Crochet Teddy Bear

It's been a while since I've crocheted a stuffy and I have to say, it takes a lot more time to make one than I remember! I enjoyed making this teddy though! I'm a little limited on my brown yarns at the moment so my choices were either tan or dark brown, and I thought the dark brown would look better. I like how this shade of brown makes the white accents of the bear really pop.

This isn't the first teddy I've made, but the first one I made with a lot less experience so it's basically falling apart. I've crocheted many different plushies since then. Since making this one I can really see the progress I've made and all I've learned about crocheting in the past several years.

This teddy took me a few days to finish (this is with breaks, time off, etc. factored in), so if you really got after it, I don't think it would take more than a few hours. If you wanted the teddy bear to be weighted, you could use fabric scraps or something heavier to weigh it than poly-fil. I used a mix of fabric scraps and poly-fil for this one.

Materials:

• Medium(4) acrylic yarn in dark brown and white

• 5 mm crochet hook

• Plastic eyes and nose (these can be crocheted if you want)

• Ribbon (optional)

• Scissors

• Crochet/tapestry needle

• Poly-fil, fabric scraps, or other stuffing type

Instructions:

Legs:

Start with white yarn.

Make a magic circle. Single crochet (SC) 10. Slip stitch and pull closed.

Round 1: Chain 1. SC. Increase every stitch. (20) Slip stitch closed.

Switch to brown yarn.

Round 2: Chain 1. SC. Increase every 2nd stitch. Slip stitch closed.

Rounds 3-4: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 4th stitch. Slip stitch.

Round 5: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 6th stitch. Slip stitch.

Rounds 6-7: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Round 8: Chain 1. Decrease every 4th stitch. Slip stitch.

Round 9: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Chain 1, cut, and knot to finish.

Repeat for second leg.

Arms:

Use brown yarn.

Magic circle. SC 10. Slip stitch and pull closed.

Round 1: Chain 1. SC. Increase every stitch. (20) Slip stitch closed.

Round 2-3: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 4th stitch. Slip stitch.

Rounds 4-8: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Round 9: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 4th stitch. Slip stitch.

Round 10: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Round 11: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 4th stitch. Slip stitch.

Chain 1, cut, and knot to finish.

Repeat for second arm.

Head:

Use brown yarn.

Magic circle. SC 10. Slip stitch and pull closed.

Round 1: Chain 1. SC. Increase every stitch. (20) Slip stitch closed.

Round 2: Chain 1. SC. Increase every 2nd stitch. Slip stitch.

Round 3: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Round 4: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 5th stitch. Slip stitch.

Rounds 5-6: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Round 7: Chain 1. SC. Increase every 6th stitch. Slip stitch.

Rounds 8-9: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Round 10: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 6th stitch. Slip stitch.

Round 11: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 5th stitch. Slip stitch.

Round 12: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 4th stitch. Slip stitch.

Move on to making the separate facial parts (muzzle, ears, etc.). Do not cut the yarn yet.

Once all face pieces have been attached, stuff the head.

Round 13: Chain 1. SC. Decrease every 2nd stitch. Slip stitch.

Rounds 14/15: Keep decreasing until the hole is closed.

Chain 1, cut, and knot to finish.

Ears:

Use brown yarn.

Slip knot. Chain 5.

Row 1: Turn and SC. Chain 1.

Row 2: Turn and SC. Decrease.

Repeat for second ear.

Muzzle:

Use white yarn.

Magic circle. SC 10. Slip stitch and pull closed.

Rounds 1-2: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Chain 1, cut, and knot to finish.

Eyes:

Attach plastic eyes. You can crochet eyes and attach those instead if you don't want to use the plastic ones.

Ears and mouth/nose:

Attach ears.

Attach nose and muzzle. Mouth can be stitched on if desired.

Tail:

Use brown yarn.

Magic circle. SC 10. Slip stitch and pull closed.

Chain 1. SC 2 rows.

Chain 1, cut, and knot to finish. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Body:

Use brown yarn.

Chain 17.

Rows 1-32: Chain 1. SC. Slip stitch.

Chain 1, cut, and knot to finish. Leave a long tail for sewing.

Stitch both ends of the body together to form a tube. Now would be the easiest time to attach your legs. Use the tapestry/crochet needle and a long piece of brown yarn. Depending on whether you want your teddy bear sitting or standing, you can attach the legs towards the front or at the bottom of the body. Don't forget to stuff the legs before you attach them!

Once the legs are attached to the body, attach the tail at the back. Sew up the bottom of the bear. Start stuffing the body, but only about halfway up because you still need to attach the arms on both sides. Attach the arms to the sides, then finish stuffing the body.

Sew the top part of the body closed. All you should have left to add is the head at this point! Carefully sew the head into place at the top of the body. Make sure it is secure (you may have to stitch around the neck a couple of times).

This part is optional, but I think it adds so much to this bear if you crochet a little scarf to wrap around him, or cut a piece of ribbon to tie around his neck. I hope you enjoyed this pattern!