Cozy Teddy Bear Knitting Pattern

Introduction

Designed to be knit in the round with magic loop, this 9 – 10″ teddy is cast on at the top of his head and shaped throughout with strategically placed increases and decreases. Happily, this knit one piece teddy bear pattern has hardly any seaming other than sewing his ears to his little noggin.

Gauge

Gauge isn’t important for this project, but you should use a needle 2 to 3 sizes smaller than the recommended size for your yarn to avoid holes in fabric that stuffing could show through.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn – approximately 150 yards (I used Malabrigo Rios)
• US 3 or 4 circular needle. (Can easily be adapted to double points if desired)
• 3 markers, one unique from the others. (Unique marker to be placed with first pm instruction)
• Tapestry needle

Abbreviations

• k = knit
• m1 = make one
• m1R = lift the bar between stitches from back to front with left needle, then knit into the front of the stitch.
• m1L = lift the bar between stitches from front to back with left needle, then knit through back of stitch.
• kfb = knit in front and back of same stitch
• pm = place marker
• sm = slip marker
• k2tog = knit 2 stitches together

Instructions

Top of Head

Cast on 18 stitches (9 on each of two needles) with Turkish or other toe-up cast on.

Round 1:

• Needle 1: K4, m1R, pm, k1, m1L, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: k1, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, k1

Round 2: Knit around

Round 3:

• Needle 1: knit to marker, m1R, sm, k1, m1L, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: k1, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, k1

Round 4: Knit around

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 four more times (21 stitches on each needle).

Nose

Round 1:

• Needle 1: knit to marker, m1R, sm, k1, m1L, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: knit

Repeat above round three more times (29 stitches on needle 1; 21 stitches on needle 2).

Knit for 2 rounds.

Neck

Round 1:

• Needle 1: k1, k2tog, knit to 2 stitches before marker, ssk, sm, k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1
• Needle 2: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1

Round 2: Knit

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 three more times (13 stitches on each needle). Place safety eyes and nose piece if using these. Stuff head.

Body

Round 1:

• Needle 1: m1R, pm, knit to center marker, m1R, sm, k1, m1L, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: m1R, pm, k1, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, k1

Round 2: Knit

Round 3:

• Needle 1: m1R, knit to marker, m1L, sm, knit to center marker, m1R, sm, k1, m1L, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: m1R, knit to marker, m1L, sm, k1, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, k1

Round 4: Knit

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 four more times (11 stitches made on each needle for arms).

Separate Arms

Needle 1

Needle 2: Put first 11 stitches on each needle on holder or waste yarn, removing arm markers (leave center marker in place), and join in round. Pull first couple of stitches tight and knit in round (25 stitches on each of needle 1 and needle 2).

Knit 10 rows.

Decrease Body

Round 1:

• Needle 1: knit to 2 stitches before marker, ssk, sm, k1, k2tog, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: knit

Round 2: Knit

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 twice (19 stitches on needle 1 – 9 before central marker and 10 after marker; 25 stitches on needle 2).

Bottom

Prepare to purl back across needle 2. The bottom is worked back and forth across needle 2 only.

• sl 1, p15, p2tog, p1, turn
• sl 1, k8, ssk, k1, turn
• sl 1, p9, p2tog, p1, turn
• sl 1, k10, ssk, k1, turn
• sl 1, p11, p2tog, p1, turn
• sl 1, k12, ssk, k1, turn
• sl 1, p13, p2tog, p1, turn
• sl 1, k14, ssk, k1

Stuff body. Resume knitting in round.

Right Leg (On Bear’s Right Side)

K10 on needle 1, removing marker when you come to it. Slip 2nd to last stitch (on right needle) over last stitch to bind off one. Put next 9 stitches on needle 1 and first 8 stitches on needle 2 on a holder. Hold working yarn snug to avoid gap and knit 2. Slip first knitted stitch over second to bind off one. Knit to end of needle 2 (9 front leg stitches on needle 1 and 8 back leg stitches on needle 2).

Knit in round for 22 rows.

Foot

Round 1:

• Needle 1: k4, m1R, pm, k1, m1L, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: knit

Round 2: Knit around

Round 3:

• Needle 1: k to marker, m1R, sm, k1, m1L, knit to end of needle
• Needle 2: knit

Round 4: Knit around

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 three more times (19 stitches on needle 1, 8 stitches on needle 2).

Bottom of Foot

Round 1: ssk four times, k3 removing marker, k2tog six times, ssk twice

Round 2: Knit around

(Stuff bottom half of leg very lightly. Stuff foot.)

Round 3: ssk twice, k3, k2tog three times, ssk

Cut yarn and thread through remaining 9 stitches to finish.

Left Leg/Foot

Take stitches off holder and arrange on 2 needles. 9 front leg stitches on needle 1 and 8 back leg stitches on needle 2. Attach yarn, leaving an 8-inch length to close gap between legs and begin knitting in round with needle 1. Knit in round for 22 rows. Repeat instructions for foot above.

Sew gap between legs closed.

Right Arm (On Bear’s Right Side)

Take stitches off of holder and arrange with first 7 stitches toward back of arm on needle 1 and next 4 stitches toward front of arm on needle 2.

Knit across needle 1 and needle 2, then pick up 4 stitches along the bottom of the arm with needle 2 and begin knitting in round. To prevent gaps, hold working yarn taut and pull first two stitches on each needle taut.

You may arrange stitches on 3 dpns to further help prevent ladders or gaps.

Knit 16 rows. Stuff shoulder and arm lightly.

• (ssk, k1) five times
• k2tog around

Cut yarn and draw end through last 5 stitches and fasten off.

Left Arm (On Bear’s Left Side)

Take stitches off holder and arrange with first 7 stitches toward front of arm on needle 1 and next 4 stitches toward back of arm on needle 2. Then pick up 4 stitches along the bottom of the arm with needle 2 and begin knitting in round.

Knit 16 rows. Stuff shoulder and arm lightly.

• (ssk, k1) five times
• k2tog around

Cut yarn and draw end through last 5 stitches and fasten off.

Ears

Cast on 8 (4 on each needle) with your choice of toe-up cast on.

Round 1:

• Needle 1: k1, kfb, knit to last two stitches, kfb, k1
• Needle 2: repeat Needle 1

Rounds 2 and 3: Repeat Round 1

Rounds 4 - 6: Knit around

Bind off ear with 3-needle bind off, leaving a 6-inch tail to sew ear to head.

To get a cupped ear effect, fold ear in half and tack the middle third of the ear together, creating a crease in the middle of the ear before sewing to head. Place the inner edge of each ear at the first and last cast-on stitch to meet peaks on head.