How to Knit a Bear
Learn how to knit a bear for the Red Cross
You might want to learn how to knit a bear, if you knit for charity. The Red Cross and other charity organizations use tiny knitted bears as 'comfort' toys for small children in disaster-relief areas, war-torn countries, etc. Learn how to knit a bear, and you will never know what you've done for children all over the world!
HOW TO KNIT A BEAR IN GARTER STITCH
Using dark brown 8-ply acrylic yarn and 3.25 mm needles, cast on 40 stitches, and knit for 32 rows. Put a stitch marker in the middle of the last row (to show where the neck will go) and then knit 34 more rows. Place another stitch marker at the end of the last row (this marks where the legs start).
In the next row, knit 20, turn and knit another 39 rows on those 20 stitches, and cast off.
With right side facing, rejoin the yarn to the other 20sts and knit 40 rows. Cast off. Make two arms by casting on 20 stitches and knitting 40 rows each before casting off.
To make up: Fold the 'body' in half. Sew the back seam from the cast-on edge to where you placed a marker for the legs. Refold the body so that the seam you just sewed runs down the centre back, then sew the inside leg and foot seams.
Stuff the teddy bear lightly and sew the top of the head closed, sewing across the corners so that the corner points form ears. Gather around the neck on the row where you placed the neck marker.
Fold the arm pieces in half and sew the side and one end closed. Stuff very lightly, sew the remaining side closed and sew the arm to the body, just below the neck. Put a ribbon around the neck, and embroider the face if you want.
HOW TO KNIT A BEAR FOR "TEDDIES FOR TRAGEDIES"
"Teddies for Tragedies" started in 1985 when a group of volunteer knitters sent a batch of teddy bears to some orphaned, Sudanese refugees, who also had TB. Since then Teddies for Tragedies has supplied teddy bears to stressed-out children the world over. You can use any pattern for TT, but they recommend using bright colors, and varying them.
Do a search online to find out where to send your knitted bears!