Teddy Bear Amigurumi Crochet Pattern: 20 cm Sitting Bear
A teddy bear needs its muzzle projected forward and its ears pushed high on the skull or the silhouette quickly stops reading as a classic bear. This teddy bear amigurumi crochet pattern uses DK yarn, a 2.5 mm hook and a 20 cm sitting target, with intermediate-level assembly. Separate feet create a stable seated pose, making the finished construction useful for nursery-shelf display.
The Design: What Makes This Teddy Bear Different
The photographed bear has three proportion decisions worth carrying into crochet: a head wider than the upper torso, small ears mounted near the crown, and hind feet substantially heavier than the arms. The 36-stitch head plateau preserves that broad skull without pushing a DK bear into an oversized scale. A separate muzzle supplies the facial projection that a flat embroidered nose cannot produce.
The crochet teddy bear body also expands to 36 stitches, but its longer vertical shaping makes it read narrower than the head after stuffing. Large back legs establish the seated stance. Meanwhile, short arms keep the chest visible and leave room for the bow. A common amigurumi bear pattern error is mounting the ears too low; that widens the face sideways and changes the recognizable teddy-bear outline.
Project Info at a Glance
| Skill Level | Time | Finished Size | Hook | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | 5–7 hours estimated | Approx. 20 cm sitting | 2.5 mm | Seated display bear |
Materials and Tools
Yarn
- Warm beige — DK — approximately 100 g purchasing allowance
- Cream — DK — up to 50 g purchasing allowance
- Dark brown — DK or embroidery yarn — small amount for the nose and mouth
- Brown and cream — DK scraps — for the optional crocheted bow
Tools
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- 10 mm safety eyes
- Polyester stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Locking stitch marker
- Pins
- Scissors
- Embroidery needle
- Brown-and-cream gingham ribbon — approximately 35 cm, optional
Abbreviations
- MR — magic ring
- sc — single crochet
- inc — 2 sc in one stitch
- dec — invisible single-crochet decrease
- sl st — slip stitch
- ch — chain
- BLO — back loop only
For an invisible decrease, insert the hook through the front loops of the next two stitches, yarn over, draw through both front loops, then complete the single crochet.
Pattern — Step by Step
Construction: Work in a continuous spiral unless a section says otherwise. Mark the first stitch of every round.
Head
Yarn: warm beige
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) ×6 (36)
R7–R13: sc around (36)
R14: (4 sc, dec) ×6 (30)
R15: (3 sc, dec) ×6 (24)
Install the 10 mm safety eyes between R9 and R10, approximately 7 stitches apart. Check their position from the front before attaching the washers.
R16: (2 sc, dec) ×6 (18)
Stuff the crown and sides firmly while keeping the lower face rounded.
R17: (sc, dec) ×6 (12)
R18: dec ×6 (6)
Fasten off. Leave a 25 cm tail for closing and assembly.
Body
Yarn: warm beige
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) ×6 (36)
R7–R10: sc around (36)
R11: (4 sc, dec) ×6 (30)
R12–R13: sc around (30)
R14: (3 sc, dec) ×6 (24)
R15–R16: sc around (24)
R17: (2 sc, dec) ×6 (18)
Stuff the lower body firmly. Keep the shoulder area slightly softer so the head can be attached without creating a hard ridge around the neck.
R18: (sc, dec) ×6 (12)
R19: dec ×6 (6)
Fasten off. Leave a 30 cm tail.
Arms / Front Legs — Make 2
Yarn: warm beige
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4–R5: sc around (18)
R6: (sc, dec) ×6 (12)
R7–R12: sc around (12)
Stuff the lower half only. Leave the upper arm flexible enough to rest naturally against the torso.
Flatten the opening and work 6 sc through both layers (6).
Fasten off. Leave a 20 cm sewing tail.
Back Legs — Make 2
Yarn: warm beige
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
R5–R7: sc around (24)
R8: (2 sc, dec) ×6 (18)
R9–R10: sc around (18)
R11: (sc, dec) ×6 (12)
R12–R14: sc around (12)
Stuff the foot firmly and the upper leg moderately. Shape each foot into a broad oval before closing.
R15: dec ×6 (6)
Fasten off. Leave a 25 cm sewing tail.
Ears — Make 2
Yarn: warm beige
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4–R5: sc around (18)
Do not stuff. Flatten each ear into a shallow semicircle.
Fasten off. Leave a 20 cm sewing tail.
Muzzle
Yarn: cream
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4–R5: sc around (18)
Add a small amount of stuffing before sewing. Embroider a dark brown triangular nose across the center of R1–R2. Take one vertical stitch downward from the nose and add a short mouth.
Fasten off. Leave a 25 cm sewing tail.
Tail
Yarn: warm beige
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
R3–R4: sc around (12)
R5: dec ×6 (6)
Add a small amount of stuffing.
Fasten off. Leave a 15 cm sewing tail.
Cheek Patches — Make 2
Yarn: cream
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc ×6 (12)
Join with a sl st. Do not stuff.
Fasten off. Leave a 12 cm sewing tail.
The cheek patches are optional. Omit them for a closer match to the teddy bear in the reference photograph.
Neck Bow
Yarn: brown, with cream yarn for the center
Ch 19.
Row 1: Starting in the second ch from hook, 18 sc (18)
Rows 2–5: ch 1, turn, 18 sc (18)
Fasten off and weave in the short end.
Pinch the rectangle at the center. Wrap cream yarn around the center six to eight times and secure it at the back.
Ch 31 in brown to form a neck tie, or attach the bow to a separate crocheted chain long enough to sit loosely around the neck.
For a closer match to the reference bear, replace the crocheted bow with approximately 35 cm of brown-and-cream gingham ribbon.
Assembly
- Place the head centrally over the body’s closing point. Sew around the neck twice, adding a small amount of stuffing to any remaining gap before completing the seam.
- Hold the body upright and check that the muzzle faces directly opposite the back seam. Correct any head rotation before tightening the final neck stitches.
- Position the muzzle centrally below the safety eyes. Keep its upper edge relatively close to the eyes to maintain the short-faced teddy proportion.
- Add the cheek patches beside the lower muzzle only if using them. Omit them for the closest match to the photographed teddy.
- Pin the arms immediately below the neck. Angle their lower ends slightly forward instead of directly sideways.
- Position the back legs low on the body with the broad feet facing forward. Place the bear on a flat surface before sewing to check that both feet support the body evenly.
- Sew the ears high on the head, approximately across R4–R7. Curve each lower edge slightly during attachment.
- Attach the tail centrally to the lower back. Keep the base above the sitting surface so the tail does not push the torso forward.
- Add the neck bow. Position its center directly below the muzzle and check both loops from the front.
- Weave each remaining structural yarn tail through the stuffed piece in at least three directions before trimming. The completed teddy should sit on both hind feet with the head centered above the torso.
7 Technical Tips for a Cleaner Teddy Bear
- Control stitch-marker drift. A missed first stitch moves later facial landmarks away from the center. Put a locking marker directly into the first stitch of every head and body round.
- Watch stuffing firmness. Overfilling the 36-stitch head can turn its circular cross-section into a hard oval. Add small pieces of fiberfill gradually rather than inserting one large bundle.
- Prevent visible decrease ridges. Standard decreases can create horizontal bars across the lower head. Work decreases through the front loops of the next two stitches.
- Check eye placement before locking. The 10 mm safety-eye washers cannot be repositioned easily after installation. Test both eyes between R9 and R10 before pressing the washers into place.
- Control gaps in the DK fabric. Loose tension around the 36-stitch plateau can expose stuffing. Start with the specified 2.5 mm hook and inspect the fabric before completing the head.
- Pin both legs before sewing. A one-round difference in attachment height can make the sitting bear lean to one side. Test the pinned bear on a flat surface and inspect it directly from the front.
- Secure structural yarn tails. Short tails can work back through the crochet fabric when the limbs move. Pass each sewing tail through the stuffed body in three different directions before trimming.
Finishing the Teddy Bear
This construction converts the photographed teddy’s broad head, high round ears, short muzzle, large seated feet and checked neck bow into a DK crochet format. Before starting, mark the 36-stitch head and body plateaus because these are the main checkpoints for controlling the finished proportions.
Use 10 mm safety eyes and a 2.5 mm crochet hook as the baseline for an approximately 20 cm sitting bear. After assembly, check the ear height, foot position and muzzle alignment from directly in front before hiding the final sewing tails.
Save this teddy bear amigurumi crochet pattern to Pinterest or share your finished bear on Instagram with #SittingTeddyBear. Which version will you make: the brown gingham-style ribbon bow shown in the reference or the crocheted two-color bow?
