Crochet Patterns

Bear All Crochet Confessions

By editor ⋅ January 30, 2007 ⋅ Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

There’s no doubt that this crocheted teddy bear pattern has been popular ever since I posted it on the site.  I’m not the designer, but I did buy the publication copyrights from the Grandma’s Hookery site before it went offline.  A lot of people like the bear because of the crocheted outfits they can make to go along with it, including the hat, dress, underpants and shirt outfit pictured here, an exercise outfit, overalls with beret cap, and even a teddy bear graduation gown and cap.

However, I think its only to fair to share with you the story of Mr. Stitches, a crocheted teddy bear that began life after a reader followed the original crocheted teddy bear pattern. 

Mr. Stitches seems to have taken on a life of his own, and you can read all about it in her blog, “I Made a Bear!” 

Now, you have to admit, Mr. Stitches is a sweetheart - but he doesn’t look much like our original model teddy bear.  Aunt B., who made the bear, makes some telling remarks about the size of the arms and legs - because there’s no doubt there’s a wee discrepancy there between the original bear and Mr. Stitches.  Also, as you can see, Mr. Stitches seems to have developed his own idea about what constitutes a good look backwards.

Aunt B. is busy working on this pattern again, this time making a bear already dubbed “Libeartarian.”  She kindly gave me permission to share the link to her blog and her photos of Mr. Stitches with you.  Although Aunt B. didn’t end up with the teddy bear that she thought she was making, I do think Mr. Stitches has won her heart.  At least enough for her to try the same pattern again.  She was generous enough to admit, ” I still think it’s a good pattern ….because even if you do screw up, you still end up with something cute as all get out.”

Personally, I think it has something to do with teddy bears per se.  You could mass produce a teddy bear and sell it across the nation in Walmart - but I still believe that if someone did a follow-up, say six months after purchase, each bear would display a distinct personality and a certain je ne sais quoi.  Can we say less about a teddy bear created individually, stitch by stitch?

If anyone has their own version of Mr. Stitches, I’d love to share the photos and the stories.  Who knows?  Maybe one among the masses will be a Winnie the Pooh in the making. Or maybe all of them already are.