Bear Tracks

Several years ago, I began making crocheted bears. I don't know why I did bears instead of mountain goats or kittens. Perhaps because their shaping was so easy? Even though bears weren't my very favorite animal, in no time, I was addicted.

I had many yarn leftovers perfect for small projects, and little bears are small projects.

Setting up a bunch of bears for photos gave me new ideas. Initially I wanted to write "Hi!" with little bears. Later I decided to make a heart with bears. I even made a Christmas tree with bears!





After a while, I got brave and tried a bear of thread. Initially, I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull off the detail and keep the holes between stitches small enough to prevent the stuffing from showing. But once again, I was addicted.

So it was time to reduce the recipe and try for even smaller.

Now I was really in trouble. I had much more thread than yarn. And it takes far less thread than yarn to make a bear. The sky was the limit. No such thing as too many. I made a pastel rainbow of bears.

I built a portable bear factory to carry with me on the train every day.





I decided it was time to try my hand at a multi-colored thread bear. (I'd already made one of yarn, and it won honorable mention in a bear challenge!) Making a striped bear of thread proved very challenging due to knots and ends to hide. I didn't make any more striped bears.



The time came to really test my mettle. I wanted to see just how small I could go. Size 20 thread and a size 12 hook (the smallest one I inherited from my grandmother) produced what I thought was the tinest bear I would ever make. Because it was so difficult, I swore I'd never make one that small again. Ever.



Never again!

They were fun to pose, fun to shoot, fun to give away. Snowflakes took over the place in my heart the bears had occupied, and I didn't make any more bears for a very long time. Took plenty of pictures of bears, but no more making bears for what felt like forever.















Crocheters kept asking me for a pattern. So I finally wrote one (included in this year's Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society fundraiser snowflake booklet). Little Bear Peak Snowflake made me remember how much I love little bears.

This summer I was unexpectedly grounded from my bike and the stairs and all other fun athletic activities while my back adjusts to... changes. I had a whole bunch of new thread colors I hadn't tried out, so I began making bears again. Because I could. And because they make me smile.



Meanwhile, my macro lens is still in the shop being repaired (going on three months now!!!), and it's driving me crazy. I've got so many bear photos I want to take!

It's also Ravellenics time for just a little while longer. What could I do to challenge myself while I wait for the blocked Lanesplitter skirt to dry? What project would be difficult, mind-bending, finger-numbing, but so darned cute I couldn't resist? Well, how about size 80 thread and the size 15 crochet hook that hasn't yet gone through a proper workout??? Yes, I think that just might do.











Too bad I don't have the best lens to really show this little gal off!

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