Classic Knitted Teddy Bear

Anyone would think I'm expecting my 5th baby or something - already 26 weeks pregnant and still not a single Post about this pregnancy on here! I'll get there, really I will, and with any luck before it makes it's appearance. 

Rest assured, all is well and my lack of updates has absolutely nothing to do with the excitement levels in the household. There are precisely 95 sleeps to go according to the daily countdown on the fridge that the Kidlets have set up. I don't have the heart to tell them it could be an additional 10-14 days since my singleton babies tend to arrive fashionably late at 42 weeks.

 Anyway, I was searching for a Teddy Bear to knit for the baby. I really wanted a classic style Bear reminiscent of the ones from my childhood rather than some of the modern tortured looking ones that look like they've been run over by a truck. 

I found this free pattern by Debbie Bliss on Ravelry. It is also available in her "Simply Baby" Book. It was fun and fairly easy - if easy means knitting the Teddy with the pattern opened up on the iPhone on the armrest and the laptop opened on ones lap with youtube tutorials for some of the abbreviations :-D.

The only variation to the pattern was that I embroidered the nose and did french knots for the eyes instead of using felt. Teddy looks like he's dined on a decadent Sunday Roast because I also ignored the "stuff lightly" instructions and opted for a full squishy belly.  I figured it would deflate from all the handling over time. 

Needless to say, the Kidlets have put in orders for me to make them things now so I may have to put off my ripple pram blanket plans until after they've all received something made by me. Don't want there to be any sibling rivalry before the baby even gets here. 

The Whippet already has his knickers in a twist so I may have to make something for him too. As soon as I finished the Teddy this afternoon, he snatched it from the chair and dashed out of the house and took off with it up the paddock. My horror turned to relief as I retrieved the Teddy fully in tact, all limbs accounted for. I was worried about my seaming but it seems to have passed the test.