Monday, December 11, 2006

The Huggy Bear


Pattern: Baby Bobbi Bear by Blue Sky Alpacas

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton

My 2 cents: Well, it looks a lot better than I thought it would. He is pretty cute and is really, really soft. The yarn and stuffing is washable which is very important. I'm hoping that plus this being Organic Cotton and really having no small pieces to fall off and be swallowed will help get this past my scrutinizing sister and into the arms of my niece. I'm hoping she likes it, it's my understanding that she is learning to give hugs and I'm thinking our little friend here would be happy to practice with her!

As for the knitting well, I have had negative experiences with knitting toys in the past. I usually understand the instructions but get lost in the process somewhere. With Bobbi Bear there is much more knitting than seaming which was actually a welcome change from the toys I've made in the past. Here the only seaming is sewing on the ears. So less seaming meant (for me) less of a struggle at the end. But the struggle was still there nonetheless. The ears took probably 4 different tries to get them on and I got pretty frustrated trying to get the eyes and nose to look like the picture (which was the only guide I had). Unfortunately when I finished on Sunday afternoon I was swearing and ready to be done. I was happy with the end product but pretty convinced this was probably going a one time knit. But then I spent the day with him today, showing him to some people at work and my knitting group and it probably sounds corny but the more time I spend with him the more he really does grow on me. Even if the eyes were hard. He's so soft and you really don't want to put him down. I'm thinking maybe someday I'll knit him again. Maybe the second time around it would come a lot easier? But I'm not sure I really want to make him as a gift again. I just might have to make one for myself!

7 comments:

Dorothy said...

He looks adorable. Second time around is generally easier unless you are me. Sewing and embroidering always reduces me to my worst language.

Tracy said...

He was very, very hugable and looked great! I'm really thinking since I have that red Blue Sky cotton sitting in my stash anyway so I may as well put it to good use right?

lobstah said...

He is so cute :) :) :)

Jodi said...

So cute, Jana! One of the girls in my knitting group is knitting one right now, too, and I was surprised at how BIG he is. I think that makes the embroidery more difficult.

Anonymous said...

really, could he be any cuter!

Anonymous said...

Hm. I suffer from a knit-toy phobia, and this isn't the first time you've actually inspired me to give it a try. He's very squeezable-looking.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! That is just so cute. :-)