FREE PATTERN: Everywhere Bear

Last week I posted about my trip to Cambodia to see first hand the impact of the ‘Operation Christmas Child’ Project. I mentioned that the trip inspired me to create a quick, easy and cute amigurumi bear pattern for this project. The bear is the perfect size for cuddling and fitting into a shoe box without taking up too much space (so other things can be packed).

A frustrating thing I find with crocheting amigurumi is that they are not projects you can take on the go (whether it be catching a train or away on holiday). Pieces often require stuffing and closing – so unless you’re willing to carry around fibre fill too – amigurumi is too complicated to transport. So I have designed this pattern so that all the pieces remain open and only need stuffing and closing when being assembled.

I have also kept this pattern simple – so much so that you could even memorize it if you wanted to!

It’s difficult to find time to set aside to make items for projects such as Operation Christmas Child (or other charities you may support). However, I hope an easy and transportable pattern like this will enable you to make the most of otherwise idle time!

Everywhere Bear is approximately 17.5cm (about 7 inches) long. This pattern is written in US terms.

MATERIALS:

• Yarn
• Black Yarn (for sewing features)
• 9mm safety eyes (optional)
• Fibre-fill
• Darning Needle
• 3.75mm Hook

HEAD:

R1: Sc 5 into Magic Ring

R2: Sc 2 into each sc (10sts)

R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (15sts)

R4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (20sts)

R5: *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (25sts)

R6: *Sc 4, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (30sts)

R7: *Sc 5, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (35sts)

R8-R15: Sc35

R16: *Sc 5, dec 1 sc*, rep 5 times (30sts)

R17: *Sc 4, dec 1 sc*, rep 5 times (25sts)

R18: *Sc 3, dec 1 sc*, rep 5 times (20sts)

R19: *Sc 2, dec 1 sc*, rep 5 times (15sts)

Cast off. Leave a long tail for attaching to body later.

 

BODY:

R1: Sc 5 into Magic Ring

R2: Sc 2 into each sc (10sts)

R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (15sts)

R4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (20sts)

R5: *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (25sts)

R6-R12: Sc25

R13: *Sc 3, dec 1 sc*, rep 5 times (20sts)

R14-15: Sc20

R16: *Sc 2, dec 1 sc*, rep 5 times (15sts)

Cast off. Weave in end.

 

ARMS/LEGS (Make 4):

R1: Sc 5 into Magic Ring

R2: Sc 2 into each sc (10sts)

R3-11: Sc10

EARS (Make 2):

R1: Sc 5 into Magic Ring

R2: Sc 2 into each sc (10sts)

R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 5 times (15sts)

R4-R5: Sc15

Cast off. Leave tail for attaching to body.

 

ASSEMBLY:

1) Sew on the Bear’s face. This is how I sewed mine, but you might like to try different expressions.

2) Stuff the head and body and sew them together.

3) Attach the ears to the Bear’s head.

4) Attach the arms and legs. I chose to attach them ‘flat’ to the sides of the Bear.

After this – you’ll have your very own ‘Everywhere Bear’! I hope you like the pattern. If you make one, I would love to see it! I would also love to hear of the different places you may have crocheted your bear.

Happy crocheting!

The ‘Everywhere Bear’ pattern is an original pattern by Rachel of Drawn and Hooked (January 2016). Please do not claim this pattern as your own. You may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site, sell or distribute it, or sell items made from this pattern. Thank you!

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Travels: Cambodia

Its been almost 2 years since I visited Cambodia, but I didn’t feel like I could avoid writing about this beautiful country seeing it has an influence on my creative work! So today I wanted to share with you a brief recount of my trip there and why it holds (excuse the lack of a better phrase!) a place in my heart.

I visited Cambodia in 2014 as a guest of the relief and development organisation Samaritan’s Purse.

I got to see the hustle and bustle of the capital Phnom Penh…

As well as the impressive temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.

My favourite parts of my trip though were meeting the local people and seeing how a variety of Samaritan’s Purse’s projects impacted their lives.

Some of these projects included water sanitation (this was a water pump created from easily replaceable parts)…

…teaching locals how to create income from farming chickens, pigs and fish (these fish were caught and cooked for our tour group)…

… and replacing worn classrooms with brand new buildings.

These projects all stemmed from a relationship that Samaritan’s Purse had initially built through their ‘Operation Christmas Child’ Project (the project I had primarily come to see).

Operation Christmas Child is a project in which shoe boxes are packed (by people like you and me!) with toys, stationery, clothes and sanitary products for children in developing countries.

Prior to my trip to Cambodia I had packed many of these boxes with my church, hoping (like many other people who pack these boxes) that the children receiving them would know that they are loved. I never thought that I would actually get to hand these boxes to children myself and see their reactions. The experience was extraordinary.

We were able to hand out shoe boxes three times during our trip. The final delivery was especially special.

It was about 8am and as we stood in the dusty courtyard of a local school about 200 children excitedly streamed in filling the air with chatter and laughter. Despite the time, the air was already humid and hot.

The children perched their boxes on their head and our team leader counted down with them excitedly in Khmer. As the boxes came down and lids were lifted the air erupted into high pitched screams of excitement. It was the happiest sound I have ever heard.

Many children quickly huddled with their friends to collectively unpack their new goodies.

I loved being able to walk around almost unnoticed and see their reactions. It was precious seeing reactions such as this…

… and this…

… over items that children in developed countries would take for granted. It was also special to glimpse the joy it gave the children’s parents.

However, there were reactions I didn’t expect.

I found this tiny boy wandering on the edge of the crowded courtyard clutching his box to his chest, picking at a scab on his small face. His expression was serious. I had noticed him a little earlier and though I couldn’t speak a word of Khmer I felt compelled to engage with him. I put down my camera and gently nestled the box from his grasp and helped him unpack his box.

His box came with a cloth bag, so slowly I placed his new possessions (see that smiling bear!) into it so he could carry them home. His box also contained a beanie which I carefully pulled onto his head. I did my best with smiles and my actions to convey friendliness to him.

This was the photo I took of him after I had helped him unpack. I never saw him smile. It wasn’t until I talked about this little boy with others that it was pointed out to me that perhaps he didn’t smile because he didn’t know how to react to being given gifts. I will probably never know his perspective of the day, but I hoped he knows that he is loved.

Being able to see Operation Christmas Child first hand was a privilege I will always treasure. I thought Operation Christmas Child was a great project before going to Cambodia but now having seen its impact I cannot emphasize its value enough. Giving gifts to children is by no means the solution to all the challenges they face in their communities. However, the spark of joy this project brings to them – and the knowledge that they are known and loved beyond their community – is why I support this special project.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief recount of my Cambodian trip and my Operation Christmas Child experience. If you would like to know more about Operation Christmas Child you can find more information HERE (this is their Australian site. If you are from another part of the world you may want to google and see if they have a site local to you).

Since Cambodia, I’ve written a pattern for a quick, easy and cute amigurumi bear that can be made for Operation Christmas Child boxes. I’ll be sharing it next week. Stay tuned!

The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and not reflective of Samaritan’s Purse. I was not paid for this post – I wrote it because I love this project. 🙂

Hooking to Help

Can you believe we’re only a few months shy of Christmas already? One of my favourite Christmas “traditions” is participating in Operation Christmas Child –  a project run by Samaritan’s Purse that involves packing shoeboxes with gifts (a mix of practical and play items) for children in need in (for boxes from Australia) South East Asia.

One of the suggested items for packing are beanies. So when I found Corrie’s  (of the Retro Mummy blog) toddler/preschooler beanie pattern on the Operation Christmas Child website – I had to try it!

This pattern was refreshingly simple and came together very quickly – very useful when you’re trying to make a few in a short space of time! My only qualm with the pattern was that I found I needed to continue the pattern to 12 rows . This was probably due to my tension, my change of yarn from the suggested. I made all my hats to fit preschoolers.

The pattern suggests using two strands of 8 ply yarn – however, I opted to use Paton’s Stella, a 14ply yarn. Though the yarn label suggested the use of a 7mm hook, I stuck with the pattern’s suggested 6.5mm. I picked up Stella in both Midnight and Maroon. My local craft chain was selling it for only $4 a ball – a bargain for such a lovely, soft and quality yarn! The best thing, was two balls was enough to make 3 beanies!

The decorative flower, like the beanie, came together very quickly whilst being a flattering design – making it perfect to decorate many other projects apart from these beanies.

I highly recommend this pattern to anyone looking for a crochet beanie pattern for preschoolers. I will definitely be coming back to this pattern for next year’s Operation Christmas Child!

What are your go to patterns when you’re looking for a quick and easy gifts to make? 🙂