Teddies for South Africa

President Christine read an article from Rotarian Elaine Turner, of RC of Lutterworth, about knitted teddies, made in the UK, helping sick and traumatised children in various parts of the world.

Christine began knitting and gathering teddies to take out to South Africa on a trip in February.  Such was the response that there are now 84 teddies, and one rabbit being loved by underprivileged, sick and traumatised children near a town called George and a clinic near Johannesburg.

Christine will return to South Africa in July and hopes to take more teddies, so if you can help by knitting some teddies the pattern is below, together with a photo to see the detail.

When you have some teddies please contact Christine on 01446 710096 or email christinejames3@btconnect.com.

Any teddies contributed will be added to Elaine's total, which currently stands at just over 3,200!!!

KNITTED TEDDIES PATTERN - Instructions:

Double knitting wool 1 pair size 10 knitting needles

Main colour for head and paws (preferably fawn)
Colours for trousers jumper and scarf (should be bright)
Stuffing please only stuff teddy with polyester or other healthy padding.
Foam rubber is not recommended.

Cast on 10 stitches main colour. Knit 10 rows (garter stitch). Continue in garter stitch for 30 rows in trouser colour. Make another leg in the same way.
Knit across all 20 stitches and work 16 rows. Change to jumper colour and knit 24 rows.

Change to main colour for head and also change to stocking stitch. Work for5 inches.
Change to jumper colour and knit 24 rows. Continue remainder of Teddy in reverse order.

Stitch down the sides of the head. With jumper colour, pick up 8 stitches either side of the neck join (16 in all) and knit 20 rows. Change to main colour and knit 10 rows for paws.

Sew up Teddy leaving opening in crotch. Turn right side out and sew diagonal top corners for ears before stuffing.

After stuffing, run a thread through the knitting around the neck to draw it in.

Sew a happy face and for mouth use either stem stitch or back stitch.

Scarf Cast on 75 stitches. Knit 4 rows and cast off. Tie scarf on Teddy and sew firmly to the back of the neck, close to the jumper edge. Don't sew down at the front.

If you would like to make a material bag with a drawstring at the top 10" x 13" that would be great not essential but children can carry teddies away in the bag!!!)

The Pattern shown above is simple for those who knit and can make good use of small pieces of wool left over from major projects carried out during the year.