Bear Toy in Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake DK and Hayfield Bonus DK - 1245 - Downloadable PDF

Ted the Bear Knitting Pattern – Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake DK & Hayfield Bonus DK (Pattern 1245)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Sirdar provides full instructions for creating Ted the Bear, an adorable soft toy bear designed by Debi Birkin. The finished bear measures approximately 41–45 cm (16 inches) in height, making it a generously sized, huggable toy suitable as a gift for children or as a decorative keepsake. The pattern is rated for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and is worked flat on a single pair of needles before being assembled.

What Is Being Made

The project is a knitted stuffed bear toy, known in the pattern as Ted the Bear. The bear is constructed from multiple separately knitted pieces — including the head and body as distinct shaped panels — which are then seamed together and filled with toy stuffing to create a three-dimensional, soft sculpture. The finished bear has a plush, fluffy texture thanks to the yarn choice, and features contrast colour detailing worked in a second shade.

Materials Used

• Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake DK in shade 642 Beige (Main colour, M) – 3 x 25g balls
• Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake DK in shade 631 Creamy (Contrast colour, C) – 1 x 25g ball
• Oddments of Hayfield Bonus DK in black, used for facial features and detailing
• 1 pair of 3mm (UK11 / USA 2.5) knitting needles
• High loft hygienic toy filler for stuffing the finished bear

Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake DK is a specialist yarn with a fluffy, textured surface that mimics the soft feel of a plush toy. Because the purl side of the fabric is fluffier and more tactile, the pattern specifically instructs knitters to use the purl side as the right side throughout — an important detail that gives Ted his characteristic soft appearance. The pattern even suggests placing a tab of sticky tape on the purl side while working to avoid confusion, which is a helpful tip for knitters new to working with textured yarns.

Tension

The stated tension is 21 stitches and 35 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch on 3mm needles. Achieving correct tension is particularly important in toy making, as it ensures the stuffing does not show through gaps in the fabric and that the finished bear reaches the intended size.

Techniques Used

• Two-needle cast-on method – used to begin each piece of the bear
• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the primary fabric construction technique, worked throughout all pieces
• Increasing (inc) – used extensively to shape the head and body, building up stitch counts from a small cast-on to a wider, rounded form
• Decreasing (k2tog – knit two together) – used to shape and taper pieces, reducing stitch counts in a structured sequence to create the curved, three-dimensional form of the bear's body parts
• Working in rows – all pieces are worked flat rather than in the round
• Seaming and assembly – the separately knitted pieces are joined together after completion
• Stuffing and finishing – high loft toy filler is used to pad the assembled bear to its final shape

Stitches Used

• Knit (k)
• Purl (p)
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• Increase (inc) – working into the front and back of a stitch to add stitches and build width
• Stocking stitch – alternating knit and purl rows to create a smooth fabric (with the purl