a bevy of bears

I found the pattern for these bears at my favorite thrift store and bought it without a second thought. My mom used to make these bears for us when I was a child. I don't think she has any of them anymore. So I thought I would make some for my girls. The two flannel bears are from receiving blankets my Mom made for the girls when they were newborns. My girls loved to be swaddled (both were swaddled past their first birthday!!) and Mom would make these huge flannel or seersucker blankets to use.

The dark grey bears are made from my Grandpa M's old pea coat. When he died, I asked Mom to get some of his clothes for me. I intended to pay an exorbitant amount of money to have it made into 'memory' bears for the girls. Twice I almost sent the coat off but chickened out due to the cost. So when I got this pattern I decided I would do it myself. Both of my nieces will get a bear and both of my girls will. I still have one of his suit jackets to make bears for nieces and nephews who are yet to be.

I have to admit. When I clipped into the shoulder seam of Grandpa's coat to start ripping it up I felt like I was doing something sacrilegious.