Fin Bear. Hand knit pattern.

Yarn. 4 ply . 3mm (No.11) knitting needles. Knitted in stocking stitch.

Head/body/legs Knitted in one piece beginning with the head.
Head
Cast on 16 sts. Knit 46 rows in stocking stitch.
Increase for body
Cast on 8 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows. (32 sts on needle ) Knit 26 rows.
Divide for legs.
Knit 16 sts. Slip remaining sts onto stitch holder (or large safety pin) Knit a further19 rows on first set of stitches. Knit 2 together across row. Break yarn, thread end through stitches and take off the knitting needle. Right side facing, rejoin yarn for second leg. Knit 20 rows. Knit 2 together across row. Break yarn, thread end through stitches and take off the knitting needle.
Arms. Knit two.
Cast on 14 sts. knit 18 rows. . Knit 2 together across row. Break yarn, thread end through stitches and take off the knitting needle.
Muzzle.
Cast on 24 sts. Knit 4 rows. Knit 2 together across row. Break yarn, thread end through stitches and take off the knitting needle.

To make up.
Fold head section in half (right sides together, down towards body). Join side head seams.
Sew up leg seams and back body seam. Turn right side out.

Form ears by stitching lines of running stitches across the top corners of head – round the ears by tucking in the corner and securing with a stitch.

Stuff legs. Sew lines of running stitch from crotch to side of body at a slight angle.

Stuff body and head then sew up seam at back of neck.

Sew a line of gathering stitches in same yarn around neck – starting and finishing at the back.
Pull up tightly and secure.

Muzzle. Pull up yarn through the sts. tightly and sew seam. Position muzzle on head just above neck. Stuff lightly and stitch in place.

Arms. Sew arm seams. Turn right side out. Stuff and sew to body just below the neck.

Face. Using black wool make eyes just above muzzle spaced three rows apart. Make nose just above pulled up stitches of muzzle with mouth underneath. Tie ribbon round neck.

Fin Bear. Machine knit pattern.

Suitable for any standard gauge machine.
Yarn. 4ply. Example knitted in Bramwell 4ply at tension 6.
Tension. Knit one tension tighter than normal for yarn being used.

Head/body/legs Knitted in one piece beginning with the head.
Head.
E wrap cast on over 16 needles. Knit 46 rows.
Increase for body
Cast on 8 sts at the beginning of next 2 rows. (32 sts )
RC 000. Knit 25 rows. Set carriage for HP. Push 16 N’s opposite carriage to HP.
*Using sts in WP. knit 20 rows. Transfer every alt. st. onto adjacent needle. Return empty needles to NWP. Using MT -1 knit 1 row. Break yarn leaving a long enough tail for sewing up. Thread yarn through the stitches and take off the machine.*
Cancel hold. Bring N’s in HP to WP. Repeat from * to *
Arms. Make two.
E wrap cast on over 14 N’s. Knit 17 rows. Transfer every alt. st. onto adjacent needle. Return empty needles to NWP. Using MT -1 knit 1 row. Break yarn leaving a long enough tail for sewing up. Thread yarn through the stitches and take off the machine.
Muzzle.
E wrap cast on over 24 N’s. Knit 3 rows. Trans. alt sts. MT -1, knit 1 row. Thread off.

Follow making up instructions for hand knit teddy.

Detailed instructions for Fin bear’s face.

Eyes.
Using a length of black yarn make three or four simple knots one on top of the other. Make second eye in the same way but with a much longer tail of yarn on one side of the knot.

First eye. Thread one end of yarn into needle. Push needle into face from the front and slanting needle downwards pull yarn through head to exit at back of neck. Do same with other end of yarn. Pull both ends to “sink “ eye slightly into face and knot the ends securely. Hide yarn ends by threading them one at a time into needle, poking needle in at the neck and out again on the bear’s back – pull yarn tight and cut close to body. The cut end will pop back under the surface and be hidden.

Second eye/nose/mouth. Thread shorter yarn end into needle, position eye as before push needle into face from the front and pull yarn through head to exit at base of neck.
Thread long end of yarn into needle, push into face from the front but this time pull yarn through to exit just above gathered stitches on muzzle. Sew nose with several decreasing straight stitches. Sew a straight stitch from tip of nose down to the middle of where mouth will be then place a stitch on either side for mouth. Pull yarn through head as before to exit at back of neck. Tie the yarn ends together and hide ends in body as before.