Broadway Baby Bears

Last week I happened to notice mighty Wendy's mention of Phyl's Bear Drive (and her covetable drawing, now concluded) and got busy on Stripe and Pink.



Stripe was knitted according to Phyl's pattern, flat in one piece from feet to head and back down again, using Coeur Rouge oddments. In the photo, the unconfined stockinette stitch has rolled up, making Stripe look very thin. Pink, with garter stitch paws, was knit in the round from feet to head, using formerly Unloved Sock Yarn (Regia 6-ply) and more Coeur Rouge oddments. I'm especially happy formerly unloved yarn has become a little bear for a child to love. Each bear is shown with with a small heart sachet filled with lavender because I always put a little heart in my bears.

   

Knitting flat has the advantage of speed, but the drawback of lots of seaming and the awkwardness of stuffing through the relatively small crotch opening. Knitting in the round is slower and requires some grafting, but no sewing, plus stuffing is through the relatively large head opening. For me, grafting goes as fast as mattress stitching, so although Stripe was started first, Pink was finished first.

After knitting, sewing or grafting, stuffing, and more sewing or grafting came the ordeal of stitching the face. I'm not good at faces. My bears generally get six or seven faces with Picasso-type multiple perspective facial features before everything looks right. I define the neck and ears first, add accessories, then stitch the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Here's Pink...

      

... and Stripe.

      

DH saw an earlier version of Pink and made that husbandly pause that means spousal loyalty and a desire for continued hot suppers are warring with a waggish desire for freedom of expression. Finally he said, "He looks like Gordon MacRae, in Carousel." Hrmph. Billy Bigelow never wore pink sweaters. Pink is a girl. (Pink got a new face.)

The rest of the evening was spent earnestly trying to select the greatest Broadway musical of all time, complete with a revue by Pink and Stripe, who sounded strangely like John Raitt and Jerry Orbach, even when they felt pretty. Which left open the question: What is the greatest Broadway musical of all time?