the blue blog archives: a very pink bear

I've started Blue Sky Alpacas' baby Bobbi bear in their incredible dyed organic cotton. I'm using the hot, hot, hot pink color because it's what was in my stash and I kinda got a kick out of imagining this cute bear in such a shocking color. We'll see how it turns out!

The pattern is a bit wacky. It's right enough and clear enough, but you never quite seem to know where you are or what's going on. I suspect that I'm not the only one who's felt like this because the Blue Sky folks have posted some helpful pattern clarifications on their site. A few tips from knitbuddy Terri, who has made a ton of these (here's her ravelry page), helped me see what was going on. You knit the body first in the round, then divide and do some raglan shaping to make openings where the arms go, then you flip everything around and pick up stitches to make legs, then flip back, rejoin the front and back and begin the head. See why it might be confusing?!

My favorite thing is the cute little short-rowed butt. There's actually a pattern section titled "Butt". Oh, the boys would love that!

As usual with toys, none of it really looks like anything cute or cuddly right now. The stuffing and finishing touches always make the difference. Until then you just gotta wait for that toy knitting magic to happen!

posted by alison at 9:18 am | in stuffies

Comments

Your baby Bobbi is coming along nicely! I knit the full-sized pattern before the smaller version was released, and in spite of the wacky pattern directions, I was impressed by the minimal amount of seaming required at the end of all the knitting. Looking forward to seeing the finished product (and I'm sure the recipient is, too!).

Posted by: Andrea at March 11, 2008 11:39 AM

I just love the idea of a short row butt. One of my friends is expecting her first in the next month or so, and I've been tempted to make a small stuffed toy for her kidling. This is one of the patterns I've been trying to decide between.

Posted by: Seanna Lea at March 11, 2008 12:51 PM

Oh, this is one of my favorite patterns! I've made this for many a new baby, and yet I keep postponing the one I should make for my own!

Posted by: Laura at March 11, 2008 3:01 PM

I love this! I have a few baby nieces with birthdays coming up and this would be a great pattern for their gifts.

Posted by: Speattle at March 11, 2008 4:31 PM

Oh I can't wait to see it. I think it will be cute. And pink is such a great color! :)

Posted by: Tiffany at March 11, 2008 5:20 PM

I might have to make one just so I can knit a butt.

Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog) at March 11, 2008 6:55 PM

I made one of these for my niece for Christmas, and the butt was the best part--it even sticks out a bit once stuffed!

Posted by: Carolyn at March 11, 2008 11:57 PM

It looks great!

Posted by: Purl at March 12, 2008 1:05 AM

Arg that pattern! Two years and about seven different bears before I finally understood what the heck was going on. (Turns out I had to understand socks and short rows first). I still don't get why they don't start at the legs, short row the butt and then work up to the head. It's like all the parts are there, but somehow never got written up right.

Posted by: kelly at March 12, 2008 1:20 AM

Thanks Tiffany! I was hoping I could count on some pink lovers out there to back me up on my color choice! :)

Posted by: ALISON at March 12, 2008 8:30 AM