Bartholomew Bear

Bartholomew Bear Knitted Toy Pattern

What is Being Made

Bartholomew Bear is an intermediate-level knitted stuffed toy designed by Browneyedbabs. This pattern creates a three-dimensional bear suitable for display or play, with finished sizes ranging from approximately 6 inches to 13 inches tall depending on yarn weight and needle size selection. The bear features a classic teddy bear silhouette with distinct body, head, limbs, and facial features.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to construct the bear. Increases are worked using the KFB (knit into front and back) method to expand stitch counts for shaping the bear's body and head. Decreases are accomplished through K2Tog (knit two together) and SSK (slip, slip, knit) techniques to taper limbs and shape facial features. The pattern utilizes wrap and turn (W&T) short-row shaping, which allows for three-dimensional sculpting without cutting yarn or managing multiple color changes. Stitch markers are essential tools used throughout construction to track pattern repeats and round boundaries, with the pattern requiring six stitch markers during assembly. Stitch holders or waste yarn preserve live stitches—eight holders are needed—allowing sections to be worked separately and then grafted or joined together seamlessly.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern relies on basic knit and purl stitches as its foundation. Key stitch abbreviations include:

• K: Knit stitch
• P: Purl stitch
• K2Tog: Knit two stitches together for right-leaning decreases
• P2Tog: Purl two stitches together for purl-side decreases
• SSK: Slip, slip, knit—a left-leaning decrease technique
• KFB: Knit into front and back of a single stitch to increase by one stitch
• PM: Place marker to denote pattern sections
• RM: Remove marker
• SM: Slip marker from left needle to right needle without working it
• Rnd: Round, indicating circular knitting construction
• W&T: Wrap and turn for short-row shaping
• Sts: Stitches
• ( )*3: Repeat instructions within parentheses three times

The pattern is worked primarily in the round using circular knitting methods, as indicated by the "Rnd" abbreviation and the requirement for stitch markers to track round progression.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

Yarn weight significantly impacts both the finished size and yardage requirements for Bartholomew Bear. The pattern provides two worked examples demonstrating this flexibility:

• Brown Sample: Worked in Erika Knight Fur (100% wool, 44 yards per 100 grams) on 6mm/US10 needles, requiring 180 yards total to create a bear approximately 13 inches tall. This heavier yarn and larger needle size produce a larger, more substantial finished toy.
• White Sample: Worked in Stylecraft Eskimo (100% polyester, 98 yards per 50 grams) on 3.5mm/US4 needles, requiring 98 yards total to create a bear approximately 6 inches tall. This lighter yarn and smaller needle size produce a smaller, more delicate finished toy.

Knitters can adjust yarn weight and needle size to customize the bear's final dimensions. The pattern recommends the Turkish cast-on method for beginning construction, a technique particularly useful for creating seamless circular foundations.

Additional Materials and Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, several supplementary materials are required or optional for completing Bartholomew Bear. Stuffing is essential for filling the completed bear to create a three-dimensional plush toy. Six stitch markers are necessary for tracking pattern sections throughout knitting. Eight stitch holders or waste yarn preserve live stitches during construction. Safety eyes or black thread are options for creating the bear's eyes—safety eyes provide a finished commercial appearance, while embroidered eyes using