Free Crochet Teddy Bear Pattern: The Timeless Amigurumi Classic

There is nothing quite as comforting and iconic as a traditional, handmade teddy bear. If you have been looking for a versatile, charming design that works up beautifully without complicated shaping, you are in the right place. This free crochet teddy bear pattern is straightforward, reliable, and gives you that clean, classic look everyone loves. Whether you are making a nostalgic keepsake for a loved one or adding a cozy staple to your plushie collection, this project delivers a timeless result every single time.

It features a beautifully proportioned head, a soft textured muzzle, a simple hand-embroidered face, and a neat satin bow to finish it off. These thoughtful details make it an easy, go-to project whenever you need a heartfelt handmade gift for baby showers, birthdays, or holiday surprises.

I wanted to create a free crochet teddy bear pattern that is genuinely enjoyable to stitch—a relaxing work-in-progress that turns out perfectly round, symmetric, and neat every single time. There are no overly complex shaping techniques or frustrating stitch counts here. Instead, it relies on clean continuous rounds and simple construction that let your neat stitches do all the talking.

Whether you choose a classic golden-brown acrylic yarn, a crisp combed cotton, or a super plush chenille yarn, the structure of this bear is designed to hold its shape effortlessly. It is a fantastic canvas for customization, too—you can easily experiment with different color palettes, add safety eyes, or stitch personalized details like a tiny crocheted sweater or a custom ribbon.

New to Amigurumi? Start Here First!

If you are completely new to making stuffed toys, don’t worry! Amigurumi can seem intimidating at first with all the tight stitches and seamless joining, but taking a few minutes to brush up on the basics will set you up for absolute success.

Before you grab your hook and yarn, I highly recommend checking out my quick guides on crochet abbreviations and how to crochet basic stitches to get familiar with all the standard terms used in this pattern.

You can also dive into the Perfect Amigurumi Guide Series, where I share foundational tips to help you build confidence with essential plushie-making skills. And if you want to take your finish to the next level, be sure to check out my post on amigurumi advanced techniques for extra guidance on creating seamless, beautifully finished pieces.

Once you feel confident with the techniques, scroll down to grab your materials and start stitching your classic teddy bear!

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Materials list:

• Yarn: I use a 100% cotton yarn from my local store. The best match and my top recommendation for this pattern is Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK.
• Hook: I used a 2mm hook. I highly recommend Clover Amour Hooks for the best experience.
• Tools & Supplies:
  • Fiberfill, 10mm safety eyes, scissors, and a tapestry needle.
  • Optional: Stitch markers.
  • Find all these essentials here: Crochet Supplies & Accessories.

Crochet abbreviations:

MR – magic ring
SC – single crochet
INC – increase
DEC – decrease

• Difficulty level: Beginner/Intermediate
• Finished piece measures about 10 inches (25cm) tall
• The toy is worked in continuous rounds.

Free Crochet Teddy Bear Pattern

Leg (make 2)

1: mr, 6sc = [6]
2: 6 x inc = [12]
3: (sc, inc) x 6 = [18]
4: (sc, inc, sc) x 6 = [24]
5: (3sc, inc) x 6 = [30]
6: (2sc, inc, 2sc) x 6 = [36]
7: (5sc, inc) x 6 = [42]

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8-11: 42sc = [42]
12: (5sc, dec) x 6 = [36]
13: sc, dec, 10sc, (sc, dec) x 3, 11sc, dec, sc = [31]
14: 2sc, dec, 5sc, (sc, dec) x 4, 6sc, dec, 2sc = [25]
15-18: 25sc = [25]
Stuff leg
19: 3sc, dec, 20sc = [24]
20: 11sc, dec, 11sc = [23]
21: 15sc, dec, 6sc = [22]
22: 20sc, dec = [21]
23: 4sc, dec, 15sc = [20]24: 9sc, dec, 9sc = [19]

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25: 12sc, dec, 5sc = [18]
26: 16sc, dec = [17]
27: 5sc, dec, 10sc = [16]
28: 7sc, dec, 7sc = [15]
29: 13sc, dec = [14]
30: (5sc, dec) x 2 = [12]
Work 3sc to move the marker. Stuff firmly. Fold the two sides together and close with 6sc. Fasten off.

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Arm (make 2)

1: mr, 6sc = [6]
2: 6 x inc = [12]
3: (sc, inc) x 6 = [18]
4: (sc, inc, sc) x 6 = [24]
5: (3sc, inc) x 6 = [30]
6-11: 30sc = [30]
12: (3sc, dec) x 6 = [24]
13: 24sc = [24]
14: (2sc, dec) x 6 = [18]
15-16: 18sc = [18]
Stuff
17: 10sc, dec, 6sc = [17]
18: 1sc, dec, 14sc = [16]
19: 12sc, dec, 2sc = [15]
20: 4sc, dec, 9sc = [14]
21: 8sc, dec, 4sc = [13]
22: 1sc, dec, 10sc = [12]
23: 7sc, dec, 3sc = [11]
24: 9sc, dec = [10]
Stuff the arm. Fold the two sides together and close with 5sc. Fasten off.

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Tail

1: mr, 5sc = [5],
2: 5 x inc = [10]
3: (sc, inc) x 5 = [15]
4-5: 15sc = [15]
6: (sc, dec) x 5 = [10]
Stuff
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

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Body

1: mr, 6sc = [6]
2: 6 x inc = [12]
3: (sc, inc) x 6 = [18]
4: (sc, inc, sc) x 6 = [24]
5: (3sc, inc) x 6 = [30]
6: (2sc, inc, 2sc) x 6 = [36]
7: (5sc, inc) x 6 = [42]
8: (3sc, inc, 3sc) x 6 = [48]
9: 48sc = [48]

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10: 9sc, 6sc (joining the left leg to the body), 18sc, 6sc (joining the right leg to the body), 9sc = [48]

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11-17: 48sc = [48]
18: (7sc, dec, 7sc) x 3 = [45]
19: (13sc, dec) x 3 = [42]
20: (6sc, dec, 6sc) x 3 = [39]
21: (11sc, dec) x 3 = [36]
22: 5sc, dec, 2sc, 5sc (joining the left arm to the body), dec, 10sc, dec, 5sc (joining the right arm to the
body), 3sc = [33]
(Make sure your arms are level with the bear’s legs)
23: (9sc, dec) x 3 = [30]
24: (3sc, dec) x 6 = [24]
Stuff

Head (continue without breaking the thread)

1: (3sc, inc) x 6 = [30]
2: (2sc, inc, 2sc) x 6 = [36]
3: (5sc, inc) x 6 = [42]
4: (3sc, inc, 3sc) x 6 = [48]
5: (7sc, inc) x 6 = [54]
6: (4sc, inc, 4sc) x 6 = [60]
7: (9sc, inc) x 6 = [66]
8: (5sc, inc, 5sc) x 6 = [72]
9: (23sc, inc) x 3 = [75]
10: (12sc, inc, 12sc) x 3 = [78]

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11-21: 78sc = [78]
22: (12sc, dec, 12sc) x 3 = [75]
23: (23sc, dec) x 3 = [72]
Insert safety eyes between rounds 15 and 16, 10sc apart
24: (5sc, dec, 5sc) x 6 = [66]
25: (9sc, dec) x 6 = [60]
26: (4sc, dec, 4sc) x 6 = [54]
27: (7sc, dec) x 6 = [48]
28: (3sc, dec, 3sc) x 6 = [42]
29: (5sc, dec) x 6 = [36]
30: (2sc, dec, 2sc) x 6 = [30]
31: (3sc, dec) x 6 = [24]
32: (sc, dec, sc) x 6 = [18]
Stuff
33: (sc, dec) x 6 = [12]
34: 6 x dec = [6]
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Ears (make 2)

1: mr, 6sc = [6]
2: 6 x inc = [12]
3: (sc, inc) x 6 = [18]
4: (sc, inc, sc) x 6 = [24]
5-8: 24sc = [24]
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

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Muzzle

1: mr, 6sc = [6]
2: 6 x inc = [12]
3: (sc, inc) x 6 = [18]
4: (sc, inc, sc) x 6 = [24]
5: (3sc, inc) x 6 = [30]
6: (2sc, inc, 2sc) x 6 = [36]
7: (5sc, inc) x 6 = [42]
8: 42sc = [42]
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

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Sew the tail to the body.

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Embroider nose on the muzzle with black yarn. Then sew the muzzle to the head.

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Sew the ears on and embroider the eyebrows.
Under the eyes at an angle add a short white line.

Tie a bow and your cute little bear is done!

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Loved Making This Bear? Explore More Free Patterns!

If you enjoyed stitching this classic teddy bear, you will love exploring the other sweet characters available on the blog! Every design is crafted with clean shaping and easy-to-follow steps so you can keep expanding your amigurumi collection.

If you are in the mood for another timeless companion, be sure to check out the Bunny Lola Crochet Pattern for a soft and cuddly buddy. Looking for something a little more adventurous? Dive into the Dexter the Dino Crochet Pattern to bring a playful prehistoric friend to life. And if you want to add a magical touch to your workbench, the Magical Unicorn Crochet Pattern is packed with charm, colorful details, and pure fantasy. Grab your hook, pick your favorite yarn, and start your next cute project!

Prefer Ad-Free Crafting? Get the Printable PDF

While this free crochet teddy bear pattern will always remain fully available right here on the blog, I know many crocheters prefer the convenience of working offline without website distractions, page reloading, or screen timeouts.

If you love print-friendly layouts or saving digital files directly to your tablet, you can purchase the clean, beautifully formatted PDF version. It is available for instant download in my shops on Etsy, Ravelry, and Ko-fi. Buying the PDF is also a wonderful way to support my design work and help keep future patterns free on the website!

Stay Connected & Never Miss a Free Pattern!

There are so many exciting new designs, step-by-step tutorials, and secret project launches in the works, and I would love for you to be part of our growing creative community!

To stay in the loop, make sure to subscribe to the newsletter. You’ll be the first to know about brand-new free pattern releases, video tutorials, exclusive community discounts, and fun seasonal pattern drops.

You can also follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @emmasdollsstudio. I frequently share quick tips, video reels, behind-the-scenes progress, and video Shorts to help you with your stitches. Don’t forget to tag @emmasdollsstudio when you finish your teddy bear—I absolutely love seeing and sharing your finished creations!

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Important Safety Note: While crochet toys are wonderful for little ones, safety is our top priority. When making toys for babies or toddlers:

• Eyes: I highly recommend embroidering the eyes with black yarn instead of using plastic safety eyes, which can become a choking hazard.
• Small Parts: Ensure all limbs and accessories (like bows or hats) are sewn extra securely with multiple passes of yarn.
• Supervision: Never leave a baby unattended with any handmade toy. Regularly check the toy for any loose threads or wear and tear.