Crocheted Seamless Mother Bear Project
This is post to help those using the seamless crochet pattern for the Mother Bear Project. I purchased the seamless crochet pattern from the MBP site. After participating in a CAL for the bears, several of us found some valuable tips to help in crocheting the seamless bears. I want to share with you all the helpful ideas and pattern tips that we want to pass along.
I love to crochet in the round without having to turn or join. So after getting the seamless crochet bear pattern, I set out to figure out a way to do just that.
Go to the official Mother Bear Site by clicking on the logo below.
So as I have stated, I wanted to crochet my bear in the round without joining or working chain 1s for each row. Here is a leg piece to show the outcome. This particular leg has just 4 rows in the bear body color and then 11 rows for the pants up to the point where you join the legs together to work the rest of the pants. This varies from the original pattern but depending on your yarn, design, and other factors, crochet as needed to obtain the size and design you desire.
Here is a leg piece to share, I end at the side of the leg and simply join a new color with a SC (single crochet) stitch and work in the round. I do not join, turn, or chain 1 to start a new row. This leg piece measures about 3-3/4 inches long with a total of 15 rows.
This was crocheted using Red Heart yarn which is thicker than some yarn so I only did 15 rows compared to the official MBP pattern. For thinner yarn such as Aran, I do the complete more rows so the leg piece is still about 3-3/4 to 4 inches long. I have found this is just right so my completed bear is between 11 and 12 inches tall.
Once both legs pieces are completed, I join them together as shown. Use the tail for the first completed leg to join at center.
Leaving the yarn attached on 2nd leg at side, now crochet around top edge of both legs and into center between the legs. I use the tail at center to close any gap at crotch but if you SC into crotch at center on both sides, there is little or no hole at center to close.
Continue crocheting in the round without turning or joining as you work up to the waist of the pants. Once you have the desired height of the pants, end at side with a slip stitch. I then join yarn with a SC in the new color for the bear sweater.
Crochet the arms seamless by working in the round without joining or turning. Change colors at side of arm the same way as the legs above. Once the arms are done, attach to the sides of the body with a SC stitch through the armpit and continue working the pattern. Using the tails to close any holes under the armpits.
Now once the sweater is finished, end at back edge with a slip stitch as shown.
Attach head yarn with a SC stitch and follow pattern but working in the round without joining or turning.
Finish the head and end at side seam and leave a tail to close the top seam of the head. I stuff the bear’s upper body and head at this time. I have found it is easier for me to add the face before closing the top head seam. Once the face is done, I use the tail to whip stitch closed the top of the head. Next shape the ears and clinch the neck as needed.
Here is my finished head and face of my crocheted seamless teddy bear. I hope you will these pictures and instructions helpful for crocheting your seamless Mother Bear.
Tags: bear, crocheting-in-the round, Mother-Bear, Mother-Bear-Project, Seamless-Bear, teddy-bear
May 24, 2016
Very nice. š
Jun 09, 2016
very nice!!!
thanks for sharing
Jun 20, 2016
cute.I wish i could do stuff like that.
Mar 17, 2017
This is super helpful! Thank you! I was very confused about attaching the arms and your tutorial helped immensely!
Mar 17, 2017
Catriona – Great to hear that my tutorial helped you out. Thank you for taking the time to comment. It is so nice to hear from other bear makers.
May 21, 2017
Do you just ch8 and increase to 16 or do you follow the written increases and scs? I have made seamed motherbears and bought the seamless pattern but found it confusing to me. Thank you for your help.
May 25, 2017
@Christina – I followed the beginning for the foot as written but work in the round without joining or turning. So I chain 8 and worked the increases around and worked in the round so at the 2nd round, I had 16 stitches. You can do it however works best for you to crochet to 16 sts. Then I work the rest of the leg up even on 16 stitches. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions as you work the pattern.
May 29, 2017
Thanks Cindy. I just saw your new bear on Ravelry and it is so cute. I had a lot of trouble with the head on mine (amakeshiftmermaid if you see it there named Mother Bear 6). The head on yours is so round and mine came out sort of oblong. Not sure what I am doing wrong but it is my first time attempting seamless crochet.
Aug 21, 2018
Hello!
I am crocheting my first bear for the Mother Bear Project. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the photos and instructions. It is making the project more easy to understand.
Janny