Blessing Bears
Over the years, I’ve created more different types of projects than I can count, but my favorites are always the things I’ve made for others. Recently, a project idea that started with my son has exploded into a special ministry we call the Blessing Bears.
Last summer, along with a group of crafty friends, we made gifts for the residents at a local assisted living facility. About a month ago, my 15-year-old son asked if we could do that again. He went on Pinterest, found a free pattern for a simple plush teddy bear, and brought it to me saying it was what he wanted to make. We got a very special group of crafters together with the goal of making 15 bears, one for each resident.
But it didn’t stop there. A few days after we made them, one of the ladies in our group asked if we could give one to her dad, who had fallen and injured his head. Another friend asked for one for someone who was in the hospital. Requests started rolling in, and each time, as we hear about people in our community (and far outside of it) who are ill, hurt, grieving, dealing with difficult circumstances, or otherwise in need of encouragement, we dispatch a blessing bear. As of June 4, we have given away 150 bears! We are currently working on a batch of 30 for another assisted living facility in the area.
Some of the blessing bears are hand delivered, some get anonymously “porch dropped,” and some get shipped to distant states. Each one is made with love, prayed over, and named, then sent off to where it’s needed.
These sweet bears are simple to make, and each one is completely unique! The pattern has a variety of noses and muzzles, and you can add a belly or not. Our bears are different shades of brown and/or grey, but you can use any colors of fleece you like. We give each bear a colored heart, and the girl bears get matching hair bows. They also have little pom-pom tails! I wanted to share a link to the pattern with you in case you’d like to make some blessing bears for the people in your life and community.
Materials
- 1/3 yard fleece fabric (makes 3 bears)
- felt, assorted colors
- craft eyes
- scissors
- needle and thread
- Poly-Fil
- free pattern
You can find the full photo tutorial with written instructions for assembling the bears here. I hope they are as big a blessing to you as they have been to us.
Crafting Tips
- We altered the ears on the original pattern to make them a bit larger and easier to sew and stuff.
- While you can just glue the nose, heart, and muzzle, we recommend hand stitching around the pieces.
- We use flat-backed eyes and glue them on. However, you can use safety eyes if you are using the bears for small children.
- In addition to fleece, you can make these bears out of denim or cotton fabric.
- Don’t forget to add a pom-pom tail on the back side!
Frequently Asked Questions
The finished plush is approximately 9.5”-10” tall.
Yes. Head to blessingbearsministry.com/nominate/
Check in your local community with the hospital, assisted living center, etc. to see where you could meet a need.
If you create and share these Blessing Bears, we’d love to hear about it! Make sure you’re part of the Amy Latta & Friends Facebook Group so you can share your photos and we can all be inspired. See you there!
More Sewing Projects
Here are some other easy projects to inspire you!
