My grandmother made one of these bears for me when I was born. She went on to make many more, for other grandchildren. Every one of them was named Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear (i.e., gladly the cross I’d bear)

My husband’s grandmother loaned me this pattern booklet so I could make the classic tea-cozy from it -- and imagine my surprise when I found my bear on the cover!

I made this bear for my cousin’s baby Leila, who was named after my grandmother.