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Bear hugs! Cast on our teddy bear knitting pattern

Knit your little cub a gift to treasure with Ann Franklin's pattern for a cuddly teddy bear.

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Ann Franklin

Published: November 8, 2022 at 12:46 pm

Every child needs a cuddly bear friend to share their adventures with, and we think Ann Franklin’s teddy is the perfect addition for any family! Worked in fluffy eyelash yarn, Ann’s teddy bear knitting pattern has the softest fur, and a lovely squishy body that’s just perfect for hugs.

With pink paws and its very own knitted jumper, this bear is guaranteed to stand out from the crowd, so why not knit it as a special birthday or Christmas present? Little ones will be delighted to receive a bear made just for them.

Things to note before casting on our teddy bear knitting pattern

Bear-ly able to wait? Skip to our shopping list and cast on now!

This pattern uses UK terminology and Gathered’s standard knitting abbreviations.

Check out our yarn weight conversion chart for help converting yarn weights from US to UK terms.

What tension do I need to make the knitted bear?

Here's the tension you need for this pattern:

  • Stylecraft Eskimo – 24 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stocking stitch using 3.25mm needles
  • Stylecraft Special DK and Tweedy DK – 22 sts and 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stocking stitch using 4mm needles

See Gathered’s guide to knitting tension squares for advice on checking your tension.

The finished bear measures approx 44cm (17¼in) tall.

How the knitted bear is made

Ann Franklin’s sweet teddy is a traditional style teddy bear, with movable arms, legs and head. All the pieces of the bear are knitted in stocking stitch, and are sewn up and stuffed as separate pieces until joined, using strong sewing thread to enable movement.

We've used simple jointing, without buttons, to make sure the bear is soft and cuddly.

Teddy bear knitting pattern

You will need:

  • Stylecraft Eskimo DK (100% polyester, 50g/90m) (This yarn has now been discontinued. If you can't find it try substituting King Cole Moments in Squirrel (shade 1612).) (Old Gold (shade 5494) x 4 balls – Yarn A)
  • Stylecraft Special DK, (100% acrylic, 100g/295m) (Blush (shade 1833) x 1 ball – Yarn B)
  • (Lipstick (shade 1246) x 1 ball – Yarn C)
  • (Oddment in Black (shade 1002) – Yarn D)
  • Stylecraft Tweedy DK (74% acrylic, 26% cotton, 100g/260m) (This yarn has now been discontinued. If you can't find it try substituting any shade of Gründl Sophia.) (Thistle (shade 3713) x 1 ball – Yarn E)
  • 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) needles
  • 4mm (UK 8, US 6) needles
  • 200g toy stuffing
  • A doll maker’s sewing needle (extra long sewing needle)
  • 2-3m of extra strong (upholstery) sewing thread in a colour to match the bear’s fur (we used Gutermann Extra Strong thread in colour 139)
  • Stitch holders
  • Safety pins

Step 1

Start by making the teddy bear’s body

Ready teddy go! For the first section of this pattern you’ll need to know how to cast on knitting and how to work knits and purls to create stocking stitch.

You’ll also increase by knitting front and back (kfb) and decrease by knitting two together (k2tog). Check out Gathered’s guides on how to increase a stitch in knitting and how to decrease in knitting for help with these stitches.

We recommend using a row counter to keep track of where you are in this pattern, and counting your stitches regularly to check you have the correct number. Watch out for whether you’re looking at the right side (RS) or wrong side (WS) of the work too!

Prevent tangles in the fluffy eyelash yarn by lightly brushing it away from the needles every few rows.

Cast on 9 sts using Yarn A and 3.25mm needles.

Row 1 (RS) (Kfb) to the end of the row. [18 sts]
Beginning with a purl row, work 3 rows in stocking stitch (st st).
Row 5 (Kfb) to the end of the row. [36 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 9 (Kfb, k1) to the end of the row. [54 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.

Row 13 (Kfb, k2) to the end of the row. [72 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 17 (Kfb, k3) to the end of the row. [90 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 21 (Kfb, k4) to the end of the row. [108 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.

Row 25 (Kfb, k5) to the end of the row. [126 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 5 rows.
Row 31 (K5, k2tog) to the end of the row. [108 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 5 rows.
Row 37 (K4, k2tog) to the end of the row. [90 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 5 rows.

Row 43 (K3, k2tog) to the end of the row. [72 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 5 rows.
Row 49 (K2, k2tog) to the end of the row. [54 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 5 rows.
Row 55 (K1, k2tog) to the end of the row. [36 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.

Row 59 (K2, k2tog) to the end of the row. [27 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 63 (K1, k2tog) to the end of the row. [18 sts]
Purl 1 row.
Row 65 (K2tog) to the end of the row. [9 sts]
Purl 1 row.

Break and tighten (B&T).

Teddy bear knitting pattern back

Step 2

Now you’ll work on the teddy bear’s face, beginning at the nose.

Cast on 8 sts using Yarn A and 3.25mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 (Kfb) to the end of the row. [16 sts]
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 K1; (kfb x 2, K2) x 3; (kfb) x 2; K1. [24 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.

Row 9 K2; (kfb x 2, K4) x 3; (kfb) x 2; K2. [32 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 13 K3; (kfb x 2, K6) x 3; (kfb) x 2; K3. [40 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 17 K4; (kfb x 2, K8) x 3; (kfb) x 2; K4. [48 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.

Row 21 K5; (kfb x 2, K10) x 3; (kfb) x 2; K5. [56 sts]
Row 22 and every alternate (alt) row Purl.
Row 23 (Kfb) x 3, K3; (kfb x 2, K3, kfb x 6, K3) x 3; kfb x 2, K3, (kfb) x 3. [88 sts]
Row 25 K32, (kfb) x 2, K20, (kfb) x 2, K32. [92 sts]
Row 27 K10, (kfb) x 2, K21, (kfb) x 2, K22, (kfb) x 2, k21, (kfb) x 2, k10. [100 sts]

Row 29 K36, (kfb) x 2, K24, (kfb) x 2, K36. [104 sts]
Row 31 K37, (kfb) x 2, K26, (kfb) x 2, K37. [108 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 11 rows.
Row 43 (K10, k2tog) to the end of the row. [99 sts]
Row 44 & every alt row Purl.

Row 45 (K9, k2tog) to the end of the row. [90 sts]
Row 47 (K8, k2tog) to the end of the row. [81 sts]
Row 49 (K7, k2tog) to the end of the row. [72 sts]
Row 51 (K6, k2tog) to the end of the row. [63 sts]
Row 53 (K5, k2tog) to the end of the row. [54 sts]

Row 55 (K4, k2tog) to the end of the row. [45 sts]
Row 57 (K3, k2tog) to the end of the row. [36 sts]
Row 59 (K2, k2tog) to the end of the row. [27 sts]
Row 61 (K1, k2tog) to the end of the row. [18 sts]
Row 63 (K2tog) to the end of the row. [9 sts]

Break and tighten (B&T).

Teddy bear knitting pattern fur close up

Step 3

Give your knitted teddy bear some legs

For the teddy’s legs you’ll start by making the sole of the foot using pink yarn, then change to eyelash yarn for the rest. Work this whole section twice to make both legs.

Note that some of the decrease stitches are knitted through the back loop (tbl).

Cast on 4 sts using Yarn B and 3.25mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) (Kfb, K1) x 2. [6 sts]
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Kfb, K3, kfb, K1. [8 sts]
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 Kfb, K5, kfb, K1. [10 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 7 rows.

Row 13 Kfb, K7, kfb, K1. [12 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 5 rows.
Row 19 K2tog tbl, knit to the last 2 sts, k2tog. [10 sts]
Row 20 and every alt row Purl.
Row 21 K2tog tbl, knit to the last 2 sts, k2tog. [8 sts]
Row 23 K2tog tbl, knit to the last 2 sts, k2tog. [6 sts]
Row 24 Purl.

Break off Yarn B and join in Yarn A.
Row 25 K6, turn and cast on 24 sts. [30 sts]
Row 26 P30, turn and cast on 24 sts. [54 sts]
Beginning knit, st st 8 rows.
Row 35 K15, (k2tog) x 12, K15. [42 sts]
Row 36 Purl.
Row 37 K15, (k2tog) x 6, K15. [36 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 9 rows.
Row 47 (K8, kfb) to the end of the row. [40 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 9 rows.
Row 57 (K9, kfb) to the end of the row. [44 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 9 rows.
Row 67 (K10, kfb) to the end of the row. [48 sts]
Beginning purl, st st 9 rows.
Row 77 (K2, k2tog) to the end of the row. [36 sts]
Row 78 and every alt row Purl.
Row 79 (K1, k2tog) to the end of the row. [24 sts]
Row 81 (K2tog) to the end of the row. [12 sts]
Row 83 (K2tog) to the end of the row. [6 sts]

Break and tighten (B&T).

Teddy bear knitting pattern paw close up

Step 4

Create your knitted bear’s arms

Here you’ll start with the bear’s palms in pink yarn, and then work the arms in eyelash yarn. Knit the whole of Step 4 twice to make both arms.

Cast on 4 sts using Yarn B and 3.25mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) (Kfb, K1) x 2. [6 sts]
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Kfb, K3, kfb, K1. [8 sts]
Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 Kfb, K5, kfb, K1. [10 sts]

Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 9 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [8 sts]
Row 10 Purl.
Row 11 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [6 sts]

Break off Yarn B and join in Yarn A.
Row 12 Purl.
Row 13 (Kfb) to the end of the row. [12 sts]
Row 14 Purl.
Row 15 (K1, kfb) to the end of the row. [18 sts]
Row 16 Purl.
Row 17 Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [20 sts]

Beginning purl, st st 3 rows.
Row 21 Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [22 sts]
Row 22 Purl.
Row 23 Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [24 sts]
Row 24 Purl.
Row 25 Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [26 sts]
Row 26 Purl.
Row 27 Cast on 2 sts, knit to the end of the row. [28 sts]
Row 28 Cast on 2 sts, purl to the end of the row. [30 sts]

Beginning knit, st st 30 rows.
Row 59 (K3, k2tog) to the end of the row. [24 sts]
Row 60 Purl.
Row 61 (K2, k2tog) to the end of the row. [18 sts]
Row 62 Purl.
Row 63 (K1, k2tog) to the end of the row. [12 sts]
Row 64 Purl.
Row 65 (K2tog) to the end of the row. [6 sts]

Break and tighten (B&T).

Step 5

Knit a pair of teddy bear ears

Work this step twice to make two inner ear pieces.

Cast on 12 sts using Yarn B and 3.25mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Beginning purl, st st 5 rows.
Row 7 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [10 sts]
Row 8 and every alt row Purl.
Row 9 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [8 sts]
Row 11 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [6 sts]
Row 12 Purl.
Cast off.

Step 6

Work this step twice to make two outer ear pieces.

Cast on 14 sts using Yarn A and 3.25mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Beginning purl, st st 7 rows.
Row 9 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [12 sts]
Row 10 and every alt row Purl.
Row 11 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [10 sts]
Row 13 K2tog tbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [8 sts]
Row 14 Purl.
Cast off.

Step 7

Assemble your knitted teddy bear

This is where the magic happens and your knitted pieces become an adorable bear! There’s lots of making up to do in this teddy bear knitting pattern, so give the instructions a thorough read through before you begin. To make it easier to see your stitches, do your sewing up on a bright day or with the help of a daylight craft lamp.

Stuff and sew the body and head

Join the cast-on stitches into a tight circle. Sew the main seam, leaving a small gap for turning and stuffing. Turn and stuff firmly. Close the gap.

Teddy bear knitting pattern face

Step 8

How to sew a teddy bear nose and mouth

Using Yarn D, embroider a triangular shaped nose over the cast-on stitches of the face. Embroider a short vertical line coming down from the base of the triangle, and then a curved line across the centre of this line to make a mouth shape.

Embroider two eyes, each about the same size as a penny, 4cm (1½in) above the nose and 4cm (1½in) apart.

Step 9

Stuff and sew the arms

Fold back the ‘Yarn B’ portion of the arm and sew the side seams of this piece to the shaped portion of the hands, easing the main arm piece to fit around the oval hand.

Join the main seam of the arm, leaving a small gap for turning and stuffing. Turn and stuff firmly. Close the gap.

Step 10

Stuff and sew the legs

Join the main leg seam, leaving a small gap for turning and stuffing. Sew the cast-on edge of the 24 stitches that were added at the beginning of the main leg to the sole, easing the leg to fit. Turn, stuff and close the gap.

With right sides together, sew the curved seams of the inner and outer ears together, leaving the cast-on edge loose. Sew the cast on edges to the top of the head, about 10cm (4in) apart.

Eyelash yarns you can bat your eyes at

 

Eyelash yarn is brilliant for cuddly toys, so find inspiration for your next project with Gathered’s guide to the best tinsel and eyelash yarns.

 

Step 11

Get ready to sew the pieces together

Before beginning to join the arms, legs and head to the bear, use safety pins to mark the following places:

  • One pin at the centre top (B&T) and the centre bottom (cast-on row) of the body.
  • Do the same on the head, remembering that the seam lies across the bottom, and the top will lie between the teddy bear’s ears.
  • Mark places for the legs, 8cm (3in) up from the cast-on edge, and on opposite sides of the body, having the seam of the body to the back, halfway between the leg markers.
  • Mark places for the arms, 8cm (3in) down from the cast-off edge, and on opposite sides of the body to each other, having the seam of the body to the back, halfway between the markers.
  • Mark places on the arms in the same position as the legs, but 4cm (1½in) down from the cast-off edge.

Step 12

Sew up the knitted teddy bear

Take a long length of extra strong thread, and using it double, attach it to the marker on the bottom of the head. Then attach it to the marker on the centre top of the body. Make sure the face is facing forward!

Using a long dressmaker’s sewing needle, take the thread up through the head. Go through the head where the thread was originally attached, and bring the stitch out at the top of the head. Pull the thread up tightly to hold the head in place.

Making sure to catch a stitch or two at the top of the head, now take the sewing thread back through the head, and down through the body. Take the thread out at the marker at the bottom of the body. Again, pull the thread tight to hold the head on firmly.

Continue to work very long stitches from the bottom of the body to the top of the head, always working the stitches through the original attachment points, until you near the end of the thread. Fasten it off very firmly.

If you have worked the stitches as tightly as possible, there may be a small dent at the top of the head and bottom of the body. These will become less obvious if you flatten out the surrounding area slightly, but are necessary to ensure the head is on firmly enough.

Attach the legs and arms in the same way. Again, these threads need to be pulled up tightly and you must take care to always work through the place where the leg/arm is attached.

Teddy bear knitting pattern jumper

Keep your bear warm with a knitted jumper

Step 1

Knit the front and back of the jumper

Follow these instructions twice to make the pieces for the back and front of the jumper. Rather than casting off the finished piece, you'll transfer your live stitches to a stitch holder ready to be used when you join the back, front and sleeves later. It's a tiny, teddy-sized version of a bottom-up, yoked jumper!

Cast on 66 sts using Yarn C and 4mm needles.

Row 1 (RS) (K1, p1) to the end of the row.

Repeat row 1 three times.

Break off Yarn C and join in Yarn E.

Beginning knit, st st 8 rows.

Row 13 Cast off 6 sts, knit to the end of the row. [60 sts]

Row 14 Cast off 6 sts, purl to the end of the row. [54 sts]

Row 15 K1, k2tog tbl, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [52 sts]

Row 16 and every alt row Purl.

Repeat rows 15-16 until 32 sts are on the needle.

Leave these 32 sts on a holder.

Step 2

Knit the sleeves.

Repeat this step twice to make two sleeves, leaving one on a stitch holder and one on the needle.

Cast on 44 sts using Yarn C and 4mm needles.

Row 1 (RS) (K1, P1) to the end of the row.

Repeat row 1 three times.

Break off Yarn C and join in Yarn E.

Beginning knit, st st 12 rows.

Row 17 Cast off 6 sts, knit to the end of the row. [38 sts]

Row 18 Cast off 6 sts, purl to the end of the row. [32 sts]

Row 19 K1, k2tog tbl, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. [30 sts]

Row 20 and every alt row Purl.

Repeat rows 19-20 until 10 sts are on the needle.

Leave these 10 sts on a holder for the first sleeve, and on the needle for the second.

Step 3

Join the pieces together and work the neckband

Break off Yarn E and join in Yarn C.
Change to 3.25mm needles.
Knit across the 10 sts of the sleeve on the needle, then the 32 sts of the front, 10 sts of the first sleeve, and then the 32 sts of the back. [84 sts]

Work 6 rows in single rib, as set in row 1 of the front and back.
Change to 4mm needles and work a further 5 rows in rib.
Cast off in rib.

Step 4

Make up the teddy bear’s jumper

Join the side seam of the neckband. Sew the raglan seams. Sew the cast-off sts of the front and backs together. Sew the side seams of the jumper.

Place the jumper on the knitted teddy and it's ready for cuddles!

Shopping list

Crafting the perfect present by hand

Cuddly toys are brilliant gifts for kids big and small, and the teddy bear is the gold standard. We love how easy this bear is to personalise – from the colour of its fur to its paw pads and of course its clothes.

You could embroider the child’s name on the jumper as a thoughtful finishing touch, or use your favourite tiny baby patterns to make a whole wardrobe of knitted teddy bear clothes!

More gifts for little ones to treasure from Gathered

Handmade teddies make beautiful keepsake gifts for new parents.

For more present ideas to welcome a little one to the world, take a look at the best baby knitting patterns hand-picked by the Gathered team.

Ann Franklin

Knitting Designer

Ann Franklin has many years of knitting experience, having been taught to knit, crochet and sew as a very young child by her mother, who was hugely skilled in all three. She combines knitting and designing with her full time job as a HLTA in a local primary school . Her designs first appeared ten years ago in Knit Today magazine, and she also had designs published in Love Knitting for Baby magazine. She currently designs for Simply Knitting magazine. Her designs can also be found on Love Crafts and Ravelry. Possibly her most popular designs include her Knitted Nativity, (which has been produced as a kit as well as a stand alone pattern), and Geoffrey Giraffe. She herself has a very soft spot for her ‘Crawley Caterpillar’, as this was the first design she had published. Aside from enjoying a wide range of needle based crafts, Ann is a keen reader, a huge Robbie Williams fan, and a very proud grandmother of four. She is also proud to be a ‘Knockerette’ - she knits and crochets for Knitted Knockers UK, a fantastic charity which provides free breast prostheses for women who have undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy.
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