Handknitted Critters

As a knitter and handspinner who has been making a lot of bear sweaters of all sizes lately, I decided to make knitted bears that do not look like they have been knitted. It was my goal to make bears that looked like fabric bears, not like most of the knitted bears that one sees around. Each bear is knitted in pieces, then the pieces hand-sewn together, stuffed, and fully-jointed, just like their fabric brethren. It took several attempts but I was finally able to get bears that looked like fabric bears. Only by looking at their paw pads do you realize that these bears are made from hand-knitted fabric.

The following bears are my latest creations.

Tanner
Born: February 20, 2005 Tanner is a very happy bear. He's always smiling, and can stand on his own two feet! It's because of the dragonfly around his neck. He was made with Jo Sharp, Rare Comfort, a blend of 18%/5%/15% mohair/wool/polyamide (nylon). His ears, paw pads, and vest are made with 100% hand-dyed merino wool sock yarn. Tanner has glass bead eyes, and his nose and mouth are embroidered with the same wool as his ears and paw pads. He is stuffed with polyester fiberfill. Like all his bear brethren, he has fully-jointed arms, legs, and head.

Millie
Born: June 25, 2004 Millie was made from 100% Shetland wool. She stands about 6.5" high, and is fully jointed with 5 mm garnet beads for eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and mouth. Millie is also wearing a hand-strung freshwater pearl necklace with handmade sterling clasp and findings.

Buzzby
Born: June 22, 2004 Buzzby was knitted with one strand of Paton's Cha Cha and a strand of black wool sock yarn. His paw pads are knitted with orange Kool-Aid dyed aran weight wool. He is about 8.5" high, fully jointed, with German glass eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and mouth.

Bouclé Bear
Born: June 17, 2004 Bouclé Bear was knitted with one strand of mini-bouclé mohair. Bouclé's paw pads are knitted with hand-dyed aran weight wool. He is about 8" high, fully jointed, with glass eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and mouth. Bouclé's roll-brimmed hat and matching scarf were knitted with Dale of Norway Falk, 100% machine-washable wool which was hand-painted. This hat and scarf fit most 8" bears and other critters.

Pierre Bear
Born: June 6, 2004 Pierre Bear was knitted with one strand of Sirdar Snowflake Chunky and one strand of Fortissima 6-ply sock yarn as a carry-along. Pierre's paw pads are knitted with two strands of sock yarn. He is about 10" high, fully jointed, with glass eyes. His beret and matching scarf were knitted with Dale of Norway Falk, 100% machine-washable wool. This beret and scarf fit most 10" bears.

Neanderbear
Born: May 24, 2004 Neanderbear is my second bear. He, too, is a little different looking, having some resemblance to the puppet character ALF from the television show with the same name. Neanderbear is about 9" high, fully jointed, with safety eyes, and embroidered nose and mouth. He was knitted with one strand of novelty yarn and one strand of sport weight wool yarn.

Clyde
Born: May 5, 2004 Clyde is my first hand-knitted, jointed bear. He's so funky-looking, but cute. Clyde was made with one strand of novelty yarn and one strand of handspun cotswold. He has safety eyes, embroidered nose and mouth. His paw pads and matching scarf are 100% wool.

Last Updated February 24, 2005
Copyright 2004, 2005, Barbara M. Harris-Pruitt, Barbara's Handknits

Tanner Born: February 20, 2005	Tanner is a very happy bear. He's always smiling, and can stand on his own two feet! It's because of the dragonfly around his neck. He was made with Jo Sharp, Rare Comfort, a blend of 18%/5%/15% mohair/wool/polyamide (nylon). His ears, paw pads, and vest are made with 100% hand-dyed merino wool sock yarn. Tanner has glass bead eyes, and his nose and mouth are embroidered with the same wool as his ears and paw pads. He is stuffed with polyester fiberfill. Like all his bear brethren, he has fully-jointed arms, legs, and head.
Millie Born: June 25, 2004	Millie was made from 100% Shetland wool. She stands about 6.5" high, and is fully jointed with 5 mm garnet beads for eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and mouth. Millie is also wearing a hand-strung freshwater pearl necklace with handmade sterling clasp and findings.
Buzzby Born: June 22, 2004	Buzzby was knitted with one strand of Paton's Cha Cha and a strand of black wool sock yarn. His paw pads are knitted with orange Kool-Aid dyed aran weight wool. He is about 8.5" high, fully jointed, with German glass eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and mouth.
Bouclé Bear Born: June 17, 2004	Bouclé Bear was knitted with one strand of mini-bouclé mohair. Bouclé's paw pads are knitted with hand-dyed aran weight wool. He is about 8" high, fully jointed, with glass eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and mouth. Bouclé's roll-brimmed hat and matching scarf were knitted with Dale of Norway Falk, 100% machine-washable wool which was hand-painted. This hat and scarf fit most 8" bears and other critters.
Pierre Bear Born: June 6, 2004	Pierre Bear was knitted with one strand of Sirdar Snowflake Chunky and one strand of Fortissima 6-ply sock yarn as a carry-along. Pierre's paw pads are knitted with two strands of sock yarn. He is about 10" high, fully jointed, with glass eyes. His beret and matching scarf were knitted with Dale of Norway Falk, 100% machine-washable wool. This beret and scarf fit most 10" bears.
Neanderbear Born: May 24, 2004	Neanderbear is my second bear. He, too, is a little different looking, having some resemblance to the puppet character ALF from the television show with the same name. Neanderbear is about 9" high, fully jointed, with safety eyes, and embroidered nose and mouth. He was knitted with one strand of novelty yarn and one strand of sport weight wool yarn.
Clyde Born: May 5, 2004	Clyde is my first hand-knitted, jointed bear. He's so funky-looking, but cute. Clyde was made with one strand of novelty yarn and one strand of handspun cotswold. He has safety eyes, embroidered nose and mouth. His paw pads and matching scarf are 100% wool.

Teddy Bears