– The original patterns may be found at www.teddiesfortragedies.org.uk/
– You will need DK weight yarn and #3 dpns (mine are 5” long). I have been using Perfection by Kraemer Yarns. The Social Knitwork carries it, and I have also purchased it online from the company.
– Please make sure the yarn is machine washable. Do not use white for the faces and paws. In some cultures white is associated with death.
This is the order I follow when I knit my bears so I don’t have seams to sew when I am finished. The bear is knit from the head down. After the bear is finished and stuffed, I use the Kitchener stitch to close the top of the head.
Head:
Use a provisional cast on. Note: I use crochet cotton because it doesn’t grab the fibers in the yarn which makes it easier to pull out. Cast on 40 stitches. Work in stockinette for 2 ¾ inches.
Jumper:
Change to jumper color. Work in garter stitch for 24 rows. Leave the sides open for the first 10 rows for the arms. This means you will need to work only the front and then only the back and rejoin on the 11th row.
Pants:
Change to pants color. Work in garter stitch for 16 rows.
Legs:
Work on one leg at a time – 20 stitches. Continue in garter stitch for 30 more rows. On the first round cast on 2 extra stitches in the inner leg. On the 3rd row you will take these two stitches out by k2tog twice at the same place you increased. Note for 2nd leg: Instead of casting on 2 extra stitches, pick up 4 stitches along the top of the first leg. Decrease them out within the first few rows. This helps to keep from having a hole as the pants are worked.
Feet:
Change to face color and work in garter stitch for 10 rows. Use suggestions in original pattern for closing the end of the leg. (For the feet and paws I work in garter stitch for 8 rows. On row 9, I k2tog, knit 6, ssk, k2tog, knit 6, ssk. Then I use the Kitchener stitch on the next row to close) Use whichever method you are most comfortable with using.
Arms:
Pick up and knit 16 stitches around armhole. Work in garter stitch for 20 rows.
Paws:
Follow directions for feet with the following exception: On row 9, k2tog, knit 4, ssk, k2tog, knit 4, ssk.
Scarf:
CO 75. Work 4 rows of garter stitch. Bind off. Please secure the scarf to the bear at both the front and the back. This is a request from those working with the children in Haiti