Unique Crochet Gifts by Jean Steele

It’s that time of the year to start thinking about unique seasonal holiday gifts for those very special people on your gift lists. Recently I found about about Jean Steele who makes amazing crochet bears and blankets and sells them at craft fairs and or from her home.

When my first granddaughter was born back in May 2020 Jean gifted me via my wife a cute crochet bear for my granddaughter. When my daughter brought the baby to the U.S.A. back in June 2021, I gave it to her. She loved it. In fact when I visited England in April 2023, where my daughter and her husband with their two children live, there was the bear, with my granddaughter’s “special things.”

Yet it wasn’t until I saw a recent photo of Jean Steele set up at a fair selling the blankets and bears did I realize she sells them to the public for seasonal holiday gifts like Christmas or Hanukkah.

Being curious I contacted Jean Steele recently to find out the story behind her craft. She replied, “I started crocheting when I was 12 when my grandmother taught me.I am the only one of my family left that does this craft.”

When I first looked at these cute bears and wonderful blankets I wondered how long does it take to make one? Jean informed me that, “It takes me about six hours to make the teddy bears and the blankets.” Saying, “It depends. I do it at night so it could be four or five nights. I price them by what I feel people would pay. Yes, my work is not always paid for, but I’d rather see a smile on a child’s face then make money. I sell them at Craft Fair‘s and word-of-mouth.”

So how can someone acquire one or at least get some more information about them she replied, “I do not have a website but my contact information is : mamajeansbearsandblankets@gmail.com.” She added, “Or they can text me 631-680-9479. I take special orders, and I deliver to anywhere on Long Island.”