Crafting with Care: Why Buddy Bears Are Now Gender-Neutral

Knitting a bear for the Buddy Bag Foundation isn’t just about crafting a toy—it’s about creating comfort, joy, and security for children in emergency care. The love and effort that crafters put into these bears makes a real difference, bringing warmth to little ones facing challenging situations.

However, there’s an important update for all crafters—moving forward, all knitted bears should be made in gender-neutral colours. But what does that mean exactly? And does it limit creativity? Absolutely not!

Ensuring long-term sustainability

“To continue making a lasting impact, we have made some changes to our Buddy Bag Foundation Crafters Pack. These adjustments will help us sustain our efforts and reach more children in emergency care.

We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support—it truly makes a difference in the lives of the children who need it most.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us!”

Karen Williams OBE
CEO/Co-Founder

What’s in a Buddy Bag?

A Buddy Bag is a backpack that contains all the essential items a child needs when entering emergency accommodation.

Each bag includes:
✔ Toiletries
✔ Pyjamas, socks, and underwear
✔ A book
✔ A comforting teddy bear

A Buddy Bag is something a child can call their own, no matter where they go. Each bag is tailored to suit babies, children, and young people aged 0 to 16. This means that any bear can be given to any child, regardless of age, making it even more important that they are created in bright, gender-neutral colours.

The Buddy Bag Foundation makes sure that every bear is suitable for every child

What Does “Gender-Neutral” Really Mean?

When we say gender-neutral, we mean using colours and patterns that are suitable for any child, regardless of gender or age. This doesn’t mean dull, bland, or boring colours! It actually encourages the use of bright, fun, and cheerful shades—think rainbow hues, lively greens, vibrant oranges, and warm yellows. The idea is to ensure that every bear can bring happiness to any child without assumptions based on gender norms.

Bright, Colourful, and Inclusive

If you look at the Buddy Bears in the images above, you’ll see just how lively and joyful they are. From blue and green stripes to multi-coloured scarves, each bear is unique. This variety ensures that every child gets a bear that feels special and personal to them.

The request for gender-neutral colours is simply about expanding accessibility—by avoiding pink-for-girls and blue-for-boys assumptions, we make sure that every bear is suitable for every child.

What If I Already Have Wool?

Some crafters have asked: “Can I still use the wool I already have?” Yes! Please continue using up your existing materials. The goal isn’t to waste resources but to make better choices moving forward. If you have pink, blend it with other bright colours. If you have blue, mix it with orange, green, or yellow. The key is balance.

This applies to all sewing projects as well, including toiletry bags and pencil cases. A bold mix of patterns, polka dots, stripes, and multi-coloured fabrics will help make these items fun and inclusive for all children.

Are You a Brilliant Knitter or a Whizz with a Sewing Machine?

We need talented crafters to make a difference to a child in emergency care.

✅ If you love knitting, follow our knitting pattern to create Buddy Bears.
✅ If sewing is your skill, take part in our toiletry bag project.

All the items made go into Buddy Bags for children entering emergency accommodation. It’s easy to take part—simply download the BBF Crafter’s Pack here and choose your design. Full details of where to send your creations are included in the pack.

Every Stitch Makes a Difference

The Buddy Bag Foundation was created to support children who have entered into emergency care in the UK. Every bear that volunteers knit, every bag sewn, and every item donated provides a child with something to call their own.

So let’s embrace colour, creativity, and kindness in every bear we make! Together, we can make a difference to the children who receive our Buddy Bags of Love to help them feel safe, loved, and included—one bear at a time.

Want to Get Involved?

• Find knitting and sewing patterns in our Resource Centre
• Follow Buddy Bag Foundation on social media to see how your contributions make a difference
• Share this message with other crafters and encourage more people to get involved!

Thank you to all the incredible volunteers who continue to spread joy through crafting. 💙🧸✨