17.12.15

The Teddy Bear of Doom


How can something so innocent looking cause so many headaches? And yet it did. Back in the spring, I decided to have a bash at making a needle felted teddy bear. Not my usual thing, but I wanted to see if I could. And it took months. Months of picking it up, putting it down, leaving it for weeks at a time and almost giving up. Bits were cut off, bits were stuck back on. It became known as 'The Teddy Bear of Doom'. But I persevered and eventually finished the darned thing. Then came the knitting.


I rarely knit. But I wanted to make a little vest for him. By now it was a 'him'. I used four needles, as I'm more comfortable with four (like socks, which I haven't made for 25 years). Bought a gorgeous ball of soft aqua wool. Cast on, using my own apparent common sense.


How hard could it be to knit a little vest, freehand? All weekend difficult, that's how much. I discarded my first attempt and began another.


So small. So fiddly. So infuriating. It wasn't going to beat me.


After many, many knitting hours, I had finished. Only to discover the big, glaring design flaw. I hadn't thought about the head opening. So it sat on his head like a mushroom cap. At which point, I gave up.


So I did what I should have done in the first place and needle felted him a vest. Took a couple of hours. Not a couple of days.


Then he was thread jointed.


 And so his head, arms and legs swivelled, like a proper teddy bear.




He is one of the largest things I've made, and sits snugly in the hand. I guestimated he took over 50 hours, but that was with a lot of tinkering and remaking. 


And he was, in the end, worthy of his own special tag - named after a tiny village in Shropshire, not a million miles away from where I live. 


The essential problem with him was that he was bigger than my natural making scale. I remembered an early  project from long ago, when I was commissioned to make a monkey. I had to abandon my first gigantic attempt, but the second, smaller one was just right. I blogged my shame and called it 'A Tale of Two Monkeys'

But recently, I got the urge to start another jointed figure. This time, non-teddy bear (not really 'me'), but a small fox. And this one is going exactly to plan. So far. 


12 comments:

Lilbitbrit said...

I love the bear.

BumbleVee said...

ahhahahhaha.... oh, Gretel ..... you are too funny! Love the story of the poor little guy.. and, the mushroom hat/vest is hilarious! I know it wasn't at the time, but, look at the mileage you'll get from this... I can't stop giggling.

Leave the little bears to me.. ('little' being my key word here.. as you know how small mine are!!) ...if I ever do make another one... and, carry on with foxes, hares and other wonderful creatures....

okay, if a vest won't cut it... how 'bout a cardi?... with tiny buttons... or, cut out a bit of a sock and make your own stretchy vest or sweater instead of knitting something...

anyway.... after all of that ...he is great!! ...

Mac n' Janet said...

He's so sweet! I have a half-hearted needle felted fox I've tried to make for a year. Maybe he/it will be done some day.

Lin said...

I like BumbleVee's idea of a cardigan...or a re-purposed sock. Either way...he is adorable and totally worth the work. Of course I can say that...it wasn't me doing the work!

merry Christmas, Gretel!

Caroline B said...

He was worth the effort! Little tip if you ever decide to knit a jumper for one of your creations again, leave a seam open down the back of it for either buttons or sewing shut when it's on. And don't ever attempt trousers, take it from me!

Vintage Jane said...

He looks just perfect! M x

Celia Hart said...

The teddy bear of doom made me laugh! Teddy bears may not be your thing but that fox is going to be perfect!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas
xx

Jess said...

It looks perfect on him, well done! xx

Su said...

He is gorgeous - definitely not gloom like now he's finished :-)

rossichka said...

Oh, he is so sweet! I suspect this little fellow just wanted to be as long as possible with you!:D His photo with the "hat" made me laugh... Your efforts didn't lead to the result you wanted, but it's O.K. There's so much to remember now...:)
Dear Gretel, I wish you Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year with many happy "felting" moments!xx

the woolly dog said...

He's stunning and well worth all the hard work! Hoping you have a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. xxx

Jee said...

He's lovely. We have friends who farm near Berrington. It's a beautiful area. Hope you have a lovely day and a good New Year.