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Bear for a friend's baby

Bear for a friend's baby

Cuddly Critters

March 30, 2018

This past year some friends had their third baby boy. I figured they didn't need another hat from me, especially since they live in Southern California. This seemed like the perfect time to try making my first stuffed critter. I had purchased an adorable stuffed bear pattern by Ysolda named Otto.

Stuffing the head

Stuffing the head

I got off to a slow start getting the right needle size so that the knitting was tight enough so the stuffing wouldn't poke through, yet large enough so that I could actually knit with the not-at-all-stretchy cotton yarn.

Making that cute face

Making that cute face

I got past that hurdle then another arose: my husband was going to fly down to SoCal for work, and I thought it would be so nice for him to be able to hand deliver the bear instead of mailing it. (I know, a relatively trivial, self-imposed deadline, but my mind was set on it.) I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the whole bear and was getting a little disappointed when my 8 year old came to me rescue; "Just make the head. Babies focus on the face anyway", he said. I'm so thankful for my in-house creative consultant! 

"Sir Smalley": Bear for my second son

"Sir Smalley": Bear for my second son

When my four year old saw the finished bear, he immediately snuggled it and asked, "Is this for me?!" When I told him it was for a friend, he was quite distraught. I promised him I'd make him one for Christmas.

Hedgehog belly and face

Hedgehog belly and face

Then I found out a dear friend was having a baby girl. This Purl Soho hedgehog pattern seemed too cute to pass up. (and it's free, yay!)

Working on the back

Working on the back

He was a pretty quick knit, and completely adorable. The only hiccup here was that I was so excited to charge ahead that I forgot to change to a larger needle size for the back, so he ended up a little squatty and round, but still wonderfully squeezable.

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Again my little guys loved him and wanted to keep him!

"Spiky": Hedgehog for my third son

"Spiky": Hedgehog for my third son

A hedgehog seemed like the perfect Christmas critter for my 2 year old. 

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My 8 year old designed his own Christmas critter. Totally adorable and fitting for his personality. This one is still in process due to me making a Very Hungry Caterpillar outfit for that dear friend's baby girl who was born in February (you gotta have that kind of thing for when the baby's tiny); and a recent "change order" on the eye stalks, which I completely agreed with. I'm thankful that he is such an understanding and patient guy. Again he's a very helpful consultant helping me figure out the proper dimensions.

Completed body and tail

Completed body and tail

Picked up stitches for the first arm

Picked up stitches for the first arm

At this point I'm so close to being done, but sometimes finishing a project can take forever. Especially if there's another change order. Ha!

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