Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Little Bear Hugs

by

craftbits dot come icicle bear

 

Mohair Bear Pattern  

Isn’t this about the cutest bear you’ve ever seen? I LOVE it! I’m not a huge fan of stuffed animals or dolls, but every now and then I see one that just SPEAKS to me! This is one like that. I gotta’ make it. Wonder who I’ll give it to?………Maybe I’ll keep it for me.

So, how much of our crochet work do we keep for ourselves? I have discovered that I keep very little of what I crochet. Ok, I know going in that I’ll make a baby afghan for every mom-to-be I know – and for some grandmoms-to-be, too. Baby afghans fall into that category of (almost) instant gratification that I appreciate so much. Also, I feel like I can experiment more with stitches in a baby afghan since I won’t have to use the same stitch for weeks and weeks as I would when making a larger, ‘adult’ afghan.

My husband asked me several years ago to stockpile 9 baby afghans. Why? He was afraid that my crochet would go the way of my quilting. That I would lose interest and go on to other things. No Way! But, I am generally trying to comply with that request. So, every time I make a ‘generic’ babyghan, I go into the covered tub that contains my stockpiled babyghans, I decide which to keep and which to give away. I keep the ‘best’ for our future grandchildren. Who knows when they’ll arrive – if ever! LOL. Our eldest child is 28, just out of law school. The others are 22 and 21 – older one just out of college with his B.A. and his sister still having another year of college to go (before law school, she insists). So, none of them seems to be on the ‘family track’ anytime soon. That’s okay – but I’m likely to be 80 years old before we get a grandchild!

So, every time I see a cute babyghan pattern, I buy the yarn to make it. Sometimes, I follow thru. Other times, it just goes into my stash. I think I have 7 babyghans on hand. So, I’m somewhat prepared!

Back to the teddy bear. There are lots of stuffed animal and teddy bear patterns available online. This is my favorite – but there are plenty of others (not even counting the numerous Amigurumi):

Crochet Teddy Bear – several good ones here

 

Hope you enjoy making some of these. These are just a FEW of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of free patterns online.

 

Comments

  1. too adoreable, i love crafting toys in all manner of media. So far i’ve knittes rag dolls, a geisha doll, teddy bears, clowns, crocheted bears, balls, etc. I also have hand sewn many toys. I just loved your little bear. Happy crafting!

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.