If you want to win a little one over this Christmas, there’s no better gift than this polar bear, guaranteed to be the biggest cuddly toy in their bedroom by a mile. Kids can use him as a throw keep warm on winter nights, snuggle up to him on the sofa, or lie him on the floor for cosy toes.
Worked in super chunky yarn on 9mm needles, this oversized plushie will knit up in no time at all. We’ve used acrylic yarn to keep him affordable (and hard-wearing), but you could swap it out for a more tactile natural yarn instead – it depends how often you think he’ll visit the washing machine
This project was created by Louise for Mollie Makes magazine – for more easy-make craft projects and creative inspiration, subscribe to Mollie or click here to find out more.
Materials
- Cygnet Seriously Chunky yarn, 100% acrylic, 100g/48m per ball, 10 balls in Cream (288) (Yarn A) and one ball in Black (217) (Yarn B)
- 9mm (UK 00, US 13) knitting needles, 33cm (13") long, or circular needles used as straight needles
- Two 2.5cm (1") toy safety eyes
- Soft toy stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Scrap yarn markers in two different colours (Yarn C and Yarn D)
- Pom pom maker
Tension
8 sts and 11 rows to 10cm (4") on 9mm needles. This is not the standard tension for this yarn, but the tension needed for the project. Knit a tension square before starting and adjust your needle size if needed, as knitting in the wrong tension could use additional yarn.
Abbreviations (UK)
- st(s) stitch(es)
- k knit
- kfb knit into the front and back of the same st, increasing from one to two sts
- kfbf knit into the front, back and front again of the same st, increasing from one to three sts
- p purl
- skpo slip a st, knit
- a st, pass slipped
- st over, decreasing by one st
- k2tog knit two sts together, decreasing by one st turn midway through a row
- RS right side
- WS wrong side
Finished size
Approx. 80 x 100cm (311⁄2 x 393/8")
Polar bear knitting pattern
Instructions
When sewing the sections together, pull the yarn tightly to secure them. If you’re making this for a young child, we’d recommend embroidering on the eyes or sewing on scraps of felt instead.
Make two, but only add the scrap yarn markers to one, which will form the top side of the rug.
Rows 45-65 increase the sts by casting on either side of the row, while Rows 67-103 cast off the rows Row 45 At the beginning of the row cast on 14 sts, k all sts (50 sts) Row 46 At the beginning of the row cast on 14 sts, p all sts (64 sts) You may find it easier to switch to circular 9mm needles at this point, as you will have a lot sts on the needles. Use the circulars as straight needles.Row 47 kfb, k to the last two sts, kfb, k1 (66 sts)
Weave in all loose ends. With both pieces of the rug WS together, pin or tack. Using Yarn A and mattress stitch, sew around the body, head and legs, leaving a hole on the side of the body for stuffing the head. Fill the head with the toy stuffing, following the shaping of the knit and being careful not to overstuff.
Place the eyes over the scrap markers in Yarn C. These are for guidance only, so you can change the placement if you wish. Once the eyes are put in place, remove the markers and secure the eyes with the washers.Using Yarn A and mattress stitch, sew up the hole in the body and weave in the loose ends.
Cast on 9 sts using Yarn A and 9mm needles.
Cast on 3 sts using Yarn B and 9mm needles.
Cast on 3 sts using Yarn B and 9mm needles.
