There is a very special relationship between a child and their first teddy bear. You can be the one to make the magical introduction with one of these fantastic and free teddy bear knitting patterns. If you have never knit a teddy bear before, then you are in for a real treat!
So, how do you knit a teddy bear anyway? Well, most teddy bears are knit flat – some in pieces and some all in one piece. The work relies on increases and decreases to shape the body and limbs. That way, the final piece will be nice and 3-dimensional once it’s all sewn up. There are also a few teddy bear knitting patterns that are knit in the round – some using double pointed needles and some using the magic loop method.
Is it hard to knit a teddy bear? Free teddy bear knitting patterns may seem intimidating at first, but they are usually much easier to knit than people assume. You really never know until you try, so I encourage you to choose one of the simpler patterns from this list and just give it a go. Yes, even beginner knitters can make most of the patterns from this list! And once you get started, you should be able to pick it up fairly quickly.
The best thing about all of these teddy bear knitting patterns is how wonderfully unique each design is. There are short bears and tall bears, skinny bears and fat bears, some bears with little clothes, other bears with little accessories, and many more variations besides those. Each adorable teddy bear friend has their own personality and they are anxious to meet their new best friends!
Are you ready to meet them all? Scroll down and see all of the teddy bear adorableness for yourself!
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25 Adorable Free Teddy Bear Knitting Patterns
1. Teddy Bear Dolls
The bodies of these teddy bear dolls start as a tube. You’ll use a few carefully placed lines of sewing to give the impression of arms and legs. This is a great option for beginner knitters and knitters short on time too. I actually really like the way they look. It’s almost like the little bears have their hands in their pockets!
Designer: Esther Braithwaite
Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Sport (Sport Weight #3)
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2. Little Mishka
Go all out with faux fur yarn to make your teddy bear extra soft and snuggly. This type of yarn can be challenging to work with, because it makes it difficult to see your stitches. But if you are brave enough to try, then you can surely see that the result will be well worth it! You can’t even tell that it is knitted – it looks store bought.
Designer: Emily Kintigh for Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Fable Fur (Bulky Weight #5)
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3. Otso
Tweed yarn and exaggerated proportions make this teddy bear extra special and cute. The basic face embroidery is so endearing and inviting. Any child would love to receive a teddy bear as adorable as this one! The pattern can be knit either flat or in the round – the choice is up to you. This versatility is hard to come by in teddy bear knitting patterns, so save this one for sure!
Designer: Sophie Scott for Loop London
Yarn: The Border Mill Alpaca Tweed (Aran Weight #4)
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4. Thank You Teddy
This teddy bear has a very important job to do. His scrubs, cap, and stethoscope make him instantly recognizable as a doctor or nurse. This would be an amazing gift for someone working in the medical field or for their children. In addition to the written pattern, there are also video instructions that you can follow along with.
Designer: Sarah Gasson for Knitables
Yarn: (DK Weight #3)
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5. Magic Loop Teddy
Using the magic loop method, this teddy bear can be knit all in one piece. This is great news for anyone who dreads the amount of sewing that is common in most teddy bear knitting patterns. The basic body shape is complemented by a realistic elongated muzzle and an adorable short sleeve sweater.
Designer: Simply Notable LLC
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Rios (Worsted Weight #4)
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6. Teddy Bear
The unique shape of the limbs and muzzle on this teddy bear harken back to vintage style toys. I really like the fact that this teddy bear sits up on its own and I especially love the cute little face with the eyes and nose all close together. Each piece of the pattern is knit flat separately and then everything is sewn together.
Designer: Debbie Bliss
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (Sport Weight #3)
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7. Teeny Tiny Knitted Toys
If you are short on time, or if you need multiple teddy bears, then teeny tiny is the way to go! These little cuties are knit flat in pieces and the pattern features a full photo tutorial to help you out along the way. It also shows how easy it is to convert teddy bear knitting patterns into rabbits – just by changing the ears.
Designer: Little Cotton Rabbits
Yarn: (Fingering Weight #1)
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8. Pocket Ted
The Pocket Ted makes his bed in an altoid tin. Isn’t he just the sweetest little thing you’ve ever seen? He has poseable pipe cleaners in the arms and legs, so he can really come to life during your child’s imaginative play. The addition of a tiny blanket is a nice touch, because your child can tuck the little teddy into his bed with it.
Designer: Frankie’s Knitted Stuff
Yarn: (Fingering Weight #1)
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9. Teddy Bear Ornaments
Festive sweaters and dresses in shades of red and white adorn these tiny teddy bears. A hanging ribbon is attached to the head so that they can be displayed on a Christmas tree. You could also skip the ribbon and just make the teddy bear to be played with instead. Of course, the outfit remains adorable for either function!
Designer: Little Cotton Rabbits
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed (Fingering Weight #1)
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10. Harry Bear
You’re a wizard, teddy bear! This little teddy is all ready to go to magic school. He wears a red and gold scarf to represent his house colors! Yes, this little teddy bear is modeled after the famous fiction Harry Potter. Soft boucle yarn adds dimension and texture to the finished object and makes him even more snuggly.
Designer: Berroco Design Team
Yarn: Berroco Chinchilla (Bulky Weight #5)
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11. Koda Redux
Not all teddy bear knitting patterns are made with thin yarns. The Koda Redux pattern calls for a soft super bulky yarn. The yarn is intended for baby projects so it really is well suited to making teddy bears. It also makes the pattern work up quite quickly and it gives the bear an adorable fuzzy appearance.
Designer: J. G. Miller
Yarn: Bernat Pipsqueak (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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12. Teddy Bear Sweater
Embroider a little face on a boucle baby garment and you’ve got yourself one adorable teddy bear sweater! Make a teddy bear in the same color of yarn and you’ll have a ridiculously cute matching set. The beginner friendly pattern is knit flat in pieces and it includes lots of pictures to help you out along the way.
Designer: Creativa Atelier
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca Bouclé (Aran Weight #4)
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13. Ruby Bear
A red tweed bear with a green bow reminds me of a sweet summer strawberry. If you look at the top of his left arm, you can see that it is joined with a button. This allows the limb to rotate so you can pose your teddy bear in different sorts of ways. Children will love making him sit and standing him up.
Designer: Michele Wilcox for Premier Yarns
Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity Chunky Prints (Bulky Weight #5)
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14. Ted Bear
Ted Bear is smartly dressed in a handsome yellow sweater with a kangaroo pocket. Imagine all the fun your child will have stashing little treasures inside that pocket! The sweater is removable, so your child can play dress up with the bear. The pattern is knit all in one piece using basic increasing and decreasing to shape the bear.
Designer: Jem Weston
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed (DK Weight #3)
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15. Sunrise Side Bear
The next one of our free teddy bear knitting patterns shows off the garter stitch side of the work. While some people consider garter stitch to be ugly, I do think it adds a charming character and texture to this little bear friend. The bear is knit flat in one piece and the complementary scarf accessory is made using the mistake rib stitch.
Designer: Noreen Slank
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted (Aran Weight #4)
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16. Teddy Bear Knit Lovey
Attach a teddy bear head and arms to a small blanket to make a snuggly lovey. This stuffed animal blanket combination is a fan favorite among babies and toddlers. I love to knit these up as gifts for baby showers and first birthdays. They are perfect for using up partial skeins of yarn leftover from other projects.
Designer: Nancy Anderson for Yarnspirations
Yarn: Red Heart Baby Hugs Medium (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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17. Pippy Bear
Here’s another one of our free teddy bear knitting patterns that is made with super bulky yarn. This one is a lot bigger than the first one – nearly as big as the baby in the picture! This makes him perfect for snuggling and hugging, don’t you think? The pattern is worked in pieces using double pointed needles and knitting in the round.
Designer: Bernat Design Studio
Yarn: Bernat Pipsqueak (Super Bulky Weight #6)
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18. Bear Hug
There’s just something about this little teddy bear that makes me smile. I love the little patches on his cheeks, the oversized scarf, and the funny little limbs. It’s a great example of just how impactful a change in proportions can be to the overall bear. Do you know a little one who would love to be this bear’s friend?
Designer: Knitted Toy Box
Yarn: (DK Weight #3)
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19. Teddy Bear Baby Hat
Now your baby can match their favorite teddy bear with their very own teddy bear hat. The pattern is knit flat with yarn held double and it comes complete with adorable bear ears. Each row starts and ends with a selvedge stitch to keep the edge neat. Other than that, it is all garter stitch!
Designer: Crazy Hands
Yarn: Ornaghi Filati Lana d’Irlanda (Aran Weight #4)
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20. Pancake Bears
I forgot to mention one style of teddy bear knitting patterns. This style has you knit two identical flat pieces and then join them along the sides with a little stuffing sandwiched in between the two pieces. There’s less shaping than a traditional teddy bear pattern and the finished project reminds me of a chocolate bar. Yum!
Designer: Berroco Design Team
Yarn: Berroco Plush (Bulky Weight #5)
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21. Tubby Teddy Sock Critter
Have you knit a pair of socks before? If so, then this teddy bear knitting pattern will feel very familiar to you! It is knit in much the same way as a pair of socks. This is a great way to build on what you already know as a knitter to grow your knitting skills. The basic pattern should be suitable for confident beginners.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Solids, Heathers & Twists (Aran Weight #4)
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22. Teddy Bear Stripes
Who says that bears have to brown? Let’s get a little funky with a teddy bear in multicolor stripes. The eye-catching color palette is sure to catch your child’s eye! This is a fun way to make your teddy bear feel more unique and more suited to your particular child’s style and favorite colors.
Designer: Frankie’s Knitted Stuff
Yarn: (DK Weight #3)
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23. Best Friend Bear
I can definitely see this teddy bear becoming worn from years of snuggles and hugs. He really does look like he could be any child’s best friend! The classic style and shape are perfect for young children who are just learning to identify bears. The pattern pieces are worked separately in the round and then joined together.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Martha Stewart Crafts Extra Soft Wool Blend (Aran Weight #4)
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24. Barrison Bear and the North Woods Sweater
Free teddy bear knitting patterns don’t get much more stylish than this one! Barrison Bear is totally rocking that oversized sweater. I love the cable stitch accents and the turtleneck. Seriously, can I get the pattern for this sweater in my size?? Both the bear and the sweater are free patterns from Berroco.
Designer: Norah Gaughan for Berroco
Yarn: Berroco Nanuk (Super Bulky Weight #6) and Berroco Vintage® Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
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25. Ptolemy the ‘eddy
Ptolemy might just be the tallest teddy bear on this list. I just love the exaggerated proportions of his long legs and big feet. And, of course, you can’t forget his stylish scarf accessory! This teddy bear pattern is knit in the round with minimal seaming. The pattern includes special instructions for stuffing the body while maintaining the shape.
Designer: Nancy Anderson
Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Perfection Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
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I firmly believe that you can never have too many free teddy bear knitting patterns in your life! Each bear is just as special as the child you will be making it for, so it’s nice to have options. I’m curious, which of these patterns was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
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I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
Hi! I like all of your patterns—but I was hoping to find a bear named Lily. I have only page 82 and 83 of it, which is missing the hind legs and how to put it together. Any Ideas? I have all of the first two pages knitted. Now I’m stuck. Any help would be very appreciated…..Thank you