THE HISTORY OF CROCHETED TEDDY BEARS

The teddy bear is one of the most simple and endearing of all toys, and can be made with almost every needlework and craft technique. Visit any country decorating shop or craft fair and you are bound to see bears – there are bears in wood, clay, and every imaginable cloth from velveteen and silk to old denim. Cute bears, baby bears, happy bears, and serious bears abound, and can be used in any version of country to Victorian decorating. You will see them plain or dressed, in every type of clothing imaginable from denim overalls and aprons to fancy period clothing, including top hats and tails.

Those lovable little creatures received their name from an event that occurred in the fall of 1902. At that time, Theodore Roosevelt was president and his presidential hunting party took a hunting trip to Mississippi. The Washington Post reported that several members of the hunting party lassoed a lean, young black bear and tied it to a tree. The president was summoned, but he refused to shoot the exhausted and frightened bear. He declared that this would be unsportsmanlike and ordered the bear to be released.

The next day, November 2, The Washington Post featured a front-page cartoon showing Roosevelt refusing to shoot the bear. The cartoon showed the president with his back to the animal and his gun before him with its butt resting on the ground. Roosevelt, with an outstretched palm facing the animal, gestured his refusal to shoot. Soon after that a lady made two toy bears for display in her husband’s store window. The bears were made of plush fabric, stuffed with excelsior and finished with shiny black shoe-button eyes. The toys drew immediate attention. The shop owner soon recognized the potential popularity of the new toy, and requested and received permission to sell them as “Teddy Bears.”

The bears were a hit. The shop owner expanded his business and renamed it the Ideal Toy and Novelty Company. This company still exists today under the name of Ideal Toy Corporation.

At the same time, teddy bears were becoming popular in the United States, the Steiff Company of Giengen, Germany, produced its first jointed, stuffed bears. Doll and toy maker, Margarete Steiff’s charming stuffed animal had delighted children and adults for several years, and at the 1903 Leipzig Fair, she introduced the first bears. An American toy buyer saw them and immediately ordered several thousand for shipment to the United States.

Steiff bears remain one of the most highly valued items to toy and doll collectors around the world.

The immediate and widespread appeal of bears in 1902-1903 has never diminished. Everyone loves a teddy bear, and creating a teddy bear is one of the most rewarding experiences in needlework and crafts. It is wonderful to see the bear’s personality take shape, especially as you form the facial features and add clothing details.

If you need a simple easy crochet pattern for a teddy bear, go to www.google.com. In the information box, enter "crochet teddy bear patterns." Then several websites will come up for you to choose from and then you need to click on a website you want to look over and purchase a pattern. Matter of fact, you can check on one or all of the sites that come up. You can also go to a shop where crochet supplies are sold and you will find many crochet pattern books to check for the exact teddy bear pattern you want. Beyond the basic pattern, you can add details to suit your bear’s personality – frills, ruffles, crocheted collar, and bows for a sweet little girl’s teddy bear, or a handsome plaid bow tie and perhaps a cap for a sweet little boy’s teddy bear.

Have fun making a Teddy Bear for someone special…

DOLL COLLECTING

Although doll collecting as a hobby began around the seventeenth century, it did not become popular in this country until the 1930’s. While little information is available regarding early crocheted dolls, we can be sure that future doll collectors will be fascinated by the examples of what people have already collected. Designers have developed many doll designs in the past 40 to 50 years using the unique qualities of crochet to mold and shape bodies, facial features and even hair.

If you wish to make a crocheted doll, there are a few techniques which can be used to help you make your doll more beautiful and long lasting. When making dolls, soft toys or other stuffed items, it is especially important to choose the hook size and yarn or thread carefully. If the hook size is too large and the doll is crocheted loosely, holes will appear in the finished doll and the stuffing can show or protrude. It is important that you make a gauge to determine the size of hook you will need to use. To determine your gauge, work a 4 x 4-inch swatch, using the size of hook and yarn or thread recommended. Place the swatch flat, without stretching. With a ruler, measure the number of stitches and rows per inch. This gives you an exact gauge. Since we all crochet differently, our gauges may not be the same. Remember that the hook size called for in a pattern is simply a recommended size to use as a guideline. If your gauge swatch has more stitches or rows per inch than the pattern gauge you will need to go to a larger hook size. If you have fewer stitches per inch, you will need to go to a smaller hook size. You can depend on your item to work up to the finished size stated in your simple easy crochet pattern if your gauge is accurate.

Except for small quick-and-easy projects (or something where the finished size doesn’t matter), a few minutes spent making a gauge swatch can save hours of ripping out and frustration.

Sometimes you will come across simple easy crochet patterns that don’t list the gauge. When this happens, just measure the item when you have finished it and note the gauge and hook size you used on the pattern for the next time.

It is almost inevitable that some stuffing will show through the stitches, especially if the pattern involves a large amount of increasing and decreasing. The most attractive crocheted dolls are made with white or light-colored yarn or thread, through which stuffing is not quite as noticeable.

When making tube-like doll parts such as arms and legs, you may find it helpful to stuff as you crochet. Stuff every inch for tiny dolls, and every three inches for larger dolls crocheted with worsted-weight yarn. Some designers use a manicure stick, pencil, or other similar object to guide stuffing into small areas. When stuffing larger areas, a smooth look can be achieved by stuffing with small puffs of polyester stuffing. Be careful to stuff evenly, and as a rule, stuff lightly rather than firmly. Smooth the outside of the doll body as you stuff.

Crocheted dolls often attract dust. To keep your doll clean, shake her lightly and give her a frequent dusting with a clean feather duster that is used only for crocheted items. Dolls crocheted with yarn can be hand-washed carefully.

With a little care, your crocheted dolls can give you and your heirs many years of enjoyment.

Make a memory…

CROCHETED BRIDE DOLL GOWN

What could be more romantic than a bride and bridegroom exchanging wedding vows? Each of us has a treasured memory of someone’s wedding, whether it is our own or that of a friend or relative. But have you ever considered why we use the words we do to describe the event?

Take the word 'bridal', for example. Did you know that it comes from combining two words: 'bride' and 'ale'. Early English churches brewed special ales, called Easter-ale and Whitsun-ale, to be served and sold to raise money for the church at Easter and Pentecost celebrations.

The success of their fund-raising caused the practice to grow to include other feasts and occasions, adding Church-ale, bride-ale, midsummer-ale, etc. Although the practice was discontinued in 1603, the word for the bride’s toast traditionally drunk at the time lived on in the modern word 'bridal', a word which has come to describe the nuptials.

Be careful not to insult the bridegroom by calling him the groom. The bride’s new husband was called the 'brydguma', meaning 'bride’s man', in Old English. But at some point in the sixteenth century, when spelling was haphazard to say the least, the Middle English 'bridegome' became bridegroom, making the 'bride’s man' into the 'bride’s man-servant'.

We may laugh, but we must also recognize that we are no more accurate than those sixteenth-century spellers, if we call the 'bridegroom' the 'groom'. By doing so, we demote him to the stable or barn, as the 'horse keeper'.

When we consider the word 'wedding', we have to wonder if our English ancestors had a jaundiced view of matrimony as a gamble. The word 'wed' originally was used to mean 'to wager' or 'to bet'. In Old English time, a man would 'weddian' his money on a horse race and would 'weddian' a woman “for fairer, for fouler” in the matrimonial ceremony.

If he put an item in 'wed', he pawned it. The word evolved in Middle English to mean a 'pledge'. The bride’s wedding ring is thus a pledge of the man’s fidelity.

Bates Crochet Hook Set Smartglo Pack G-K Multipack sets of crochet hooks come in metal or plastic and in a variety of different sizes. These sets give you a variety of options. Smartglo Pack G-K- Made from lightweight plastic that glows in the dark. You will be able to see your stitches in dimly lit places like movie theaters and cars. No batteries required, they are easily recharged in natural or artificial light in just minutes. This set includes US G-6, H-8, I-9, J-10 and K-10.5.

As for 'romance', it comes from the word 'Roma', the capital city of the Roman Empire. A 'romance' was a song or story told in the common language of the people of the time. These oral songs and stories were often set in verse and frequently told of a hero and his fair maiden. Through time the poetry was lost, but the stories survive in the romances of modern prose form.

As you crochet a winsome bride doll gown, or sit waiting for the bride to start down the aisle with her father at the next wedding you attend, think about the words you will use to describe the occasion. Indeed, those words may have a romance of their own. One source for a Bride Doll Gown pattern can be ordered from www.anniesattic.com.

Have fun crocheting a beautiful Gown for a Bride Doll from a Crochet Pattern.

AFGHANS THEN AND NOW

Afghans are a hands-down favorite of crocheters everywhere. We Americans especially love these cozy throws, and make them one after the other in every yarn and color imaginable since the days of the revolution. Did you ever wonder how the term “afghan” originated?

Early American pioneer women made thrifty use of every little bit of scrap cloth, which they carefully collected and incorporated into quilts. They also knitted socks and sweaters, and saved yarn remnants for crocheting. They made small squares called Granny Squares, probably because Granny did much of the work! When enough squares were finished, they were assembled into bedspreads, shawls, lap and leg coverings, or throws for the family rocking chairs. Each creation was bright and cozy, with a useful as well as decorative purpose, just as our afghans of today.

The original Granny Square blankets were fashioned out of many colors, they resembled the colorful rugs imported by Colonial sailing ships from Afghanistan, hence the name “afghan.” Though modern-day crocheters still enjoy making afghans from scrap yarn, they most often delight in blending color and design to add a personal touch to the home's décor with afghans.

If you would like to create a one-of-a-kind afghan to accent your home or to give as a gift, it would be a good idea to search through a few books of simple easy crochet patterns. With the pattern chosen, then choose your design carefully, considering the number of colors you would like to use, how and where the afghan will be used, and how quickly you want to complete the afghan. There are some simple easy crochet patterns that could be made in a weekend. That would take some dedication of your time to complete an afghan in a weekend, depending on the size. Most patterns for baby throws and afghans could easily be made in a weekend. After the design is selected, choose colors carefully even if you are making a scrap afghan. For example, a scrap afghan can be made from all pastels or all bright colors. Brilliant colors can be contrasting or blended and soft colors graduated or variegated.

Adults and children, a like, that were crocheting in the 1990’s were very fortunate, with a profusion of yarn to choose from for their needlework, and the luxury of crocheting for pleasure rather than necessity.

Keep on enjoying your crochet projects…

BLOCK IT BEAUTIFULLY

Finally, that gorgeous, challenging sweater you have crocheted so patiently is complete! All that is left to be done before the compliments start rolling in is to block your wonderful creation. Blocking is a process that shapes and sets a crocheted item, and it smooths the stitches to give your work a finished, professional appearance. There are several different blocking methods, so choose the one that’s appropriate for the yarn used in your project. Perhaps you are a beginner and learning to crochet so it is best to choose a simple easy crochet pattern.

Before blocking, check your yarn label for any special instructions. If specific blocking directions aren’t given, look at the care instructions listed for the yarn. Some natural fiber yarns such as wool, linen, or cotton respond well to steam blocking, but yarns such as mohair and angora should never come in contact with heat or steam. Many acrylics and some blends shouldn’t be blocked at all, especially with hot steam – they might melt! Oh my, we’d never want that to happen! If you have any doubt about how a particular yarn will respond to blocking, try blocking your gauge swatch first.

In addition to rust-proof pins and plenty of fluffy towels, you will need a flat surface for blocking that is large enough to accommodate your garment when it is all spread out. You can place a folded blanket on a table and cover it with a sheet, or you can simply use a bed or carpeted floor covered with towels. Just be sure to first put down a layer of plastic trash bags to protect the surface from moisture. If you prefer, you can purchase a blocking board, a padded board made especially for this purpose, or you can make one of your own.

To make a blocking board, you will need a piece of plywood, polyester quilt batting, terry cloth, gingham fabric with 1-inch checks (this makes measuring a breeze), and a staple gun. Cover the plywood with layers of batting until the batting is 1 to 1½-inch thick. Top the batting with a piece of terry cloth and then a piece of gingham fabric, wrapping both over the edges and stapling in place on the back of the board. Even afghans, especially ones with elaborate edges, will lay smoother and flatter if you block them first.

There are four ways to do blocking; with the first one being “cold blocking.” Fragile acrylics that are suitable for blocking can be taken care of in a snap. Simply use rust-proof straight pins to shape your item to the correct size on a flat surface, and cover the item with dampened bath towels. When the towels are dry, the item is blocked.

Another way to do blocking is “wet blocking.” Wet blocking is ideal for thread articles such as doilies, coasters, place mats, etc. Not only does this give your project a smooth, finished appearance, but the laundering removes any traces of oil or dirt left by your hands on the item. If your project is hand washable, carefully launder it using a mild laundry soap or detergent. Rinse the item without wringing or twisting, several times in cool water, then remove any excess moisture by rolling it in a succession of dry terry towels. If you prefer, put your project in the final spin cycle of the washer, but don’t use water or heat. Lay the item on a flat surface, then gently smooth and pat it to the desired size and shape, comparing the measurements to your simple easy crochet pattern instructions as necessary. Always use rust-proof straight pins to hold your project in place. When the item is completely dry, it is blocked.




Steaming is a great method of blocking many crocheted items, especially those made with wool or wool blends. Just be extra cautious not to use steam on any yarn that might be damaged by heat. Turn your project wrong side out and use rust-proof straight pins to shape it to the correct size on a flat surface. Hold a steam iron or steamer just above the item and steam it thoroughly. Never let the iron or steamer actually touch your crocheted article – this will flatten the stitches and possibly scorch the yarn. Leave the garment pinned in place until it is completely dry.

If you are making a garment to wear and if it is made in pieces, you may wish to block the individual pieces of the garment before putting them together. Adjusting pieces to the right size and shape is much simpler than trying to adjust a completed garment, and blocking the pieces can actually make assembly easier.

Love your beautifully blocked garment...

KEEPING A CROCHET JOURNAL

Do you ever wish you could remember every single item you have ever crocheted? That you could remember what you crocheted for your Aunt Mary three years ago; for that matter, do you remember what you even crocheted one year ago? Or that you knew for certain which instructions you followed to make the doily that’s on your dining room table? To help jog your memory, you can do what many crocheters have done for years – keep a journal or memory book of the projects you have created be it from a simple easy crochet pattern or from patterns for the experienced crochet person.

In this blog, I will try to help you undertake this easy and satisfying project by giving you some instructions and ideas on how to make a journal memory book. I think it would be great to have a camera so you could take picture(s) of your finished project(s). I wish I would have done this as I have no idea how many articles I have made over the past 40 years, and how many I have given away for gifts. For people who do not crochet, they really appreciate a handmade crocheted gift. This is so true when you receive a gift that is made from the heart.

Some other items to have on hand to work with in making your journal would be a sturdy 3-ring binder. Binders come in sizes that range from 1/2-inch to 3 inches in thickness, so choose the size that reflects the amount of crocheting you do! Three-ring photo albums are great alternatives since they come in so many beautiful colors and fabric choices. By now, if I had made a journal, I probably would have filled 2 or more large binders.

Next, purchase some plastic protective sleeves. The 8½ x 11-inch clear plastic sleeves already has holes punched on one edge and an opening on one edge so that you can slip a sheet of paper into it. They are available at office supply stores and department stores that sell school supplies, etc., and you can use them in your binder to store yarn labels, snips of yarn, a copy of the pattern, or other helpful information about the project.

If you are just beginning to learn how to crochet, you may want to choose a simple easy crochet pattern for your first project. Take a picture and make it a part of your journal. At the end of one year, you will see a noticeable difference in the advancement of your crocheting abilities.

You may wish to have a hole punch and a tube of rubber cement for securing photos to your pages that will be inserted in the plastic sleeve. If you are a person who does scrapbooking, you could decorate your pages of the journal along with the photos. For me, I would use a light-weight card stock paper for gluing the photos onto. When the glue is dry, you will want to insert the photo page into the protective sleeves to keep it clean and dust-free.


While working in your crochet journal, keep in mind that you are keeping a history, and you will want to be able to understand your musings even many years from now. Be thorough and detailed when filling in your information. Make note of any instructions you would enjoy doing again. Conversely, if you didn’t like working a particular pattern, note that too. And be sure to date your page.

Washing care information is extremely important, not only for yourself, but if you give your crocheted article as a gift. The recipient of your beautiful crochet article will appreciate knowing that she can call on you in the future if she is unsure to know to take care of her new treasure. Many times on the yarn wrapper, inside or on the outside, there are special care instructions. I often times have included one of the wrappers with the gift so that the recipient will know what to do to care for it properly.

In your journal, don’t forget to make it personal. Record as to why you made a particular piece for a particular person, what was going on in your life when you were making a project, or whether or not you were pleased with the outcome of the project – whatever is important for you to remember is worth writing down.

Use a plastic sleeve as a catch-all for other things you would like to keep handy while working on your crocheted article – yarn labels, swatches of yarn, small clipping scissors, and even the project instructions themselves, if they will fit.

Be happy while making memories…

CROCHET CLUTTER

Do you ever feel like you are about to be swallowed up with all your crochet stuff? Yarn here, hooks there, and simple easy crochet patterns elsewhere. Here are some tips on getting your home crochet clutter-free.

First, it is important to get all your crochet supplies organized, and then it will make your life so much easier. It will help you find the yarn and supplies you need quickly, make your home neater and even save you money. How is it going to save me money, you ask. Depends on how many times you say to yourself, “I know I have a ball of blue yarn around here somewhere… Oh, well, I’ll pick up another one on my next shopping trip.”

Getting organized can also help your life run smoother especially if you have a husband who doesn’t appreciate finding yarn in the trunk of the car. Confiscating his new fishing tackle box to store your hooks, needles and row markers may not make him happy either – get one of your own. Just make sure it is not bigger or fancier than his, or he is likely to try to con you out of yours.

If your craft supplies are invading every room of your house, set aside a day to make a big mess and get all of your supplies together in one room. As you are organizing, bite the bullet and throw away or give away those half-finished or barely-begun projects you had going since whenever. There are many senior adults who would love to have some handiwork to do but can’t afford to purchase the supplies. You’ll feel much better, and you will have so much more space once they are out of the way.

Assemble some new storage containers for reorganizing your stash – these can be purchased or can be things you already have around the house. Some suggestions would be to use shopping bags with handles hung on hangers, plastic zippered blanket bags, old suitcases, shoe boxes and baby wipe containers. You will find these items all work well.

And after you are finished with your organizing project, then it is time to go shopping. For more yarn, of course!

Happy organizing…