Inspiration
Bears in Sweaters and Dolls in Hats
I made my first bear because I was intimidated by making a sweater.
It’s funny how the mind works, because I’d actually already made an improvised sweater for my teddy bear Stanley while swatching for a scarf. But Stanley is very generous and, because he’s naturally stylish, he looked perfectly handsome in a sweater that was a collection of Lettlopi tubes.
I remember saying to my sister-in-law Dorothy that knitting anything other than a flat scarf made me queasy. Knitting patterns seemed like Morse code. Dorothy is famous in our family for having knitted dozens of Jean Greenhowe storybook characters down to the inchworms on their arms. She looked at me in her matter-of-fact way and said, “Knitting sweaters is easy. It’s just a bunch of scarves sewn together. You can do that.”
Jean Greenhowe “Scarecrow Family” design knitted by Dorothy Johnson, Penny Bridge, Cumbria
Still, I was convinced bears were the answer to conquering my knitting pattern fears because I’m highly motivated by a cute reward. I found a simple teddy bear pattern in the varied and completely sensible Knitted Teddies by Sandra Polley. If you only ever have one teddy bear knitting book, this is the one.
Oliver Neige and Owlbear
My first teddy bear, Owlbear, was exactly a collection of five small scarves—also known as rectangles—sewn together. No shaping.
Plenty of practice sewing up seams. It turns out the yarn, eyes, and embroidered mouth and nose meant that this bear could have taken on many different personalities. I could have knit that pattern a dozen times and made no two bears alike.
But now, I was getting daring. I’d actually done a bit of decreasing on my Arne & Carlos Setesdal Hat. So, even though instructions like “inc 2 sts in middle of row and 1 st at each end of next row and every following alt row until …” still made me feel like I’d rather lie down, I chose a small bear to make where there were increases and decreases. I figured that, if I got the shaping wrong, the limbs were so short I could frog my knitting without feeling like I was also unraveling my sanity.
And there he was, a little white bear who I named Oliver Neige.
Feeling buoyed, I decided to knit a big distinguished bear with his own waistcoat, and that’s how Professor Nounours came to exist. I even bought a teddy bear growler and put it in his tummy. And you can see in black and white how I learned to shape my knitting.
Then I got fancy because I’d knitted my first pair of socks on double-pointed needles (many broken wooden needles and disasters, but I did it!). That’s when I saw the pattern for Bunny Odile. The whole idea was to knit her in the round just like a sock, but a sock with a lot of personality. No sewing up required. Needles down, bunny rabbit finished.
But could I really knit in the round while shaping a body, arms, and legs while adding ears and a tail as I went along? It turned out I could, and the instructions were so beautifully clear that each little part was a joy to knit and reveal.
Bunny Odile’s creator, Cinthia Vallet, has designed a whole world of friends to keep her company and to keep me practicing my shaping.
So, what about that sweater I worried I’d never know how to knit? I’ve now made two for myself, six for my bears and dolls, plus three doll berets, a bunny dress, and even bunny and doll socks!
Irene, an early 20th-century Alt, Beck, Gottschalk doll in a coat and beret knit from a 1960s doll clothes pattern booklet
Knitting bear-sized things and practicing my shaping skills by knitting flat and in the round on these small, joyful projects gave me much needed confidence and practice. I also got to know a lot of different yarns and how they work.
So, if you want to work on your skills, go tiny. Make yourself a bear or ten. They can sit on your table, share your breakfast, and remind you evermore of your knitting bravery!
Author in her CROWBERRY SWEATER!
Top tips and resources:
Stuff your friend with material that matches your yarn. For instance, I stuffed Professor Nounours with black tights because white fiberfill would have shown through the stitches. I learned by error because Owlbear’s white stuffing does peek through. Also, sew your friend up with the same or similar yarn as you used to make them. I used white embroidery thread to sew up Oliver Neige, and it’s too white.
For a range of difficulty from the very easy to the seriously intricate, Clare Garland can help you knit lifelike woodland animals and Peter Rabbit’s whole world.
Nicky Epstein got me knitting clothes for American Girl, Our Generation, My Life, and plenty of other 18″ vintage plastic and antique bisque dolls.
Remember Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne from the Princess Diana Sheep Sweater? They also have several beloved books on knitting your pets and farm animals.
Don’t forget MDK favorites: the trusty emotional support chicken and the magical world of mochimochi.
If you loved making Bunny Odile, you should try Mouche & Friends: Seamless Toys to Knit and Love! I have that book and have made everything but 1 animal from it. And the clothes are just as fun and cute to make! Most of my stuffies have been obsconded by my young ones so if I want to try making more “clothes” (before making human sized ones), I’ll have to make one for myself. Also Good Bear & Bunny by Susan B. Anderson are also fun & easy to make with lots of fun and interchangeable clothing.
Thanks for sharing! It’s good to know I’m not the only one who had trepidation in making human sized clothes but found making stuffed animals (and clothes for them!) a great way to learn new techniques, practice ones I already know (but in a new & sometimes ingenious ways!), gain confidence and have some instant gratification along the way!
Ooh! I love that book, too! I haven’t knitted anyone else yet, but the donkey really catches my eye! I love that you also felt like making little friends was a helpful way to gain confidence. And, as you say, the reward is so sweet! Thank you for reading.
Wow, this is so inspiring! I had fun with the Emotional Support Chicken and now I’m fired up for some clothes for Heddy Bear and some woodland creatures. Thanks, Jeni and MDK!
I loved making the ESC, too! She just wouldn’t fit into my group photo. But wow, I really worried about short-row shaping until I made her and then I wasn’t so anxious when it came up sweater patterns. Huge smiles to you!
This so made me think of my mom! She primarily crochets now (which works great for my sister and I who are Knitters to have her do our favorite crochet projects :))
She is now making precious critters to take to her local Ronald McDonald house for the children and their siblings. Each one has a name and it’s own personality which brings her joy making them and us joy seeing them. I can hear that joy in your writing.
As for me, I can’t imagine taking on such tiny stitches to learn a new technique….don’t be afraid of those sweaters….they’re just big teddy bears that don’t need stuffing!
Oooh!! I love the idea of a sweater being an unstuffed teddy bear! What a wonderful perspective. I won’t ever forget that now. Thank you very much!
I loved making Bunny Odile! It was magic to see her come to life.
Also making all the gnomes by Sarah Shira are a great way to practice all the knitty things. You don’t even have to frog if you make a mistake because gnomes love being wonky!
Oh!! I love the idea of a wonky gnome! Thank you for the encouragement!
Sorry, I spelled Sarah’s name wrong. It is Schira
A knitting friend in England knits animals for child psychologists to use with their young patients – wild animals with pockets, with missing limbs (sometimes), puppets and all sorts of shapes that are useful in psychotherapy with young patients. Does anyone know of such a program in the U.S.? I am interested in participating so please get in touch with me if you do. Thanks!
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That’s such a beautiful idea, Judy. I hope that someone who might know sends in a comment. I have made patchwork pillows that have pockets on the back and a psychologist friend of mine bought several so that her patients could put thoughts in the pocket. They also used the log cabin design to trace thoughts during the session. I always felt very honored by this use of my patchwork.
So Sweet! Boy did that bring back memories! My mom was an accomplished knitter and made little sweaters for all my dolls, even my Barbie had a hand knit cardigan. Thanks for sharing that!
Oh!! I love that your Barbie had a cardigan that your mom made. I really can’t believe that I haven’t knit anything for my Barbies yet. I really must. I went to a doll show back in March and found a hand-knit Barbie cardigan for 50 cents. My Barbie was rather excited!!
I have had the absolute pleasure of hosting Miss Odile and Stanley bear, on several occasions.
They are as delightful and as well put together as their friend Jeni Hankins.
Jeni is the kind of person who shares her creativity and passion with generosity and joy.
Loved this article.
So very kind of you, dearest friend. The animals and dolls and I LOVE going to your house!
Hello Jeni,
Super article about your progression in knitting, I enjoyed it very much.
There was some magic involved in your knitting of Bunny Odile as she quickly came to life and made friends with the wonderfully elegant Stanley Bear.
My aunt once came to visit and she said “I’ve brought a present but it’s not for you”.
“Oh?” I said.
It was a jumper for Darla, one of my older bears.
Wasn’t that the best present ever?
Love from Sheila
Oh!! I love that story, Sheila. My sister-in-law Joyce knitted a cardigan for Stanley, embroidered an “S” on the breast, and included a pocket for snacks. It is truly one of the dearest gifts that Stanley and I have ever received. So I know just how you feel!
Oliver Neige and his half glasses Love, love, love !
My husband the Englishman gets all of the credit for the glasses. He made them from some scrap!
My favorite (and easiest) stuffed animal is the Oliphaunt, a free pattern on Ravelry, an elephant you knit in a single piece (except for the ears).
Oh! Thank you, Amy!!!
You have found your groove, Jeni! Your creations are precious and ‘way fancier than Morse Code. (Which is actually pretty easy when you get down to it, too.)
That’s very kind of you, Mary Lou! I am enjoying being the knitter in residence for my dolls, bears, and bunnies. They simply bring me some yarn, needles, and a pattern and look at me with those eyes . . .
I love visiting your world of dolls and bears and other critters. I don’t know quite how to describe the feeling…like a bridge of grown up skills meeting the world of childhood love and magic, with the added benefit of bringing some it back with you. Thank you.
Thank you SO MUCH, Anita! What a beautiful way to think about my knitted bear and doll world. Hugs to you!
I am now inspired to make bears. Actually, the bunny will be first. These are so wonderful. Thanks!
That makes me so happy, Sandra. They are such rewarding little things to knit! Odile Bunny travels everywhere with us now and so many people are amazed that such a sweet friend can be made by human hands. I am excited for you to knit her, too!