Pattern for knitted bears

What you will need

Knitting Needles

Use size 3.25 (10) up to 3.75 (9)

Wool 

  • 8ply
  • Colour 1 for feet and head (use a light colour so face stands out)
  • Colour 2 for pants
  • Colour 3 for jumper
  • Colour 4 for face (black or dark colour)

Filling

  • Teddies should be filled with polyester monofilament. This can be bought from Spotlight. 

Knitting pattern

 1. Feet and pants

  • Cast on 8 stitches in colour 1 and knit 8 rows to make a foot.
  • Change to colour 2 for pants and knit 14 rows to make a pant leg.
  • Keep the original foot and pant leg on your needles and, knit a second foot and pant leg on the same needle to match the first. See image below.
  • You should now have 2 seperate legs on one needle.
  • Knit across both pant legs for another 10 rows.

2. Jumper

  • Change to colour 3 for jumper and knit 10 rows.
  • Cast on 8 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows to start sleeves.
  • Knit 10 more rows for sleeves. 
  • Cast off 8 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 
  • There should be 16 stitches left on your needles. 

3. Head

  • Change to colour 1 and knit 20 rows for head and cast off. 

4. Knit another side to match 

 


 

5. Sewing up

*Do not use pins as they are dangerous if left in the bear.

  • Use the leftover yarn to neatly sew the two sides together using small running or slip stitch.
  • Starting at the top of one side of the head, sew down one side of the bear leaving the top of the head open for filling.

6. Filling

  • Teddies should be filled with polyester monofilament. 
  • Once filled, use slip stitches to close the head.

7. Neck

  • Using colour 1, gather the neck where the head joins the jumper and sew a small running stitch. (Make the stitch small so fingers can not get caught in the stitch). 

8. Ears

  • Using the yarn at the top of the head, stitch down the head 8 rows then, sew small running stitches diagonally up to the top of the head.
  • Pull the yarn slightly to make the ear rounded and secure yarn to finish off. See diagram below.

 


9. Face

  • Embroider a happy face on your bear with colour 4, making sure stitches are no longer than 2 stitches wide so small fingers can not be caught in the stitch.
  • Never use buttons or other plastic materials to make eyes or noses as they are a choking hazard.


Happy knitting!