Bestie Bear

Bestie Bear Crochet Toy by Lisa van Klaveren

What Is Being Made

The Bestie Bear is a stuffed crochet toy designed by Lisa van Klaveren as a beginner-friendly amigurumi-style project. This cuddly bear stands 14 inches tall when standing or measures 8 inches when seated, making it an ideal size for a child's companion or decorative plush. The pattern creates a complete bear with a defined head, body, and structural shaping suitable for gift-giving or personal collection.

Crochet Techniques Used

This project employs fundamental crochet techniques appropriate for beginners while introducing essential amigurumi construction methods. The bear is worked in continuous rounds rather than joined rounds, allowing for seamless integration between sections. The pattern utilizes magic ring construction to begin the head and body, a technique that creates a tight center point ideal for stuffed toys. Invisible single crochet decrease is the primary shaping technique, worked by inserting the hook under the front loop only of consecutive stitches to create invisible decreases that maintain the toy's aesthetic appearance. Strategic increases and decreases throughout the pattern create the three-dimensional shaping necessary for the bear's head, body, and limbs.

Stitches Used

• Single Crochet (sc) – The foundational stitch used throughout the entire pattern for building the bear's structure
• Chain Stitch (ch) – Used at the beginning of rounds and for construction transitions
• Invisible Single Crochet Decrease (sc dec) – A specialized decrease stitch worked under front loops only, creating seamless shaping that is invisible from the outside of the finished toy
• Increases (2 sc in next sc) – Used to expand rounds and create the bear's rounded forms

Materials and Tools

The Bestie Bear pattern calls for worsted weight or aran weight yarn, providing structure and definition to the finished toy. The sample bear was created using Bernat Baby Blanket Tiny Solids in owl gray for the main color, requiring approximately 200 yards of the primary shade. Small amounts of contrasting color yarn are needed for details such as facial features or accent areas. A size F (3.75 mm) crochet hook is specified to work with the selected yarn weight and achieve proper gauge. Additional materials include 12mm safety eyes for the bear's face, polyester stuffing to fill the toy and maintain its shape, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and assembling components. A short length of contrasting yarn serves as a round marker to track the beginning and end of each continuous round during construction.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 3.5 single crochet stitches and 3.5 rows per inch, which is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions. Working to gauge ensures the bear reaches its designed size of 14 inches tall when standing or 8 inches when seated. Maintaining consistent tension and stitch size throughout the project directly impacts the final proportions and the proper fit of safety eyes and stuffing.