Teddy Bear Toy

"Teddy isn't difficult to knit, but he is constructed as a toy so it's important that you follow the finishing instructions carefully to give him neat seams and well-filled proportions."

Measurements: Finished teddy is approximately 18" tall

You will need: Two skeins of 3.5 oz Sirdar Cossack Chunky (shade 084)
I used a skein of Simply Soft in Hunter Green and another partial skein in Heather Grey instead.

Pair of size 10.5 (6.5 mm) knitting needles
washable polyester toy stuffing
2 Buttons for eyes (I liked the snap-on eyes better)
Wool embroidery yarn in black
28" strong cotton tape

Gauge: 12.5 sts and 18 rows to 4" over St st on size 10.5 (6.5mm) needles, or the size required to give the correct gauge.
I used my size 5 knitting needles and never looked back. I'm not opposed to calculating the gauge, but it didn't seem to matter. And besides, I wanted a bit smaller bear anyway.

Abbreviations: ssp = Slip the first st, then the 2nd st knitwise, return the sts to left needle, take right needle behind to insert it into 2nd, then first st and p2tog.

Head: Left Side- cast on 12 sts. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows St st.

• 5th row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to end. 13 sts. Purl 1 row.
• 7th row: Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 15 sts.
• 8th row: Inc in first st, p to end. 16 sts.
• 9th and 10th rows: As 7th and 8th rows. 19 sts.
• 11th row: K to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 20sts.
• 12th row: As 8th row. 21 sts.
• 13th row: As 11th row. 22 sts. Purl 1 row.
• 15th row: As 11th row. Work 9 rows in St st.**
• 25th row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to end. 22 sts.
• 26th row: Bind off 8 sts, p to end. 14 sts.
• 27th row: As 25th row. 13 sts. Purl 1 row.
• 29th row: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 11 sts. Purl 1 row.
• 31st row: As 29th row. 9 sts. Purl 1 row. Bind off.

Right Side: Reverse shapings, work to match left side to **.

• 25th row: (RS) Bind off 8 sts, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 14 sts. Purl 1 row.
• 27th row: K to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 13 sts. Complete as left side.

Gusset: Cast on 2 sts.

• 1st row: (RS) (Inc in next st) twice. 4 sts. Purl 1 row.
• 3rd row: (Inc in next st, k1) twice. 6 sts. Work 9 rows in St st.
• Inc row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 8 sts.

Inc in this way at each end of the next 3 RS rows. 14 sts. Work 25 rows in St st.

• Dec row: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 12 sts.

Dec in this way at each end of 2 foll 4th rows and next 2 RS rows. 4 sts. Work 3 rows in St st. Bind off.

Ears (Make 2): Cast on 18 sts. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows in St st.

• Next row: (RS) K1, (K2tog), sl1-k1-psso) twice, k1. 6 sts.

Arrange 3 sts on each needle and graft sts together.

Body: Left Half: Cast on 13 sts.

• 1st row: Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1.
  
• 2nd row: Inc in first st, p to last 2 sts, inc in next st, p1.
• Inc in this way at each end of next 3 rows. 23 sts. Purl 1 row. Inc as before at the end of next 3 RS rows. 26 sts.
• Work 13 rows in St st.
• Dec row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 24 sts.
• Dec in this way at each end of 2 foll 4th rows and next 2 RS rows. 16 sts.
• Now dec 1 st at the end of the next 3 RS rows. 13 sts. Purl 1 row. Bind off.

Right Half: Reversing all shapings, work to match left half.

Legs: Left Outer Leg: Cast on 16 sts. Beg with a k row, work 6 rows in St st.

• 7th row: (RS) K to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1.
• 8th row: P1, ssp, p to end.
• 9th, 10th, and 11th rows: As 7th, 8th, and 7th rows. 11 sts. Purl 1 row.
• 13th row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1
• Work last 2 rows 3 more times. Purl 1 row.
• Inc row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 13 sts.
  
• Inc in this way at each end of 2 foll RS rows. 17 sts.
• Work 9 rows in St st.
• Dec row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1.
  
• Dec in this way at each end of next 3 RS rows.
• Last row: (WS) P1, ssp, p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 7 sts. Bind off.

Right Inner Leg: Work as given for left outer leg.
Left Inner Leg: Reversing all shapings, work to match left outer leg.
Right Outer Leg: As left inner leg.

Soles: Make 2: [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your alternate color] Cast on 5 sts. Work in st st, inc 1 st as before at each end of first and 2nd rows. 9 sts. Work 9 rows in St st. Dec one st as before at each end of next 2 rows. 5 sts. Bind off.

Arms: Left Outer Arm: Cast on 3 sts. Work in St st. (Inc 1 st at each end of next row and 1 st at beg of foll row) twice. 9 sts. Inc 1 st at beg of next and foll RS row. 11 sts. Purl 1 row.[If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your main color]

• Next row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1.
  
• Work last 2 rows 3 times more. Work 3 rows in St st. Purl 1 row.
• Next row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1.
  
• Work last 2 rows twice more. Work 5 rows in St st.
  
• Dec as before at each end of next 4 rows. 5 sts. Bind off.

Right Inner Arm: Work as given for left outer arm. [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your alternate color]
Left Inner Arm: Reversing all shapings, work to match left outer arm. [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your alternate color]
Right Outer Arm: As left inner arm. [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your main color]

To Finish:

Leaving a gap at bound-off edges, join sides of body and inner and outer arms and legs. Set in soles. Stuff arms and legs firmly and close gaps. Stuff lower half of body. Thread a large darning needle with a 16" length of tape. Pin one end of tape to top back seam. Bring needle out of body at left leg position, take through stitches and top of left inner leg, thread tape through body and out at right leg position, take through stitches at top of right inner leg and back into body. Undo pin, pull tape to close legs to body, and knot tape firmly. Stuff top of body and, using remaining tape, join arms in the same way. Complete body stuffing, gather bound-off edges, pull tight and secure.

Join left and right sides of head at chin, insert cast-on point of gusset at nose and sew sides of head to gusset. Stuff head firmly, filling out nose and neck well. Gather neck edge, pull tight and secure. Sew head onto body, tilting the work at an angle for ease. Using thread, embroider nose and mouth. Use black thread to sew through holes in one button, leaving long ends. Thread a sharp darning needle with one end, place button in left eye position and sew on, taking each end diagonally through head and out slightly apart at right ear position. Pull ends to pull button into head, knot and darn in. Sew on right eye button as before. Sew on ears.