Introduction
Meet your new pocket-sized friend—a soft, palm-fitting teddy bear dressed in cozy blue overalls and a light yellow cardigan, just like the photo. This beginner-friendly project is perfect if you’re new to toy knitting: most pieces are worked in the round to minimize seams, shaping is straightforward, and the finishing is easy and forgiving. You’ll learn or practice simple increases/decreases, picking up stitches, and tiny embroidery for the ice-cream motif on the bib.
The finished teddy stands about 12–13 cm (4.75–5 in) tall with DK/light-worsted yarn. The clothes are removable, encouraging imaginative play and making this a thoughtful handmade gift. The tutorial is structured in clear sections to help you knit confidently from start to finish.
Materials
Yarn (DK / light-worsted; approx. 22 sts = 10 cm / 4 in in stockinette on US 6/4 mm; we’ll use smaller needles for firm fabric):
- Main Teddy Color (MT): heathered medium grey, 35–45 m
- Contrast Muzzle (CM): creamy white, 5–8 m
- Overalls (OV): dusty blue, 20–30 m
- Cardigan (CA): soft yellow, 18–25 m
- Embroidery scraps: brown (nose/mouth), black (eyes if embroidered), green, pink, and red for ice-cream motif
Needles
- US 2.5–3 (3.0–3.25 mm) DPNs or long circular for magic loop (toy pieces)
- US 3 (3.25 mm) or US 4 (3.5 mm) for clothing (choose one size up from toy needles)
Notions
- 6–8 mm safety eyes (optional) OR black embroidery thread
- Polyester fiberfill
- 2–3 small novelty buttons for cardigan decoration (optional)
- Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers (at least 6), scrap yarn waste yarn holders
- Small crochet hook for picking up stitches and attaching fringe (optional)
Gauge
- Toy pieces: ~7 sts per inch (2.5 cm) in stockinette with US 3 and DK—fabric should be dense so stuffing doesn’t show.
- Clothing: not critical; aim for a tidy but flexible fabric.
Safety note: For gifts for children under 3, embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes, and sew buttons firmly or omit them.
Abbreviations & Techniques
CO – cast on
BO – bind off
K – knit
P – purl
Rnd(s) – round(s)
Row(s) – row(s)
St(s) – stitch(es)
PM/SM – place/slip marker
Kfb – knit front and back (increase 1)
M1L/M1R – make 1 left/right (lifted increase)
K2tog – knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
SSK – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
Inc – increase (as specified)
Dec – decrease (as specified)
[ ] x N – repeat instructions in brackets N times
I-cord – narrow knitted cord (2–3 sts)
Pick up sts – use needle to lift new stitches along an edge
Skills covered: knitting in the round on small circumferences, basic shaping, simple flat knitting, duplicate-stitch embroidery, neat seaming with mattress stitch.
Pattern Overview
You’ll knit: feet → legs → body → neck → head in one piece. Arms, ears, and muzzle are separate. Then add overalls (one-piece romper with tiny straps) and a very simple cardigan. Stitch counts are listed at each step.
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Teddy Bear Pattern (US 3 / 3.25 mm; MT unless noted)
Feet (make 2) and Legs
CO 8 sts. Join in the round. PM for start of rnd.
- Rnd 1: Kfb around – 16 sts
- Rnd 2: K1, Kfb around – 24 sts
- Rnd 3: K2, Kfb around – 32 sts
- Rnds 4–6: Knit – 32 sts (shape foot length)
- Rnd 7: K2, K2tog around – 24 sts
- Rnd 8: K1, K2tog around – 16 sts
Stuff toe firmly.
Leg
- Rnds 9–18: Knit – 16 sts (about 2.5–3 cm)
- Rnd 19: K3, K2tog around – 12 sts
- Rnds 20–24: Knit – 12 sts
Break yarn on Leg 1 and hold sts. Work Leg 2 the same but do not break yarn.
Join for Body
With Leg 2 working yarn, K across its 12 sts, CO 4 sts (center crotch), K 12 sts of Leg 1, CO 4 sts, join. PM at back center.
Total: 32 sts.
- Rnds 1–6: Knit – 32 sts
- Rnd 7: K6, K2tog around – 28 sts
- Rnds 8–10: Knit – 28 sts
- Rnd 11: K5, K2tog around – 24 sts
- Rnds 12–14: Knit – 24 sts
Lightly stuff legs and lower body.
Neck
- Rnd 15: K2, K2tog around – 18 sts
- Rnd 16: K1, K2tog around – 12 sts
- Rnd 17: Knit – 12 sts
Stuff body firmly right up to the neck.
Head
We’ll increase out from the neck:
- Rnd 1: Kfb around – 24 sts
- Rnd 2: K2, Kfb around – 32 sts
- Rnd 3: K3, Kfb around – 40 sts
- Rnds 4–10: Knit – 40 sts
Insert safety eyes between Rnds 6–7, approx. 6–7 sts apart (center front). If embroidering eyes later, mark with pins.
Shape top of head
- Rnd 11: K3, K2tog around – 32 sts
- Rnd 12: Knit
Begin stuffing the head—firm but rounded. - Rnd 13: K2, K2tog around – 24 sts
- Rnd 14: Knit
- Rnd 15: K1, K2tog around – 16 sts
- Rnd 16: K2tog around – 8 sts
Break yarn, thread tail through remaining sts, pull tight, secure and weave to the inside.
Arms (make 2)
CO 8 sts in MT. Join in the round.
- Rnd 1: Kfb around – 16 sts
- Rnds 2–5: Knit – 16 sts
- Rnd 6: K2, K2tog around – 12 sts
- Rnds 7–16: Knit – 12 sts
- Rnd 17: K2tog around – 6 sts
Cut yarn, draw through 6 sts, and pull snug. Stuff lightly (just a pinch in the hand and a little in the forearm so arms remain soft). Leave a long tail for sewing to body.
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Ears (make 2; worked flat)
Using MT, CO 8 sts. Stockinette stitch (RS knit, WS purl).
- Row 1 (RS): K
- Row 2 (WS): P
- Row 3: K1, M1L, K to last st, M1R, K1 – 10 sts
- Row 4: P
- Repeat Rows 3–4 two more times – 14 sts
- Work 2 rows even.
- Decrease: Next RS, SSK, K to last 2, K2tog – 12 sts
- WS: P
- Repeat the last two rows twice more – 8 sts
BO, leaving a tail for sewing. Steam-press very lightly to tame curl if desired.
Muzzle (CM; in the round)
CO 6 sts. Join.
- Rnd 1: Kfb around – 12 sts
- Rnd 2: K1, Kfb around – 18 sts
- Rnds 3–5: Knit – 18 sts
- Rnd 6: K1, K2tog around – 12 sts
Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Stuff lightly after attaching.
Tail (optional)
Make a 3-st I-cord for 2.5–3 cm with MT. BO. Do not stuff. You can leave it off if you prefer the short, classic teddy look.
Assembly (Teddy)
- Arms: Pin arms to the body’s sides, top edges aligning roughly 1 round below the neck. Sew around using mattress/whip stitch.
- Ears: Fold the ear bases slightly to cup and sew to the head at about 10 and 2 o’clock positions, 2–3 rounds down from the top.
- Muzzle: Position centered between the eyes; lower edge about 1–2 rounds above the neck. Add a tiny wisp of stuffing, then sew around the edge with the long tail.
- Face details: With brown yarn, satin-stitch a small oval nose at the top of the muzzle. With the same or black, stitch a short vertical line down and one or two tiny horizontal stitches for the mouth. Add a hint of blush using a cotton swab and non-toxic pastel or leave natural.
- Tail (optional): Stitch securely to center back, right above the leg join.
The bear is complete—time to dress it!
Overalls (Removable Romper)
Worked on US 3–4 (one size larger than toy needles) with OV. Body in the round; straps picked up.
Waist & Body
CO 44 sts. Join in the round, taking care not to twist. PM.
- Rnds 1–4: (K1, P1) rib – 44 sts
- Rnds 5–10: Knit – 44 sts
Divide for legs
- Work 22 sts; place remaining 22 sts on holder. CO 2 sts at inner thigh; join to work 24 sts in the round for Leg A.
- Rnds 1–10: Knit – 24 sts
- Rnds 11–12: (K1, P1) rib. BO in rib.
- Return 22 held sts to needle for Leg B. CO 2 sts and work as for Leg A.
Bib & Straps (worked flat)
Locate the center front between the legs. With romper RS facing, pick up and knit 18 sts across front top edge (above rib). Work flat:
- Row 1 (RS): K18
- Row 2 (WS): P18
- Row 3: K1, SSK, K to last 3, K2tog, K1 – 16 sts
- Row 4: P
- Row 5: K1, SSK, K to last 3, K2tog, K1 – 14 sts
- Rows 6–8: Stockinette even
Straps
From each top corner, CO 3 sts and work a 3-st I-cord for 6–7 cm. BO. Cross the straps at the back and stitch to the back waistband (or add tiny snaps if you like).
Ice-Cream Embroidery (optional but adorable)
With tapestry needle:
- Cone: backstitch a small triangle in brown. Fill with diagonal lattices.
- Scoops: satin stitch two semicircles in pink and green.
- Cherry: single red French knot on top.
Secure ends on WS neatly and avoid pulling too tight.
Mini Cardigan (Top-Down, Seamless)
Worked on US 3–4 with CA. Simple raglan shaping; open front. Add novelty buttons as decoration (or sew snaps).
Neckline Setup (worked flat)
CO 30 sts.
Row 1 (RS): K2 (edge), P2, K2 (raglan), P20 (back), K2 (raglan), P2, K2 (edge).
Row 2 (WS): K across all sts (garter edges; stockinette body).
From here, work raglan increases at each RS row inside the two raglan “K2” columns:
Raglan Increase Row (RS):
K2, P2, M1L, K2, M1R (raglan), P to last 6 before end, M1L, K2, M1R, P2, K2.
Work sequence:
- Row A (RS): Raglan Increase Row
- Row B (WS): K across
Repeat Rows A & B 6 times total. Stitch count grows from 30 to 54 sts (adds 24 sts: 4 increases per RS row × 6). Piece should measure ~3.5–4 cm from neck.
Divide for Sleeves (RS):
K2, P2 (front), slip next 10 sts (sleeve) to holder, CO 2 underarm sts, P next 26 sts (back), slip next 10 sts (sleeve) to holder, CO 2 underarm sts, P2 (front), K2.
You now have 34 live sts for the body.
Body (worked flat)
- Work 8–10 rows in stockinette keeping 2 garter edge sts on each side (always knit first and last 2 sts).
- Optional hem: Work (K1, P1) rib across for 2 rows; BO loosely in pattern.
Sleeves (each worked in the round)
Return one sleeve’s 10 held sts to DPNs/circular, pick up 2 sts from underarm (12 sts total).
- Rnds 1–8: Knit – 12 sts
- Rnds 9–10: (K1, P1) rib; BO in rib.
Sew decorative buttons to the left front; add snaps on the inside if you want it to close. The cardi in the photo is worn open with cute pins—the easiest option.
Finishing & Final Touches
- Weave in all ends on WS of clothing and inside the toy.
- Block lightly if using wool blends: soak garments and ears in lukewarm water with a drop of wool wash, press in a towel, shape flat, and dry. Do not over-block the toy—just steam gently if needed.
- Dress the teddy: pull on the overalls, cross and attach straps, then slip on the cardigan. Adjust embroidery and smooth any fuzz with your hands.
Troubleshooting FAQ
My fabric shows stuffing.
Use smaller needles (US 2.5–3) or knit a touch tighter. Toy fabric should feel firm.
The head wobbles.
Pack extra stuffing right at the neck transition before increasing for the head. You can also run a few anchoring stitches through the neck after finishing.
Ladders between DPNs/magic loop halves?
Tighten the first two stitches of each needle, or shift the join by one stitch every few rounds to distribute tension.
Color changes or embroidery look messy.
Work embroidery after blocking the overalls so the fabric is smooth. For duplicate stitch details, follow the V’s of stockinette.
Tips for Beginners
- Stuff in layers. Add small wisps of fiberfill and shape as you go—firm at the feet and head, softer in limbs and belly.
- Use lifelines. If you’re new to shaping, thread a contrasting yarn through stitches before a shaping section; you can rip back safely if needed.
- Match pairs together. Knit both ears/arms one after the other with the same row count to keep symmetry.
- Keep floats gentle (if you add colorwork later). Spread stitches on your right needle before knitting the next to maintain even tension.
- Secure notions. If you add buttons or pins, ensure they’re fastened securely and avoid for very young children.
