Brindley the bear enjoys long walks along the bay and is often accompanied by his faithful companion, Ralph. As Ralph bounds through the water, Brindley finds that he can’t keep up with him! This thoughtful little bear is always busy tending to his garden and grows wonderful roobeet vegetables. He shares his harvested vegetables with all of his friends – always making sure that he saves a large piece for his best friend Ralph!
Yarn
Rico Essentials Cotton DK (100% cotton) DK (light worsted) yarn; approx 130m (142yd) per 50g (1¾ oz) ball:
3mm (US size C/2–D/3) crochet hook
Stashbuster
If you are using yarn from your stash you will need:
Materials
Length of contrasting thread to use as a stitch marker
Pair of 7mm black safety eyes
Polyester fibre filling
2 matching brown buttons, approx. 1cm (3⁄8in) in diameter
Cream stranded embroidery thread
1 brown button, approx 1cm (3⁄8in) in diameter
1.5cm (5⁄8in) square patch of green fabric for button patch
Scissors
Yarn needle
Pins, needle and sewing thread
Finished size
Brindley measures approx 22cm (8¾ in) from head to foot
Tension
Tension isn’t critical on this project, but you need a closely-textured fabric – adjust the hook size if necessary to achieve this.
Abbreviation
ch chain
dc double crochet
dc2tog double crochet 2 stitches together
dec decrease
RS right side
ss slip stitch
st(s) stitch(es)
WS wrong side
[ ] work all instructions within brackets as many times as directed.
Special abbreviation
AS asymmetric start: with an asymmetric start, Round 2 is begun by working into the first unworked stitch of Round 1.
Muzzle
Start at nose and work in rounds, using st marker to denote first st of every round.
Round 1: Using A, ch4, join into a ring with ss.
Round 2: 2dc in each ch. (8 sts)
Round 3: [1dc in next st, 2dc in next st] 4 times. (12 sts)
Round 4: [1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in next st] 3 times.
(15 sts)
Round 5: [1dc in each of next 4 sts, 2dc in next st] 3 times.
(18 sts)
Round 6: [1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 2dc in next st] 3 times.
(21 sts)
Round 7: [1dc in each of next 6 sts, 2dc in next st] 3 times.
(24 sts)
Round 8: [1dc in each of next 7 sts, 2dc in next st] 3 times.
(27 sts)
Round 9: 1dc in each st. (27 sts)
Stuff muzzle.
Ss in next st, remove st marker.
Fasten off, leaving length of yarn for sewing up.
Head
Start at top by working an oval around ch, then continue in rounds, using st marker to denote first st of every round.
Round 1: Using B, ch6, 2dc in second ch from the hook, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, turn and working along other side of ch, 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in last st. (14 sts)
Round 2: 2dc in fi rst st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, 2dc in each of next 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 6 sts, 2dc in last st. (18 sts)
Round 3: [2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts] twice, 2dc in each of next 2 sts, [1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in next st] twice. (24 sts)
Round 4: 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, 2dc in each of next 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, 2dc in next st. (30 sts )
Round 5: [2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 6 sts] twice, 2dc in each of next 2 sts, [1dc in each of next 6 sts, 2dc in next st] twice. (36 sts)
Round 6: 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 8 sts, 2dc in each of next 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 8 sts, 2dc in next st. (42 sts)
Round 7: [2dc in next st, 1dc in each of next 9 sts] twice, 2dc in each of next 2 sts, [1dc in each of next 9 sts, 2dc in next st] twice. (48 sts)
Rounds 8–15: 1dc in each st. (48 sts)
Round 16: [Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 9 sts] twice, [dc2tog] twice, [1dc in each of next 9 sts, dc2tog] twice. (42 sts)
Round 17: Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 8 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, [dc2tog] 2 times, 1dc in each of next 8 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, dc2tog. (36 sts)
Round 18: [Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 6 sts] twice, [dc2tog] twice, [1dc in each of next 6 sts, dc2tog] twice. (30 sts)
Round 19: Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, [dc2tog] 2 times, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, dc2tog. (24 sts)
Round 20: [Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 3 sts] twice, [dc2tog] twice, [1dc in each of next 3 sts, dc2tog] twice. (18 sts)
Place muzzle to front of face to help position eyes. Insert safety eyes between Rounds 11 and 12, fix in place. Stuff head firmly.
Ss in next st, remove st marker.
Fasten off, sew loose end of yarn inside head.
Inner ear (make 2)
Work in rounds, using st marker to denote first st of every round.
Round 1: Using A, ch4, join into a ring with ss.
Round 2: 2dc in each ch. (8 sts)
Round 3: [1dc in next st, 2dc in next st]
4 times. (12 sts)
Ss in next st, remove st marker.
Fasten off, leaving short length of yarn to weave inside completed ear.
Outer ear (make 2)
Work in rounds, using st marker to denote first st of every round.
Round 1: Using B, ch4, join into a ring with ss.
Round 2: 2dc in each ch. (8 sts)
Round 3: [1dc in next st, 2dc in next st] 4 times. (12 sts)
Do not fasten off. Place WS of inner ear on top of RS of outer ear. Work through both thicknesses with inner ear facing you.
Round 4: Miss first st [1dc in next st, 2dc in next st] 5 times, leaving remaining one st unworked. (15 sts)
Remove st marker. Fasten off, leaving length of B for sewing up.
Sew loose ends of yarn in between two pieces of ear and snip off.
Body
Start at bottom and work in rounds, using st marker to denote first st of every round.
Round 1: Using B, ch4, join into a ring with ss, 2dc in each of next 2 ch (unworked ch counts as 2 sts). (6 sts)
Round 2 (AS): 2dc in each st. (12 sts)
Round 3: [1dc in next st, 2dc in next st] 6 times. (18 sts)
Round 4: [1dc in each of next 2 sts, 2dc in next st] 6 times.
(24 sts)
Round 5: [1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in next st] 6 times.
(30 sts)
Round 6: [1dc in each of next 4 sts, 2dc in next st] 6 times.
(36 sts)
Round 7: [1dc in each of next 5 sts, 2dc in next st] 6 times.
(42 sts)
Rounds 8 and 14: 1dc in each st. (42 sts)
Stuff body.
Round 15: [1dc in each of next 5 sts, dc2tog] 6 times. (36 sts)
Rounds 16–17: 1dc in each st. (36 sts)
Round 18: [1dc in each of next 10 sts, dc2tog] 3 times. (33 sts)
Round 19: [1dc in each of next 9 sts, dc2tog] 3 times. (30 sts)
Round 20: [1dc in each of next 8 sts, dc2tog] 3 times. (27 sts)
Round 21: [1dc in each of next 7 sts, dc2tog] 3 times. (24 sts)
Round 22: [1dc in each of next 2 sts, dc2tog] 6 times. (18 sts)
Add more stuffing.
Ss in next st, remove st marker.
Fasten off, leaving length of yarn for sewing up.
Arms (make 2)
Start at paw and work in rounds, using st marker to denote first st of every round.
Round 1: Using A, ch4, join into a ring with ss.
Round 2: 2dc in each ch. (8 sts)
Round 3: [1dc in next st, 2dc in next st] 4 times. (12 sts)
Round 4: 1dc in each st, changing to B on last st. (12 sts)
Rounds 5–13: 1dc in each st. (12 sts)
Round 14: [Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 4 sts] twice. (10 sts)
Rounds 15 and 16: 1dc in each st. (10 sts)
Loosely stuff arm (so Brindley’s right arm can be bent into pocket).
Ss in next st, remove st marker.
Fasten off, leaving length of yarn for sewing up.
Legs (make 2)
Start at foot and work in rounds, using st marker to denote first st of every round.
Round 1: Using A, ch5, join with ss.
Round 2: 2dc in each ch. (10 sts)
Round 3: 2dc in each st. (20 sts)
Round 4: [Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 2 sts] 5 times, changing to B on last st. (15 sts)
Rounds 5–8: 1dc in each st. (15 sts)
Round 9: Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 13 sts. (14 sts)
Rounds 10–15: 1dc in each st. (14 sts)
Round 16: Dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 12 sts. (13 sts)
Round 17: 1dc in each st. (13 sts)
Stuff leg.
Ss in next st, remove st marker.
Fasten off, leaving length of yarn for sewing up.
Start at bottom of pocket and work in rows.
Using C, ch10.
Row 1: 1dc in second ch from hook, 1dc in each st to end, turn. (9 sts)
Rows 2–6: Ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in st to end. (9 sts)
Fasten off, leaving length of yarn for sewing to body.
Use 3 strands of cream thread to embroider an X in middle at top of pocket, use same thread to sew pair of matching buttons either side of X.
Sewing up
1. Position the muzzle on the head, just beneath the eyes. Pin and sew in place with the length of yarn from the muzzle.
2. Position the head to body, pin and then sew in place with the length of yarn from the body.
3. Pin the ears to the head and sew in place with lengths of yarn.
4. Position the right arm so it reaches to the pocket; use this as a guide for the position of the left arm. Pin and sew the arms to the body with lengths of yarn.
5. Position the legs towards the front of the bottom of the body. Using the length of yarn, pin and sew the top of the legs to the body, maintaining the stuffed shape at the opening.
6. Using D, embroider a rectangle nose shape with satin stitch.
Continue down with a vertical line to the mouth, and fasten off.
7. Sew any remaining loose ends of yarn inside Brindley and snip off.
Button patch
Sew your chosen brown button to the centre of the square patch of green fabric, then continue with the same thread and oversew the fabric patch to the left of Brindley’s bottom.
This pattern is taken from Crocheted Animal Friends by Emma Brown. To get more blog posts like this one - direct to your inbox - be sure to sign up to our mailing list here.