Bears from the Boat

If you go down to the Bower Bird boat today, you’ll be sure of a big surprise. Residing aboard the 65ft narrowboat are the latest creations of Gill Cattroll, an artist with over 1,575 unique, handmade teddy bears to her name.

Gill has lived aboard Bower Bird with her husband Iain since 2021. It’s a 65ft electric-powered cruiser-stern – the first narrowboat produced by Thames Solar Electric – currently based near Droitwich. The couple are long-time Crick Boat Show visitors, initially to carry out research for their future boat-build and then as exhibitors. The 2025 event was their fourth time bringing bears to Crick. “It’s the only multi-day show that we do,” says Gill. “We love the atmosphere, meeting up with other boaters and customers, and have been very happy with how everything has gone for us this year.”

Gill’s bears are all one-of-a-kind creations, made to her own designs. “I previously worked for a furniture company that made bespoke pieces. I was given a book of discontinued fabric samples that I was told needed to be thrown out, but I asked if I could keep them. They weren’t suitable for making cushions or using in patchwork but then I came across a pattern for a teddy bear.” 

After putting her sewing skills to the test, Gill had made something resembling a bear and was hooked on the idea. “That first bear doesn’t really compare with what I do now. I just kept at it, taking courses, learning new skills and meeting lots of other people who enjoy the craft.” 

Gill took up bear-making full-time after being made redundant and has now been crafting the cute creatures for more than 14 years. The bears are all individually named and numbered, and each comes with a tag detailing what it has been made of and filled with. “They’re collector items, not children’s toys. I have repeat customers who get very keen to buy new additions – we had a lady run straight to our stall at Crick when the show opened on the Saturday as she missed out on a bear that sold before she could find us in a previous year.” 

The bears range in size from around 3in to 12in and are made from a variety of soft fabrics including tweed, mohair, viscose and wool. Fully jointed and with adorable knitted or sewn clothing and accessories, plus glass eyes, each bear has its own character. However, the glass bead filling means they’re not suitable for those under the age of 14. 

In addition to her stock bears, Gill undertakes commissions too. “Memory bears using clothing or fabric belonging to loved ones became particularly popular during the pandemic,” says Gill. “I do like making keepsake bears out of babygrows too, which are more celebratory.”

This is an extract from the 'On The Cut' section that appears in Waterways World August 2025