Special thanks to three particular family members of the USS Alabama Blue : Shalane Itwaru of Little Darlings Photography, in Bremerton, Washington, who gifted me with the first, dazzling professional pictures of Gramminals. And to Jacquelyn Phillips , who dedicated the eleventh and twelfth days of her newborn, Jacksons , life to model for them under her watchful eye. These stunning photos inspired me to take this project seriously and, no doubt, opened many doors along the way to publishing this book.
Many thanks, also, to the good folks at Lion Brand Yarn Company for their enthusiastic encouragement: Pamela Fischbein , who was my point of contact throughout the contest; Zontee Hou , who was the first to say to me, You should write a book!, Vanna White , who has the most generous spirit and who is even sweeter and lovelier in person than she appears on TV. And most especially to Keith Bobier , my most trusted ally since day one, whose kind and thoughtful guidance, delightful sense of humor, and ber-responsiveness kept me on track from beginning to end.
Thanks to my editors at Potter Craft: Betty Wong , who convinced me that it was going to be easy to turn my designs into a book, and Caitlin Harpin , who had the difficult job of doing the real work with me.
And loving gratitude to my aunt, Edda De Martini , who taught me to knit in 1961. That same year, she became a decades-long patron of Danny Thomas St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, which, it turns out, is Vanna Whites favorite charity, too. Auntie Edda and Vanna would both want me to ask you to please use Vannas Choice yarns, as Lion Brand Yarn Company donates a portion of the purchase price of each skein you buy to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.
bear
The Bear works up so fast and easy. The only hard part is deciding what kind of bear to makea teddy bear? A black bear? A polar bear? The matching booties are very simple to make because there are no toes to work up; however, if you want a more ferocious-looking bear, consider using the booties pattern shown with the .
sizes
Newborn (Small, Medium, Large)
finished measurements
1316 (1518, 1720, 1922)" (34.540.5 [39.545.5, 44.551, 49.556]cm) maximum stretched circumference
gauge
16 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch
materials
For hat: 54 (66, 81, 95) yd (49.5 [60.5, 74, 87]m) / 1 ball Lion Brand Yarn Vannas Choice, 100% premium acrylic, 3 oz (100g), 170 yd (156m), in Honey, Black, or White (A), and 7, (7, 9, 9) yd (6.4 [6.5, 8, 8]m) in Chocolate, Honey, or White (B)
For hat and booties set: 88 (117, 152,) yd (80.5 [107, 139, ]m) / 1 ball Lion Brand Yarn Vannas Choice, 100% premium acrylic, 3 oz (100g), 170 yd (156m), in Honey, Black, or White (A), and 7, (7, 9, ) yd (6.4 [6.4, 8.2, ]m) in Chocolate, Honey, or White (B)
US size 8 (5mm) 16" (40.5cm) circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Set of 5 US size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch marker
Blunt-end yarn needle
Size F-5 (3.75mm) or G-6 (4mm) crochet hook
Styrofoam ball, 2 (2, 2, 2)" (5, [5, 6.5, 6.5]cm) in diameter
Serrated knife
Scrap of black yarn for mouth
Black plastic nose with post, 18 (18, 21, 21)mm
Side-cutting needle-nosed pliers
High-temperature (60-watt) hot-glue gun and glue sticks
Pair of doll eyes, 12 (12, 15, 15)mm
Black or brown felt for paw pads on booties and/or handsies (see )
BEAR HAT
With A, knit a .
EARS
Lay the finished hat flat. With a crochet hook and starting at the 6th (7th, 8th, 9th) stitch from the center of the top of the hat, pick up 8 (8, 10, 10) stitches along the top edge of the hat. Transfer stitches to a double-pointed needle. Turn hat over to the back side. With a crochet hook, pick up 8 (8, 10, 10) stitches directly behind the stitches on the double-pointed needle16 (16, 20, 20) stitches total.
Note: You will be working the ears on 2 needles, in the round, knitting the back stitches off the crochet hook on the 1st round (see ).
Round 1: *Ktbl; repeat to end of round.
Round 2: *K1, M1, knit to last stitch on needle, M1, k1; repeat from * for back needle20 (20, 24, 24) stitches; 10 (10, 12, 12) stitches each needle.
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: *K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1; repeat from * for back needle16 (16, 20, 20) stitches; 8 (8, 10, 10) stitches each needle.
Round 5: Knit.
Repeat rounds 4 and 5 once (once, twice, twice) more12 stitches; 6 stitches each needle.
Last round: *K1, k2tog, k2tog, k1; repeat from for back needle8 stitches; 4 stitches on each needle.
Cut yarn, leaving a tail for sewing, and thread through remaining 8 stitches with a blunt-end needle. With the tail, sew a few stitches across the opening, so the finished edge is straight.
SNOUT
With B, using double-pointed needles, and leaving a 12" (30.5cm) tail for finishing, knit cast on 30 (30, 33, 33) stitches.
Knit 1 row.
Join to work in the round as follows: K6 (6, 7, 7) on 1st needle, k18 on 2nd needle, k6 (6, 8, 8) on 3rd needle. Using 3rd needle, k6 (6, 7, 7) from 1st needle18 stitches on the front needle; 12 (12, 15, 15) stitches on the back needle.
Knit 3 (3, 5, 5) rounds.
Round 1: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end of round20 (20, 22, 22) stitches; 12 stitches on front needle and 8 (8, 10, 10) stitches on back needle.
My twelve-year-old Knit Wizard, Lamara, who is fearless about modifying my patterns (as I hope you will be, too), made a pink Care Bear from this pattern. We simply gave him a heart-shaped felt nose, felt ear inserts, and embroidered eyebrows.
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: *K2tog; repeat from * to end of round10 (10, 11, 11) stitches.
Cut yarn and thread through remaining 10 (10, 11, 11) stitches with blunt-end needle. Weave in end.
Cut the Styrofoam ball in half with a serrated knife.
Enclose Styrofoam into knit Snout, following the directions for .
FINISH BEAR HAT
Sew the Bears mouth, following the photo, beginning and ending the line of stitches where the plastic nose will be placed (see ).
With a double-pointed needle, make a hole in the center of the Snout to fit the post on the back of the plastic nose. Hot-glue the nose into and around the hole, making sure that the hot glue bonds the yarn to the back of the nose (see ).
Stretch the hat over a glass vase and hot-glue the Snout in place. Snip the posts off the eyes and hot-glue them in place.
BEAR BOOTIES (make 2)
Knit cast on 16 (20, 24) stitches onto a double-pointed needle.
