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The Knitted Teddy Bear: Make Your Own Heirloom Toys, with Dozens of Paterns for Unique Clothing
This eBook is for teddy bear lovers and keen knitters alike of all ages. Knitting small toys is an absorbing and addictive hobby and homemade teddies have a special charm all of their own. The Knitted Teddy Bear has patterns to knit 12 gorgeous, fully jointed teddy bears, ranging in height from 16 to just 4 inches.
There are traditional style heirloom bears; for children there are bears with their own wardrobe of clothes; and tiny teds for the miniature bear enthusiast. Only basic knitting skills and materials are needed and many of the projects can be quickly knitted up from oddments of double knitting and 4-ply yarn.
The instructions are easy to follow and there are clear diagrams showing how to sew up, thread joint, and create the perfect Bruin. A workshop and ideas section shows you how to use the basic patterns to create many other variations, including "old" attic bears, character teddies and mascots.
Author Information
Sandra Polley has had many years' experience with crafts, especially knitting and soft toy-making. She has a particular interest in making and collecting miniature teddy bears. She started to design her traditionally styled knitted bears about 2 years ago and now runs a successful small business selling her knitting patterns and kits worldwide. Her teddy bear patterns have recently been featured in the UK's Woman's Weekly magazine. Sandra lives in Leicestershire, UK.
There are traditional style heirloom bears; for children there are bears with their own wardrobe of clothes; and tiny teds for the miniature bear enthusiast. Only basic knitting skills and materials are needed and many of the projects can be quickly knitted up from oddments of double knitting and 4-ply yarn.
The instructions are easy to follow and there are clear diagrams showing how to sew up, thread joint, and create the perfect Bruin. A workshop and ideas section shows you how to use the basic patterns to create many other variations, including "old" attic bears, character teddies and mascots.
Author Information
Sandra Polley has had many years' experience with crafts, especially knitting and soft toy-making. She has a particular interest in making and collecting miniature teddy bears. She started to design her traditionally styled knitted bears about 2 years ago and now runs a successful small business selling her knitting patterns and kits worldwide. Her teddy bear patterns have recently been featured in the UK's Woman's Weekly magazine. Sandra lives in Leicestershire, UK.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 19, 2013
This is a lovely book with some charming colour photographs of traditionally knitted bears. New knitters with basic skills will easily progress from the simple bear to the more adventurous jointed bear in a short amount of time. Clear diagrams and instructions will help to create the teddy bears of different sizes, style and character. Matching knitted wardrobe accessories are included with clear diagrams and illustrations on how to sew, join, and complete the bears. Sandra Polley offers handy tips and some money saving ideas including stuffing alternatives for your bear.
Advice is given on the various yarns that can be used along with a handy converter for the different US/UK terms given for the respective yarns. A variety of looks can be achieved by using different yarns or materials, and size of knitting needles, so once you're confident enough you should be able to create your very own unique heirloom.
A charming book for any bear fan to knit for gifts, heirlooms or to keep for themselves. This book is suited to any level of expertise. The only limit is your creativity.
I would like to thank the Publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this craft book.
Advice is given on the various yarns that can be used along with a handy converter for the different US/UK terms given for the respective yarns. A variety of looks can be achieved by using different yarns or materials, and size of knitting needles, so once you're confident enough you should be able to create your very own unique heirloom.
A charming book for any bear fan to knit for gifts, heirlooms or to keep for themselves. This book is suited to any level of expertise. The only limit is your creativity.
I would like to thank the Publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this craft book.
January 1, 2021
So many bears I want to make 🧸😃
October 22, 2022
Some fantastic patterns and ideas in this book. Looking forward to knitting some up.
August 12, 2013
This book was generously donated for review by Anova Books.
First Impression: Do you like to knit cute and fast toys? Well, this is the book for you. The bears are super cute and wear cute outfits! I also love the fact that the toys are small, so you can knit them up fast. Personally, I have little desire to knit a huge teddy bear, I would much prefer a cute and tiny bear that I can knit up in two days.
The Details: The Knitted Teddy Bear: Make Your Own Heirloom Toys, with Dozens of Patterns for Unique Clothing is filled with 18 bear patterns and lots of outfits for them to wear. My favorite is Catherine and her adorable lacy dress. She is super cute.
The patterns are very straightforward and list row by row what you are supposed to do. I much prefer this to books that state at the beginning "knit all odd rows," because I can keep track with a post-it note of where I am in the pattern. The book also goes into some explanation of some of the more complicated techniques that go along with knitting toys like attaching pieces together and making faces. Although Sandra Polley does an adequate job, I wish there were more diagrams.
I should also point out that gauge for the patterns is not listed. Although the author explains her reasoning, I generally prefer to have a gauge to get an idea of what I should be shooting for. If you are new to toys, keep in mind that your gauge should be tighter than usual, because you want the stuffing to stay inside the bear! Also, the yarn brands are not listed, but clues in the book suggest that Rowan yarns were used.
Final Impressions: The patterns looks super cute and straightforward. This book looks like a nice jumping off point for knitters new to knitting toys, because the patterns are fast. The book does not list yarn brands, so if you like your projects to look exactly like the pictures in the book, you have a bit of work to do.
First Impression: Do you like to knit cute and fast toys? Well, this is the book for you. The bears are super cute and wear cute outfits! I also love the fact that the toys are small, so you can knit them up fast. Personally, I have little desire to knit a huge teddy bear, I would much prefer a cute and tiny bear that I can knit up in two days.
The Details: The Knitted Teddy Bear: Make Your Own Heirloom Toys, with Dozens of Patterns for Unique Clothing is filled with 18 bear patterns and lots of outfits for them to wear. My favorite is Catherine and her adorable lacy dress. She is super cute.
The patterns are very straightforward and list row by row what you are supposed to do. I much prefer this to books that state at the beginning "knit all odd rows," because I can keep track with a post-it note of where I am in the pattern. The book also goes into some explanation of some of the more complicated techniques that go along with knitting toys like attaching pieces together and making faces. Although Sandra Polley does an adequate job, I wish there were more diagrams.
I should also point out that gauge for the patterns is not listed. Although the author explains her reasoning, I generally prefer to have a gauge to get an idea of what I should be shooting for. If you are new to toys, keep in mind that your gauge should be tighter than usual, because you want the stuffing to stay inside the bear! Also, the yarn brands are not listed, but clues in the book suggest that Rowan yarns were used.
Final Impressions: The patterns looks super cute and straightforward. This book looks like a nice jumping off point for knitters new to knitting toys, because the patterns are fast. The book does not list yarn brands, so if you like your projects to look exactly like the pictures in the book, you have a bit of work to do.
August 12, 2013
Who could be uninterested in the picture of two adorable teddy bears?
They just scream "knit me".
The book is divided into several different projects which range from patterns suitable for those with minimal experience, to those bears which need time, patience and a whole heap of know-how. The bears range from heirloom bears with moveable joints, to those teeny tiny bears which can be made from scraps of wool over the space of an afternoon.
Some have wardrobes of clothes to get to grips with; whilst others are happy to wear just a sweater. In all the patterns, the instructions are clear and concise and each step is well explained. There also some nice pictures which really bring the bears to life.
As terminology varies between the US and the UK regarding wool type, it’s nice to have a combination of instructions regarding the type of yarn. All the wool used is fairly standard and should be available from good wool stockists.
There are also instructions about creating bears from recycled yarn as “Teddy bears aren’t fussy and can be made from oddments left over from other projects”.
The pattern designer, Sandra Polley, is an experienced crafter and has used this knowledge to create some truly special bears. This is a lovely book for anyone who loves knitting teddy bears, and is equally lovely for those who like to look at good-looking bears, and then maybe persuade someone else into making them.
My thanks to NetGalley and Anova Books for my ecopy of this book.
They just scream "knit me".
The book is divided into several different projects which range from patterns suitable for those with minimal experience, to those bears which need time, patience and a whole heap of know-how. The bears range from heirloom bears with moveable joints, to those teeny tiny bears which can be made from scraps of wool over the space of an afternoon.
Some have wardrobes of clothes to get to grips with; whilst others are happy to wear just a sweater. In all the patterns, the instructions are clear and concise and each step is well explained. There also some nice pictures which really bring the bears to life.
As terminology varies between the US and the UK regarding wool type, it’s nice to have a combination of instructions regarding the type of yarn. All the wool used is fairly standard and should be available from good wool stockists.
There are also instructions about creating bears from recycled yarn as “Teddy bears aren’t fussy and can be made from oddments left over from other projects”.
The pattern designer, Sandra Polley, is an experienced crafter and has used this knowledge to create some truly special bears. This is a lovely book for anyone who loves knitting teddy bears, and is equally lovely for those who like to look at good-looking bears, and then maybe persuade someone else into making them.
My thanks to NetGalley and Anova Books for my ecopy of this book.
August 9, 2013
CUTE! cute, cute cute teddy bears, how can one resist?
These are fully jointed, "real" teddy bears, like grown up teddy bears you'd pay $100 for in the store, complete with clothing. Though I think these teddy bears are more intended for adult collectors then children, with some minor adapting they'd be great for any kid in your life who wants a new friend.
There's a LOT of assembly, a lot of little fiddly pieces to make and sew together. Everything is well explained, however. The other great thing about making bears and bear clothes is that you don't need a lot of yarn or a lot of fancy yarn, to make these critters.
There's the usual how to section in the beginning of the book, geared towards making a good, well finished teddy bear, including sewing and embroidery.
The patterns for the bears are spelled out, so you not only know you are knitted the head, but which part of the head you are knitting - hints like this really do make patterns more accessible for beginner knitters. It's not the knitting that is hard, so much as the pattern reading that can be hard.
These are fully jointed, "real" teddy bears, like grown up teddy bears you'd pay $100 for in the store, complete with clothing. Though I think these teddy bears are more intended for adult collectors then children, with some minor adapting they'd be great for any kid in your life who wants a new friend.
There's a LOT of assembly, a lot of little fiddly pieces to make and sew together. Everything is well explained, however. The other great thing about making bears and bear clothes is that you don't need a lot of yarn or a lot of fancy yarn, to make these critters.
There's the usual how to section in the beginning of the book, geared towards making a good, well finished teddy bear, including sewing and embroidery.
The patterns for the bears are spelled out, so you not only know you are knitted the head, but which part of the head you are knitting - hints like this really do make patterns more accessible for beginner knitters. It's not the knitting that is hard, so much as the pattern reading that can be hard.
August 7, 2013
The Knitted Teddy Bear is a lovely book, containing clear, detailed instructions on how to create an heirloom bear for the children (little or large!) in your life. The start of the book contains all the information you need for a basic knitting kit and also conversions for UK/US terminology, diagrams on how to construct the bears, and the rest of the book has clearly photographed images of each bear. The character of each creation is shown through their individual outfits, each pattern is easily adaptable to use up the yarn in your stash and is suitable for beginners and more confident knitters also. Another success for Sandra Polley.
May 13, 2014
Adorable bears, easy patterns, wide range!
Charming book, with a wide range of patterns for all skill levels. There are bears in various sizes and shapes, with adorable outfits to mix and match. The patterns are written very clearly and easy to follow for a fairly amateur knitter like me. The bears have a lovely 'old-fashioned' style, and in fact there is a section on older style or vintage bears. Recommended to all knitters!
Reviewed in exchange for a preview Kindle copy.
http://ebookproofreader.wordpress.com/
Charming book, with a wide range of patterns for all skill levels. There are bears in various sizes and shapes, with adorable outfits to mix and match. The patterns are written very clearly and easy to follow for a fairly amateur knitter like me. The bears have a lovely 'old-fashioned' style, and in fact there is a section on older style or vintage bears. Recommended to all knitters!
Reviewed in exchange for a preview Kindle copy.
http://ebookproofreader.wordpress.com/
February 27, 2020
Bought two copies
I bought this book years ago in paperback form and loved it so much I have also bought the digital version to make it easier to carry around we me. I’ve knit many stuffed animals over the years, but there is just something special about the old fashioned charm of these teddies that keeps me coming back to this book. My only complaint is that I normally prefer knitting in the round to cut down on seaming. There are quite a few pieces to stitch together on these. I think they’re worth it though.
I bought this book years ago in paperback form and loved it so much I have also bought the digital version to make it easier to carry around we me. I’ve knit many stuffed animals over the years, but there is just something special about the old fashioned charm of these teddies that keeps me coming back to this book. My only complaint is that I normally prefer knitting in the round to cut down on seaming. There are quite a few pieces to stitch together on these. I think they’re worth it though.
July 31, 2013
An adorable book and a must have for those who enjoy knitting and want to create something that will be cherished for generations. The instructions are presented clearly for each pattern with stitching conversions, diagrams, photographs and unique design of "clothing" for each of the bears. All skill levels will be able to follow the instructions. It even includes instructions on using up those stray balls of yarn left over from other projects.
July 6, 2015
This is a lovely book with a wide range of patterns for all skill levels. There are bears in various sizes and shapes, with adorable outfits to mix and match. The patterns are written very clearly and easy to follow for a fairly amateur knitter like me. The bears all have a charming old-fashioned style, and there is a section on older style or vintage bears. Recommended to all knitters!
Review of a preview digital copy from the publisher.
Review of a preview digital copy from the publisher.
March 27, 2017
A lovely book of bears!
Such a fantastic book. What is great about this book is that the patterns really do work with different wool types. So each bear you create is as unique as you want it to be. Plus they're sweet bear designs totally reminiscent of bygone eras.
A book that does just what it says it will. Fantastic!
Such a fantastic book. What is great about this book is that the patterns really do work with different wool types. So each bear you create is as unique as you want it to be. Plus they're sweet bear designs totally reminiscent of bygone eras.
A book that does just what it says it will. Fantastic!
June 21, 2008
Not for beginners, you have to infer quite a bit from the patterns. The projects are really cute though.
March 21, 2021
I see several teddies I want to make!
August 27, 2024
Fun patterns for knitting teddy bears
I've made several of these bears already and I can't wait to try them all. The directions are easy to follow and the bears are adorable.
I've made several of these bears already and I can't wait to try them all. The directions are easy to follow and the bears are adorable.
April 10, 2023
Helpful tips on piecing together knitted bears, great patterns for all knitting levels. I'm glad I found this book, most bear pattern I come across are for crochet, and I much prefer knitting.
November 5, 2009
A book filled with cute bears to knit.
November 17, 2009
A collection of lovely little teddies to knit.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews