Not long after I came to the conclusion that designing patterns was (most likely) the best way for my crochet business to survive economic downturns, I had the good fortune to discover a list of children's literature in the public domain.
I have no interest in getting myself into hot water by making trademarked character designs, so it was truly delightful to find both A.A. Milne and Beatrix Potter characters within my pool of possibilities!
While the fever of excitement was upon me, I marched myself over to www.thriftbooks.com, and found a little volume of the original story with illustrations that I bought with a free book credit (huzzah!). It certainly seemed an auspicious beginning.
Eight days later, after the delightful little email notification that my book was out for delivery, I cracked out a sketching notepad in anticipation of finding the perfect picture for my design.
The postman didn't ring at all ( since we don't have a doorbell), and my book as at last in my hands.
All the whimsy of the classic Disney movie really pales in comparison to the original story. I thumbed my way through each chapter, gazing long and hard at each snippet of picture scattered throughout the text. Picking one to use was difficult, but at last I settled on one and sketched an attempt at a copy freehand in my notebook.
Do you think that I had the proper mustard yellow color Yarn on hand in my stash that resembles a craft store heist in size and variety?
Alas, gentle reader, I did not.
Of course I did what any seasoned crafter would do, I drove my rear end down to the local craft store in a flurry resembling a fighter jet scrambling to launch for combat!
I returned from "foraging" at Joann's with not only two large skeins of the yellow I needed, but also a lovely teal that I needed for a doll dress...👀 besides, who ever really leaves with ONLY what they went in for? Not many of us have that kind of "intestinal fortitude", but I digress!
I spent the next several days crocheting feverishly, jotting down every stitch in each row as I went to make sure each aspect was documented. I studied my example picture, I stuffed body pieces, and at long last, was ready to assemble him.
I made a grave mistake, my dear crochet friends...
I assumed that if I documented everything and checked back with my picture, that I would be able to keep mistakes to a minimum and blaze forward to a finished pattern in a few days.
As I slowly began to sew him together, I realized that while my shaping efforts were working for individual pieces in theory, when put together in reality they just weren't working.
As I continued to sew I distinctly though, " I hate him, this Pooh will not do!" ( Insert intense perfectionist annoyance here!)
As disappointed as I have been initially, my ardor for the project is in no way dampened. It will simply take me a little longer to get a pattern and a tutorial video for it ready to share with you!
Never fear, I shall also debut the Abominable Pooh Bear once the Proper Pooh Bear has been achieved so that you can see the differences and changes that I needed to make. And then I can pretend that I did it on purpose for a teaching moment....yeah.... that's the ticket!🤔🧐🤣
Until then, I shall continue to pick away at his design and recover from the lovely mucky cold that has spread through my home.
Til then, friends, spread shenanigans and cheer, for the world needs more of such things as joy and silly whimsy!❤
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