Pattern Description:
This free teddy bear sewing pattern is designed for beginners and takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
It allows you to craft a keepsake teddy bear, perfect for a new arrival or a special birthday gift.
The pattern can be customized using various fabrics, including scraps, linen, and cotton, making each teddy unique.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Blue fabric dye
- Synthetic stuffing
- Buttons for the eyes
- 4 small buttons for the jointing
- Linen thread
- Large needle for jointing
- Brown embroidery cotton
- Ribbon for the bow
- Measurements: Approximately 45cm (17¾in) tall.
Stitches & Abbreviations Used:
- Straight stitches for embroidering claws.
- General sewing terms like “stitch,” “tack,” and “embroider” are used throughout the instructions.
Instructions for Making the Classic Teddy Bear with Bow Pattern:
Prepping Your Pattern and Fabrics
- If desired, dye the linen fabric following the manufacturer’s instructions, then allow it to dry and iron it.
- Enlarge the pattern to the correct size. Use the 5cm (2in) arrow on your pattern as a guide, enlarging until the arrow measures 5cm (2in). If the required enlargement rate exceeds 200%, perform the enlargement in stages (e.g., enlarge to 200%, then perform a second enlargement at the calculated percentage).
- From the cotton fabric, cut out two palms, two soles, and one ear, adding 7mm (¼in) seam allowances all around.
- From the linen fabric, cut out two outside arms, two inside arms, two fronts, two backs, one center head, two side heads, four legs, and three ears, adding 7mm (¼in) seam allowances as before.
- When joining pieces, stitch them together with right sides facing, using a 7mm (¼in) seam allowance.
The Body
- Stitch the two front pieces together along the center-front edge.
- Stitch the two back pieces together along the center back, leaving a gap as indicated on the pattern.
- Stitch the front to the back all around.
- Turn the body out through the gap left in the back.
- Stuff the body with synthetic stuffing.
- Close up the gap in the back.
Arms and Legs
- Stitch a palm to each inside arm along the straight edge.
- Stitch each inside arm to an outside arm, leaving a gap as indicated on the pattern.
- Turn the arm out, stuff it, and close up the gap.
- Stitch the legs together in pairs, leaving the straight edge open and a gap in the back of the leg to turn through.
- Attach a sole to each leg.
- Turn the legs out and stuff them.
- Close up the gap.
Ears
- Pair up the ears with right sides facing and stitch all around, leaving the straight edge open.
- Turn out the ears.
Head
- Tack then stitch the center head piece between the side-head pieces, extending from the nose to the nape of the neck.
- Stitch the side-head pieces together between the nose and the front neck.
- Turn out the head and stuff it.
- Sew the ears in place on the head, tucking in the raw edges at the bottom of each ear.
- Embroider the nose and mouth using brown embroidery cotton.
- Attach the buttons for eyes.
- Sew the head to the body.
Attaching the Limbs
- Thread linen thread through a large needle.
- Stitch at shoulder level to cross the body.
- Pass the needle through an arm, then through one of the small buttons for jointing.
- Take the needle back through the button and arm in the other direction to cross the body.
- Pass the needle through the other arm and another button.
- Take the needle back through the button and arm and knot securely under the arm to hide the knot.
- Join the legs to the body in the same manner.
Finishing
- Embroider the claws using linen thread and straight stitches.
- Tie a ribbon (or a strip of pink linen) around the teddy bear’s neck.
Download Free PDF:
