YARNING BUNDABERG PROJECT TEDDY BEAR
KNITTED TEDDY BEARS FOR CHILDERS READ TO ME DAY
About Childers Read to Me Day
The event was developed as a result of concerns raised about the low levels of literacy and language acquisition in Queensland in early childhood (2nd lowest in Australia) which in turn impacts on literacy levels throughout school life and on a young person's successful completion of schooling.
The Childers Read to Me Day is held in Childers on the last Thursday of August. We invite local businesses on Churchill Street to be a part of this wonderful community event by decorating their business and/or dressing up in theme on the day. Reading Stations are identified and volunteer readers including business staff and high school students read a themed story to small groups of young children from the local schools, early childhood services and community, every year we have a theme.
The aim of the activity is enabling children to experience the joy of reading from a young age. The event provides many fun and exciting reading focused activities for children aged 0-8 years and their families. Information on the benefits of reading to young children and how this can be done will be provided to families on the day.
In 2020 we developed the idea of a Read to Me Day Bear, which is to encourage young children and families to read to the bears. It allows children to talk, read and be comforted by the bears if others are not available to read to them. Children can hold the bears while being read to.
By Debra from Childers Neighbourhood Centre
How can you help!
Yarning Bundaberg members and friends can help this fantastic event by making and donating knitted bears for the children to read to.
You only need a few things to make a Teddy
· Acrylic Yarn 8ply (DK, Light Worsted)
· Knitting Needles (4mm)
· Polyester Stuffing
· Yarn Needle
· Little Knitted Teddy Pattern (courtesy of Childers Neighbourhood Centre)
Yarn
8ply Acrylic Yarn in colours of your choice
The bear can be made in one colour or you can choose to give the bear different coloured pants and shirt etc.
The scarf is to be made from acrylic yarn in the colour of your choice.
Assembly
Please double check to make sure pins/markers are not left inside Teddy.
Yarn ends need to be secured, so the seams don’t come undone.
Scarf is to be secured in place at the back of the neck, so it doesn’t come off.
A happy face is to be stitched on only with yarn (please do not use plastic eyes, noses, buttons etc) and can be stitched on before or after stuffing.
Polyester Stuffing suggestions;
- Hobby Fill (Spotlight)
- Soft Filling Premium (Lincraft)
- Easyrest Polyester Easy Fill (Big W)
Drop Off Location and Dates
Finished Bears can be dropped off at a meetup no later than 9th July 2021
or get in contact with us for other arrangements.
Need Help?
If you are not a confident knitter or have some questions, you are more than welcome to come along to one of our meetups to get some help.
At our Yarning Bundaberg meetup talk to Erin or Marilyn for help with knitting/assembly and Robin for help with sewing on a happy face.
If you can only crochet, don’t worry we have a crochet pattern for you.
(It will still need to be in 8 Ply acrylic yarn with corresponding hook size. All the other information still applies)
Thank You for being involved in this wonderful project
Happy Yarning!
Yarning Bundaberg.
