The Best Free Teddy Bear Knitting Patterns

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.

• 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!