(Not Quite Pooh) Bear

I'm currently in the UK taking care of visa business and spending time with my family, this after a week of my parents visiting me in New York for my PhD graduation, so there really hasn't been much crafting happening in the last few months. However, I did finish one sweet little project for my now 18 month old nephew just in time for his naming ceremony!

When my nephew first set eyes on him he immediately exclaimed "Pooh Bear!" and gleefully shoved the bear's snoot into his mouth. I think he likes it.

To make this bear I used a fairly old pattern from a 2007 Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts magazine (Classic Teddy Bear - Ravelry) and the very last of a skein of Mirasol Miski Llama (previously used for a cowl, a bunny and a bonnet). The pattern is annoying and I wouldn't recommend knitting as written. If I remember right the increases all happen on the last stitch instead of one stitch from the edge and there are about a gazillion pieces all to be knit flat and them seamed. I think I forgot a piece on the feet but after knitting and blocking each of the twelve million other individual pieces, I kind of gave up.

This is the first time I've made a hinged toy and I might have squeezed the safety doodads one notch too tight for the limbs to move freely, but that does mean they aren't coming off any time soon. The eyes are also safety, while the nose and mouth were embroidered using a scrap of brown Noro.

Hopefully he'll last through a few good chewings while my nephew is still so tiny!