The Teddies for tragedies pattern is good but I found unless you are really good at "picking up stitches" evenly ( I am not!) then you do not get a good finish and end up having to sew the arm again so the stuffing does not come out through the gaps.
Using 4mm needles and DK wool throughout all knit rows except for the head which is stocking stitch so it gives a flatter surface to do the teddy features on.
Boy bear teddy
Cast on 20 stitches in "bear colour" or boot colour if you are doing sporty teddy etc.
Knit 10 rows. Change to "trouser" colour and knit 30 rows.
Hold this on the needle and complete another leg the same.
Now knit across both legs with the same trouser colour (40 stitches) and do another 14 knit rows (wrong side facing) then cast off 10 stitches at the beginning of the next row. Next row cast off 10 stitches( 20 stitches left) then add the main colour for your teddy's jumper, knit 14 rows ending with front side facing.
Add paws and sleeves
Next row cast on 8 stitches in main jumper colour, then add 5 stitches of the main teddy colour to make the paw. Knit across the 5 stitches for the paw, change the colour for the next
28 stitches left on needle.
Next row cast on 8 stitches in main jumper colour and then 5 stitches for the paw as the previous row. I find it is best to work with just a bit of wool for the paws( you get to know how much you need) otherwise things get a bit tangled.
Continue these rows in knit for the next 12 rows.
Head
Knit 5 in paw colour, 8 in jumper colour place on stitch holder.
Using main teddy colour knit across the next 20 stitches, turn and stocking stitch on these stitches( starting with a purl row) until it measures 6" ending with a knit row. (You may find it easier to leave the "sleeve and paw" at the other end also on a stitch holder.)
Back of teddy
Pick up the 8 stitches of the sleeve in jumper colour, then the five of the paw. Knit back across these changing the 20 stitches in the middle back to main jumper colour, complete the row with the 8 sleeve and 5 paw stitches. Continue for another 12 rows. ( as before)
Next row
Cast off the 5 stitches of the paw and the 8 stitches of the sleeve continue to knit to the end.
Next row
Cast off the 5 stitches of the paw and the 8 stitches of the sleeve continue to knit to the end.
Continue on these last 20 stitches knit in the main jumper colour for 14 rows, cast off.
You should now have a complete teddy that just needs a face and stuffing.
It sounds a bit daunting but I can do them now without the pattern it is easier than having to sew up little bits of knitting and makes it stronger so the stuffing does not show through.
To finish - wrong side facing
Sew up the inside legs, then up the back of the trousers. Sew up the sides of the head ( after doing the face). Sew up the underarms from the paw to the waist. You should now have a gap at the back of the teddy where the jumper meets the trousers so you can stuff it. Sew up the teddy at the waistband.
The scarf is 80 stitches knit for four rows then cast off loosly.
The waistcoat is:
Cast on 45 stitches, knit for 20 rows.
Next row knit 10 stitches, cast off the next 2, knit 21 stitches, cast off the next 2, then knit the last 10. Complete each section to the length of waistcost you want. Mine were 4".
For the little girl teddies just change the colours you use. The shoes for the first 10 rows, then the next 30 rows in "teddy bear colour". I did the joined rows at the top of the legs the same colour as the dress body so when the skirt is lifted it looks like they are wearing pants.
The skirt is done by casting on 120 stitches, knit for 12 rows, next row decrease 1 stitch knit 3, dec 1, knit 3 to end. Carry on decreasing down as you want too depending on how long you want the skirt to be. Make sure you have 45 to 50 stitches left at the end or it will not fit the stuffed teddy.
My Pitfalls........... Do the faces before you sew up the sides of the head up then sew across the two top corners to form the ears.
I tried using "boucle" type wool for the main colour of the teddies as I thought it would look more like fur.....terrible mistake it is too think on 4mm needles and trying to do 5 stitches for paws in it made them too big for the teddy.
It is a good way of using up bits of wool....Good Luck if you need any further help I will knit another one and photograph each stage.
For those in the UK I found a very good site e-crafts.co.uk
that do fabulous teddy eyes, £1.10 for 10 pairs, and suede noses and other useful crafty things.
28 stitches left on needle.
Next row cast on 8 stitches in main jumper colour and then 5 stitches for the paw as the previous row. I find it is best to work with just a bit of wool for the paws( you get to know how much you need) otherwise things get a bit tangled.
Continue these rows in knit for the next 12 rows.
Head
Knit 5 in paw colour, 8 in jumper colour place on stitch holder.
Using main teddy colour knit across the next 20 stitches, turn and stocking stitch on these stitches( starting with a purl row) until it measures 6" ending with a knit row. (You may find it easier to leave the "sleeve and paw" at the other end also on a stitch holder.)
Back of teddy
Pick up the 8 stitches of the sleeve in jumper colour, then the five of the paw. Knit back across these changing the 20 stitches in the middle back to main jumper colour, complete the row with the 8 sleeve and 5 paw stitches. Continue for another 12 rows. ( as before)
Next row
Cast off the 5 stitches of the paw and the 8 stitches of the sleeve continue to knit to the end.
Next row
Cast off the 5 stitches of the paw and the 8 stitches of the sleeve continue to knit to the end.
Continue on these last 20 stitches knit in the main jumper colour for 14 rows, cast off.
You should now have a complete teddy that just needs a face and stuffing.
It sounds a bit daunting but I can do them now without the pattern it is easier than having to sew up little bits of knitting and makes it stronger so the stuffing does not show through.
To finish - wrong side facing
Sew up the inside legs, then up the back of the trousers. Sew up the sides of the head ( after doing the face). Sew up the underarms from the paw to the waist. You should now have a gap at the back of the teddy where the jumper meets the trousers so you can stuff it. Sew up the teddy at the waistband.
The scarf is 80 stitches knit for four rows then cast off loosly.
The waistcoat is:
Cast on 45 stitches, knit for 20 rows.
Next row knit 10 stitches, cast off the next 2, knit 21 stitches, cast off the next 2, then knit the last 10. Complete each section to the length of waistcost you want. Mine were 4".
For the little girl teddies just change the colours you use. The shoes for the first 10 rows, then the next 30 rows in "teddy bear colour". I did the joined rows at the top of the legs the same colour as the dress body so when the skirt is lifted it looks like they are wearing pants.
The skirt is done by casting on 120 stitches, knit for 12 rows, next row decrease 1 stitch knit 3, dec 1, knit 3 to end. Carry on decreasing down as you want too depending on how long you want the skirt to be. Make sure you have 45 to 50 stitches left at the end or it will not fit the stuffed teddy.
My Pitfalls........... Do the faces before you sew up the sides of the head up then sew across the two top corners to form the ears.
I tried using "boucle" type wool for the main colour of the teddies as I thought it would look more like fur.....terrible mistake it is too think on 4mm needles and trying to do 5 stitches for paws in it made them too big for the teddy.
It is a good way of using up bits of wool....Good Luck if you need any further help I will knit another one and photograph each stage.
For those in the UK I found a very good site e-crafts.co.uk
that do fabulous teddy eyes, £1.10 for 10 pairs, and suede noses and other useful crafty things.
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https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2964997071?profi...
Here's the link to the teddies' photo in case the photo disappears or something. THESE are the bears!!! :D