The Travelling Ted

Hi there!

So far I haven't kept to my previous resolutions that I would update my blog more. But things have been so busy and I have been drowning under one project which has taken up all my spare time but more on that later. This is a happy project. The story of a Travelling Ted. 

A few months ago I continued my love of knitted toys, this one in particular was a very species teddy as it was for my cousin's new beautiful baby boy. My family is a very modern family and members of my family live all over the world. So when I heard that my cousin and his fiancée in America were having a baby,

I wanted to make something for him that he could keep and would be a little different. I thought a very English looking teddy bear would be perfect
.

I have made other Laura Long patterns for knitted animals in the past as the always look so cute and and child friendly.
I made one of the three bears from her book "Knitted Toy Tales"

I bought the wool from a new wool shop in Manchester called Purl City Yarns. I'm always looking for new shops everywhere I go and this one is a really lovely little shop with a great selection of wool and really helpful staff. they do all sorts of classes and I am hoping to join their sock making class but the places book up really quick! They also explained the true meaning of DK to me and explained that when making a toy DK would be the best. I always like to learn something new from other knitters. 
I chose a soft baby Italian wool in a pale brown caramel colour. Its a really lovely creamy brown colour and is easy to knit with.

The pattern itself was really easy and really rewarding as it can be knitted very quickly and I really enjoyed making it. I made it on my favourite 4mm needles and instead of using buttons I stitched the eyes on using a thin black yarn. I added little extras with a cute belly button and stitched some claws on all of the paws.

The thing I like about the bear is the face, you knit the nose separately and then attach it to the head which gives the bear a really attractive face and I think it is a better bear than some of the other patterns I have seen as it is has a more traditional quality. To finish the bear I made a red and white scarf to add to the 'English' bear idea. The scarf is made in garter stitch and is the smallest scarf I have ever made with tassled edges because ever since I made tassles for the Rug I made I do so enjoy adding them where I can.

The bear is a travelling bear as he was packed up into a shoebox and posted all the way to California. I tracked his progress as he travelled and put through customs. I have since heard that he got to his destination unscathed and is a loved addition to a home which I think is every knitters dream that what they make is appreciated especially by a child. I still have my handmade toys from my grandparents and other relatives, so I hope the Travelling Ted will be around to watch my cousin's beautiful boy grow up.

He was finished for a long time and was sat in my house and I do miss the teddy. I will definitely make more in the future and would recommend the pattern. The Ted made it to America before I did as I am still yet to visit the sunshine of California.

Lots of love

Bomo Knitting