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some of the history
About Teddies

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Make a teddy

find out where teddies have gone and where they're going
Teddy Travels

if you stuff your teddy with old tights they may be rejected, Find out more here
Safety Standards

something different
Other Charity Knitting

Got a question?
FAQ

plus postage information
get in touch

Make a Teddy

Patterns

Even if you've already got a pattern download the latest one which includes a check list to help you get your teddies up to standard.
If you're not sure about UK US and metric needle sizes visit Yarn Forward for a very clear conversion chart.
A teddy may be the only toy a child will call "my own", so it's got to be the very best.
Patterns are PDF files and you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read them. If you haven't got it download it here Acrobat Reader
Knitting pattern

Crochet Pattern
(with many thanks to Jenny, who spent time ensuring the crocheted teddy would be the same size as the knitted one.)

And by special request a
crochet pattern for our transatlantic cousins.

You do want your teddy to be loved and loved and loved...

Knitting

Don't deviate from the pattern, all teddies are different but none should be superior (no skirts or hats, stripes are OK in moderation, especially if you're using up duller colours).
Think of it this way - we all want our teddy to be the best but do we want the child who doesn't get our teddy to be disappointed?

Finishing your teddy

Read the check list page 2 of the pattern and do take care; beautiful knitting can be spoiled by careless finishing.
Don't cut off ends of yarn, always thread them along the seams, knots can come undone.
check the Safety Standards page too, Teddies that are given within the EU must reach these standards.

Stuffing

Use good clean wool and hygienic filing that can be washed, acrylic is recommended. (BS 1425 & BS 5852). Anything else i.e. old tights gives teddies a bad name.

Scarves

Sew one the scarf firmly, but only at the back of the neck so it can be untied and re-tied to make the teddy more fun.

crossed scarf neck tie head scarf
Scarves are attached not because they might get lost in transit, but if they are loose a teddy would "not be suitable for children under 3". For the same reason don't add fringes.

Faces

Teddies come in lots of colours and their faces are all different as the Teddy Gallery illustrates. Black wool or embroidery cotton is best, blue eyes are very European. Use small stitches. that can't be picked off.
Use satin stitch for the eyes. To make an even mouth with a big smile, make a big U loosly held down in the centre then chain-stitch over the this.


Make a bag

When choosing material for bags, remember the brighter the fabric the better. Children always go for the bright colours and thinner fabric is less bulky, so there'll be room for more teddies.
bag with a teddy inside

The Bag

Make a bag big enough for a teddy - 30 x 22.5cm (12" x 9").

There are few rules, but bags are important and need to be made to last as long as the teddies.
Use pinking shears, or make up using French (double seams) if the material is likely to fray.
Turn over a casing on the inside and stitch, leaving a small gap on one side to take the drawstring.
Use only one drawstring and only just long enough to allow the bag to fully open. If you'd need to buy cord or ribbon try making them. All you need is some small oddments of wool or crochet cotton.
The instructions on how to make drawstrings are by popular request.

When giving teddies to a collector leave the teddies out of the bags. All teddies and bags are checked and it does save time.

Making Drawstrings

Measure approximately 3 metres of yarn(3 times nose to outstretched hand).

Knot the ends and hook the loop over e.g. a door handle. Put a pencil through the loop and keeping the cord tight turn the pencil (an empty cotton real threaded onto the cord, makes it much easier to turn the pencil, though care must be taken removing it at the end).

Occasionally release the tension a fraction, if the cord immediately twists back on itself it's ready. Don't be tempted to stop too soon a loose cord will unravel. With cord tight again hang a heavy object (most can-openers are good for this) in the centre and bring the ends together maintaining the tension. Holding the 2 ends, lower the weight and watch it spin! Don't let it start untwisting, just drop the weight to the floor, remove it and knot both ends of the cord.

Check that the length of your first one is correct for your bags, the finished length will depend on the wool you use and the length of your arms!
If you don't knit but can sew, volunteer to make bags there are always more teddies than bags.
Please make contact if you can help in this way.

Common Mistakes

Included by request from collectors of teddies. May these mistakes be a thing of the past.

Teddies too big The tension is not right. Check your tension and if you know you're a loose knitter, use smaller needles.
Stuffing A teddy needs to be well stuffed, floppy teddies may end up with empty tummies if they're hugged a lot. Putting more stuffing in a teddy is also very difficult.
Necks Don't forget to draw the neck in and don't just wrap wool round, weave it in.
Faces Collectors spend many hours doing TLC on faces. A teddy needs to look happy, also if the stitches are too large they will more easily come loose.
Checking Service If you're still unsure send a sample teddy address on the contact page. It really is best to get it right.

Sending Teddies?

If you sending teddies you can use the teddies Compliments slip. then the charity has a contact if they want more.
Remember to include your own details so they get back to you first.
and check out the Contact page for the latest postal advise.

Help find a home for your teddies

A teddy hasn't fulfilled it's purpose until it's being loved by a child.
If you hear of a volunteer, charity ambassador or an aid shipment; maybe you can persuade them to pack a few teddies.
Remember to tell us so the story can be added to Teddy Travels.

Need Teddies?

No problem you can offer more than you can knit, an SOS here would produce thousands.


If you'd like to find out more about the Charities that help get our teddies to needy children, here's a few of them.
Mercy Trucks is a small charity based in Hexham Northumberland they do great work - visit the website to find out more.   
Mercy Trucks 		The Rotary LifeBox helps those in need by providing basic provisions that we take for granted but are so desperately needed by those affected by earthquake, flood, drought and war.   
LifeBox 		When your family has lost everything, you can share your troubles with your teddy.   
ShelterBox 		Albert Camus, the French Philosopher said that where there is no hope, we must invent it.   
Hope and Aid Direct 		Recently Education Action have sent teddies to Sudan and Uganda.   
Education International 		Women and Children in Africa - Working to alleviate hardship and suffering by funding projects which provide a sustainable benefit and help give women and children in Africa a better quality of life.   
WACIA 		Imagine ships crewed by doctors, nurses, water engineers and agriculturalists visiting some of the world's poorest countries. Now imagine their life-changing services offered free of charge...   
Mercy Ships 		Grassroots is a Christian charity focused on enabling and supporting individuals to know and serve Jesus better.   
Grassroots 		You can see pictures of teddies in Bantul on our teddy travels page.   
Bantul Kindergarten Project 		Project Peru is a totally voluntary Guildford-based charity supporting a children's refuge in the desert shanty towns of Lima.   
Project Peru

Please don't send unsolicited teddies to charities. They may not have storage facilities and there is a limit to how many a charity can cope with at one time.
Check with the website and your teddies will go where they're needed.
Also keep a look-out in local papers, they are a good source of new outlets.
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20th March 2008