Category Archives: teddy bear

A tiny miniature Comfort Bear to weave on the Kindness Loom

A while ago, a  friend asked me to mail her a Comfort Bear.

That inspired me to design a tiny teeny flat- but not TOO flat- Comfort Bear that could be easily mailed in an envelope. 

It took me quite a few months to work through to the perfect woven Tiny Kindness Loom Comfort Bear.

And because I love Panda Bears, I also had to do a tiny Panda Bear,

and a Blue Bear of Happiness, too. 

And a Polar Bear-

They are indeed very, very small- they are only about 1 1/2 inches (3.75 cm) tall and fit happily into a card to be mailed to a friend. 

You can weave up a whole handful of them and carry them all in a mint tin in your pocket so that you can give one to anyone who needs a little TLC.

They are small but mighty, as they say to people: “You matter!  May this little Comfort Bear bring you delight and make your day happier!”.

  They are a joy to weave and to give and receive! 

The PDF pattern for the Woven Tiny Kindness Loom Comfort Bears in on my etsy shop at

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/4403905607/pdf-pattern-for-miniature-woven-comfort

Happy Weaving! May they bring you joy!







1 Comment

Filed under blessing bear, comfort bear, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, KINDNESS LOOM AND PROJECTS, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Simple Little Things That Make Me Happy, teddy bear, weaving & handwoven, Weaving Kindness Project by Noreen Crone-Findlay

One of a Kind Hand Carved Crochet Hooks for Sale

I’m no longer carving wood, which of course means that I am not carving crochet hooks anymore.

I’m doing a big downsize, so am offering the last of my One of a Kind crochet hooks for sale.

I’ve made a video so you can see them in my hands. The video is posted below the list of the hooks. If you would like to buy any of the hooks, please send me a message or post a note in the comments, which I will pick up and respond to.

NOTE: Because the crochet hooks are hand carved from wood, you need to be gentle with them. Wood has grain, which can cause breakage if you are rough with the hook.

The hooks are varnished to preserve the finish.

All of the hooks have sold except for:

Star Babies approximately 8 inches (20 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 6 mm (size J) Price: $85 +shipping

Sweet Girl with book or box in her hands approximately 8 3/4 inches (22 cm) tall. Approximately hook size 8 mm (size L) Price: $125 +shipping

Leave a comment

Filed under crochet, teddy bear

These are the last of my one of a kind hand carved wooden Teddy Bears and Panda Bears

A couple of years ago, I had a wonderful time designing, carving and painting one of a kind wooden Teddy Bears and Pandas. Each one is unique.

They all have jointed arms and legs, so they can sit and move about.

I am not carving wood anymore, and won’t be making any more of the Wooden Teddy Bears or Pandas. These are the last of my series and are for sale.

Hand Carved WOODEN PANDAS

1- This Panda is approximately 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) tall $95 + shipping

Note: It has a beaded necklace that can be removed if you prefer them to not wear a necklace.

2– This little Panda has a gold heart, red bead necklace and red shoes and is approximately 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) tall $95 + shipping

3- This Panda has a gold heart, a gold bead necklace, red shoes that have flowers on the soles, green and purple leggings and a flowered body suit and is approximately 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) tall

$95 + shipping

Hand Carved Wooden TEDDY BEARS THAT ARE ABOUT 7 1/2 Inches TALL:

4-This Teddy Bear has red bead necklace, red boots with flowers on the soles, blue and white striped leggings and a flowered body suit and is approximately 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) tall $95 + shipping

4- This Teddy Bear is approximately 7 1/4 inches tall (18 cm) and has a pinkish gold necklace, pink and purple high top boots that have flowers on the soles, a floral body suit and leggings. $95 + shipping

I have made a couple of dresses that fit these Pandas and Larger Teddy Bears and are available, too….

A hand knitted old fashioned looking dress: $35 + shipping

It fits the 7 1/2 inch bears but is too big for the 4 inch bears

This is what it looks like on the bears (the bear is not included in the purchase of the dress…. they are all sold separately)

And here is a little sewn dress that is reversible. It fits all the bears. $20 +shipping

Here’s what the dress looks like on the bears (dress and bears sold separately)

4 inch tall Carved Wooden Teddy Bears

1a- 4 inch tall Hand Carved Wooden Teddy Bear in a Pinafore (the pinafore is included in the price) $95

If you are interested in purchasing any of the bears, please drop me a note in the comments

Leave a comment

Filed under carved wooden teddy bears, teddy bear, wooden dolls

Small Square Comfort Bears woven on the Mirrix Chloe Loom

I love weaving these Small Square ‘Comfort’ Teddy Bears!

They have ‘huggy arms’ that hold onto a thumb or finger so hugs are always near.

To make a Small Square ‘Comfort’ Teddy Bear that is a Panda, weave the body in white and
work the ears, arms and legs in black or any color that you prefer.

Weave them in just one color or with 2 shades to make them ‘tweedie’.

They have lucky pennies and good wishes hearts inside, so they have very good energy.

Because they are so small, they easily fit in your pocket. It’s so good to always have a couple of them with you, because you never know who you will meet that needs a little bit of comfort!

These charming and whimsical Small Square Comfort Teddy Bears fit in an envelope so you can send them to friends who need a little hug.

They are quick and easy to make and are a lovely way to share love, kindness and all good things!

You can buy the kits and pdf’s at https://mirrixlooms.com/pages/lily

Happy Weaving! and especially to ‘Comfort Weaving!’ ❤

2 Comments

Filed under comfort bear, doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, frame loom weaving, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, teddy bear, Woven Dolls and Toys

Little wee woven Panda bears

I wove one miniature panda, then another and another- I couldn’t resist weaving the tiny tiny pandas using the pattern that I designed for the wee teddy bears that are part of the Lily Doll Project that I created for Mirrix looms.

The pandas and bears are all woven on the Mirrix Chloe Loom.

The pandas are made the same way as the tiny teddy bears, except the ears, arms and legs are different color yarns, and a couple of little stitches are added to the face to make their face patches.

The pdf and kit for the teddy bear are available at https://mirrixlooms.com/lily.

To make the pandas, use scraps of yarn or embroidery floss from your stash.

Happy Weaving! <3

I made a little video – https://youtube.com/shorts/AUeD4A7BMwQ

Leave a comment

Filed under frame loom weaving, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, teddy bear, weaving & handwoven, Woven Dolls and Toys

A Teeny Tiny Woven Panda

Panda bears…. so sweet! I can’t resist…. so I wove a tiny Panda, using scraps of yarn left over from the Lily Doll kit (using the instructions from the Tiny Teddy Bear in the Lily Doll Project)

He felt like having a little nap so I tucked him into the teeny tiny crib. Two of the Tiny Bears raced over to see who was this new little friend in the studio.

Panda said that he was a little chilly all alone in the crib, so the Little Bears invited him to hop into their cozy bed and tell them all about himself….

They are so happy being together in the studio that they are hoping that there will be more bears coming along, soon to join them! They posed for a few photos…

And went back to bed to tell each other winter stories and to nap and dream of Springtime….

The kits and pdf’s are available at https://mirrixlooms.com/lily  Happy Weaving! ❤

5 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, frame loom weaving, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, teddy bear, weaving & handwoven, Woven Dolls and Toys

Tiny Teddy for the Lily Doll Project

I am a dyed in the wool Teddy Bear fanatic. I especially like very very small bears.

So, of course, when I was designing for the Lily Doll Project, the first friend I designed for her is an absolutely tiny Teddy Bear.

These tiny Teddy Bears have my ‘signature’ hugging arms so they can hug back and also hold onto things.

Because they are so little, they are fairly quick and easy to make, so they are a great choice as Pocket Bears, and as Comfort Bears to give to other people.

The kits are available at: https://mirrixlooms.com/lily

Leave a comment

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, teddy bear, weaving & handwoven

Knitted Clancy Comfort Bear

KNITTING PATTERN FOR THE CLANCY COMFORT BEAR

by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

The knitted Clancy Comfort Bear is my latest design for comfort bears.

I designed it in honor of my beloved son in law who died last year.

Clancy was kindness incarnate and always kept several Comfort Bears in his pocket to offer to people who were having a difficult time. So, the Clancy Bear is a living legacy to keep his kindness unfolding in the world. With love in every stitch……

THE ‘HOW TO’ VIDEO FOR THE CLANCY COMFORT BEAR IS AT:

NOTE: The finished size of the Clancy Bear is determined by the thickness of yarn and size of knitting needles that you use.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Knitting Needles in a size that is appropriate for the thickness of your yarn,

Yarn: Less than an ounce for each Clancy Comfort Bear

A crochet hook that is appropriate for the thickness of your yarn.

Black 6/0 glass beads for eyes, Stuffing,

Black sewing thread and a needle that is small enough to sew on the beads, Tapestry or darning needle

Sewing machine thread in a color that matches your yarn (optional)

Felting needle, Tape measure, Row Counter, 4 small safety pins, Scissors or thread snip

INSTRUCTIONS: Beginning at the feet:

Cast on 11 stitches.

Rows 1- 16: Work in st st (knit one row, purl the next)

Place one of the little safety pins at each end of Row 6 and then 1 more pin at each end of Row 10.

At the end of Row 16, cut the yarn, leaving a 42 inch/105 cm long tail

Thread the tail end into a darning or tapestry needle and lift all the stitches off the needle.

Pull up to gather the top of the head.

Take the needle through the stitches one more time to secure them.

HEAD:

Sew the centre front seam using the Baseball stitch to the first set of safety pins. (see video for how to).

Take a couple stitches to secure the head. Remove the 2 safety pins.

Stuff the head.

Wrap the yarn tightly around the neck 2 times then stitch over the wraps to secure them.

EARS:

Take the yarn up to the side of the head at the top of the head and stitch over the knitting needle or crochet hook twice.

Stitch over these loops several times to make the first ear.

Repeat for the 2nd ear.

Take the needle back down and out at the ‘shoulder’ to be used to make the arms.

TUMMY SEAM:

Thread another strand of yarn or the sewing machine thread into a needle and stitch the center front down to the next set of safety pins.

Stuff the body.

LEGS:

Fold the cast on edge in half to find the midpoint.

Take the needle through it and stitch it to the end of the tummy seam.

Stitch in place a couple of times to secure it.

Squeeze and fold the edges of the front to meet the cast on edge, forming the leg with the corner point becoming the toe. It’s a bit like origami.

Stitch the leg inseam together, pulling up tightly.

Stitch the second leg inseam.

Secure at the middle.

Take the needle through the body to the back, and snip.

ARMS:

Take the crochet hook through the stitch at the shoulder where the yarn came out.

Yarn over, pull up a loop through the stitch on the body.

Chain by taking the yarn over the hook and pulling it through the loop on the hook.

Do this 7 to 9 times, depending on the thickness of your yarn.

Take the crochet hook through the shoulder on the other side of the body and pull up a loop.

Thread the yarn end into the tapestry needle and stitch the loop to the body.

Take the hook through the first chain stitch at the shoulder, and make a slip stitch in it by pulling up a loop through the chain stitch.

Repeat this for all the chain stitches, ending at the first shoulder.

Stitch the end into the body and use the felting needle to secure the arms to the shoulders and to bury the yarn end.

NOSE:

Take the black thread through the head, coming out at the center of the face.

Secure it with a couple of tiny stitches.

Make several horizontal stitches for the nose.

MOUTH:

Move down and take a couple of shorter horizontal stitches for the mouth.

EYES:

Take the needle up slightly above and to one side of the nose and sew on the bead for one eye,

then the other.

Secure the stitches by going back down to the nose and taking a couple of tiny stitches at the corner of the nose, then taking the needle back through the head. Snip the ends.

PANDA:

INSTRUCTIONS: Beginning at the feet:

Cast on 11 stitches with black yarn.

Rows 1- 6: Work in st st (knit one row, purl the next)

Place one of the little safety pins at each end of Row 6

Rows 7 & 8: Join white yarn and work in st st

Rows 9 & 10: Drop white yarn and work in black yarn.

Place 1 more pin at each end of Row 10.

Cut the black yarn, leaving a tail of 42 inches/105 cm.

Rows 11- 16: Work in white yarn.

At the end of Row 16, cut the yarn, leaving a 20 inch/50 cm long tail

Thread the white yarn end into a darning or tapestry needle and lift all the stitches off the needle.

Pull up to gather the top of the head.

Take the needle through the stitches one more time to secure them.

Stitch the center front seam of the head with the white yarn.

Stuff the head and wrap and secure the neck.

Take the black tail end out through to the shoulder and leave it there for now.

Work the rest of the Panda body, legs and arms the same way as the Basic Clancy Bear.

EARS:

After working the Arms, take the black yarn up to the top of the head and make the ears.

EYE PATCHES:

Take 3 small vertical stitches for each eye patch.

NOSE:

Take 2 horizontal stitches for the nose.

MOUTH:

Take 1 smaller horizontal stitch for the mouth. Secure the yarn by stitching through to the back of the neck and stitching in place the burying the yarn in the body.

EYES:

Sew the eye beads to the center of the patches. Secure the thread ends in the eye patches.

6 Comments

Filed under blessing bear, comfort bear, eco crafts & green projects, free pattern, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, grief, knitting, teddy bear, tutorial & how to, video tutorial

Rabbit Year 2023

The year of the Rabbit is seen as a year of sweet goodness in all kinds of ways.

I am totally in favor of that, and I certainly hope it will show itself to be a gentle and healing and harmonious year in 2023.

This Rabbit year is a busy one for me.

I am focused on 5 things, as well as all the usual things that unfold in life-

1- Grieving the sudden death of my beloved son in law is hard work, and has revealed the deep paradox that love offers us: The immense gratitude for everything that love brings us, including the shocks and anguish of loss, as well as all the incredible blessings… truly paradoxical.

2- I am knitting as many Comfort Bears as I can get done before the Celebration of my lovely Son in Love’s life this Spring in his honor to give to people at the Celebration of his life.

They were very important to him, and he always had at least 3 in his pockets, as well as his personal Comfort Bear, so he could give them to people who needed comfort. He was such a lovely man that people would confide their sorrows to him, and he would give them a comfort bear, and then see if there was something else that he could do for them. Kindness was truly his religion!

As I have been working on the Comfort Bears, a new design for them has evolved, and I will make a pattern and a video for them when I can get to it.

BUT… this year of the Rabbit is a VERY busy one indeed….

3- I am working to deadline on a new book- Yay! I can’t say anything about it, except that I am working with my much loved editor (hurrah) again at Stackpole Books. Writing this book is really helping me to move forward and it is very healing to be focused on loveliness!

4- I am also working on a new solo show of my woven works for 2024…. again… very healing, very powerful, and exciting as I have had lots of breakthroughs into new places in my wovenworks 🙂

5- And this is the one that is most immanent and that I am scrambling to get the work done on asap:

And, oh yes, I mustn’t forget…. my husband and I have unexpectedly adopted a very sweet and rather wild little new furkid who is an astonishing handful and is completely full of adorable love and puppy wackiness…. puppies…. sheesh….. and lots of loving laughter.

He is my devoted studio companion, and has his own chair right beside me. Excellent solution to the problem of him needing to be glued to me 🙂 ❤

I hope that 2023 will be a truly fine one for us all. Happy Year of the Rabbit!

4 Comments

Filed under crafting for charity, grief, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, personal stuff, teddy bear, Woven Women tapestries and woven works

Carved Wooden Teddy Bears and Pandas that are for sale

A couple of years ago, I had a wonderful time designing, carving and painting one of a kind wooden Teddy Bears and Pandas. Each one is unique.

They all have jointed arms and legs, so they can sit and move about.

I am not carving wood anymore, and won’t be making any more of the Wooden Teddy Bears or Pandas. These are the last of my series and are for sale.

Hand Carved WOODEN PANDAS

1- This Panda is approximately 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) tall $95 + shipping

Note: It has a beaded necklace that can be removed if you prefer them to not wear a necklace.

2– This little Panda has a gold heart, red bead necklace and red shoes and is approximately 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) tall $95 + shipping

3- This Panda has a gold heart, a gold bead necklace, red shoes that have flowers on the soles, green and purple leggings and a flowered body suit and is approximately 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) tall

$95 + shipping

Hand Carved Wooden TEDDY BEARS THAT ARE ABOUT 7 1/2 Inches TALL:

4-This Teddy Bear has red bead necklace, red boots with flowers on the soles, blue and white striped leggings and a flowered body suit and is approximately 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) tall $95 + shipping

4- This Teddy Bear is approximately 7 1/4 inches tall (18 cm) and has a pinkish gold necklace, pink and purple high top boots that have flowers on the soles, a floral body suit and leggings. $95 + shipping

I have made a couple of dresses that fit these Pandas and Larger Teddy Bears and are available, too….

A hand knitted old fashioned looking dress: $35 + shipping

It fits the 7 1/2 inch bears but is too big for the 4 inch bears

This is what it looks like on the bears (the bear is not included in the purchase of the dress…. they are all sold separately)

And here is a little sewn dress that is reversible. It fits all the bears. $20 +shipping

Here’s what the dress looks like on the bears (dress and bears sold separately)

4 inch tall Carved Wooden Teddy Bears

1a- 4 inch tall Hand Carved Wooden Teddy Bear in a Pinafore (the pinafore is included in the price) $95

2a- 4 inch tall Hand Carved Wooden Teddy Bear in a Tutu (the tutu is included in the price) $95

3a- 4 inch tall Hand Carved Wooden Teddy Bear with an Acorn Hat in a Vest with removable wings (the hat is glued to the Teddy Bear’s head. The vest and wings are included in the price) $95

If you are interested in purchasing any of the bears, please drop me a note in the comments or send me an email and I will get back to you asap.

Leave a comment

Filed under carved wooden teddy bears, doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, teddy bear, wooden dolls