Crochet Bear

I recently purchased a book of crochet patterns and in it was a gorgeous home made teddy bear. The idea of making one myself was so tempting, I gave in and decided to give it a go. Only problem is that on looking closer I really didn’t like the pattern, it didn’t really look like a bear, so many little things that just weren’t right. So I started searching the net for the perfect teddy bear pattern, and guess what, I couldn’t find one anywhere. Of course everyone has a different idea of what a bear should look like, so I presume the designers were happy with their designs, but I could see so many things that needed to change. One had the perfect feet, another the perfect arms, another had great ears, and another a great body. So I combined them all, and made a scrawny ugly bear, that just wasn’t right, Lily loved it though, so it’s hers. So more work, more modifications, and I made a fairly nice bear, a few changes needed here or there, but not quite right. More modifications and now I’m happy with it. So here is my version of the perfect crocheted teddy bear.

Measurement 36cm

Materials
12 ply yarn any colour
6mm hook
Polyfil
Black 8 ply for nose, eyes and claws
4.5mm hook.

Crochet each stitch tightly when crocheting animals in the round.

Leg (Make 2)
Make a magic circle
Rnd 1: 10 dc in the round. (10)
Rnd 2: 2 dc in ea st. (20)
Rnd 3: *2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in the next st* repeat around. Slip st last st in this rnd. Ch 1. (30)
Rnd 4: In the back loops only, 1 dc in ea st. Slip st last st in this rnd. Ch 1. (30)
Rnd 5&6: 1 dc in ea st. (30)
Rnd 7: 1 dc in the next 5 st *Dc next two sts together*10 times, 1 dc in the next 5 st (20)
Rnd 8-22: 1 dc in ea st. (20)
Rnd 23: stuff firmly at bottom, and lightly at top. Finish off the first leg only. But, think of the first leg as leg#2 in the body instructions. Do not finish off second leg. Consider the second leg to be leg#1.

Body (worked straight onto legs)
Rnd 1: Both legs held together with right sides facing, 1 dc in ea of 10 sts in leg#1, 1 dc in ea of the 20 sts in leg#2, 1 dc in the remaining 10 sts in leg#1. (40)
Rnd 2: *2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in ea of the next 1 st* repeat 10 times at back, *2 dc in the next st, 1 dc in ea of the next 3 sts* repeat 5 times at front (55)
Rnd 3-21: 1 dc in ea st. (55) At this point, stuff the legs and lower body. Align marker with hip
Rnd 22: dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next 12, dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next 12, dc next 2 st together, place extra marker, 1 dc in next 25 st (52)
Rnd 23: dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next 23, dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next 25 st (50)
Rnd 24: *dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next 21, dc next 2 st together* 2 times (46)
Rnd 25: *dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next 19, dc next 2 st together* 2 times (42)
Rnd 26: *dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next 17, dc next 2 st together* 2 times (38)
Rnd 27: *dc next 2 st together twice, 1 dc in next 21, dc next 2 st together twice* 2 times (30)
Rnd 28: *dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next dc* repeat 10 times (20)
Rnd 29: 1 dc in each dc (20)

Head
Work straight onto body
Rnd 1: 1 dc in each dc (20)
Rnd 2: *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc* repeat (30)
Rnd 3: *2dc in next dc, dc in each next 2 dc* (40) (stuff body)
Rnd 4: *dc into each next 3 st, 2 dc in next st* repeat (50)
Rnd 5 – 16: 1 dc into each st (50)
Rnd 17: *dc next 2 st together, 1 in next 3 st* repeat (40)
Rnd 18: *1 dc in next 2 dc, dc next 2 st together* (30)
Rnd 19: *1 dc in next 4, dc next 2 st together* (25)
Rnd 20&21: *dc next 2 st together, 1 dc in next* repeat 14 times (11) stuff head
Rnd 22&23: *dc next 2 st together* repeat 8 times (3)
Rnd 24: ss then finish. Weave ends in

Arms (Make 2)
Magic circle
Rnd 1: 10 dc in the circle. (10)
Rnd 2: 2 dc in ea st. (20)
Rnd 3-5:1 dc in ea st. (20)
Stuff the hand and arm a little as you go along. Stuff the upper arm loosely.
Rnd 6: *Dc next 2 sts together* repeat 7 times, 1 dc in ea of the next 6 sts (15)
Rnd 7: 1 dc in ea of the next 7 sts, 2 dc in next 6 sts (19)
Rnd 8-20: 1 dc in ea st. (19) Stuff
Rnd 21: work 9 dc across working through both layers. Finish off, leaving enough yarn to sew to body.

Ears (Make 2)
Magic circle
Rnd 1: 10 dc into circle, mark end of round, do not join (10)
Rnd2: 2 dc in each dc (20)
Rnds 3 - 6: dc in each dc (20)
Row 7: fold ear in half with wrong sides together, c1, work 10 dc across working through both layers. Finish off, leaving enough yarn to sew to head

Muzzle
Magic circle
Rnd 1: 10 dc into circle, mark end of round, do not join (10)
Rnd2: 2 dc in each dc (20)
Rnds 3 - 5: dc in each dc. Finish off, leaving yarn to sew to head.

Tail
Magic Loop
Rnd 1: 10 dc in loop. (10)
Rnd 2: *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st* around. (15)
Rnd 3-6: dc around. (15) Fasten off, leaving tail for sewing to body

Eyes (make 2) and nose
4 chain
4 tr in first chain, leaving last loop on hook.
Bring yarn through all 5 loops
Slst finish off, leaving enough yarn to sew on.