Knit Teddy Bear Tutorial

Materials

• 1 set 4mm double pointed needles
• About 1/3 ball of yarn (33 grams)
• Some black yarn for the eyes and nose
• Tapestry needle
• A ribbon for the neck.
• Polyfill (or other) stuffing

Abbreviations

• K: knit
• Kfb: knit front back: knit in the front of the stitch, and another in the back of the stitch to increase.
• K2tog: knit 2 together
• […] instructions inside the [..] should be repeated as many times as specified.

Body + Head:

Using your main color, cast on 48 stitches and divide the stitches evenly between 3 or 4 needles, as you feel comfortable working with, and join to start knitting in the round.

Row 1 – 15: knit all stitches.

Row 16: [k6, k2tog] 6 times (42)

Row 17: knit all stitches.

Row 18: [k5, k2tog] 6 times (36)

Row 19: knit all stitches.

Row 20: [k4 k2tog] 6 times (30)

Row 21: knit all stitches.

Row 22: [k3 k2tog] 6 times (24)

Row 23: knit all stitches.

(Now we’re starting the head)

Row 24: [k3 kfb] 6 times (30)

Row 25: knit all stitches

Row 26: [k4 kfb] 6 times (36)

Row 27: knit all stitches

Row 28: [k5 kfb] 6 times (42)

Row 29-33: knit all stitches

Row 34: [k5 k2tog] 6 times (36)

Row 35: [k4 k2tog] 6 times (30)

Row 36: [k3 k2tog] 6 times (24)

Row 37: [k2 k2tog] 6 times (18)

Row 38: [k1 k2tog] 6 times (12)

Row 39: k2tog 6 times (6)

Ears (make 2)

Cast on 12 stitches, divide between 2 needles and join to start knitting in the round. Leave a yarn “tail” to stitch the ear to the head.

Row 1: knit all stitches

Row 2: [k2tog k4] 2 times (10)

Row 3: [k2tog k3] 2 times (8)

Row 4: [k2tog k2] 2 times (6)

Row 5: [k2tog k1] 2 times (4)

Break the yarn and pull through remaining stitches.

Flatten the ear using the “k2tog” line as your seam.

Use the tail you left in the beginning to stitch the ear to the head.

Nose & face

Using the black yarn, cast on 16 stitches, divide between 2 needles and join to start knitting in the round.

Leave a yarn “tail” to stitch the nose to the face.

Row 1: knit all stitches

Row 2: [k2tog k6] 2 times (14)

Row 3: [k2tog k5] 2 times (12)

Row 4: [k2tog k4] 2 times (10)

Row 5: [k2tog k3] 2 times (8)

Row 6: [k2tog k2] 2 times (6)

Break the yarn and pull through remaining stitches.

Stuff the nose lightly.

Use the tail you left in the beginning to stitch the nose to the face.

Use some more black yarn to embroider the mouth and eyes on to the face.

Arms (make 2)

Cast on 12 stitches, divide between 2 needles and join to start knitting in the round.

Leave a yarn “tail” to stitch the arms to the body.

Row 1-12: knit all stitches

Row 13: [k2tog k4] 2 times (10)

Row 14: [k2tog k3] 2 times (8)

Row 15: [k2tog k2] 2 times (6)

Row 16: [k2tog k1] 2 times (4)

Break the yarn and pull through remaining stitches.

Lay the arm flat, at a downward angle towards the front/bottom of the bear, and use the tail you left in the beginning to stitch the arms to either side of the body. The angle causes the arms to open nicely when you’re done.

Stuff the body and head.

Legs (make right and left)

Starting from the middle of the bottom of the body (determine this by the position of the nose/ears etc.), pick up and knit 24 stitches. Divide the stitches evenly between 3 or 4 needles, as you feel comfortable working with, and join to start knitting in the round.

Row 2-15: knit all stitches.

Next we shape the foot by increasing the front of the leg, make sure you’re following the instructions for the correct side.

Right Leg, Row 16: k15, kfb 6times, k3 (30)

Left Leg, Row 16: k3, kfb 6 times, k15 (30)

Row 17 -21: knit all stitches.

Stuff leg.

Row 22: [k1, k2tog] 10 times (20)

Row 23: [k1, k2tog] 6 times, k2tog (15)

Row 24: [k1, k2tog] 5 times (10)

Add some more stuffing to the foot, if you want

Row 25: [k1, k2tog] 3times, k1 (8)

Break yarn and pull through remaining stitches to close the foot.

After finishing both legs, you might have a gap between them – use some yarn to sew it closed.

Tie a ribbon around the bear’s neck – and you’re done!

[This pattern is for personal use only. Items made with this pattern may not be sold without my explicit permission. Please read the Terms & Conditions for further details.]