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The Best Free Teddy Bear Knitting Patterns

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Lots of people around the world are putting teddy bears in their windows so that kids walking or driving through the neighborhood can “hunt” them.

If you want to give your teddy bear a handmade twist, I’ve collected some of the most popular free teddy bear knitting patterns for you to choose from.

Don’t forget to take a look at our Knitted Bear patterns on our sister site.  Knitted Mini Twin Bears , Cobbles The Bear  , Scruffy the bear and even some patterns for knitted teddy bear jumpers and pants.

Looking for more Knitting patterns for Teddy Bears? Check it out here.

  • Esther Braithwaite’s Izzy Teddy Bear Dolls are worked in one piece and don’t have separate arms and legs. The pattern offers four sweater options, or use you odd balls to give them lots of personality.
  • The Australian Red Cross has a Trauma Teddy pattern that is simple to work in pieces and seam together. The body is the clothing so you can customize it lots of different ways. For similar designs, check out the patterns page at Teddies for Tragedies.
  • This classic teddy bear from Debbie Bliss is so cute, and each piece is worked flat and seamed so it’s not a difficult project. It can be worked in any color of sport weight yarn.
  • Otso is a sweet fat bear designed by Sophie Scott for Loop London. It can be worked flat or in the round and is adorable in tweed yarn.
  • If you want a more colorful teddy, check out the sweet patterned body on this one from Arne & Carlos. It actually worked in a self-patterning sock yarn so it’s just as easy to knit as the others.
  • Emily Kintigh’s Little Mishka was designed to work with a Knit Picks fur yarn, making it look like a “real” teddy bear. (Note: Knit Picks’ warehouse is closed through April 6.)
  • Similarly, Berroco’s Harry Bear was made with a particular yarn of theirs in mind. That yarn has been discontinued but any fuzzy chenille style yarn would work.
  • April Cromwell offers super sweet rabbit and bear patterns with clothing, if your creatures like to play dress up.
  • The Ruby bear by Michele Wilcox for Premier Yarns reminds me of a Beanie Baby in style. I love it in bright colors, too.
  • Frankie Brown’s Teddy Bear Stripes shows what happens when you use a self-striping yarn or odd balls to knit a bear, though of course you could use a solid color here, too.

Do you have a favorite teddy bear knitting pattern? I’d love to hear about it!

Did you know, specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next. Or how about our VIP Knitting Group with Free knitting pattern access including vintage and Etsy designer patterns for less than $1 a month.

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Comments

  1. This is my favourite free knitted teddy bear pattern. I have adapted pattern – made bear larger, dressed in different clothes – love it! ravelry: pattoz, the knitted bear pattern by Annalisa Dione

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]