goodness Shop open though sales have been slow there. I am having a hard time filling up those bags. Why is it so hard to let go? I dumped 5 vintage handbags in the donation bag this morning. Nothing fabulous, just cute and small and in pretty good shape. I was planning to use them and then to sell them and now they have just been collecting dust. So in the bag they went. And I've been thinking about dragging them out of there all morning. Is it just me that has separation anxiety from stuff?

So . . . on a more productive note, I've finished something! Last wee I showed a sneak peek of some wool felt flowers I've been toying with. I finally gathered them into a bunch:

I think they came out pretty cute! Though I do wish I had made a few more flowers so it would be a bit fuller.



I think my favorite part is that pale blue ruffle on the bottom there.



It's a piece of vintage lingerie trim I picked up forever ago and then promptly forgot about. I had intended to put it in the shop but when I came across it in the purge I knew it would be perfect for this little project. So there you go. I'm finally USING something I was previously coveting. That's a step in the right direction.

Next up?



A slouchy puff stitch beret for yours truly. You can never start your winter hat making too early. It's a simple pattern and I'll share it here in case I have any budding crocheters out there.

Take a peek at my latest Examiner article HERE. This is a New York specific article about a new Savers location opening in Holbrook on Long Island. They'll be hosting an event to promote the new store and benefit the Long Island chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. If you know anyone in the Long Island area please pass it along! Who doesn't love a new thrift store?

ciao bellas!

What. To. Do.

Sigh . . . I need to focus. I feel like everything is half done. I've been trying to think of something to blog about but couldn't come up with anything. Because I have nothing DONE. So let's see . . . what to talk about . . .



I found this cute vintage inspired thermos at Marshall's for $7. I love it so. It has a glass liner so it should keep things warm but there is a cork type stopper and a not too tight lid that would limit the use I think. Still, pretty to look at.



I also thrifted a few peach luster ramekins to add to the ones my Mom found for me recently. I'm building quite a collection of peach luster pieces. It's fun to search for them and they are also pretty to look at.

While still thrifting, I am trying not to stock pile these days. I'm feeling overwhelmed by too much unorganized stuff which is not helping in my focus issue. I'm destashing the craft room and have already filled two bags with donations. I find it hard to let go but I need to. I can't become a hoarder! :) I'm also not buying any more yarn. (well, if it's thrifted and quality then maybe . . .) So I'm starting The Great Yarn Destash of 2010. I have already started a bits and pieces project that I hope to share soon. I'll be breaking out the One Skein book soon. :)



Stop by HERE and read my latest Trash to Treasure article at the Examiner. Heidi of Spiritual Knitter shares a clever idea for making valances out of crib bumpers. Thanks, Heidi!

Found

Hello all! I hope everyone had a fun and festive Fourth. L and I spent the week with my parents and pretended like we were on vacation. (Read: lots of dinners out, tons of Yahtzee on the porch, a carnival and other fun activities!) I did get a chance to hit a thrift store or two with my Mom and found a few things. Though I do think the good finds are very scarce these days. I need to sniff out some flea markets and yard sales.




I lucked into these two cute pieces of vintage fabric. I love the circus animals one the best. It's a heavy fabric, like decorator weight, and I will definitely be making myself a cute tote from it. There are like 4 yards so I'll have loads left over. The brown is a soft silky cotton and will make a nice lining for bags maybe? I'm not sure what I'll do with it. It reminds me of souvenir scarves. The pattern features Lac Leman (French for Lake Geneva) and Invalides which you can read more about here.




Also found two cute summer hats. The fabric one is hand made and is reversible! The second photo is the other side. I love the fabric choices. The other is just cute and floppy.



I have been looking out for these cute children's dish sets since I saw one on a blog like 3 years ago. When you stack it up . . .



Instant cuteness! Honestly, I'll probably put this in the shop. I'm sure someone with a kid would get more use out of it then I will.

So not too shabby but I feel like it takes 4 trips to get anything good these days. These are finds from two trips to two different stores actually.

New swap over at Sweet Goodness Swaps! Hop on over to sign up for A Midsummer Nights Dream! We are only taking the first 40 so sign up soon!

I also have a new article up at the Examiner. Click HERE to read about some fun FREE crafting newsletters to sign up for. I'm also looking for more free newsletters to feature so please let me know if you have any favorites.

Fondly ~ RR

What I'm Working on . . .

As you know, I have to have 5 things going at a time. And I KNOW some of you out there are the same way. Ahem. So here is what I am currently working on:



A sweet pleated knit scarf using the luxurious Lion Brand Cotton Bamboo yarn. I love this yarn, it's so soft and has lovely drape. Maybe I'll keep this one for myself. The pattern is from the relatively new Debbie Bliss knitting magazine. If you like to knit, Debbie Bliss patterns are always nice and easy to follow. She has some really gorgeous baby patterns. I made a bunny from the same magazine for my friend's little boy and it came out so cute!



 This is a project inspired by a photo sent to me by my cousin. Just some little felt flowers decorated with lace and buttons. Simple, pretty and not requiring too much commitment on my part.



No real plans for these though I do have a neat turned wood vase my Dad made for me that is currently holding boring old pencils.



I've been working on this cross stitch for a few months now. My mom picked it up for me when I first broke my leg. I do a little bit on it almost every night and this is definitely for me. :) I really love the geisha patterns and have two others I hope to complete someday and have all three framed for my craft room. It's a very old fashioned craft and I love it. I find it very peaceful work.

I've said it before that counted cross stitch is like painting with yarn. If you also love Oriental style patterns in cross stitch there is a great book called Oriental Odyssey that I really love. The patterns are lovely and they use DMC yarn which is readily available at craft stores and about 39 cents a skein. It takes patience and the ability to count (lol) and I find it very rewarding.

So what are you working on? I'm hoping to start a "Christmas in July" club soon. This will be a place where those who are crafting gifts can come together and share patterns and ideas, and perhaps show their projects in a place where their friends and family won't see them! So what do you think of this idea?

Have a moment? Please visit my latest Examiner article. It features a great website called We All Sew. You can read the article HERE. Thank you for your continued support in my writing! Any feed back is welcome!

Have a safe and Happy 4th!

Things I'm Loving

I spend a lot of time at home these days. Still looking for a job and trying not to spend money means a lot of down time. I wish I liked to work out because I'd be smokin' by now. ;) The heat in NYC has been intense the last few days which means a cranking AC window unit holds me to the living room and out of the steamy craft room. Finally today we've gotten a break with a lovely breeze and temps in the low 70s.

So while I'd love to show you something I've actually finished I have nothing to share. So instead, how about some things I'm enamored with right here in the house?



I found these spools at the thrift last week. I picked them up mostly for that spool of dark grey sequins and the fact that I just love wooden spools of any kind but particularly larger ones like these.



Also found last week is this trio of vintage glass top Hazel Atlas jars and an old chopper. You can't see it, but the handle is wooden and red. I have the same chopper with a yellow handle. I've never found glass top jars of this larger size before. Oh, and those price tags? Yeah, they're still on there. The dishwasher just broke and it's about 1,000 degrees in the non air conditioned kitchen so there has been no recreational hand washing going on around here. Perhaps today in the cool I'll get to it.



Color! One of the things I did do while hiding out in the living room was organize and wind a bunch of floss. I just love all the colors.



Especially the sherbet tones of these gorgeous skeins of linen floss. I've never stitched with linen before so I'll have to find a special project to use these in.

So there you have it. Some little things around here that have peaked my interest lately. Now I'm off to take advantage of this beautiful weather and clean something. Good times.

Please take a moment and visit my latest Examiner article on Brooklyn General Store. You can find it HERE. Are you looking for oil cloth? They carry several really cute designs that can be ordered on line. Check it out!