Knitting of Susan Dennis

Bears and Bunnies and Elephants - but mainly bears

For years, I knitted afghans.  I just liked the flow of knitting them  and they required no piecing together (which I hate).  I donated them as each was finished.  But, every summer, I had to stop.  It was just too hot to hold, much less knit, a big heavy afghan.  I knitted socks for awhile but the sock yarn is just so darned expensive and I have enough and it just wasn't fun. 

The Summer of 2005, I found this wonderful teddy bear pattern and started my new addiction.  I make about 3 a week.  Each different and each a little dab of delicious cuddly.  In the winter of 2008, I found some new patterns and the teddy bears made way for bunnies and elephants and other bears.

As 2010 rolled around, I crafted my own bear pattern and it's now back to all bears all the time.  I take them over to the wonderful folks at the Baby Corner where, hopefully, they find loving homes and hugs.

I take lots of pictures.  I take a picture of my knitting basket every morning.  I try to capture each bear at least once in a picture before I take them off to  their 'adoption center'.

Here is the latest from my knitting basket:

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And these are the latest of my finished bears.
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In 2008 I wanted to knit a fish and couldn't find a pattern I liked, so  I created my own. Here is the pattern for this cutie! 

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Feel free to use it, share it, sell it, whatever.  It is free and I think the more fish the merrier!

And here is my bear pattern.

 

This was the first bear - I knitted a bazillian of these

Pattern:  Baby Bobbi Bear published by Blue Sky Alpacas.

I followed the pattern pretty much except:  I used size 6 needles, I use sew on eyes and noses and I make neckware for each - a bow tie or a scarf.  I used machine washable acrylic yarn.

I use the wiggly eyes and nose from La Petite line (Blumenthal Lansing buttons) - card 1181.  They aren't easy to find.  But I recently lucked into a wonderful supplier!!!  PapaDens.com. It's a great online shop for those of us afflicted with crafitis. I urge you to check it out!  (Note: the eyes and nose cards are only available via email right now - but Eva at PapaDens answers emails REALLY quickly so don't hesitate to give her a try!)

And, after trying several different types, I am totally loyal now to Fairfield's poly-fil stuffing.  This is the best.  It's light weight, easy to use, totally washable and it has a magical kind of springy action to it. 

 

And here are some of the early bears

 

September Class

 (If you want to see projects from the past you can see the past projects.)

I'm also susandennis on Ravelry.com

www.susandennis.com