Buddha Minders

Here is a gift from my mother. She makes these teddies and gives them to the local ambulance and fire station who then give them to kids when they attend a medical or fire emergency. They bring great comfort to kids in what can be shocking circumstances.

Here are four samples of finished teds and teddesses.
I guess that's the girls in back wearing pink.
Buttons and faces are sewn on with wool.

This is what you end up with when you have finished knitting
- a kind of scarf with legs and arms.
Very easy, even I can do it.

And here are the intructions

Use 8 ply wool
use no. 9 or number 10 needles (metric sizes 3 3/4 or 3 1/4) Loose knitters use number 10.

LEGS
Cast on 12 stiches (for the first leg)
knit 34 rows
Change colour for pants
Knit 8 rows
Knit another leg to match
Join by knitting across both legs

knit another 14 rows - this finished the pants

SHIRT - change colour
Knit 18 rows

SLEEVE
Cast on 12 stitches on each side of knitting
Knit 18 rows
Cast off 12 stitches each end (this forms the arms)

HEAD
Knit 34 rows

It is possible to cast off and repeat the above to form two sides of the teddy.
OR: the above can be repeated in reverse and the whole folded in half.

THEN....
Sew on the face and any other decoration - buttons, flowers, etc. (use wool for this as actual buttons etc may be swallowed)
Sew the top corners of the head to pull in and form the ears.
Sew 80% of side seams and stuff with soft filling.
Complete seam sewing.
Thread wool around the neck and draw in to form the neck.
Add a neck ribbon.

Give it away.....
then
enjoy the delight of giving