Did you know that the Teddy Bear is more than a century old? He was born in 1902, when U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, on a hunting trip in Mississippi, spared a frightened little bear. Washington Post political cartoons depicting the incident prompted a smart Brooklyn merchant to ask permission to name the stuffed toy bears in his shop "Teddy's Bears," and soon, he was selling hundreds of them.

Rose Michton, the merchant's wife, had made those first bears, stuffed with excelsior, and finished with black shoe button eyes. And so, we can credit a sewist for the ultimate success of the Ideal Toy Company and the popularity of our beloved teddy bears.

Stuffed animals are our very first toys. Their softness comforts us. As toddlers, we come to love them, and we carry them around everywhere we go. They don't talk much, but they listen so well. When we listen in on our children or grandchildren at play, we are reminded of those innocent days when a teddy bear could be a best friend. And, we know that they will always love teddy bears as much as we do -- even if they keep it a secret.

And, so this week, designs with Teddy Bears are destined to warm your heart. Sew "sweet dreams" with teddy bear quilt blocks, or dress your "honey" in a baby bear shirt or bib. Busy bears are fun for those that dream of what they'll become when they grow up.

Sew up a whole lot of fun for the young and young at heart, and enjoy these Teddy Bear designs!