FREE PATTERN WITH VIDEO TUTORIAL
There are designs that remain unfinished, in the mind and hands, because they just don’t turn out right. So, it’s best to set them aside for a while, for ideas to re-settle until giving it another try. I was aiming to mix tapestry crochet into an amigurumi construction, but my first drafts, ended in something complicated. Took a little break from it, resumed and it finally converted into Dotty Bear, which is far more simple than I imagined.
I also managed to keep it small, like regular amigurumis, because a have tendency to always go big, like in Hop-Hop Charlie or Wuf-Wuf Barry. Perfect for little boys and girls, to become the cutest companion. Constructed of separate pieces to be seamed and including tapestry crochet technique for that lovely dotted print.
Tapestry, which you know I love, with regular single crochets, in a spiral, with easy and memorizable rounds. This makes it an easy skill level pattern, even though it involves color changes, because they are simple repeats. And basic increasing and decreasing for the shaping of every part.
SPECIAL STITCHES AND TECHNIQUES
Decrease (with single crochet): Two single crochets closed together, to decrease one stitch. (Insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull through the st) twice, yarn over and pull through the three loops on the hook.
Tapestry Crochet: In this technique, you crochet with one yarn while one or more threads are carried and wrapped in between the stitches. Colors are switched throughout rows/rounds to make a drawing. Depending on the project, you will make one or more foundation rows/rounds with one color only and then move on to the tapestry crochet portion of the project.
Though it’s an easy pattern, I do suggest practicing tapestry basics in a small sample first, if you have never tried it, to get the hang of managing two yarns and making color changes. And my Tapestry Crochet, getting started video is great to do this. This will avoid frustration when getting into the actual bear project 😉
Dotty Bear is that kind of crochet work that will be wonderful for all year presents. Video tutorial focuses on the making of the body, that will give you basic understanding for constructing all pieces. There’s my demonstration of increasing, adding contrasting color, making of dotted pattern and decreasing to close the shapes. Then, all finishing steps to assemble the little face and sewing everything together.
Also, all written instructions for all parts and more photos below, for you to clear up any doubts that might arise.
If you want the formatted, ad free, 11 page PDF document (with written instructions and more than 60 images in photo tutorials) of Dotty Bear, this is available in my pattern stores (Ravelry, Etsy, Lovecrochet) for USD $2.50.
Made with sport weight cotton yarn, with a small hook, for those closed stitches needed for amigurumi. Other supplies, like stuffing, security eyes, pins and embroidery thread, will also be necessary to get it just like you want.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS
- 2 mm (B14) crochet hook
- One 50 gr/ 1.76 oz (120 m/ 131 yd) skein of sport weight On Line Linie 165 Sandy (100% cotton) yarn in BLUE #21 (MC)
- One 50 gr/ 1.76 oz (120 m/ 131 yd) skein of sport weight On Line Linie 165 Sandy (100% cotton) yarn in CREAM #04 (CC)
- Two 6 mm security eyes
- Stuffing
- Stitch marker
- Pins
- Embroidery thread in BROWN
- Tapestry needle
- Sewing needle
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
FINISHED SIZE: 5.3”/ 13.5 cm high
GAUGE
(Sc, back and forth): 27 sts x 27 rows= 4”/ 10 cm
(Sc, with tapestry crochet): 13 sts x 12 rnds= 4”/ 10 cm
SKILL LEVEL
Easy: This design includes basic crochet stitches, an easy level tapestry crochet pattern, simple shaping and finishing techniques.
STITCH GUIDE
- Rnd: round
- St(s): stitch(es)
- Ch: chain
- Sl st: slip stitch
- Sc: single crochet
- Dec: decrease
- Rep: repeat
- MC: main color
- CC: contrasting color
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
NOTES
- When crocheting in the round, in a spiral, with sc, place a marker in first st of the rnd and move up as work progresses.
- Before making final seams for assembling the bear, pin the pieces, to keep in place while sewing.
DOTTY BEAR
BODY
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from the bottom. With MC, make a magic/slip ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc inside the ring= 6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around= 12 sts
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 18 sts
Rnd 4: Sc 1, (2 sc in next st, sc 2) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 1= 24 sts
Rnd 5: (Sc 3, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 30 sts
Rnd 6: Sc 2, (2 sc in next st, sc 4) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 2= 36 sts
Rnd 7: (Sc 5, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 42 sts
Rnd 8: Sc 3, (2 sc in next st, sc 6) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 3= 48 sts
Rnd 9: From this round on, carry and wrap CC, to start tapestry crochet portion. Continue crocheting over 48 sts, by making color changes to draw the dotted pattern, by working with one yarn while wrapping unused color in between the sts.
(With MC sc 3, with CC sc 1) rep ( ) 12 times= 48 sts (close last st with MC)
Rnd 10: With MC sc 48= 48 sts
Rnd 11: With MC sc 2, (with CC sc 1, with MC sc 3) rep ( ) 11 times, with CC sc 1, with MC sc 1= 48 sts
Rnd 12: With MC sc 48= 48 sts
Rnd 13: With MC sc 1, (with CC sc 1, with MC sc 3) rep ( ) 11 times, with CC sc 1, with MC sc 2= 48 sts
Rnd 14: With MC sc 48= 48 sts
Rnds 15-20: Rep Rnds 9-14
Rnd 21: Rep Rnd 9, once more.
Cut CC leaving a 4”/ 10 cm tail.
Rnd 22: Sc 3, (dec 1, sc 6) rep ( ) 5 times, dec 1, sc 3= 42 sts
Rnd 23: (Sc 5, dec 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 36 sts
Rnd 24: Sc 2, (dec 1, sc 4) rep ( ) 5 times, dec 1, sc 2= 30 sts
Fill in with stuffing.
Rnd 25: (Sc 3, dec 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 24 sts
Rnd 26: Sc 1, (dec 1, sc 2) rep ( ) 5 times, dec 1, sc 1= 18 sts
Rnd 27: (Sc 1, dec 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 12 sts
Fill in the rest of the body.
Rnd 28: (Sc 1, skip next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 6 sts
Sl st in the next st.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
HEAD
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from the top. With MC, make a magic/slip ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc inside the ring= 6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around= 12 sts
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 18 sts
Rnd 4: Sc 1, (2 sc in next st, sc 2) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 1= 24 sts
Rnd 5: (Sc 3, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 30 sts
Rnd 6: Sc 2, (2 sc in next st, sc 4) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 2= 36 sts
Rnd 7: (Sc 5, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 42 sts
Rnd 8: Sc 3, (2 sc in next st, sc 6) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 3= 48 sts
Rnd 9: From this round on, carry and wrap CC, to start tapestry crochet portion. Continue
crocheting over 48 sts, by making color changes to draw the dotted pattern.
(With MC sc 3, with CC sc 1) rep ( ) 12 times= 48 sts (close last st with MC)
Rnd 10: With MC sc 48= 48 sts
Rnd 11: With MC sc 2, (with CC sc 1, with MC sc 3) rep ( ) 11 times, with CC sc 1, with MC sc 1= 48 sts
Rnd 12: With MC sc 48= 48 sts
Rnd 13: With MC sc 1, (with CC sc 1, with MC sc 3) rep ( ) 11 times, with CC sc 1, with MC sc 2= 48 sts
Rnd 14: With MC sc 48= 48 sts
Rnds 15-19: Rep Rnds 9-13
Cut CC leaving a 4”/ 10 cm tail.
Place the eyes, between Rnds 13 and 14, with an interspace of 8 sts.
Rnd 20: Sc 3, (dec 1, sc 6) rep ( ) 5 times, dec 1, sc 3= 42 sts
Rnd 21: (Sc 5, dec 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 36 sts
Rnd 22: Sc 2, (dec 1, sc 4) rep ( ) 5 times, dec 1, sc 2= 30 sts
Fill in with stuffing.
Rnd 23: (Sc 3, dec 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 24 sts
Rnd 24: Sc 1, (dec 1, sc 2) rep ( ) 5 times, dec 1, sc 1= 18 sts
Rnd 25: (Sc 1, dec 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 12 sts
Fill in the rest of the head.
Rnd 26: (Sc 1, skip next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 6 sts
Sl st in the next st.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
ARMS AND LEGS
(MAKE 4)
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from the tip. With MC, make a magic/slip ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc inside the ring= 6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around= 12 sts
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 18 sts
Rnd 4: Sc 1, (2 sc in next st, sc 2) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 1= 24 sts
Rnd 5: From this round on, carry and wrap CC, to start tapestry crochet portion. Continue crocheting over 24 sts, by making color changes to draw the dotted pattern.
(With MC sc 3, with CC sc 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 24 sts (close last st with MC)
Rnd 6: With MC sc 24= 24 sts
Rnd 7: With MC sc 2, (with CC sc 1, with MC sc 3) rep ( ) 5 times, with CC sc 1, with MC sc 1= 24 sts
Rnd 8: With MC sc 24= 24 sts
Rnd 9: With MC sc 1, (with CC sc 1, with MC sc 3) rep ( ) 5 times, with CC sc 1, with MC sc 2= 24 sts
Rnd 10: With MC sc 24= 24 sts
Rnds 11-13: Rep Rnds 5-7
Cut CC leaving a 4”/ 10 cm tail.
Rnd 14: Sc 24= 24 sts
Sl st in the next st.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
MUZZLE
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from the tip. With MC, make a magic/slip ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc inside the ring= 6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around= 12 sts
Rnd 3: (Sc 1, 2 sc in next st) rep ( ) 6 times= 18 sts
Rnd 4: Sc 1, (2 sc in next st, sc 2) rep ( ) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc 1= 24 sts
Rnd 5: From this round on, carry and wrap CC, to start tapestry portion. Continue crocheting over 24 sts, by making color changes to draw the dotted pattern.
(With MC sc 3, with CC sc 1) rep ( ) 6 times= 24 sts (close last st with MC)
Rnd 6: With MC sc 24= 24 sts
Rnd 7: With MC sc 2, (with CC sc 1, with MC sc 3) rep ( ) 5 times, with CC sc 1, with MC sc 1= 24 sts
Cut CC leaving a 4”/ 10 cm tail.
Rnd 8: Sc 24= 24 sts
Sl st in the next st. Fasten off leaving a long tail.
EARS (MAKE 2)
Crocheted in the round, in a spiral, starting from the tip. With MC, make a magic/slip ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc inside the ring= 6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around= 12 sts
Rnd 3-5: Sc 12= 12 sts
Sl st in the next st. Fasten off leaving a long tail.
FINISHING
HEAD
With BROWN thread, embroider the nose over the tip of the muzzle, from the center to Rnd 3, spanning the space between 2 sts in CC. Fill in the muzzle with stuffing and sew to the head, from Rnd 21 of the head up and between the eyes.
Sew the ears, from Rnd 9 to Rnd 13 of the head, 6 sts from each eye, by slightly tilting forward. Sew the head to the body.
ARMS AND LEGS
Fill in the tip of the arms. Sew each arm to the body, on each side, from the head seam down, by lining up on top with the ears, by slightly tilting forward.
Fill in the tip of the legs. Sew each leg to the body, on each side, from Rnd 9 to Rnd 12 of the body, with an interspace of 5 sts.
And Dotty Bear is all ready for fun play dates!
How many little dotted bears will you make? Mix different shades for the main color and the dots and be pleasantly surprised. And please let me see, by sharing with the hashtag #dottybear or tagging me on your photos with my Instagram profile @chabepatterns 😉
All written instructions and images in this pattern are protected by Copyright. This pattern is for personal use and not to be copied or reproduced, partially or totally, for any purpose. It may not be redistributed or shared anywhere, either online or offline. Finished items made from this pattern may be sold, in small quantity. But they cannot be promoted using the images contained in this pattern. Proper credit for the original design must be given to Chabepatterns and link back to this post and/or designer’s pattern shop.