I enjoy lurking at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amigurumi. Today's post is a thank you and Merry Christmas for those nice folks there (and anyone else who crochets).
Polar Bear
Copyright 2008, Martha Ess, revised 12/10/2011
You may make copies for yourself and a few friends, you may make, give, or sell the item, but you may not reprint or repost the pattern elsewhere without permission.
Materials: worsted weight yarn, white and small amount black, fiberfill, size G hook. (optional red yarn and white pom-pom for trim)
Size: 5 1/2” long, 3 ½” high
Body: Do not join at ends of rounds, work continuously, marking ends of rounds. The eyes are French knots, easiest to work a little while after the ears have been made. Stuff with fiberfill as the opening grows smaller.
With Black yarn
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook) (6 sc)
Change to White yarn
Rnd 2: [2 sc in sc, sc in next sc] 3 times (9 sc)
Rnd 3: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times (12 sc)
Rnd 4: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times (15 sc)
Rnd 5: sc in each sc (15 sc)
Rnd 6: 2 sc in sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 4 dc in front loop of next sc (ear made), sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 4 dc in front loop of next sc, sc in next 2 sc (16 sc and 2 ears)
Rnd 7: sc in each sc and sc in unused back loops behind the ears (18 sc)
Rnd 8: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 5 sc] 3 times (21 sc)
Rnd 9: sc in each sc (21 sc)
Rnd 10: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 6 sc] 3 times (24 sc)
Rnd 11: sc in each sc (24 sc)
Rnd 12: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 7 sc] 3 times (27 sc)
Rnd 13: sc in each sc (27 sc)
Rnd 14: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 8 sc] 3 times (30 sc)
Rnd 15: sc in each sc (30 sc)
Rnd 16: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 9 sc] 3 times (33 sc)
Rnd 17: sc in each sc (33 sc)
Rnd 18: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 10 sc] 3 times (36 sc)
Rnd 19: sc in each sc (36 sc)
Rnd 20: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 11 sc] 3 times (39 sc)
Rnd 21: sc in each sc (39 sc)
Rnd 22: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 12 sc] 3 times (42 sc).
Rnd 23: sc in each sc (42 sc)
Rnd 24: [decrease, sc in next 5 sc] 6 times (36 sc)
Rnd 25: [decrease, sc in next 4 sc] 6 times (30 sc)
Rnd 26: [decrease, sc in next 3 sc] 6 times (24 sc)
Rnd 27: [decrease, sc in next 2 sc] 6 times (18 sc)
Rnd 28: [decrease, sc in next sc] 6 times (12 sc)
Rnd 29: decrease 6 times, sl st in 1st stitch and end off, leaving a few inches of thread. Sew closed.
Front legs: with White yarn(make 2)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook) (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
Rnd 3: [2 sc in sc, sc in next sc] 6 times (18 sc)
Rnd 4: sc in next 4 sc, ch 8. (Hold the leg so that you are in position to work into the beginning of the round, with the right side still facing you. The chain 8 forms a loop which begins the bottom part of the leg.)
Rnd 5: sc in the 4 sc of Rnd 4 and in each ch (12 sc)
Rnd 6 - 7: sc in each sc for 2 rounds (12 sc)
Rnd 8: working in back loops, decrease 6 times, sl st in 1st stitch and end off, leaving a few inches of thread. Sew closed.
Beginning of Round 5 of Front Leg
Completed Front Leg. The large round upper sections of the legs are sewn to the body to form shoulders and hips.
Rear legs: with White yarn(make 2)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic circle (or ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook) (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sc)
Rnd 3: [2 sc in sc, sc in next sc] 6 times (18 sc)
Rnd 4: [2 sc in sc, sc in next 2 sc] 6 times (24 sc)
Rnd 5: sc in next 6 sc, ch 12 (Hold the leg so that you are in position to work into the beginning of the round, with the right side still facing you. The chain 12 forms a loop which begins the bottom part of the leg.)
Rnd 6: sc in the 6 sc of Rnd 5 and in each ch (18 sc)
Rnd 7: sc in each sc (18 sc)
Rnd 8: working in back loops, [decrease, sc in next sc] 6 times (12 sc)
Rnd 9: decrease 6 times, sl st in 1st stitch and end off, leaving a few inches of thread. Sew closed
Tail: with White yarn
Row 1: Ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, ch 1, turn
Row 2: Sc in each sc, ch 1, turn
Row 3: Decrease, ch 1, turn
Row 4: sc in sc. End off.
Sew legs to body using whip stitch and stuffing lightly as you go. It is easiest to sew the upper flat parts first. Sew tail to behind.
More views to aid placing pieces:
Optional accessories: (If making for toy for small child, omit accessories, or sew on securely.)
Scarf:
With Red yarn
Row 1: Ch 4, dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in next ch, turn
Row 2-22: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc. End off. Make fringe with white yarn.
Hat:
With Red yarn
Row 1: Ch 12, sl st to 1st ch
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each ch, sl st to top of Ch 3 (12 dc)
Row 3: Ch 3, [decrease, dc in next dc] 3 times, decrease, sl st to top of Ch 3 (8 dc)
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in dc, decrease, dc in next 2 dc, decrease, sl st to top of Ch 3 (6 dc)
Row 5: Ch 3, decrease, dc in dc, decrease, sl st to top of Ch 3, end off.
With White yarn, turn over, work in unused loops of Row 1 chains:
Ch 3, dc in same ch, [dc in next ch, 2 dc in next ch] 5 times, dc in next ch, sl st to top of Ch 3, end off. Fold white row upward. Sew white pom-pom to point of hat.
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He's fantastic. Now I've GOT to find my crochet hooks etc. I'm sure my little granddaughter would love one of these bears. A new project for after Christmas. Thanks, Martha.
ReplyDeleteMartha, what an awesome little polar bear! Beautiful details.
ReplyDeleteMay you and your family have a delightful holiday!
all the very best,
Katie V. in Creedmoor
He's fabulous, love the scarf and Santa hat, can't remember how to crochet, need a refresher course. He is so worth making.
ReplyDeleteI love the polar bear Martha! Now I wish I could crochet!
ReplyDeleteYes, he too makes me very tempted to take out my crochet hook. Oh, I must try and convince a few others to do this together in our next gathering! Thanks for the pattern, Martha!
ReplyDeleteOh my, he's a MUST make! Very generous of you to share the pattern! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteoh, Martha, I love this little guy! I can't crochet, but I was thinking of 3d tatting one someday (as I collect polar bears). He is such a cutie, grrrrrrreat job!
ReplyDeleteCarol(aka battatter)
What do the abbreviations mean. It's very confusing for someone that's never crocheted before.
ReplyDeleteThese are fairly standard abbreviations. You'll be seeing them in other patterns as you learn to crochet.
ReplyDeleteRnd= round
ch= chain stitch
sc= single crochet stitch
dc= double crochet stitch
sl st= slip stitch
These are American crochet stitches. I think in the UK the meanings are different.
Thanks so much for the extra pictures. They will make a world of difference when I start to put this little fella together.
ReplyDeleteOh soooo cute, you wouldn't be thinking og selling these on eBay would you, hint,hint,hint Lynda
ReplyDeleteIn the front legs I do not understand what to do after you chain 8
ReplyDeleteDo not understand what it means after the chain 8 in front legs
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your pattern. The polar bear is so refreshing of a pattern for Christmas. I do crochet and plan on starting on mine today. Ok, a few of them to spread around under my tree and around my apartment.
ReplyDeletehi! Would love to make this adorable guy, but usually stick to easy patterns. How do you make the magic circles? I think I understand the rest of the directions. Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteIf you do a Google search for "magic circle crochet" you will get links to several tutorials and youtube videos.
ReplyDeleteI love this little polar bear. It was quick and easy after I figured out how to go from row 4 to 5 on the legs. If there was no picture I would have never figured it out. Maybe it should be STRESSED the placement of the yarn you are working from.
ReplyDeleteThanks again
I love the polar bear! Its just so adorable! I've been looking EVERYWHERE for a Polar Bear crochet pattern, and this is the first that actually looks realistic! I read the part where it says to not repost the pattern without permission, and was wondering if I would be able to share it on Google+, by posting the link to this page and putting the picture of the polar bear off this page next to the link.
ReplyDeleteYou may post a link, just not the pattern itself. Thanks for asking.
DeleteAlright, thanks!!
DeleteCannot figure out what to do on round 4 of the legs. The directions need to be more explicit.
DeleteThe first 3 rounds of the front leg make a circle for the shoulder that will later be sewed onto the body. On Round 4, you sc into the first 4 stitches of the previous round and then chain 8. For Round 5, you make 4 sc into the 4 sc of Round 4, and then make 8 sc into the chain stitches of Round 4. You are now making small rounds that form a short tube that make the foot part of the leg. Look at the pictures carefully.
DeleteThank you so much for this. My friend loves polar bears and I've just made one in Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake to give him a fluffy feel.
ReplyDeleteJust made this polar bear. My first attempt at amigurumi. Easier than I expected. The instructions plus photos were very easy to follow. Many thanks.
ReplyDelete