Patchwork Bear Toys in Hayfield Bonus Aran - 7802- Downloadable PDF

Patchwork Bear Toys in Hayfield Bonus Aran – Pattern 7802

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Hayfield includes instructions for two charming patchwork teddy bear toys: a larger Heart Patchwork Bear and a smaller Fair Isle Patchwork Bear. Both designs are worked in Hayfield Bonus Aran yarn and are rated as intermediate difficulty, making them a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with a range of techniques beyond basic knit and purl. The finished bears make wonderful handmade gifts and heirloom keepsakes.

Heart Patchwork Bear

The Heart Patchwork Bear measures approximately 50 cm (19¾ inches) in length, making it a generously sized cuddly toy. The "patchwork" aesthetic is achieved by combining multiple stitch textures across different sections of the bear's body, giving it a tactile, quilt-like appearance reminiscent of traditional patchwork fabric.

• Yarn: Hayfield Bonus Aran in shade 694 – one 400g ball is required
• Needles: 1 pair of 4mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles
• Additional tools: A cable needle is required for working the cable pattern sections
• Stuffing: High Loft Hygienic Toy Filler is used to stuff the finished bear
• Eyes: 2 buttons are used for the bear's eyes

Fair Isle Patchwork Bear

The Fair Isle Patchwork Bear is the smaller of the two designs, measuring approximately 35 cm (13¾ inches) in length. This bear incorporates a Fair Isle colourwork element, introducing a second shade of yarn to create a traditional stranded knitting pattern. The combination of colourwork panels alongside textured stitch sections gives this bear its distinctive patchwork character.

• Main yarn: Hayfield Bonus Aran in shade 694 – one 400g ball
• Contrast yarn: Hayfield Bonus Aran in shade 962 – approximately 25g required
• Additional yarn: Oddments of Hayfield Bonus DK in Grey are also used as an accent
• Needles: 1 pair of 4mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles
• Additional tools: A cable needle is required
• Stuffing: High Loft Hygienic Toy Filler
• Eyes: 2 buttons per bear

Stitches and Techniques Used

Both bears draw on a rich variety of knitting stitches and techniques, which together create the patchwork panel effect that defines these designs. The multi-stitch approach means knitters will practise and develop several skills within a single project.

• Stocking stitch – the foundational knit-and-purl fabric used across body sections; tension is measured at 19 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm
• Cable pattern – worked using a cable needle to cross stitches and create twisted rope or plait effects; tension over cable pattern is measured at 26 stitches to 10 cm
• Irish moss stitch – a reversible seed-stitch variant that creates a dense, textured fabric; tension matches stocking stitch at 19 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm
• Fair Isle / stranded colourwork – used in the smaller bear to introduce a second colour in a traditional repeating pattern, worked by carrying the unused yarn across the back of the work
• Toy construction and making up