Most kids, girls in particular, like to play dress up with both themselves and their toys, and Amy O'Neill Houck's Knits for Bears to Wear: More Than 20 Fun, Knit to Fit Fashions for All Teddies and Toys Including 18-Inch Dolls makes it easier to dress dolls and bears in handknit style.
The book offers a range of projects designed just like projects for humans would be, so new knitters can use these small-scale patterns to learn tons of new skills and provide dolls with stylish accessories.
Stylish and Customizable
Amy O'Neill Houck's idea in writing this book was to provide knitters with small-scale projects that allow them to learn skills that can also be used on garments for people.
They include techniques like provisional cast ons, basic lace knitting, sideways construction, top-down raglan construction, circular knitting, picot edging, knitting with beads, intarsia and fair isle.
They're designed to fit bears and other dolls that are around 16 to 18 inches tall (that includes American Girl dolls, by the way). The models in the book are three bears, but if the doll you're designing for is slightly differently shaped than the models there are easy customization instructions that tell you exactly what to measure, how to do the math and where to change the pattern to make it fit your particular doll or toy.
This should help make knitters more comfortable with resizing and customizing all sorts of projects, even those they knit for themselves.
The Patterns
Knits for Bears to Wear has 21 patterns, some of which include multiple pieces, for projects like sweaters, pants, dresses, even a chef's outfit, a wizard's robe and pajamas and a robe.
The patterns are arranged by theme: teddy bear's picnic, dress up, bears in winter and bedtime for bears. Each section offers options for girl and boy bears or dolls.
For example the picnic chapter has a V-neck sweater and dropped stitch skirt, a ribs and lace cardigan and a lacy sundress, a sideways knit sweater and a monogrammed sweater (B for Bear), a bolero and a pair of jeans.
Some of my favorite patterns are the footed pajamas and little cotton boucle bathrobe, a glittery dress with matching gloves and evening bag, and the aforementioned bolero, which would look adorable on a little person as well as a little toy.
Another great thing about this book is that a lot of thought went into the materials selected for each project. In most cases the yarns are organic, natural fibers or sustainably produced, and they also make sense for the projects they're used in. For example a knit basketball outfit is made with a soy and polypropylene blend that wicks away sweat. (Yes, bears don't sweat, but it adds a layer of cute to the project.)
Bottom Line
If there are kids in your life who love to dress up their dolls, this book is a must have. The projects are great and will help you build skills you might not already have.
More experienced knitters will find these projects quick and easy and great gifts along with a new bear or doll for a special little one in your life.
Either way, kids and adults alike are sure to love these cute clothes and interesting designs.
Publication date: November 2008.
