20 to Knit: Knitted Bears

Who is ready for a teddy bears' picnic? Dress your teddies in style. Knitting patterns for twenty bears. These small bears are quick to knit and lots of fun.-KarenPlatt.co.uk Bear fans rejoice! With this little book you'll learn how to create a simple bear to then dress up in a range of charming and comical outfits, handknitted by you. Each bear measures 20cm or 8 inches high and is easy enough even for novice knitters to complete. The outfits are what really give the bears their character, and our favourites are Hector Hiking Bear, complete with boots and a rucksack, and Grace Bride Bear, dressed up in a white gown. These bears make great gifts for adults and children, and the book will make a lovely gift for someone who wants to try knitting bears for the first time.-Knit Today Here is another book that shows you what to do with all that leftover double knitting wool you have in your bag. You will probably need to buy a ball or two for the bears, although at 8" high the leftover yarn might do for this as well. There is a basic pattern for a bear at the start of this book, together with basic patterns for trousers, dress and shoes. But there are also twenty different ways to make up your bear in a different style, together with instructions on how to turn it into a panda and lots of other colored bears. My favorite aspect of this (apart from the opportunities for fund raising and recycling) has to be the imagination involved in dreaming up the different looks. There is a Christmas bear, baby bear, bride and groom, panda and girl teddy in a pretty dress or two, but then there is also a bear in Hallowe'en garb (dressed as a pumpkin), fancy dress, teddy as a strawberry, a bee and a ladybird as well as a footballer, ballerina, along with various male attires. This is more a book for the intermediate knitter, as there is a certain amount of knitting know-how needed to make the bears look their best. Not all the bears seem to have exactly the same proportions, so some tweaks to the basic pattern are sometimes necessary. This will give you the experience to create yet more bears; one for everybody you know!-Myshelf.com Brits certainly love their teddy bears, and you will too when you see this book - especially if you are a fan of the garter stitch. Designer Val Pierce has created a lovely pattern for the main 8" bear, knittable in the colour of your choice - endless possibilities - and then the costuming begins! There are twenty little bears, ranging from bumblebee, strawberry, bride and groom, hiking, ladybird, and even a knitting bear. Each project takes small amounts of yarn, so it's the perfect title for the de-stashing of your yarn treasure troves. Rev up your knitting needles and grab that ball of double knitting yarn. You are on your way to the teddy bear's picnic.-Spool