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Baby Bear Cardigan – Free Crochet Pattern

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January 13, 2018 By amanda 11 Comments

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Free Crochet Pattern - Baby Bear Cardigan

My youngest son is almost two months old and I decided it was time for him to start modeling for me!  Although it’s really hard to get a good picture of a baby wearing an outfit when they can’t sit up yet.  It’s amazing how fast the little ones grow and I am really trying to cherish this time as he is our fourth and last baby.  Now we will just have to wait for grandkids! lol

Things are really hectic around here right now as we are all off for snow days and stuck at home but I wanted to take the time to share a cute little cardigan I designed (and my little guy actually fits into it!!).  This design features a unique ribbing pattern at the cuffs and hem, a hood with baby bear ears, and front pockets.  I really loved using the Lion Brand Heartland for this project.  It was the first time I had worked with it and I have used it again since.  I really like the subtle color variations in the strands.  Super nice and makes for great baby items!

Free Crochet Pattern - Baby Bear Cardigan

Baby Bear Cardigan

In this article...

  • What You’ll Need
    • Pattern Stitch
    • Pattern Notes
  • Pattern
    • Back
    • Right Front
    • Left Front
    • Sleeve (make 2)
    • Hood
    • Pocket (make 2)
    • Ear (make 2)
    • Finishing

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland (100% Acrylic; 251 yards [230 meters]/142 grams): #124 Big Bend 1 (2, 2, 3, 3) balls

Hook: US size J/10 (6.0 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle; one 12 (12, 12, 12, 14)” separating zipper

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Finished Chest Size 17 (18, 19, 20, 21)” for baby sizes 3 (6, 12, 18, 24) months

Gauge: 18 sts and 20 rows = 4” [10 cm] in pattern st after wet blocking

Pattern Stitch

Row 1:  Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * to last 2 sts, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in last sc, turn.

Repeat Row 1 for pattern.

Pattern Notes

Ch-3 at beginning of row counts as first dc unless otherwise noted.

On some areas you will have to work the pattern stitch over an uneven number of stitches.  Work in pattern st for first row, ending with a ch-1, sc in last st. On second row, sc in first sc, *sc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next st; rep from *, ending with a sc in ch-1 sp and last sc. Rep these 2 rows.

If working shaping on each side, the pattern is reversed, with 2 sc at the beginning and a ch-1, sc at the end. To keep the pattern consistent, always sc in a ch-1 sp and skip the sc unless it is at the end of a row.

Free Crochet Pattern - Baby Bear Cardigan

Buy a large print, ad-free downloadable pattern here for $1.99

Pattern

Back

Ch 40 (42, 45, 47, 47).
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (count as first dc) and each ch across row – 38 (40, 43, 45, 45) sts.

Sizes 6 (18, 24) months only
Row 2: Ch 3, fpdc around next 2 sts, *bpdc around next 2 sts, fpdc around next 3 sts; rep from * to end of row, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, fpdc around next st, *bpdc around next 3 sts, fpdc around next 2 sts; rep from * to last 3 sts, bpdc around next 3 sts, turn.

Sizes 3 (12) months only

Row 2: Ch 3, fpdc around next 2 sts, *bpdc around next 2 sts, fpdc around next 3 sts; rep from * to end of row, turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, bpdc around next 2 sts, *fpdc around next 2 sts, bpdc around next 3 sts; rep from * to end, turn.

Sizes 3 (6) months only

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across row, turn.

Sizes 12 (18) months only

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in next 21 (22) sts, sc2tog, sc in next 20 (21) sts – 42 (44) sts.

Size 24 months only

Row 4: Ch 1, sc 22, 2 sc in next st, sc 22 – 46 sts.

All Sizes

Rows 5-43 (48, 53, 58, 63): Work even in pattern st.

Fasten off.

Right Front

Ch 20 (22, 22, 25, 25).

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (count as first dc) and each ch across row – 18 (20, 20, 23, 23) sts.

Sizes 6 (12) months only

Row 2: Ch 3, fpdc around next 2 sts, bpdc around next 2 sts, *fpdc around next 3 sts, bpdc around next 2 sts; rep from * to end of row, turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, fpdc around next st, *bpdc around next 3 sts, fpdc around next 2 sts; rep from * to last 3 sts, bpdc around next 3 sts, turn.

Sizes 3 (18, 24) months only

Row 2: Ch 3, fpdc around next 2 sts, *bpdc around next 2 sts, fpdc around next 3 sts; rep from * to end of row, turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, bpdc around next 2 sts, *fpdc around next 2 sts, bpdc around next 3 sts; rep from * to end of row, turn.

Sizes 6 (24) months only

Row 4: Sc in each st across row, turn.

Size 3 (12) months only

Row 4: Sc in next 9 (10) sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 (9) sts – 19 (21) sts.

Size 18 months only

Row 4: Sc in next 11 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 10 sts – 22 sts.

All Sizes

Rows 5-35 (40, 45, 48, 53): Work even in pattern st.

Shape Neck

Row 1: Ch 1, work in pattern st for 16 (15, 14, 13, 12) sts, turn, leaving remaining sts unworked – 16 (15, 14, 13, 12) sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, work in pattern st to end, turn – 15 (14, 13, 12, 11) sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, work in pattern st to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn – 14 (13, 12, 11, 10) sts.

Sizes 3 (6) months only

Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 13 (12) sts.
Row 5: Rep Row 3 – 12 (11) sts.
Row 6: Rep Row 2 – 11 (10) sts.

Size 3 months only

Row 7: Rep Row 3 – 10 sts.
Row 8: Work even in pattern st.

Size 6 months only

Rows 7-8: Work even in pattern st.

Size 12 months only

Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 11 sts.
Row 5: Rep Row 3 – 10 sts.
Rows 6-8: Work even in pattern st.

Size 18 months only

Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 10 sts.
Rows 5-10: Work even in pattern st.

Size 24 months only

Rows 4-10: Work even in pattern st.

All Sizes

Fasten off.

Left Front

Work same as Right Front to Row 35 (40, 45, 48, 53).

Shape Neck

Row 1: Sl st in first 3 (5, 7, 9, 11) sts, ch 1, work in pattern st to end – 16 (15, 14, 13, 12) sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, work in pattern st to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn – 15 (14, 13, 12, 11) sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog, work in pattern st to end, turn – 14 (13, 12, 11, 10) sts.

Sizes 3 (6) months only

Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 13 (12) sts.
Row 5: Rep Row 3 – 12 (11) sts.
Row 6: Rep Row 2 – 11 (10) sts.

Size 3 months only

Row 7: Rep Row 3 – 10 sts.
Row 8: Work even in pattern st.

Size 6 months only

Rows 7-8: Work even in pattern st.

Size 12 months only

Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 11 sts.

Row 5: Rep Row 3 – 10 sts.
Rows 6-8: Work even in pattern st.

Size 18 months only

Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 10 sts.

Rows 5-10: Work even in pattern st.

Size 24 months only

Rows 4-10: Work even in pattern st.

All Sizes

Fasten off.

Sleeve (make 2)

Ch 22 (25, 27, 30, 32).

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (count as first dc) and each ch across row, turn – 20 (23, 25, 28, 30) sts.

Sizes 6 (18) months only

Row 2: Ch 3, fpdc around next 2 sts, *bpdc around next 2 sts, fpdc around next 3 sts; rep from * to end of row turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, bpdc around next 2 sts, *fpdc around next 2 sts, bpdc around next 3 sts; rep from * to end of row, turn.

Sizes 3 (12, 24) months only

Row 2: Ch 3, fpdc around next 2 sts, bpdc around next 2 sts, *fpdc around next 3 sts, bpdc around next 2 sts; rep from * to end of row turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, fpdc around next st, *bpdc around next 3 sts, fpdc around next 2 sts; rep from * to last 3 sts, bpdc around next 3 sts, turn.

All Sizes

Row 4: Ch 1, sc evenly across row adding 2 (1, 1, 0, 0) sts in the middle of the row, turn – 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts.
Rows 5-6: Work even in pattern st.
Row 7: Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, pattern st to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn – 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts.
Rows 8-10: Rep Rows 5-7 – 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts.
Rows 11-13: Rep Rows 5-7 – 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts.
Rows 14-16: Rep Rows 5-7 – 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts.
Rows 17-19: Rep Rows 5-7 – 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts.
Rows 20-22: Work even in pattern st.
Row 23: Rep Row 7 – 34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts.
Rows 24-26: Work even in pattern st.
Row 27: Rep Row 7 – 36 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts.
Rows 28-30: Work even in pattern st.

Sizes 6 (12, 18, 24) months only

Work even in pattern st for 2 (7, 10, 12) rows.

Fasten off.

Free Crochet Pattern - Baby Bear Cardigan

Hood

Ch 79 (81, 83, 85, 87).

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across row, turn – 78 (80, 82, 84, 86) sts.
Rows 2-3: Sc evenly across row, turn.

Sizes 12 (18, 24) months only

Work 2 (4, 6) rows even in pattern st.

All Sizes

Rows 4-7: Work even in pattern st.
Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog, work in pattern st to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn – 76 (78, 80, 82, 84) sts.
Row 9: Work even in pattern st.
Row 10: Ch 1, sc2tog, work in pattern st to last 2 sts, sc2tog, turn – 74 (76, 78, 80, 82) sts.
Rows 11-12: Rep Rows 9-10 – 72 (74, 76, 78, 80) sts.
Rows 13-14: Rep Rows 9-10 – 70 (72, 74, 76, 78) sts.
Rows 15-16: Rep Rows 9-10 – 68 (70, 72, 74, 76) sts.
Rows 17-18: Rep Rows 9-10 – 66 (68, 70, 72, 74) sts.
Rows 19-20: Rep Rows 9-10 – 64 (66, 68, 70, 72) sts.
Rows 21-22: Rep Rows 9-10 – 62 (64, 66, 68, 70) sts.

Work 2 (3, 5, 7, 8) rows even in pattern st.

Fasten off.

Free Crochet Pattern - Baby Bear Cardigan

Pocket (make 2)

Ch 11 (13, 15, 17, 19).

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across row, turn – 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) sts.
Rows 2-5: Work even in pattern st.

Sizes 12 (18, 24) months only

Work 2 (3, 4) rows even in pattern st.

All Sizes

Row 6: Sl st in first 4 (4, 6, 6, 8) sts, ch 1, work in pattern st to end of row, turn – 6 (8, 8, 10, 10) sts.
Row 7: Work even in pattern st.
Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog, work in pattern st to end of row, turn – 5 (7, 7, 9, 9) sts.
Row 9: Work even in pattern st.
Row 10: Rep Row 8 – 4 (6, 6, 8, 8) sts.
Rows 11-12: Work even in pattern st.

Fasten off.

Free Crochet Pattern - Baby Bear Cardigan

Ear (make 2)

Ch 6.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across row, turn – 5 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st across row, turn – 10 sts.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, (sc2tog) twice, sc in next 3 sts, turn – 8 sts.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, sc3tog, sc in next 3 sts, turn – 6 sts.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, turn – 4 sts.
Row 6: Ch 1, (sc2tog) twice – 2 sts.

Fasten off.

Work 1 row of sc evenly around outer edge.

Finishing

Block all pieces.

Sew Front to Back at shoulder seams. Sew Back seam of Hood. Sew Ears in place using photo as guide.

Sew Hood around neck edge. Sew zipper in place along front edges, cutting top of zipper to fit as necessary. Sew Pockets in place using photos as guide. Sew Sleeves and side seams.

Weave in ends.

Whew!!  That was a novel!!  I hope you’ve enjoyed this free crochet pattern for the Baby Bear Cardigan!  Check out my other baby items here.

Happy Crocheting!

Amanda

Free Crochet Pattern in Sizes 3-24 months

Free Crochet Pattern in Sizes 3-24 monthsFree Crochet Pattern - Baby Bear Cardigan

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tonia Deakin

    January 28, 2018 at 11:18 pm

    I just love this little cardigan and your little man is just adorable! Thank you for the pattern!

    Reply
    • amanda

      January 30, 2018 at 7:27 pm

      Thank you!! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Vee

    February 26, 2018 at 3:22 pm

    Wow, Amanda, this is sooooo adorable! And it’s free?? Double wow! I can’t imagine the time it took to provide such detailed instructions for so many sizes. I am very, very impressed. I’m going to get started on one today as we happen to have a newborn in our family. This will be an exquisite heirloom/legacy gift that can be passed down.

    I also have been meaning to leave a comment that I’ve worked many of your patterns and they are all very easy to follow and more importantly, there are no errors. I appreciate that very much. I crochet every single day for hours on end and your patterns have provided so much enjoyment. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Charmaine Sylvia

    June 14, 2018 at 9:07 pm

    Hi – I’m working on the sleeves – and I got to row 27 but it isn’t written out this way
    Row 23: Rep Row 7 – 34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts.
    Rows 24-26: Work even in pattern st.
    Row 25: Rep Row 7 – 36 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts.
    Rows 26-28: Work even in pattern st.

    So, is this an accidential repeat? or mis-numbered?

    Reply
    • amanda

      June 17, 2018 at 1:11 am

      Looks like this is mis-numbered! Should be an increase for row 27 and then 28-30 work even. Thanks for letting me know – I’m going to correct it now 🙂

      Reply
      • Charmaine Joy Sylvia

        June 17, 2018 at 1:26 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
  4. Tara

    September 5, 2018 at 9:27 pm

    I love this pattern, it’s very cute. Was wondering if you’d consider adding diagrams on how to sew it together, i found it a little confusing as I am only a beginner. Thanks 😊

    Reply
  5. Sabrina

    September 23, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    I’m having the same problem with the hood. Any advice you can give me?

    Reply
    • amanda

      October 1, 2018 at 1:13 am

      Hi Sabrina,

      Did you figure out the hood shaping? This is a simple hood so it has a center back seam and then is attached to the neckline.

      Reply
  6. Chris

    May 9, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Amanda,
    Hi, I want to make the bear cardigan but I am a little confused by the directions. Do you have a video on this?

    Reply
    • amanda

      May 9, 2020 at 4:15 pm

      I don’t have a video for this one yet. I’m trying to go back and make videos for all my patterns, but it’s taking me a while.

      Reply

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