Tag Archives: Noreen Crone-Findlay

Crocheted Comfort bears by Noreen Crone-Findlay

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.tottietalkscrafts. com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts. com

I designed these wee crocheted comfort bears many years ago.

I’ve had requests for a pattern for crocheted comfort bears, and so here is my pattern for crocheters to create wee bears to give to charities and individuals who are in need.

May they bring joy to those who make them and to those who receive them.

❤ Noreen

CROCHETED COMFORT BEAR
Designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c) 2001
The size of your hook and weight of your yarn will determine the gauge of the crocheting, and the finished size of your bear. When made with worsted-weight yarn, the Comfort Bear is approximately 3 inches tall. When made with Embroidery Floss, it is approximately l inch tall. In order
to make this bear, you will need to know how to make a chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double
crochet.
MATERIALS:
Larger bears in photo were made with approximately half an ounce of worsted-weight yarn. Smaller bears were made with 1 skein of embroidery floss or lace weight yarn, using one strand. I experimented with copper wire. Oh ugh! I don’t recommend it!
Black embroidery floss for embroidering the features.
Crochet Hook in a size appropriate to your size of yarn
(For larger bear: “H”
For smaller bear: Steel Size 9 (l.15 mm))
Darning needle for sewing seams
Embroidery needle for embroidering features
ABBREVIATIONS:
Ch= chain
Sc= single crochet
Dc= double crochet
Sl St= Slip stitch
Turn= turn the work over and start the next row in the last st of the last row
Y0= yarn over the hook
* to *= you will repeat the instructions that appear between the two”*” signs however many times stated in the pattern.
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST LEG:
Ch 5, leaving about 4 inches of yarn at beginning of ch. This tail will be used to sew the legs up later.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to end. (4 sc). Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2 & 3: 4 sc, ch l, turn. Cut yarn, and draw end through last ch l.
Repeat Rows 1 – 3 for the second leg, but do not cut the yarn. Ch l and turn.
BODY:
Row 4: Work l sc in each of the 4 sc of second leg, then work l sc in each of the 4 sc of the first leg. (8
sc). Ch l and turn.
Row 5 & 6: 8 sc, ch l, turn.
HEAD:
Row 7: Sc in lst sc, (ch 2, sc in next sc)7 times. (7 ch 2 spaces formed) ch l, turn.
Row 8: 2 sc in each ch 2 sp (14 sc) ch l, turn.
Row 9: (l sc in first sc, sk next sc)7 times. (7 sc) ch l turn
Row 10: sc in lst 2 sc,(insert hook into next loop, yo, pull through st)3 times, yo, pull yarn through all 4
loops on hook, sc in last 2 sc. (5 sc) ch l turn.
Row ll: 5 sc, ch l. Cut yarn, leaving a tail of about 10 inches, pull yarn end through last ch l.
ARMS: Make 2:
Row 1: Ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each remaining ch. (3 sc) ch l, turn.
Row 2 and 3: 3 sc, ch l, turn. Cut yarn, leaving a tail of about 4 inches, pull yarn end through last ch l.
FINISHING:
Head: Gather upper edge of head and pull up tightly. Stitch.
-Sew center back seam of head.
-Stuff head.
Neck: Wrap yarn end around neck of bear 3 or 4 times, and pull up tightly.
– Stitch over the neck wraps 2 or 3 times to lock in place.
Legs: Fold the leg edges together. With the starting yarn end, sew the leg seam up to the center back.
Body: Stuff body and sew shut.
Arms: Sew arm seam, and sew arm to bear. Repeat for other arm.
 Ears: Push crochet hook into a stitch in the top of the head, yo, pull up a loop onto hook.  Ch 4.
-Cut yarn, pull end through last loop on hook.
-Tie a knot with first yarn end, then thread yarn end into darning needle, and hide yarn ends inside
head.
-Repeat for other ear.
Features: -Embroider features by stitching with straight stitches approximately 6 or 7 times for eyes and nose.
– Embroider mouth by making a single straight stitch at each side of the nose.

If you would like some help embroidering the features, please check out:

or: https://tottietalkscrafts.com/2015/12/11/knitted-comfort-bear-by-noreen-crone-findlay/

-Thread yarn ends into a darning needle, and take them inside bear’s body. Trim excess ends.

8 Comments

Filed under blessing bear, crafting for charity, crochet, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, teddy bear, tutorial & how to

Kindness and solace from tiny knitted bears

Because I offered to make the tiny knitted comfort bears LINK TO PATTERN for the Women’s Shelter, and they responded enthusiastically by asking for 40 of them by Dec 21 (eegads), I have been taking them with me everywhere I go, making making making little comfort bears.

I’ve been so grateful that friends have offered to help me with them.

It’s such a joy to sit together making these wee ambassadors of love and connection:

Arwen & Noreen at the Blue Chair cafe making Kindness Bears

Arwen & Noreen at the Blue Chair cafe making Kindness Bears

Bears at Blue Chair 2 (c)

I have been hearing really touching stories from people- the tiny bears have the amazing capacity to open hearts, so people feel safe to tell their stories…. some of which are really painful to hear, but must be heard even so.

Emily Dickinson’s poem:

If I can stop one heart from breaking,    
I shall not live in vain;    
If I can ease one life the aching,    
Or cool one pain,    
Or help one fainting robin             
Unto his nest again,    
I shall not live in vain.

has taken on even deeper meaning to me as I make these tiny ‘Kindness’ bears.

I have to admit that some of the stories that I have heard have brought tears to my eyes, and sometimes cause rage to well up at the horrors some people have endured.

If these little bears can bring solace, well, then, I , and all those who join me in making them, shall not have lived in vain.

4 Comments

December 18, 2015 · 12:58 pm

Woven Women: Stardust Woman

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

For many months, I have been working on a new Woven Woman that is based on Rumi’s poem:

‘We came whirling out of nothingness

Scattering stars like dust…..

The stars made a circle

and in the middle

we danced’

I wove the words on the magical narrow band loom that my son and I created- LINK

using a double slotted rigid heddle.

To weave the letters, I graphed out my hand writing and experimented until the letters wove up in a pleasing manner, both technically, and aesthetically.

I also used the dragonfly and star looms that I designed for Dewberry Ridge looms – LINK

And, I included some tatting, too.

I made the face and hands from 1/2 inch plywood and the backdrop from 1/4 inch plywood.

She’s a departure from the direction I have been going with my Woven Women, so I really questioned myself about her.

She spent quite a long time on the dining room table as I moved her component parts from here to there.

And now,  completed, she measures 11 inches wide and from the top of the arch to the tassel at her hem is more than 60 inches.

But, I feel really drawn to weave words right now, so I will continue to do more….

The next Woven Woman is on the loom already. 🙂

10 Comments

Filed under band loom

My grandson designs a truck

Last June, our grandson and I made a wooden doll together.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay  www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

We had fun doing it, but he didn’t express an interest in doing any more woodworking, so I haven’t brought it up.

BUT…. on Thursday, when we picked him up at Kindergarden, he was dancing with delight because it had ~finally~ been his turn for show and tell and he could hardly wait to show me what he had shared.

He proudly pulled his wooden doll out of his backpack and beamed at me. He was so happy!

Well, I did the ‘granny-swoon’- being washed over with gratitude at my darling boy’s choice of what was ~really~ precious to him.  Melt, melt, melt.

I asked him if he was interested in making more dolls and he said: ‘Of course!’.

I got a piece of wood and asked him if he was more interested in making a doll or a truck and he voted for truck.

He drew the truck and I cut it out on the band saw and sanded it for him.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

We didn’t have time for paint, so he worked with markers and will use paint at home with his Mamma.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Sigh.  I LOVE these precious times. ❤

6 Comments

Filed under personal stuff

An adorable gift

A dear friend of mine sent me the sweetest gift- a delightful little vintage dog who is very at home with the Story Door Dolls!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Her name is, ‘Lupin’, and she arrived with magical little vintage postcards that the Story Door Dolls loved!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Itty loved the postcard of the sailing ships as it reminded her of her great adventure!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Coco loved the postcard of the castle- she thought that it looked like it was right out of a fairy tale.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Lupin offered to give Itty and Coco as many rides as they would like.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Lupin has settled into the Story Door wall doll house  happily and gets along very well with the other resident dogs. Itty was concerned about how the cat and turtle would handle having another dog in the house so, she  ambled off to have a chat with them.

Thank you so much, darlin’ Caroline for this wonderful addition to the Story Door dolls! ❤

6 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, wooden dolls

Another Mermaid

I’ve always loved mermaids…. so when a little block of wood called out, ‘Mermaid in here!’, of course, I had to get carving!

And, here’s who was in that wee block of wood….  tiny Siobhan:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Clever little Siobhan can tiptoe on her fins!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Miranda is very pleased to have another Mermaid in the studio.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Siobhan is very content, too!

2 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, wooden dolls

A Visit to the Carousel Horse carving workshop

I’ve always loved carousel horses, and have made tapestries of them, but have never been inspired to carve one.

I much prefer to carve small dolls 🙂

A couple of weeks ago, my family and I went to Fort Edmonton Park in Edmonton Alberta.

We made a beeline to the Carousel, which has been gloriously restored by volunteer carvers.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

I took Hitty Tennie and tiny Bessie Gnome with me.

It was quite a challenge to take the photo one handed, as we really clipped around, and the up and down motion was ~really~ up and down!

As soon as we got off, I pleaded with my family to have another ride, but they were interested in checking out other things. Sigh.  (It really was wonderful!)

We went over to the wood carving shop where the volunteer carvers create the spectacular beauties for the large carousel (that we rode on), as well as the smaller carousels:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Signs told humans that they were not allowed to climb onto these particular horses, but I figured that small wooden dolls wouldn’t cause too much havoc.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

The Hypocamp  was exquisite, and the woman who was in charge of the wood carving shop asked if the girls would like to sit on it.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Oooh, yes, please!

Tennie and Bessie enjoyed looking at all the woodworking tools and templates.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Afterwards, two sweet volunteers who were dressed in 1920’s clothing,  held them for a photo op at one of the small carousels:

 

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Sweet summer memories!

 

3 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, wooden dolls

Two of my hand carved Story Door Dolls for sale

I am selling two of my hand carved ‘Story Door’ dolls.

They are each 6 inches tall.

They are fully articulated and stand independently without doll stands, although they are known to play dominoes with other dolls and all fall down without giving notice.

Each of them comes with her hand woven dress and a hand woven shawl.

They are $150.00 each plus postage.

This is The Arbutus/Madrona Tree Story Door Doll:
Her head is tilted up so when she looks up at you quite winsomely.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

This is the Birch Tree Story Door Doll:

 

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

 

 

If you would like to adopt either of these Story Door Dolls, hand carved by me, with their handwoven (also by me) please drop me a note.
:o)
Noreen

Leave a comment

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves, wooden dolls

Itty Bitty Hitty’s great adventure- 2

Itty Bitty Hitty vanished through the Story Door  on a magical small Tall Ship,

leaving Coco and the other Story Door Dolls to worry and fret.  See LINK

She amazed Coco by coming home safe and sound, with a new friend, Lettie.

Lettie Bunny apparently rescued Itty on her great adventure!

Coco and Lettie sat down to listen to Itty’s story.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

As soon as the Story Door shut behind Itty and the tiny Tall Ship,  they whirled away through clouds and fog.

Itty was sure that the fog went on forever, and when she had finally given up hope,

Itty heard a rumbling roar!

The fog cleared, and there was a huge fiery Dragon!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Itty was terrified!

Luckily, a mighty Wizard strode out of the mists and sent the Dragon packing:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

The Wizard tossed a small fireball that sent the Tiny Tall Ship soaring to a peaceful

garden in front of a very appealing door:

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

 

Itty knocked and knocked on the door, but no one answered.

Sadly, Itty sailed on until she came to another lovely garden,

where a beautiful Lady of the Earth was sleeping.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Itty whispered to her, hoping to wake her up just a little, without really disturbing her.

She leaned over the Lady of the Green Places and whispered again….

still, no answer…

Itty leaned sooooooooooo far out of the rigging of the Tiny Tall Ship that she tumbled

out and down,

down,

down….

until she landed

upside down, with a serious thump….

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

She thought about things for a moment and decided that a bucket might be a

better place to be than a Tiny Tall Ship that didn’t pay much attention to where

she wanted to be…..

‘Um?’, she mumbled.

There was no response.

‘Hello?’.

A bee bumbled by to investigate.

‘HALLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?’

‘Um and Hello to you, too, Little One!’, a soft, not-about- to-eat-or-sail-unexpectedly-away voice came close to the bucket.

‘And,  what, might I ask, are you doing in my bucket, Little One?’

‘Standing on my head’.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

‘Ah, yes…. well, let’s set that to rights…. my name is Lettice Bunny, but you can call me, Lettie’.

And, then, Itty burst into tears…..

‘I want to go home!’

‘Which is where?’

‘In the studio where the Story Door is!’

‘Well, that’s easily done! I was born in the studio by the Story Door!’

‘REALLY?????’

‘Yes, Little One, perhaps you were busy while all the carving was happening, come on now, just close your eyes….

The Story Door is just a small wish away…..’.

And! Then! Lettie and Itty were right there at the Story Door, and couldn’t be happier about it!

The funny thing about Itty’s great adventure was that it all seemed to happen at the Muttart Conservatory….

and Jim and I were right there!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

You would think we would have noticed a tiny flying ship with wee Itty Bitty Hitty on it, wouldn’t you?

🙂

 

6 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves

Itty Bitty Hitty’s great adventure- 1

Itty Bitty Hitty got carried away through the Story Door by a mischievious Tall Ship: See Here for details: LINK

Poor Coco sat and sat in front of the Story Door, waiting and waiting and hoping

for Itty Bitty Hitty to come home again.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay www.tottietalkscrafts.com

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

She was sure that Tottie Tomato would find Itty and send that pesky Tall Ship on it’s way.

After a long time… it felt like forever-

Coco heard a sound coming from the other side of the Story Door.

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

But when a lady Bunny came through the door, carrying Itty in a bucket,

Coco fell over in shock!

copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay http://www.tottietalkscrafts.com

Itty explained to Coco that everything was just fine- more than fine, really!

She introduced her new friend, Lettie, and they sat down together

so Itty Bitty Hitty could tell Coco all about her Great Adventure and how

Lettie Bunny came to her rescue!

More to follow…..

8 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Tottie Tomato Loves, wooden dolls