Mama bear will love this sweater for her little bear cub. With a cute bear face right on the tummy complete with a very squishable nose, you can’t help but smile while wearing this sweater.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Sizes: 1 (2, 3) years Finished measurement 10 (11, 12.5)” width x 12 (13,14)” length
Shown in size 3 years
Gauge: 16 sts and 10 rows = 4’’ [10 cm]
Materials
Yarn: Katia Merino Baby (100% Virgin Wool; 180 yards [165 meters]/50 grams): 027 Light Beige (MC, 6 balls), 02 Black (CC1, 1 ball), 042 Dark Beige (CC2, 1 ball), 03 Off White (CC3, 1 ball)
Hook: US size 7 (4.5 mm)
Notions: Tapestry needle, toy stuffed
Special Stitches
DEC: A double crochet decrease combines two double crochet stitches into one stitch. You will be making two partial double crochet stitches then combining them together into one stitch.To decrease in double crochet, yarn over and draw up a loop in the next stitch. Yarn over and pull yarn through two loops on the hook. This is the first part of a double crochet stitch.
Instead of completing the double crochet, start making a second double crochet stitch: yarn over and draw up a loop in the next stitch, then yarn over and pull yarn through two loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull yarn through the remaining three loops on the hook.
Pattern Note
The sweater is worked in one piece, starting at the neck.
To give more rigidity to the sweater work the double thread.
Pattern
Ch 80 (92, 104).
Row 1: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc) hdc in next 11 (13, 15) ch, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch, hdc in next 16 (18, 20) ch, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch, hdc in the next 22 (26, 30) ch, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch, hdc in next 16 (18, 20) ch, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch, hdc in next 11 (13, 15) ch, turn. (88 (100, 112) sts)
Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 12 (14, 16) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 18 (20, 22) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 24 (28, 32) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 18 (20, 22) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 12 (14, 16) dc, turn. (96 (108, 120) sts)
Row 3: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 13 (15, 17) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 20 (22, 24) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 26 (30, 34) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 20 (22, 24) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 13 (15, 17) dc, turn. (104 (116, 128) sts)
Row 4: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 14 (16, 18) hdc, hdc, ch, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 22 (24, 26) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 28 (32, 36) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 22 (24, 26) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 14 (16, 18) dc, turn. (112 (124, 136) sts)
Row 5: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 15 (17, 19) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 24 (26, 28) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 30 (34, 38) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 24 (26, 28) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 15 (17, 19) dc, turn. (120 (132, 144) sts)
Row 6: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 16 (18, 20) hdc, hdc, ch, hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 26 (28, 30) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 32 (36, 40) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 26 (28, 30) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 16 (18, 20) dc, turn. (128 (140, 152) sts)
Row 7: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 17 (19, 21) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 28 (30, 32) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 34 (38, 42) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 28 (30, 32) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 17 (19, 21) dc, turn. (136 (148, 160) sts)
Row 8: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 18 (20, 22) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 30 (32, 34) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 36 (40, 44) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 30 (32, 34) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 18 (20, 22) dc, turn. (144 (154, 168) sts)
Row 9: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), hdc in next 19 (21, 23) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 32 (34, 36) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 38 (42, 46) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 32 (34, 36) hdc, (hdc, ch, hdc) in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 19 (21, 23) dc, sl st in first hdc, turn. (152 (162, 176) sts)
Row 10: Ch 2 (does not count as first dc), hdc in same hdc, dc in next 19 (21, 23) hdc, hdc in next ch-1 sp, sk next 34 (36, 38) hdc (this is the first armhole), hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 40 (44, 48) hdc, hdc in next ch-1 sp, sk next 34 (36, 38) hdc (this is the second armhole), hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next 20 (22, 24) dc, sl st in first hdc, turn. (88 (92,100) sts)
Row 11-14: Ch 3 (does not count as first dc), dc in same st, dc in each dc across to end, sl st in first dc.
Size 1 year Only
Row 15-27: Rep Row 11.
Row 28: Ch 1, sc in each dc across to end.
Fasten off.
Size 2 year Only
Row 15-29: Rep Row 11.
Row 30: Ch 1, sc in each dc across to end.
Fasten off.
Size 3 year Only
Row 15-31: Rep Row 11.
Row 32: Ch 1, sc in each dc across to end.
Fasten off.
Sleeves
Attach yarn in the lowest st of the skipped 34 (36, 38) sts (the armhole).
Size 1 year Only
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (does not count as first dc), turn, dc in next 2 dc, (dc in next 4 dc, dec) 5 times, dc in next 2 dc, sl st in first dc to join. (29 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (does not count as first dc), turn dc in each st around, sl st in first dc.
Rnds 3-15: Rep Row 2.
Rnd 16: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), turn, hdc in next dc, (hdc in next dc, dec) 9 times, hdc in next dc sl st in first hdc. (20 sts)
Rnd 17: Ch 1, sc in each st around.
Fasten off.
Size 2 year Only
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (does not count as first dc), turn, (dc in next 4 dc, dec) 6 times, sl st in first dc to join. (30 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (does not count as first dc), turn dc in each st around, sl st in first dc.
Rnds 3-20: Rep Row 2.
Rnd 21: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), turn, (hdc in next dc, dec) 10 times, sl st in first hdc. (20 sts)
Rnd 22: Ch 1, sc in each st around.
Fasten off.
Size 3 year Only
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (does not count as first dc), turn, dc in next dc, (dc in next 4 dc, dec) 6 times, dc in next dc, sl st in first dc to join. (32 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (does not count as first dc), turn, dc in each st around, sl st in first dc.
Rnds 3-23: Rep Row 2.
Rnd 24: Ch 2 (does not count as first hdc), turn, hdc in next dc, (hdc in next dc, dec) 10 times, hdc in next dc sl st in first hdc. (22 sts)
Rnd 25: Ch 1, sc in each st around.
Fasten off.
Neck Edge
Attach CC1 at beg of the open back part of the sweater.
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (count as first hdc) hdc in each st around, sl st in first dc.
Fasten off.
Bear Head
With CC1, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Make 14 dc in magic ring. (14 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc 14 times. (28 sts)
Rnd 3: (Inc in next st, dc in next st) 14 times. (42 sts)
Rnd 4: (Inc in next st, dc in next 2 sts) 14 times. (56 sts)
Rnd 5: (Inc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) 14 times. (70 sts)
Rnd 6: (Inc in next st, dc in next 4 sts) 14 times. (84 sts)
Rnd 7: (Inc in next st, dc in next 5 sts) 14 times. (98 sts)
Rnd 8: (Inc in next st, dc in next 6 sts) 14 times. (112 sts)
Fasten off.
Bear Ears (make 2)
With CC1, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Make 14 dc in magic ring. (14 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc 14 times. (28 sts)
Rnd 3: (Inc in next st, dc in next st) 8 times. (36 sts)
Fasten off.
Snout
With CC1, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Make 14 dc in magic ring. (14 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc 14 times. (28 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc in all 28 sts.
Fasten off.
Muzzle
With CC2, ch 5, turn.
Row 1: Sk first ch, sc in next 4 chs, turn. (4 sts)
Row 2: Dec, sc in each sc to end, turn. (3 sts)
Row 3: Dec, sc in last st, turn. (2 sts)
Row 4: Dec. (1 st)
Fasten off.
Eyes (make 2)
With CC1, make a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Make 10 sc in magic ring. (10 sts)
Rnd 2: With CC2 sc in next 4 sts, with CC3 (dc inc) 6 times. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: With CC3 (Inc) 4 times. (8 sts)
Fasten off.
Finishing
With CC1, work sc for the whole open edge (upper side behind the sweater).
With CC1, sew Ears to Head of Bear and work a sc with CC2 for the whole contour.
Sew Nose to Muzzle and embroider the mouth, using the photo as a guide.
Lightly stuff Muzzle and sew to Head.
Sew Eyes to the top of Head.
Sew Bear’s Head on sweater at the front.