I got a package from Amazon yesterday. It contained the book Designing Knitwear and this book, The Knitted Teddy Bear.Clyde was showing me pictures of "Get on the Bus" and an idea just popped in my head. Just look at the pictures below. I'm sure that most knitters would have thought the same thing, "I can knit a teddy bear for this." So, I ordered the book.
"Get on the Bus" is a program that takes children to visit their mothers who are in prison, on Mother's Days. They also started doing this on Father's Day this year for children whose fathers are in prison. Clyde's church helps out arranging the buses for Southern California children. A lot of kids don't get to see their mom or dad due to the distance of the prisons. Some of the children had never even met their mom/dad until they got involved with "Get on the Bus". Long story short, on the bus on the way home each child recieves a stuffed animal and a card from their parent. The cards were filled out by the parents and the stuffed animal were bought in the parents' names. Something for the children to remember their parents by. I just thought it would be so cool if I could knit up something for the program, participating in my own way.You can read about this last Father's Day bus trip on Clyde's blog.
8 comments:
Jason, the knitting part tends to be the easy part for me, I have a few knitted bears, with wonky heads, legs and arms sticking out at odd angles, and one cat that never received its ears, legs, tail or it's other eye. LOL Poor daft thing is so pathetic, I have real issues with assembling them. The piece looks fine while I sew it together then as soon as I release the piece it goes into some freaky unremovable position. I should post about this, but I think I hid them....
Good luck with it anyway, didn't mean to scare you off...
Jason,
That's a lovely idea for a special gift. And much more personal than a store-bought bear. Good Luck with it!
What a lovely project to be involved with. You'll have fun knitting the teddy bear, I did one a few years ago for an Ethiopian orphanage.
ps
I love the name of Clyde's blog....I know exactly how he feels LOL
Hi Kathy, you are scaring me a little. LOL But I'll have to give it a try, right? :-)
Hi Jane, thanks! :-) I might consider asking other knitters to help making more teddy bears. But I am a terrible organizer. LOL
Hi Kerry, thanks! It will be fun learning to knit the bears and I will be able to knit mini sweaters for them and maybe work up the courage to knit adult size sweaters. That's a nice thought. :-) I'll tell Old Fart what you said. hehehe
I can knit the parts but not assemble, if you want parts made I will do it, just don't ask me stuff those poor beasties, I just can't do it!
Jason you have to try it, even if your efforts come out looking like my freak show factory they are good for a laugh, I tell you though, they were the best loved teddies in my girls collection.
Jason,
It doesn't matter how it looks. Children love hand made toys and love them just the same for their endearing irregularities. I found what looked like a knitted anorexic rat-toy in my sister-in-laws mini van. Her Grandmother had knit it for her when she was a child and she has kept it all these years. Of course, she say's it's a dog! I've never knit any toys myself and have no idea if I can do it or not. If you need help I'd give it a try though!
Thanks Kathy and Jane! I will give it shot first before I scream for help! :-) If it doesn't come out quite right, I can always call it a Franken-something. You know. A special "one of a kind" toy. Kids will probably buy that idea. :-) I will keep you updated!
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