Memory bear pattern
Preserve precious memories forever with Lucy Ward's free memory bear pattern
Published:
Sew a special keepsake bear made from clothes that hold precious memories for you with this project from Lucy Ward. As children grow older, it can be a wrench to give away their baby clothes or stash their old bedding away in the attic.
Making this memory bear sewing pattern is a brilliant way to preserve your child’s old garments and give them a toy that they’ll treasure as they get older. You can use fabrics of all kinds to make this adorable little memory bear pattern from old babygrows to baby sleeping bags.
You can have lots of fun playing around with the different garments to choose colours and patterns that work well together. Can’t bear to cut up your child’s old garments? You could always make this bear using remnants from other projects.
This pattern has been published courtesy of Simply Sewing Magazine. Simply Sewing is a practical magazine for anyone who sews or wants to learn. It’s packed with beautiful patterns to make and expert sewing workshops to help you improve your skills.
Lucy Ward is a regular contributor to Simply Sewing Magazine. She loves making toys and cute sewing projects for the magazine. If you enjoy making toys, you might also want to take a look at her teddy bear pattern, lamb sewing pattern and reindeer pattern.
If you’re new to sewing, take a look at our sewing for beginners and how to use a sewing machine guides before you get started.
Read on to make our memory bear pattern for free with our step-by-step guide…
Memory bear sewing pattern
Notes
- Approximately 40cm tall.
- Use 6mm seam allowances.
- Download the memory bear pattern templates
- Add iron-on interfacing to all pattern pieces, particularly when using fabrics of different weights or with stretch.
You Will Need
- Fabric A (32x30cm (cream floral))
- Fabric B (47x37cm (coral spot))
- Fabric C (22x22cm (blue floral))
- Fabric D (22x22cm (gold check))
- Fabric E (25x15cm (plain light blue))
- Dark brown wool felt (3x3cm)
- Lightweight iron-on interfacing
- Black stranded cotton thread
- Small buttons (4)
- Extra strong thread
- Long doll-making needle
- Ribbon (50cm)
- Polyester toy filling (200g)
- Basic sewing kit
Total time:
Cutting out
Step 1
Download and print the memory bear sewing pattern templates.
Step 2
From fabric A, cut:
- Head Gusset: one
- Inner Arm: one pair
- Inner Leg: one pair
Step 3
From fabric B, cut:
- Outer Arm: one pair
- Outer Leg: one pair
- Outer Ear: one pair
- Head Side: one pair
- Head Back: one pair
Step 4
From fabric C, cut:
- Body: two
Step 5
From fabric D, cut:
- Body: two
Step 6
From fabric E, cut:
- Inner Ear: one pair
- Paw Pad: one pair
- Foot Pad: one pair
Step 7
From the dark brown felt, cut:
- Nose: one
Making the ears and head
Step 1
Pin a pair of Inner and Outer Ear pieces right sides (RS) together. Sew. Clip notches, trim the seams and turn RS out. Repeat to make the second ear. Press both and set aside.
Step 2
Pin the Head Gusset RS together with the Head Side. Match pieces at point A, and pin to point B at the front of the Head Gusset.
Step 3
Take the opposite Head Side piece and sew it to the opposite side of the Head Gusset piece, from A to B, meeting the first seam on the other side. Clip the seams.
Step 4
Pin and sew down the front of the head, from point B to point C, RS together.
Step 5
Pin and sew the Head Back pieces down their centres, RS together, from A to D.
Step 6
Clip into the curve. Then pin this piece RS together to the front of the head, leaving the neck end open. Match the centre seam of the back of the head with the middle point of the Head Gusset. Insert an ear on each side of the head, sandwiched between the layers. Position each one so about one third is above the head gusset seam and two thirds below it. Sew.
Step 7
Turn the head RS out and press.
Step 8
Pin and sew a pair of Body pieces down the centre seam, from point E to F, to form the front of the body. Repeat to sew the second pair of Body pieces, this time leaving a turning gap, to form the back of the body. Pin and sew these two new pieces RS together.
Step 9
Keeping the body turned wrong side (WS) out, push the turned out head top first into the body cavity, matching the seam at the front of the neck to the front centre seam of the body. Pin all around and tack.
Step 10
If easier, sew by hand, using a very small backstitch. Sew around two or three times to make the head secure. Turn the body RS out through the turning gap at the back of the body. Press and stuff, starting at the nose and gradually filling the head, then down through the neck and body. Stuff firmly, pushing out the seams. Ladder stitch the opening closed.
Making the arms and legs
Step 1
RS together, pin and sew a Paw Pad to an Inner Arm. Press seam open.
Step 2
Sew this piece RS together with an Outer Arm, leaving a gap in the side for turning. Turn RS out, press. Stuff firmly into the paws and most of the arm, leaving slightly lighter stuffing towards the top. Ladder stitch the opening closed. Repeat for the other arm.
Step 3
Pin a pair of Inner and Outer Leg pieces RS together. Tack and sew down to the Foot Pad mark on each side. Leave a gap in the outer side for turning. Place one Foot Pad piece at the bottom of the leg, with the RS facing in. Line up the centre marks of the Foot Pad with the seams of the leg. Pin at those two points first, then add more pins along the sides.
Step 4
Tack, then sew slowly, from the top side, using a small stitch length. Sew one side up to the seam, then pivot and sew down the other side. Repeat for the other Leg/Foot Pad.
Step 5
Turn the legs RS out, press and stuff. Stuff more lightly towards the top of the leg, where it will be attached to the body. Ladder stitch the openings closed.
Attaching the legs and arms
Step 1
Pin the arms 10mm down from the neck seam and midway across the body side seam. Take a very long piece of double or extra strong thread on a long doll needle and sew into the marked dot on one side, leaving a long tail that will be used to tie off the thread. Insert the needle right through to the other side of the body, emerging at the opposite marked dot. Return the needle back through the body and into one arm. Sew from the inside to the outside of this arm and back through the body again, pulling the thread taut.
Step 2
Sew through the second arm, as before, and back through the body again. Keep pulling the thread taut to ensure strength in the joint. Sew back and forth several times.
Step 3
Under the first arm, tie a couple of knots in the thread ends, then rethread the needle and take the threads a distance away before snipping off.
Step 4
Repeat the process in steps one–three to attach both legs to the body. Mark the dot around 55mm above the very bottom point of the body and on the side body seam.
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Step 5
Using matching thread, sew a decorative button over the stitches on the outside of each arm and each leg.
Making the eyes, nose and mouth
Step 1
Mark the position of the eyes using pins or an erasable marker. Make a knot in the end of four strands of black stranded cotton. Insert your doll needle into the fabric behind the ear on the first side you are sewing. Bring the needle out at the eye and satin stitch a small eye.
Step 2
Step two Take the needle straight over to the second eye position and stitch the second eye. Fasten off with a tiny stitch or two, then take the needle away and snip off the thread behind the second ear.
Step 3
Mark out the mouth using pins, or draw using an erasable marker. Use four strands of black stranded cotton to make a single vertical long stitch down the centre seam of the head, then backstitch the shape of the curved mouth. Fasten off back up near the nose.
Step 4
Pin the Nose piece onto the triangle formed by the seams at the front of the face, covering the fastening on and off stitches of the mouth. Use tiny overstitches to sew in place.
Step 5
Tie a favourite ribbon around the bear’s neck.
You’ve finished! We hope you enjoyed making this beautiful memory bear pattern.
