FREE Vintage Knit Teddy Bear Pattern - Vintage Amigurumi
Free Vintage Knit Teddy Bear Pattern
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Vintage Amigurumi
Hello fellow yarn and amigurumi enthusiasts!
If you're anything like me, you love vintage knitting patterns but can find the vague (or even missing!!!) instructions confusing. Even better, you love knit or crocheted vintage amiugurmi patterns but either have a hard time find ones that don't look creepy (think Victorian knit clown dolls--yes, they are a thing and yikes, nightmares!) and/or are affordable. Well, I'm here to gift you with not only a FREE vintage pattern translated to modern knitting terms, but also an adorable knit amigurumi pattern that's so diddly-darn cute you'll want to make several (I may already have plans to make a second myself).
Introducing to you . . .
Tedrick the Teddy Bear
The first image is the original design and the following are my version of the pattern. Due to the original terms being in vintage UK terms, it can be a bit challenging to interpret so below you'll find my translation of the pattern in modern US terminology. If, however, you're interested in the original pattern, you can find that here: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37948679
To keep in spirit with the original pattern, I have translated this as a knitting "recipe," which means that certain "basic" knitting terminology is not explained in detail. Therefore, I recommend that this pattern is suitable for advanced beginners and onward. However, if you want more details, check out my YouTube video on this pattern! In a vlog-style, I show my process of translating and knitting this pattern and how I reached certain conclusions, so if you'd like more of a visual aid or simply like cozy knitting videos, I 10/10 recommend! (If I do say so myself. 😎)
Watch the YouTube video here:
If you have any questions or comments about this pattern translation, feel free to drop them in the comments below and I'll get back with you as soon as possible!
Happy knitting, friends!
Vintage Knit Teddy Bear Pattern
Important Note: Keeping in the spirit of vintage patterns, this pattern is written as a "recipe" rather than as a detailed pattern, meaning that "basic" knitting concepts are not described in detail. For example, while this pattern is written as if the toy is knit completely in Garter Stitch (knit every row), this pattern can be knitted in Stockinette Stitch (knit one row, purl the next row) as shown in the example picture below. However, the pattern assumes that the knitter understands when to alternate the knit and purl rows and therefore does not provide alternative instructions if Stockinette Stitch is preferred over Garter. If you have difficulty understanding specific steps, please check out the video listed above for a visual guide!
Required Materials:
--Yarn of any weight/size in an acrylic, wool, or wool/acrylic blend. These are the recommended fibers as you will brush your bear at the end with a dog brush to make him nice and fluffy! (Cotton/cotton blend yarns will not work well for this technique.) Whatever yarn you use will greatly affect the bear's finished size. The original recommendation is a DK/lightweight/size 3 yarn. For my example, though, I used a worsted/medium weight/size 4 yarn.
--Knitting needles two sizes smaller than the size recommended on the yarn label. This will ensure your stitches are nice and tight so that the stuffing doesn't poke through. For example, my yarn label recommended 5.5 mm needles but I used 3.5 mm needles.
--Stuffing for the bear
--Safety eyes (optional as you can embroider/sew or crochet eyes. Please remember that safety eyes are NOT recommended for children under 3 years of age!)
--Darning needle for sewing the pieces together
--Dog brush for fluffing the yarn
Pattern:
Note 1: All pieces are worked flat and then sewn up and together at the end. The method of increasing (inc) and decreasing (dec) is left to the knitter's discretion/preferred method.
Note 2: Do not let the number of rows for the body portion intimidate you! Not only is the original cast on number small, but this also knits up quickly. Also keep in mind that you're knitting the body in two pieces.
Body (make 2 pieces)
Beginning at the bear's bottom, CO 7 sts.
Row 1: K every st across (7 sts)
Rows 2-18: K across (7 sts)
Row 19: Inc in 1st st, k across (8 sts)
Row 20: K across, inc in last st (9 sts)
Repeat rows 19-20 twice more until you have a total of 13 sts on the needle. Cut yarn and put these 13 sts on a holder.
Now, pick up 7 sts from the original CO edge. You will have 7 sts on your needle.
Row 1: K every stitch across (7 sts)
Rows 2-18: K every stitch across (7 sts)
Row 19: Inc in 1st st, K across (8 sts)
Row 20: K across, inc in last st (9 sts)
Repeat rows 19-20 twice more until you have a total of 13 sts on your needles.
Rows 25-26: Knit across (26 sts)
Row 27: Inc in 1st st, knit to last stitch, inc (28 sts)
Row 28: K (28 sts)
Repeat rows 27-28 once more so you have a total of 30 sts on your needle. Image of Row 24
Rows 31-50: K across (30 sts)
Row 51: K 13 and these 13 sts on hold. These will form the chest. CO 4 sts for the armhole and K rem 13 sts. You will have a total of 17 sts on your needle now, 4 from the CO and 13 from the rem sts (17 sts)
Image of Row 51
Chest 1 Side:
Row 52: Knit across (17 sts)
Row 52: K2tg, k to end (16 sts)
Rows 54-56: Knit across (16 sts)
Repeat rows 53-56 a total of 6 more times until 11 sts remain on your needles.
Row 86: K across
Rows 87-89: K across
Row 90: Inc in first st, k across (12 sts)
Row 91: K across (12 sts)
Repeat Rows 90-91 twice until you have 14 sts. Place these sts on hold.
Now, return to the first 13 sts you put on hold and join your yarn where you CO 4 sts.
Chest 2 Side:
Row 52: K across (17 sts)
Row 53: K to last 2 sts, K2tg (16 sts)
Rows 54-56: K across (16 sts)
Repeat rows 53-56 a total of 6 more times until 11 sts remain on your needles.
Row 86: K across
Rows 87-89: K across
Row 90: K to last st on needle, inc in last st (12 sts)
Row 91: K across (12 sts)
Repeat Rows 90-91 twice until you have 14 sts.
Row 92: K2tg, K to end of sts on needle, pick up the 14 sts from holder and k to the last 2 sts, k2tg (26 sts)
Chest is now joined. We'll continue with the rest of the body and the neck.
Row 93: k2tg, k to last 2 sts, k2tg (24 sts)
Row 94: K across (24 sts)
Row 95: K2tg, K 9, K2tg, K9, K2tg (21 sts)
Row 96: K across (21sts)
Repeat Rows 93-96 once more until you have 18 sts.
Rows 101-102: K across (18 sts)
Row 103: K1fb, K8, K1fb, K7, K1fb (21 sts)
Row 104: Repeat row 103 so that there are 24 sts on your needle (24 sts)
Row 105: K to last st, inc (25 sts)
Row 106: K across
Repeat Rows 105-106 3 more times until you have 28 sts on your needle.
Row 112: K across
Row 113-121: K across
Row 122: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (26 sts)
Row 123: K across
Repeat Rows 122-123 4 more times until you have 18 sts on your needle.
For remaining 4 rows: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg. At the end of the 4 rows of this repeat, you will have 10 sts.
Bind off. Repeat all of these steps once more so that you have two body pieces.
Head (make 1)
CO 3 sts
Rows 1-2: K across (3 sts)
Row 3: Inc in the first st, K until 1 st rem, inc in last st (5 sts)
Rows 4-7: K across (5 sts)
Repeat Rows 3-7 for 3 more times until you have 11 sts.
Row 22: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (9 sts) You are knitting the part in blue.
Row 23-27: K across
Repeat Rows 22-27 twice more until you have 5 sts rem.
Row 34-44: K across (5 sts)
Row 45: K2tg, K1, K2tg (3 sts)
Row 46: K (3 sts)
BO
Legs (make 2)
CO 22 sts
Row 1: K across (22 sts)
Rows 2-8: K across (22 sts)
Row 9: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (20 sts)
Row 10: K across (20 sts)
Repeat Rows 9-10 for 3 more times until you have 14 sts.
Row 17: K across (14 sts)
Row 18: K across (14 sts)
Row 19: Inc in first st, K6, inc in next st, K5, inc in last st (17 sts)
Row 20: K across (17 sts)
Row 21: Inc in first st, K8, inc in next st, K6, inc in last st (20 sts)
Row 22: K across (20 sts)
Row 23: Inc in first st, K9, inc in next st, K8, inc in last st (23 sts)
Row 24: K across (23 sts)
Row 25: Inc in first st, K11, inc in next st, K9, inc in last st (26 sts)
Row 26: K across (26 sts)
Row 27: Inc in first st, K13, inc in next st, K10, inc in last st (29 sts)
Row 28: K across (29 sts)
Row 29: Inc in first st, K15, inc in next st, K11, inc in last st (32 sts)
Row 30: K across (32 sts)
Row 31: Inc in first sts, K17, inc in next st, K12, inc in last st (35 sts)
Row 32: K across (35 sts)
Row 33: K across (35 sts)
Row 34-48: K across (35 sts)
Row 49: K 5, place these 5 sts on hold, BO 3 sts, K to end of row (27 active sts on needles)
Row 50: K to last 2 sts, K2tg (26 sts)
Row 51: K across (26 sts)
Row 52-53: K across (26 sts)
Row 54: K2tg, k to last 2 sts, K2tg (24 sts)
Row 55: K across (24 sts)
Rows 56-65: Repeat Rows 54-55 until 14 sts rem.
Row 66: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (12)
Row 67: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (10 sts)
BO
Now, pick up sts from holder. This will shape the foot.
Row 50: K across (5)
Row 51: K across (5)
Row 52: K2tg, K2, K2tg (3)
Row 52: K across (3)
BO
Repeat all these steps once more to make a second leg.
Arms (make 2)
CO 15 sts
Row 1-2: K across (15 sts)
Row 3: Inc in first st, K6, inc in next st, K6, inc in last st (18 sts)
Row 4-10: K across (18 sts)
Row 11: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (16 sts)
Row 12: K across (16 sts)
Rows 13-14: K across (16 sts)
Row 15: Inc in first sts, K to last st, inc (18 sts)
Row 16: K across (18 sts)
Rows 17-18: K across (18 sts)
Row 19: Inc in first sts, K to last st, inc (20 sts)
Row 20: K across (20 sts)
Rows 21-22: K across (20 sts)
Row 23: Inc in first sts, K to last st, inc (22 sts)
Row 24: K across (22 sts)
Rows 25-26: K across (22 sts)
Row 27: Inc in first sts, K to last st, inc (24 sts)
Row 28: K across (24 sts)
Rows 29-30: K across (24 sts)
Row 31: Inc in first sts, K to last st, inc (26 sts)
Row 32: K across (26 sts)
Rows 33-34: K across (26 sts)
Row 35: Inc in first sts, K to last st, inc (28 sts)
Row 36: K across (28 sts)
Rows 37-38: K across (28 sts)
Row 39: K 5 sts and put them on hold, BO 3 sts, K to end of row (20 sts rem active on needle)
Row 40: K to last 2 sts, K2tg (19 sts)
Row 41: K across (19 sts)
Row 42: K to last 2 sts, K2tg (18 sts)
Row 43: K across (18 sts)
Row 44: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (16 sts)
Row 45: K across (16 sts)
Row 46: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (14 sts)
Row 47: K across (14 sts)
Row 48: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (12 sts)
Row 49: K across (12 sts)
Row 50: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (10 sts)
Row 51: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (8 sts)
BO
Now, pickup the 5 sts from holder.
Row 40: K across (5 sts)
Row 41: K across (5 sts)
Row 42: K2tg, K1, K2tg (3)
Row 43: K across (3 sts)
BO. Repeat all these steps again to make the second arm.
Ears (make 2)
CO 6 sts
Row 1: K across (6)
Row 2: Inc in first sts, k to last st, inc in last st (8 sts)
Row 3: K across (8 sts)
Rows 4-7: Repeat Rows 2-3 twice more until you have 12 sts
Row 8: K across (12 sts)
Row 9-17: K across (12 sts)
Row 18: K2tg, K to last 2 sts, K2tg (10 sts)
Repeat Row 18 twice more until you have 6 sts.
BO. Repeat these steps for the second ear.
Assembling
Note: This section can be better explained visually so please remember to check my video for the step-by-step process on this part!
Step 1: Using the dog brush, brush all the pieces until they are fuzzy according to your like. The more you brush, the fuzzier the bear becomes!
Step 2: With right sides facing, sew up the seams of all the individual pieces. Be sure you leave the tops of the arms and legs and the bottom of the ears open for stuffing. Also leave an opening in the back of the bear! You can either use a crochet slip stitch or a mattress stitch.
Step 3: With the right sides still facing, attach the arms and the legs to the armholes and leg holes of the bear's body. You will treat them as if setting in a sleeve for a sweater.
Step 4: Turn the bear right side out and stuff firmly but do not over-stuff so that it pokes through the fabric.
Step 5: Insert safety eyes here if desired. Seam up the hole in the back. Lightly stuff bear again if necessary.
Step 6: Turn the ears right side out. Lightly stuff and attach to head.
Step 7: With scrap black yarn or thread, embroider a nose and mouth onto the bear. Lightly brush bear again if necessary.
Your bear is complete! Let me know if the comments what you think of this bear and my translation, and if you do make him, please make sure to tag me on Instagram @morgan_f.taylor so I can see your creations! If you need help or have questions with this pattern, remember to drop me a comment and I'll be happy to assist the best I can. Until next time, happy knitting, friends!
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