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Plush amigurumi teddy bear pattern for handmade gifts

4.0mm hook, bulky plush yarn: amigurumi teddy bear with embroidered face, about 100 yards.

Plush amigurumi teddy bear pattern for handmade gifts
IntermediateLevel
4-6 hoursTime
4.0 mmHook
BulkyYarn
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About this pattern

This is a small amigurumi teddy bear made from a 14-round head, a 14-round body, two arms, two legs, and two ears, each starting at 6 single crochet stitches in a magic ring and worked in continuous rounds. It takes about 100 yards of bulky plush yarn, a 4.0 mm (US G-6) hook, polyester stuffing, and a stitch marker, and finishes at approximately 7 inches (18 cm) tall. Facial details are embroidered rather than attached with plastic parts, making it suitable for baby-safe versions.

This small standing teddy bear builds from five separate pieces -- a 14-round head, a 14-round body, two arms, two legs, and two ears -- each starting at 6 single crochet stitches in a magic ring and worked in continuous single crochet, then joined by sewing. The construction relies on increases and decreases to round the head and body rather than darts or gussets, so stitch count accuracy in the first few rounds determines the final shape. Bulky plush yarn and a 4.0 mm hook keep the fabric tight enough to hold 100 yards' worth of stuffing without the seams showing through. Finished size is approximately 7 inches (18 cm) tall.

The pattern

Written out round by round

Materials

  • Bulky plush yarn in main bear color: approximately 100 yards (91 meters)
  • Small amount of contrasting yarn for nose and facial embroidery
  • 4.0 mm crochet hook (US G-6)
  • Polyester fiber stuffing
  • Yarn needle
  • Stitch marker
  • Scissors

Abbreviations

  • MR = Magic ring
  • ch = Chain
  • sc = Single crochet
  • inc = Increase, two single crochet stitches in one stitch
  • dec = Decrease, single crochet two stitches together
  • sl st = Slip stitch
  • st = Stitch
  • FO = Fasten off

Head

Round 1Make MR, 6 sc into ring. (6)
Round 2Inc in each stitch around. (12)
Round 3(Sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (18)
Round 4(2 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (24)
Round 5(3 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (30)
Rounds 6–10Sc around. (30)
Round 11(3 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (24)
Round 12(2 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (18)Begin stuffing firmly.
Round 13(Sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (12)
Round 14Dec around. (6)

FO and leave a yarn tail for sewing if needed.

Body

Round 1MR, 6 sc. (6)
Round 2Inc around. (12)
Round 3(Sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (18)
Round 4(2 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (24)
Rounds 5–9Sc around. (24)
Round 10(2 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (18)
Rounds 11–12Sc around. (18)
Round 13(Sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (12)Stuff the body.
Round 14Dec around. (6)

FO and close the opening.

Arms (Make 2)

Round 1MR, 6 sc. (6)
Rounds 2–6Sc around. (6)

Lightly stuff the bottom portion only. Flatten the top opening and sew closed.

Legs (Make 2)

Round 1MR, 6 sc. (6)
Round 2Inc around. (12)
Rounds 3–5Sc around. (12)Stuff lightly and leave a long tail for attaching.

Ears (Make 2)

Round 1MR, 6 sc. (6)
Round 2Inc around. (12)
Round 3Sc around. (12)Fold the ear slightly and leave a sewing tail.

Assembly

Step 1Sew the head securely onto the body, positioning it slightly forward for a teddy bear expression.
Step 2Attach ears evenly on the top sides of the head.
Step 3Sew arms between rounds 8 and 10 of the body.
Step 4Attach legs at the lower sides of the body.
Step 5Embroider small oval eyes, a triangular nose, and a simple mouth.
Step 6After completing your crochet teddy bear, gently shape the body and smooth the stuffing inside. Secure all yarn ends by weaving them through several stitches before trimming.
Step 7For care, handmade plush toys should be gently spot cleaned or hand washed depending on the yarn used. Allow the bear to air dry completely and reshape while damp if needed.

Tester's notes

4.0 mm (US G-6) hook is sized for bulky plush yarn specifically -- a smaller hook on this yarn leaves gaps that show stuffing through the fabric.

1 stitch marker stays in the first stitch of every round and moves up each time; rounds are not joined, so losing the marker means losing the round count.

6 stitches is the starting count for the head, the body, each arm, each leg, and each ear -- recount this ring before adding any increase round, since an error here compounds through every later round.

100 yards of main-color yarn covers the whole bear; set aside the contrasting yarn for the nose and face early so it is not confused with the body color mid-round.

Stuff the arms lightly in the bottom portion only, per the pattern's own instruction, and flatten the top opening before sewing closed so the seam does not pucker.

Finished size is approximately 7 inches (18 cm) tall at the stated gauge of about 15 single crochet stitches by 16 rounds = 4 inches (10 cm); for a larger or smaller bear, change the yarn weight and hook size together while keeping the same shaping method.

Yarn colors can be freely customized -- pastel, woodland, or seasonal palettes all work with this construction -- since color choice does not affect stitch counts or shaping.

At a glance

Rounds27
Parts5
LevelIntermediate
Time4-6 hours
Hook4.0 mm
YarnBulky

Gauge check

After round 3 of the head (18 stitches), the disc should lie flat with no cupping or rippling at the edges.

If it cups, increases are tight or missed -- loosen tension slightly or recount the round before moving on; if it ruffles, stitches are too loose and the hook size should drop by 0.5 mm.

Stitch-count checkpoints

  • Head · Round 3: 18 sts
  • Head · Rounds 6–10: 30 sts
  • Head · Round 13: 12 sts
  • Head · Round 14: 6 sts
  • Body · Round 3: 18 sts
  • Body · Round 10: 18 sts

If something looks wrong

Losing track of rounds
Amigurumi depends on accurate stitch counts. Use a stitch marker and count after every increase or decrease section.
Overstuffing the shape
Adding too much stuffing can stretch stitches and change the bear's proportions. Add small amounts gradually until the shape feels firm but flexible.
Uneven facial placement
Before sewing features permanently, place pins to test the expression and spacing.

Yarn substitutions

Velvet polyester, bulky weightMatches the plush texture the pattern calls for with similar yardage needs; stuffing behaves the same, and the 4.0 mm hook stays correct.
Acrylic chenille, worsted weightProduces a slightly flatter, less fluffy surface and a smaller finished bear; drop to a 3.5 mm hook to keep the fabric dense enough to hold stuffing.
Cotton blend, worsted weightLoses the squishy drape of plush yarn and gives a firmer, less cuddly result; stuffing needs to be packed slightly fuller to compensate for the thinner fabric.
FAQs

Questions

Can plastic safety eyes be used instead of embroidery?

Only for bears not intended for children under three. The pattern specifically calls for embroidered facial details on baby-safe versions, so swap in securely stitched yarn features for any gift going to a young child.

How much yarn is needed for one bear in a second color?

The pattern uses about 100 yards of main-color bulky plush yarn plus a small separate amount of contrasting yarn for the nose and face only. A second full color is not part of the yardage estimate, so budget extra if adding color-blocked ears or limbs.

Why does the pattern avoid joining rounds?

Continuous rounds, tracked with a stitch marker moved up each row, keep the spiral seamless and avoid a visible join line on a small, rounded piece like the head. Joining rounds on a piece this size would create a noticeable seam across the increases.

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