Today, I was watching Mr. Lucky, the 1943 comedy-drama starring Cary Grant and Larriane Day. In this film, Grant is a professional gambler who is trying to run a con at a War Relief company. Larriane Day wants Cary Grant to learn how to knit to aid the war effort. Then the fabulous Florence Bates (the selfish employer in Rebecca and the kind writer in I Remember Mama), attempts to teach Cary Grant how to knit and purl! I won't call this continental knitting, but it is a great scene.
Watch and enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqexrsr1twc
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Are you a Busy Beaver?
Once of the great things about being a crafter is getting to explore craft stores when you travel. A couple of weeks ago, I was in Dayton, Ohio while my husband was presenting a paper at a conference. The day before he presented, I spent my time exploring the city and found a fantastic store.
The Busy Beaver Arts and Crafts, 3444 Dayton Xenia Road Beavercreek, Ohio, is a fun and fascinating craft store. Not only does it carry some insteresting yarn, but it has supplies for all sorts of arts and crafts. I am learning tatting, and this store has the most tatting books I have seen yet, easily 50 or so. There are books and patterns for quilting, crocheting, knitting, and needlework. There are supplies for wood working, doll making, clocks, and making stained glass windows!
This free standing store is large and a bit cluttered, but a great find. If you are in western Ohio and are looking for a great craft store, this is it. You will find your time and money part easily from you at this gem.
I purchased the following yarns and used them to make an Adam Smith teddy bear:
The Busy Beaver Arts and Crafts, 3444 Dayton Xenia Road Beavercreek, Ohio, is a fun and fascinating craft store. Not only does it carry some insteresting yarn, but it has supplies for all sorts of arts and crafts. I am learning tatting, and this store has the most tatting books I have seen yet, easily 50 or so. There are books and patterns for quilting, crocheting, knitting, and needlework. There are supplies for wood working, doll making, clocks, and making stained glass windows!
This free standing store is large and a bit cluttered, but a great find. If you are in western Ohio and are looking for a great craft store, this is it. You will find your time and money part easily from you at this gem.
I purchased the following yarns and used them to make an Adam Smith teddy bear:
- Reynolds Frisky White Lot 001 38
- Plymouth Yarn Company Coffee Beenz Cream
- Decco Ribbon Black and White
Friday, September 30, 2011
Brand new teddy bears!
Looking for some great knitted teddy bears but don't have time to knit them yourself? Check out my etsy site and see if something strikes your fancyhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/amandabelarmino?ref=si_shop
Here is a sample below:
Here is a sample below:
Bear Angel
Sock Yarn
Pumpkin Bear
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Charles Dickens and the use of Knitting in his fiction
On my recent trip to Montana, I took a copy of David Copperfield along with me to read on the plane . Much to my surprise, I came across some discussion of my favorite past time. In this work, David's cruel step aunt (the sister of his abusive step father), is often seen knitting in the parlor. By contrast, his beloved nurse Peggoty is darning socks or working on needlework. This reminded me of reading A Tale of Two Cities in high school, where the revolutionary Madame Defarge is shown knitting the names of those to be executed. This made me curious about the use of knitting in Dicken's fiction. What was the symbolism?
Let us begin with the more lethal knitting in A Tale of Two Cities. Chapter 15 is entitled Knitting and Chapter 16 is entitled Still Knitting as the Degarges use Madame's knitted list to hunt down their counter revolutionary targets. To quote from the source,
Knitting, however, did play an actual role in the French Revolution. The historian Thomas Carlye discussed this in his work, The French Revolution, where he stated:
In David Copperfield, published serially 1849-1850 (ten years before A Tale of Two Cities), has fewer allusions to knitting, however they are also sinister. Jane Murdstone is shown knitting, and I think the firmness of the needles is supposed to symbolize the firmness of her soul.
When David visits Mr. Peggoty's home, his widowed sister Mrs. Gummidge is portrayed as knitting and worrying about her brother. She is knitting and mourning her dead husband. Again, not a positive knitting image.
Mrs. Heep, mother of the slimy clerk Uriah, is also seen knitting, and I quote:
What are we to make of Dicken's and the way he looks at knitting? Could he be he was confused by a knitting pattern and thought of k2tog, yo, p3 as a sort of mysterious language engaged in by women about which he knew nothing? Or perhaps his mother knitted, and he had long standing anger with his mother for not helping to rescue him from child labor. Whatever his association, Dickens certainly created some of the most lasting literary images of knitting in fiction.
Let us begin with the more lethal knitting in A Tale of Two Cities. Chapter 15 is entitled Knitting and Chapter 16 is entitled Still Knitting as the Degarges use Madame's knitted list to hunt down their counter revolutionary targets. To quote from the source,
Therefore, when Sunday came, the mender of roads was not enchanted (though he said he was) to fine that madame was to accompany monsieur and himself to Versailles. It was additionally disconcerting to have madame knitting all the way there, in a public conveyance; it was additionally disconcerting yet, to have madame in the crowd in the afternoon, still with her knitting in her hands as the crowd waited to see the carriage of the king and queen.Spark notes states (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/twocities/themes.html) that knitting has two meanings in this piece. First of all, while Madame Defarge may appear to be harmlessly knitting just at the French peasants appeared to be harmlessly living their poverty stricken lives, she is just as likely to cut royal throats. Then, they mention that in the Greek mythology knitting or weaving is tied to vengeance, like the fates spinning the thread of your life, weaving it, and finally cutting it off.
"You work hard, madame," said a man near her.
"Yes," answered Madame Defarge; "I have a good deal to do."
"What do you make, madame?"
"Many things"
"For instance-"
"For instance," returned Madame Defarge, composedly, "shrouds."
Knitting, however, did play an actual role in the French Revolution. The historian Thomas Carlye discussed this in his work, The French Revolution, where he stated:
In the Jacobin Society, therefore, the decided Patriot complains that here are men who with their private ambitions and animosities, will ruin Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood, all three: they check the spirit of Patriotism, throw stumbling-blocks in its way; and instead of pushing on, all shoulders at the wheel, will stand idle there, spitefully clamouring what foul ruts there are, what rude jolts we give! To which the Jacobin Society answers with angry roar;–with angry shriek, for there are Citoyennes too, thick crowded in the galleries here. Citoyennes who bring their seam with them, or their knitting-needles; and shriek or knit as the case needs; famed Tricoteuses, Patriot Knitters;–Mere Duchesse, or the like Deborah and Mother of the Faubourgs, giving the keynote. It is a changed Jacobin Society; and a still changing. Where Mother Duchess now sits, authentic Duchesses have sat. High-rouged dames went once in jewels and spangles; now, instead of jewels, you may take the knitting-needles and leave the rouge: the rouge will gradually give place to natural brown, clean washed or even unwashed; and Demoiselle Theroigne herself get scandalously fustigated. (http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/carlyle/tc_fr_3.pdf)As knitting was the work of peasants, it was considered patriotic for the women of the revolution to knit for the soldiers, a tradition that can be found in almost every war (including the American Revolution where Martha Washington would knit socks for her husband and other soldiers). However, Dickens focuses on the more sinister side of knitting in this work.
In David Copperfield, published serially 1849-1850 (ten years before A Tale of Two Cities), has fewer allusions to knitting, however they are also sinister. Jane Murdstone is shown knitting, and I think the firmness of the needles is supposed to symbolize the firmness of her soul.
When David visits Mr. Peggoty's home, his widowed sister Mrs. Gummidge is portrayed as knitting and worrying about her brother. She is knitting and mourning her dead husband. Again, not a positive knitting image.
Mrs. Heep, mother of the slimy clerk Uriah, is also seen knitting, and I quote:
Mrs. Heep, with a prodigious sniff, resumed her knitting. She never left off or left us for a moment. I had arrived early in the day, and we had still three or four hours before dinner: but she sat there, plying her knitting-needles as monotonously as an hour-glass might have poured out its sand. . . What the knitting was, I don't know, not being learned in that art; but it looked like a net; and she worked away with those Chinese chopsticks of knitting needles, she showed in the firelight like an ill-looking enchantress. . .That is quite an image. Let us contrast it with Clara Peggoty. Apparently, Peggoty is the name for a knitting loom. Therefore, Peggoty is a positive image associated with knitting, although she is not initially shown knitting during David's halcyon childhood days.
What are we to make of Dicken's and the way he looks at knitting? Could he be he was confused by a knitting pattern and thought of k2tog, yo, p3 as a sort of mysterious language engaged in by women about which he knew nothing? Or perhaps his mother knitted, and he had long standing anger with his mother for not helping to rescue him from child labor. Whatever his association, Dickens certainly created some of the most lasting literary images of knitting in fiction.
Monday, July 4, 2011
New Free Pattern - Finally
Almost a month later, I finally have my pattern ready. My husband and I recently moved across town, doing much of the work ourselves while I continued to work full time. We did find time to squezze in a trip to Bozeman, Montana for a friend's weeding, and my journey to a yarn shop there will be coming soon.
So, without further ado, here is the pattern for the Soft Brown Teddy Bear:
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So, without further ado, here is the pattern for the Soft Brown Teddy Bear:
Soft Brown Teddy Bear
This teddy bear is made in flat knitting and is for the beginning knitter. It uses two kinds of yarn and one set of needles. It just uses knit and purl stitches, as well as decreasing with knitting 2 together (k2tog). This is a great one to knit up for a quick present. It took me about 18 hours to complete.
Materials
- Lion’s Brand Jiffy Camel Spray 403 Acrylic Yarn
- Vanna’s Choice Brown Yarn
- Size 8 Metal Needles
- Tapestry Needle
- Acrylic stuffing
Pattern
Body
- Cast on 30 stitches.
- Row 2 – knit
- Row 3 – purl
- Repeat knit and purl 10 times.
- Row 24 – knit 5, k2tog, repeat to end, end knit 2
- Row 25 – purl
- Row 26 – knit
- Row 27 – purl
- Row 28 – knit
- Row 29 – purl
- Row 30 – knit
- Row 31 – purl
- Row 32 – knit
- Row 33 – purl
- Row 34 – knit 4, k2tog, end knit 1
- Row 35 – knit
- Row 36 – knit
- Bind off.
- Cut the yarn and leave a 12 inch tail.
- Thread the tail into a tapestry needle.
- Sew together the seams of the body.
- Cut the yarn. Tie a knot into the bottom of the yarn. Sew the bottom together.
- Pull the body inside out.
- Stuff with acrylic stuffing.
Head
- Using the main yarn, cast on 30 stitches.
- Row 2 – knit.
- Row 3 – purl.
- Repeat Rows 2-3, 12 times.
- Row 27 – knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, k2tog
- Row 28 – purl
- Row 29 – knit
- Row 30 – purl
- Row 31 – knit
- Row 32 – purl
- Row 33 – knit
- Row 34 – purl
- Row 35 – knit
- Row 36 – purl
- Row 37 – k2tog, knit 3, repeat to end, knit 2
- Row 38 - purl
- Row 39 - knit
- Row 40 – purl
- Cut the yarn and tie on the brown yarn.
- Row 41 – knit
- Row 42 – purl
- Row 43- knit
- Row 44 – purl
- Row 45 – knit
- Row 46 – purl
- Row 47 – knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, knit 1.
- Row 48 – purl
- Row 49 – knit
- Row 50 – purl
- Row 51 – knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, end knit 1.
- Row 52- purl
- Row 53 – knit 2, k2tog, repeat to end, knit 1.
- Row 54 – knit
- Row 55 – bind off
- Cut the yarn and leave a 14 inch tail.
- Thread a tapestry needle.
- Fold the head together.
- Sew the head together along the length of the head.
- Cut the yarn.
- Two inches above the start of the nose to the right, sew five horizontal stitches with the brown yarn.
- For the second eye, measure 2 inches to the left.
- Sew five horizontal stitches with the brown yarn.
- Stuff.
Ears
- Cast on 5 stitches.
- Rows 2-7, knit.
- Row 8: knit 2, k2tog, knit 1
- Rows 9-12, knit.
- Bind off.
- Repeat for the second ear.
- Thread a tapestry needle with the main yarn.
- Sew onto the head 1 inch above the left eye.
- Repeat for the right ear.
Back of the Head
- With one of the needles, pick up 4 stitches at the bottom seam of the back of the head.
- Row 2-3, knit.
- Row 4: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 5 stitches and knit.
- Row 5: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 6 stitches and knit.
- Row 6: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 7 stitches and knit.
- Row 7: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 8 stitches and knit.
- Row 8: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 9 stitches and knit.
- Row 9: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 10 stitches and knit.
- Row 10: pick up one stitch from the edge, knit 5, k2tog, knit to end.
- Repeat row 10 until you are ½ inch from the end of the head.
- Pick up 1 stitch, knit 3, k2tog, knit 3, k2tog, knit 2.
- Pick up 1 stitch, knit 2, k2tog, knit 1, k2tog
- Pick up 1 stitch, knit 2, k2tog, knit 2, k2tog, knit 1.
- Pick up 1 stitch, knit 1, k2tog, knit 1, k2tog, knit 2.
- Knit.
- Bind off.
- Cut a 6 inch tail.
- Thread it through a tapestry needle.
- Sew to the edge of the back of the head.
- Secure, checking the edges for any gaps from the picked up stitches.
Completing the Head
- With the knitting needles,
Legs
- Using the primary yarn, cast on 15 stitches.
- Rows 2-26, knit.
- Bind off.
- Cut yarn and leave a 14 inch tail.
- Thread the tapestry needle.
- Sew together the leg along the length of the leg.
- Sew together at the end.
- Pull inside out.
- Stuff with acrylic stuffing.
Feet
- Using the knitting needle, pick up 6 stitches.
- Rows 2-7, knit.
- Bind off.
- Cut a 10 inch tail and thread in a tapestry needle.
- Sew the foot to the end of the leg.
- Sew the leg to the bottom of the body, starting at the edge of the body and securing it completely.
- Repeat for the second leg.
Arms
- Using the primary yarn, cast on 12 stitches.
- Rows 2-21, knit.
- Bind off.
- Cut a 10 inch piece of yarn and thread in a tapestry needle.
- Sew together along the length of the arm.
- Sew together at the end.
- Pull inside out and stuff.
- Repeat to make the second arm.
Hands
- With one of the number 8 needles pick up 5 stitches and tie on the main yarn.
- Rows 2-6, knit.
- Bind off.
- Cut the yarn and sew the hand to the arm.
- Repeat for the second arm.
Finishing
- Thread a tapestry needle with the main yarn.
- Place the head on the center of the body.
- Sew the head into place, taking care to secure the head completely to the body.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Soft Brown Teddy Bear
Sunday, May 22, 2011
New Teddy Bear in the making!
I'm working on a new teddy bear, a fluffy brown one this time! Pattern and pictures will follow soon. I love to make stuffed animals, especially teddy bears, because they make such great gifts! This one will be great for litte kids, because it won't have any small parts.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Fluffy Teddy Bear
This pattern is designed for the beginning knitter. It uses three kinds of yarn and one set of US 8 needles. When I first started knitting, I couldn’t use circular needles, but I wanted to make a teddy bear for my nephew. So I figured out a way to create a teddy bear by using increases and decreases. The only stitch used was a garter stitch, so all you need to know how to do is knitting stitch and be able to decrease by knitting two together (k2tog). Enjoy!
Materials
- Boucle Tradition Brushed Yarn Bee Black #1259
- Wool-Ease Worsted Weight 153 Black as alternate yarn
- Vanna’s Choice White
- Size 8 Metal Needles
- Tapestry Needle
- Acrylic stuffing
Pattern
Body
- Cast on 40 stitches on a US 8 needle for the main body.
- Rows 2-20, knit
- Row 21, knit 5, k2tog, knit to end.
- Rows 22-26, knit
- Row 27, knit 5, k2tog, knit to end.
- Rows 28-35, knit.
- Bind off last row.
- Cut yarn and leave a long tail
- Using a tapestry needle, sew the yarn three times to secure the last stitch.
- Using the needle, sew the body together to create the back seam. This will be the inside of the teddy bear. Using a new piece of yarn, sew the bottom/larger part together. Pull the body so it is right side out and stuff with acrylic stuffing.
Head
- Using the main yarn, cast on 40 stitches.
- Rows 2-12, knit.
- Row 13, knit 5, k2tog until the end of the row.
- Row 14-23, knit.
- Row 24, knit 5, k2tog, until end of row, end k2tog.
- Rows 25-28, knit.
- Row 29, knit 5, k2tog, until end, end knit 2.
- Row 30-31, knit.
- Row 32, knit 2, k2tog, repeat until to end. There should be 20 stitches on the row.
- Row 33-34, knit.
- Cut the main yarn and tie on Wool-Ease worsted weight 153 Black.
- Row 35-39, knit.
- Row 40, knit 5, k2tog, and end with k2tog.
- Row 41-42, knit.
- Row 43, knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end.
- Knit 1 row.
- Bind off.
- Cut yarn to leave a 14 inch tail, and use a tapestry needle to sew three times to finish off the loop.
- Sew the piece together to create the seam that will go on the bottom of the head, starting at the nose and moving to the end. Leave the back part of the head open.
Eyes and Nose
- Cut a 15 inch piece of yarn and thread the tapestry needle.
- The front part of the head with the Wool-Ease will be the nose of the teddy bear.
- Using the white yarn, sew three stitches on either sides of nose area about ½ inch over the top of the nose area to create the eyes.
- Complete and cut the thread on the inside part of the head.
- Use the yarn to create a nose by using the yarn to sew at the tip of the nose area.
- Sew 5 horizontal stitches.
- Use the yarn to sew two ¼ inch length stitches at the bottom to finish the nose.
Ears
- Cast on 5 stitches.
- Row 2-8, knit.
- Row 9, knit 1, k2tog, knit 2.
- Row 10-12, knit.
- Bind off.
- Repeat to create the second ear.
- Sew the ears on three inches higher than the eyes.
Back of the Head
- With main yarn, cast on 18 stitches.
- Rows 2-27, knit.
- Bind off.
- Stuff the head generously.
- Sew this patch on to complete the back of the head.
Completing the Head
- Thread the tapestry needle with the alternate thread for ease of sewing.
- Clasp ½ of the knitted material at the bottom of the head.
- Sew for the length of 1 inch to create a “neck” with horizontal stitches.
- Send the needle thru the vertical length of the “neck” twice to give it shape.
- Without cutting the yarn, sew the head to the body of the bear.
- Insure that you sew the area completely as to make sure none of the stuffing gets out. This will entail sewing some of the body to itself.
Legs
- Using the primary yarn, cast on 20 stitches.
- Row 2-13, knit.
- Row 14, knit 4, k2tog, repeat to end.
- Row 15-21, knit.
- Row 22, knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, end with knit 2.
- Rows 23-24, knit.
- Row 25, knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, and end knit 4.
- Row 26, knit.
- Bind off.
- Cut a 12 inch tail and sew together the narrow end the edge. The wide end will be the foot.
- Stuff.
- Repeat for the second leg.
- After completing the feet below, sew onto the body by using the alternate yarn at the bottom of the body. Sew each leg on the bottom edge of the body.
Feet
- With the alternate yarn, cast on 10 stitches.
- Rows 2-19, knit.
- Bind off and leave a 10 inch tail.
- Sew the pad onto the wide part of the leg.
- Repeat for the second leg.
Arms
- Using the primary yarn, bind on 12 stitches.
- Row 2-8, knit.
- Row 9, knit 3, k2tog, repeat until end, and end by knit 2.
- Row 10-13, knit.
- Row 14, knit 3, k2tog, until end, end with k2tog.
- Rows 15-19, knit 5.
- Bind off.
- Stuff with acrylic stuffing.
- Repeat to make the second arm.
- After completing the hands, attach to the body 1 inch underneath the neck. The arms should be 6 inches apart.
Hands
- With alternate yarn, cast on 8 stitches.
- Rows 2-9, knit.
- Bind off.
- Cut a 10 inch tail and thread into a tapestry needle.
- Sew three stitches to secure the loop.
- Sew the patch onto the wide part of the arm before securing the arm to the body.
Finishing
- Thread a tapestry needle with the alternate yarn for ease of motion.
- Examine your teddy bear and sew together any parts that gap.
- Insure that the head has a range of motion but does not fall completely backward or forward.
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