to the rescue!
Have no fear, our adorable crime-fighting teddy is here! A great gift for aspiring little heroes. By Louise Crowther.
Everyone needs a superhero now and then. Knit our caped crusader
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s our adorable super hero teddy! Paper-pusher at the honey factory by day, brave crime fighter by night, this cute character could be knitted up in just a few evenings. He’s made from simple st st, garter st and a few straightforward increases and decreases. Note Cast on using the long-tail method unless otherwise stated. Where possible, leave long tails when you cast on and off and use these for the sewing up.
HEAD
Cast on 9 sts using 2 mm needles and Yarn B.
Row 1 (WS) Purl.
Row 2 (K1, M1) 7 times, K2. [16 sts]
Row 3 and every foll alt row Purl.
Row 4 K1, M1, (K2, M1) 7 times, K1. [24 sts]
Row 6 K1, M1, (K3, M1) 7 times, K2. [32 sts]
Row 8 K1, M1, (K4, M1) 7 times, K3. [40 sts]
Row 10 K1, M1, (K5, M1) 7 times, K4. [48 sts]
Row 12 K1, M1, (K6, M1) 7 times, K5. [56 sts]
Rows 13 to 21 Work 9 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Row 22 K4, (ssk, K1) 5 times, ssk, pnso, K12, sk2po, (K1, k2tog) 5 times, K4. [42 sts]
Row 24 K13, ssk, pnso, K10, sk2po, K13. [38 sts]
Row 26 K12, ssk, pnso, K8, sk2po, K12. [34 sts]
Row 28 K11, ssk, pnso, K6, sk2po, K11. [30 sts]
Row 30 K10, ssk, pnso, K4, sk2po, K10. [26 sts]
Rows 31 to 33 Work 3 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Row 34 K1, ssk, K6, ssk, K4, k2tog, K6, k2tog, K1. [22 sts]
Row 36 K1, (k2tog) to last st, K1. [12 sts] Row 38 (K2tog) to end of row. [6 sts] Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread tail through rem sts and draw up.
EARS
(MAKE 2)
Cast on 15 sts using 2 mm needles and Yarn B.
Row 1 and every foll alt row Purl.
Row 2 K5, (K1, M1) 4 times, K6. [19 sts] Row 4 Knit.
Row 6 *K3, k2tog, K1, ssk; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3. [15 sts]
Row 8 K1, *K1, k2tog, K1, ssk; rep from * to last 2 sts, K2. [11 sts]
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread tail through rem sts and draw up.
BODY
Cast on 9 sts using 2 mm needles and Yarn A.
Note Work the first 3 rows in Yarn A, then Rows 4 to 25 in a stripe pattern rep of 2 rows in Yarn B and 2 rows in Yarn A, starting with Yarn B.
Rows 1 and 3 (WS) Purl.
Row 2 *K1, M1; rep from * to last st, K1. [17 sts]
Row 4 *K2, (K1, M1) 5 times; rep from
* to last 3 sts, K3. [27 sts]
Rows 5 to 7 Work 3 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Row 8 K1, *(K2, M1) 5 times, K3; rep from * to end of row. [37 sts]
Rows 9 to 13 Work 5 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Row 14 (K3, M1) 5 times, K7, *(K3, M1); rep from * to end of row. [47 sts]
Rows 15 to 25 Work 11 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Change to Yarn A.
Rows 26 to 27 Work 2 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Row 28 K19, work Star Chart, K19.
Row 29 P19, work Star Chart, P19.
Rows 30 to 41 Rep last 2 rows, cont Star Chart as set, 6 more times.
Rows 42 to 45 Work 4 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Row 46 K10, k2tog, ssk, K19, k2tog, ssk, K10. [43 sts]
Row 47 Purl.
Cast off.
ARMS
(MAKE 2)
Cast on 10 sts using 2 mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (WS) P1, (pfb) 7 times, P2. [17 sts] Note From this point, the Arm is worked in a stripe pattern rep of 2 rows in Yarn B and 2 rows in Yarn A, starting with Yarn B. Rows 2 to 15 Work 14 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Row 16 K1, k2tog, K11, ssk, K1. [15 sts] Rows 17 to 27 Work 11 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Row 28 K1, k2tog, K9, ssk, K1. [13 sts] Rows 29 to 37 Work 9 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Cast off.
LEGS
(MAKE 2)
Note Starts at sole of foot.
Cast on 12 sts using 2 mm needles and Yarn A.
Note From this point, the Leg is worked in a stripe pattern rep of 2 rows in Yarn B and 2 rows in Yarn A, starting with Yarn B. Row 1 and every foll alt row Purl.
Row 2 K1, M1, K3, (K1, M1) 3 times, K4,
M1, K1. [17 sts]
Row 4 *(K1, M1) 2 times, K3, (K1, M1) 2 times, K1; rep from * to last st, K1. [25 sts] Row 6 *(K2, M1) 2 times, K2, (K2, M1) 2 times, K2; rep from * to last st, K1. [33 sts] Row 8 *(K3, M1) 2 times, K1, (K3, M1) 2 times, K3; rep from * to last st, K1. [41 sts] Rows 9 to 13 Work 5 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Row 14 K15, ssk, K7, k2tog, K15. [39 sts] Row 16 K15, ssk, K5, k2tog, K15. [37 sts] Row 18 K15, ssk, K3, k2tog, K15. [35 sts] Row 20 K9, cast off the foll 15 sts as you work them (K6, ssk, K1, k2tog, K6) K9. [18 sts]
Row 21 P8, p2tog, P8. [17 sts]
Rows 22 to 41 Work 20 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Cast off.
MASK
Cast on 67 sts using 2 mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (WS) Knit.
Row 2 K20, cast off 12 sts, K until there are 3 sts after cast-off, cast off 12 sts, K until there are 2 sts after cast-off, turn. Row 3 Yo, *K2, turn, cast on 12 sts using knit cast-on method, turn*, K1; rep from * to * once more, K2, turn.
Row 4 Yo, K2, (K1tbl) 13 times, K2, (K1tbl) 13 times, K1, k2tog, K to end. [68 sts] Row 5 K49, ssk, K to end. [67 sts]
Cast off.
CAPE
Cast on 44 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn C.
Row 1 (WS) Knit.
Row 2 Knit.
Row 3 K2, P to last 2 sts, K2.
Rows 4 and 5 Rep last 2 rows once more. Row 6 K2, ssk, K to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. [42 sts]
Rows 7 to 9 Work 3 rows in patt as set. Rows 10 to 41 Rep Rows 6 to 9, 8 more times. [26 sts] Row 42 K2, (ssk, K1) 3 times, ssk, k2tog, (K1, k2tog) 3 times, K2. [18 sts]
Rows 43 and 44 Knit 2 rows.
Row 45 K3 and place these 3 sts on a stitch holder, cast off 12 sts, K3. [3 sts] Next row Knit the 3 sts using a DPN, slide the sts to opposite end of the DPN and make an i-cord of 20 rows, cut yarn and using a tapestry needle thread tail through remaining stitches and draw up. Transfer the 3 sts from stitch holder to DPN, with RS facing rejoin yarn and make an i-cord to match the first.
TO MAKE UP
Where possible use the cast-on/cast-off tails for sewing up. Tie off or weave in any other loose ends as you go.
Use a tapestry needle and mattress stitch (unless otherwise indicated) for sewing up seams.
Body Lightly block the Body piece and using a tapestry needle and Yarn C, embroider an initial in the centre of the star. Starting at the bottom, sew up the back edges of the Body, making sure to match up any colour changes. Leave an opening at the neck big enough to push the stuffing through, of approx 2.5cm. With the back seam central to the Bear’s back, sew tog the bottom edges of the Body, stitching through the outside loops of the cast-off stitches.
Stuff firmly and close up the neck seam, hide loose ends inside the Body.
Legs Using whip stitch, sew together the cast-off edges along the top of the Foot. Sew the bottom edges of the Foot together, starting at the toe and working