Oliver the Bear Amigurumi Crochet Pattern

When I was a kid, I remember getting a DIY teddy bear for a birthday gift. A package with pre-cut fabric pieces, thread, doll eyes, and stuffing. For those of you who don't know me yet, I am a craft addict. I love to make things. It was a fantastic gift and I had a blast making it. 

For this next pattern I decided to do a little twist on the classic teddy bear, inspired by that gift. 

What you will need

• Medium weight yarn for Body (4.5 oz) I used Loops and Threads Impeccable brand in color "Heather" but you can use any color for the body that you want!
• Medium weight yarn for snout and belly hair (4.,5 oz) I used the same brand as above in color white but any other white yarn will work
• Thick yarn for scarf (I used Loops and Threads Charisma in color Forest)
• Black yarn or embroidery thread for eyes and mouth. 
• Safety nose, black
• 4mm crochet hook
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Fiber fill (I use classic fiber fill from Michaels but you can use any kind you want)
• Scissors

Notes

Unless otherwise specified, all parts will be worked in continuous rounds. It is important to use your stitch markers at the end of each round so you don't lose your place!

I always start all my rounds with a magic ring. You can watch a video about how to do that here. If you do not want to use a magic ring, you can chain one, then crochet the specified amount of stitches into that chain. I highly recommend using a magic ring because you can tighten the ring after you have done a few rows and it eliminates any gaps in your work.

Make sure to always be working with the outside of the shape facing you while you crochet around. This side is the "right" side.

In my amigurumi, I usually like to use the cross stitch single crochet. This is definitely not required but I find it gives a nicer look to the finished product. You can watch a video on how to do this stitch here. Here is a comparison of the two different stitches:

V Stitch Single Crochet (standard)

Cross Stitch Single Crochet

Abbreviations

SS: Slip Stitch,
CH: Chain,
SC: Single Crochet,
HDC: Half Double Crochet,
Inc: SC Increase (2 SC in same stitch),
Dec: SC Decrease (if you do not know how to do this, watch this),
​BLO: Back Loop Only,
[ ]: When you see this, you will be repeating the pattern inside the brackets,
(  ): Total number of stitches for that round

PATTERN

---

Body (with legs and head)

Start with the legs (Make 2):
1: Start 8 SC in a magic ring (8)
2: Inc x8 (16)
3-5: SC in all (16)
6: [3SC, Inc] x4 (20)

Fasten off first leg with a slip stitch. Do not fasten off the second leg, you will continue crocheting to attach the legs together.

Body: 
Continue from end of second leg:
1: 10SC, now pick up the other leg and continue to SC 20 stitches all the way around that leg. Now starting in the 11th stitch of the first leg, finish the last 10SC until you finish the round (40)
2: SC in all (40)
3: [4SC, Inc] x8 (48)
4-7: SC in all (48)
8: [4SC, Dec] x8 (40)
9-14: SC in all (40)
15: [3SC, Dec] x8 (32)
16-22: SC in all (32)

At this point, the body should be starting to get long. Start filling the legs and body with fiber fill at this point so it isn't so hard to stuff later.

Make sure to stuff as you go. ALSO ignore my dopey dog in the background! :P

At this point, the neck is going to start looking freakishly long.. don't worry! Once the scarf is on him, everything balances out :)

---

Shameless Plug...

I also make custom dog tags on Etsy. If you are in the market for some, please check out my shop PersonalizePenguin!

Dainty Cursive Dog Tag - Rose Gold

Geometric Deer Dog Tag - Gold

Deer Antlers Dog Tag - Black

Mountain Shadows Dog Tag - Silver

---

Leave a stitch marker in this row because this is where the arms are going to be sewn on. It might seem low, but don't worry, it will all come together later.
​
23-36: SC in all (32)
37: [3SC, Inc] x7, 4SC (39)
38-40: SC in all (39)
41: [3SC, Inc] x9, 3SC (48)
42-48: SC in all (48)
49: [3SC, Dec] x9, 3SC (39)
50: [Dec, 2SC] x9, 3SC (30)
51: [2SC, Dec] x7, 2SC (23)

Stuff the remaining half of the body with fiber fill now. Don't worry about the eyes, because they will be stitched in with yarn later instead of using safety eyes.

52: [Dec, SC] x7, 2SC (16)
53: Dec x4,  then weave through front loop of each remaining stitch and pull closed. Fasten off and weave in the end.

Arms

Make 2:
1: Start 8 SC in a magic ring (8)
2: Inc x8 (16)
3-4: SC in all (16)
5: Dec, 14SC (15)
6: SC in all (15)
7:  Dec, 13SC (14)
8-15: SC in all (14)

Stuff with fiber fill. Slip stitch the arm closed then fasten off. Leave a long tail, then sew onto the body on either side on row 22 (as marked above).

Ears

Make 2:
1: Start 8 SC in a magic ring (8)
2: Inc x8 (16)
3-4: SC in all (16)
5: [SC, Dec] x5, SC (11)
6: Dec x4, then slip stitch the ear closed and fasten off (you do not need to stuff the ears with fiber fill). Leave a long tail for sewing, then sew on the ears wherever looks the cutest! 

Snout

Using the white (aran) yarn:
1: Make a slip knot and
​Ch5
2: Starting in the 2nd chain
3SC, SC 3 into the same stitch, 2SC, Inc (10), then join with a SS 
3: Ch1, then into the same stitch that you joined in the last round:
Inc, SC, HDC, 2HDC x4, HDC, SC, Inc x2 (18), then join with a SS
4: Ch1, then into the same stitch that you joined in the last round:
Inc, 3SC, HDC, [HDC 2 into the same stitch, HDC] x4, 3SC, Inc, then join with a SS  (24)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Put this aside until the nose and mouth are attached.

Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Hair

​Mouth:
Take the snout (which should look like and egg shape). and turn it so the small part of the egg is facing up. Starting in the middle, from the second stitch down, sew a "line" down the snout for 8 stitches (or 2 stitches from the bottom).

Nose:
Attach the safety nose now, to the top of the mouth line (1 stitch from the top of the "egg" shape). 

Attach the snout to your bear head now. See image below for placement guidelines. You may want to use pins to keep the snout in place while you sew it to the head. 

Placing the Snout on the bear. NOTE: I didnt stitch the mouth on before the nose, and it was a huge mistake! It is much easier to stitch the mouth on, then the nose, then sew it on the head.

Eyes:
Make 2:
1: Cut a piece of black yarn about 6 inches long.
2: Tie a knot 3 times around (see video here for instructions).
3: Sew eyes right above the snout, with 2 stitches between.

Belly hair (optional):
1: Cut the yarn to about 6 inches and sew through the two points of the hair you want to add.
2: Now you can tie the two ends of the yarn together. I just do a regular knot you would do when tying your shoes, twice. Make sure the knot is tight
3: Now you can trim the excess pieces of yarn (leave about a cm) and rotate the yarn so the knot goes inside the body.

Repeat for any amount of hair pieces you want to add! I just put them randomly all over the belly.

Scarf

Using the thick yarn (I used Charisma in "Forest") and same hook (4mm):
1: Ch 91
2: Starting from the 3rd chain from hook, DC in all chains
3: Ch 2, DC in all stitches in the BLO

Fasten off and weave in ends. Wrap the scarf around your bears neck making sure it is really hugging his chin! You can just tuck in the end to make it stay. 

I would love to hear about your experience with this pattern! Feel free to post any comments or questions below!! :)

Love,
​Nikki