Nanny Margeret knits and has passed on this pattern from Australia to encourage anyone interested in knitting to have a go....we would like to start a collection of bears for giving out to sick babies in hospital to keep them company in their cots and then take home. We would like to ask people to pass this pattern on and get knitting any colour goes but Purple Bears would be great!!
Ellie’s Teddy Bear Pattern
Measurements: Teddy is 10cm [4in] high.
Materials: Oddments of 8 ply / double knitting yarn a pair of 3mm [No 11, USA
Notes: The teddies have movable jointed heads, legs and arms, so all the pieces must be closely knitted and firmly stuffed for the joints to work properly. If you tend to knit loosely, use one size smaller knitting needles.
Note that P side of st-st is right side when making up. When stuffing the pieces, use points of scissors or tweezers to push in the stuffing.
Teddy
Body
Begin at neck edge and cast on 10 sts.
P 1 row.
Next row: Inc K wise into every st —20 sts.
Beginning with a P row, st-st 5 rows.
Next row: K5, inc in next st, K8, inc in next st, K5 —22 sts.
Continue in st-st and work 9 rows.
Next row: (K2tog) to end - 11 sts. Cast off P wise.
Fold body, bringing row ends together, with P side of st-st inside. Oversew across the cast off sts. Turn right side out and oversew row ends together, forming centre back body seam. Stuff body very firmly. Gather round cast on edge, pull up gathers tightly and fasten off.
Legs [make two alike]
Begin at sole and cast on 8 sts.
P 1 row.
Next row: Inc K wise into every st - 16 sts.
Beginning with a P row, st-st 3 rows.
Shape foot
Next row: K3, K2tog, (K3tog) twice, K2tog, K3 - lOsts.
P 1 row.
Shape leg
Continue in st-st and inc 1 st at each end of next row— 12 sts.
St-st 7 rows.
Next row: (K2tog) to end —6 sts.
Cast off P wise.
Oversew row ends of each leg together, with P side of st-st outside, leaving a gap in seam for stuffing. Oversew across cast on sts and also across cast off sts. Stuff, then oversew gap. Pin legs to sides of body. Use a strand of matching yarn to sew legs to body as shown in diagram 1.
Pass needle back through body again at same position as before. Pull up yarn very tightly, to depress the legs into body and form firm joints.
Fasten off. Pass yarn through body again and fasten off at other leg. The legs should now hold their position when moved.
Head
Begin at centre back of head and cast on 12 sts.
P 1 row.
Next row: Inc K wise into every st —24 sts.
Beginning with a P row, st-st 11 rows.
Shape nose
Next row: (K2tog) to end - 12 sts.
P 1 row.
Next row: K2tog, K2 , (K2tog) twice, K2 , K2tog -- 8 sts.
P 1 row.
Next row: (K2tog) to end —4 sts.
B & T tightly, for end of nose. (break off yarn thread through stitches on needle pull tight then fasten off.)
Oversew row ends together with P side of st-st outside. This seam runs from the nose, underneath the head. Stuff head, then leave cast on edge open, so that nose and eyes can be added.
Use a strand of black yarn and work three short straight horizontal stitches at end of nose, taking needle through from open back of head. Fasten off at back of head also.
Mark positions of eyes with pins, about 1cm [3/8in] above nose and 1cm [3/8in] apart. For each eye, cut a 20cm [8in] length of black yarn. Make a knot at centre of each length, winding yarn round three times before pulling knot tight. Use a darning needle to pass one yarn end through head at position of one pin, bringing needle out at open back of head. Pass the other end of yarn through head in same way taking it through face just above the first position. Pull yarn ends through until knot is slightly depressed into face. Knot ends of yarn tightly against stuffing. Trim off yarn ends. Repeat this for the other eye.
Now stuff back of head to cover knotted ends of black yarn. Gather round cast on edge, pull up tightly and fasten off.
To attach head to body, use a strand of matching yarn in a darning needle and knot end. Pass needle through body at position of one leg joint and bring needle out at centre top of body. Pass needle through head at head seam, then back through body to come out at other leg joint [see diagram 2]. Pull yarn very tightly and fasten off.
Ears [make two alike]
Begin at lower edge and cast on 6 sts.
P 1 row. Beginning with a K row, continue in st-st and dec 1 st at each end of next 2 rows -2 sts.
Now inc 1 st each end of next 2 rows —6 sts.
K 1 row, then cast off P wise.
With P side of st-st outside, oversew cast on and cast off edges of each ear together, then oversew row ends together. Sew ears to head as illustrated.
Arms [make two alike]
Begin at top edge and cast on 5 sts.
1st row: Inc K wise into every st - 10 sts.
Beginning with a P row, st-st 9 rows.
Shape arm
Next row: K3, (K2tog) twice, K3 —8 sts.
Continue in st-st and work 4 rows.
Next row: (P2tog) to end —4 sts.
B & T tightly. Make up arms and attach to sides of body in same way as for legs.
