Bear Skin Rug
Designed by Nicky Epstein
One
Size
Approximately 68”/173cm from head to tail
Materials
LION BRAND Fun Fur
32 skeins #126 Chocolate (A)
16 skeins #153 Black (B)
LION BRAND Wool-Ease
7 skeins #126 Chocolate Brown (C)
1 skein #139 Dark Rose Heather (D)
1 skein #453 Black (E)
Size US 11 (8mm) knitting needles
Size US 15 (10mm) knitting needles
Size US 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5)
Two 16mm Bear Eyes
1 bag poly-fil
Gauge
10 sts and 16 rows = 4”/10cm) in garter st (k
all rows) using 4 strands Fun Fur on largest needles
| Note: Body of bear is worked in garter
st holding 4 strands of yarn together as
follows: 2 strands A, 1 strand B, and 1
strand C. |
|
BODY
Starting at tail, cast on 10 sts. Knit 2 rows. Inc
1 st at beg of next 4 rows—14 sts. Continue
in garter st until tail measures 3½”/8.5cm.
Cast on 12 sts at beg of next 4 rows, mark each end
of last row—62 sts. Inc 1 st at beg of next
20 rows, mark each end of last row—82 sts. Work
even on 82 sts until 36”/91.5cm from last markers,
mark each end of last row. Bind off 1 st at beg of
next 24 rows, mark each end of last row—58 sts.
Bind off 10 sts at beg of next 2 rows and place sts
on holder—38 sts.
Legs
Right Back leg: With RS facing, pick up and k17 sts
between first two markers on lower right side. Work
even in garter st until leg measures 12”/30.5cm.
Bind off 1 st at beg of next 8 rows. Bind off remaining
9 sts.
Left Back leg: Work same as right back leg on lower
left side.
Right front leg: With RS facing, pick up and k20
sts between last 2 markers on upper right side. Work
even in garter st until leg measures 16”/40.5cm.
Bind off 1 st at beg of next 10 rows. Bind off remaining
10 sts.
Left front leg: Work same as right front leg on upper
left side.
Top of Head
Sl 38 sts from holder onto needle and continue in
garter st for 2”/5cm. Bind off 1 st each end
of every 6th row until 26 sts remain, AT THE SAME
TIME, mark each end of row when head measures 7”/18cm];
every 4th row until 20 sts remain; then every other
row until 12 sts remain. Place sts on holder.
SIDES OF HEAD (make 2)
Cast on 10 sts, mark between last st on next st, cast
on 20 sts—30 sts. Knit 5 rows.
Next row: Inc 1 st at beg of row (side of head), knit
across. Knit 1 row. Repeat last 2 rows 3 times more—38
sts.
Work even in garter st until piece measures 5”/12.5cm,
mark each end of last row. Bind off 1 st each end
of every 6th row until 34 sts remain; every 4th row
until 28 sts remain; then every other row until 12
sts remain. Place sts on holder.
Sew sides of head to top matching markers at sides
of top head. (Just flop one of the side pieces to
make a right and a left piece.)
Muzzle
Starting at bottom of head, place all sts from holders
onto size 11 needle—36 sts. With RS facing and
3 strands of C, work even in St st for 2”/5cm,
end with a RS row. Set-up row: P6, pm, p24, pm, p6.
Dec row (RS): K6, ssk, k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog,
k6.
Purl 1 row
Rep last 2 rows until 20 sts remain.
Last dec row (RS): K2tog across row—10 sts.
Cut yarns, leaving a 24”/61cm tail. Thread tail
through remaining sts, pull snugly and secure.
FINISHING
NOTE: No two bears will be exactly alike.
Sew side edges of muzzle piece tog—seam will
be on underside of snout. Sew bottom seam of head
to body.
Stuff head and muzzle from neck opening and sew neck
seam closed.
NOSE
With size 11 needles and 3 strands of E, cast on 9
sts. Work 2 rows St st.
Dec row (RS): Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. Purl 1
row.
Repeat last 2 rows until 3 sts remain, sk2p. Sew to
tip of muzzle with point up.
MOUTH
With size 11 needles and 3 strands C, cast on 14 sts.
Work even in St st for 1 1/2”/3.5cm, end with
a WS row.
Dec row (RS): K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog—12
sts.
*Work 5 rows St st. Work Dec row—10 sts. Repeat
from * once more—8 sts. Purl 1 row. K2tog across—4
sts. Bind off.
TONGUE
With size 11 needles and 3 strands D, cast on 12 sts.
Work same as mouth until 6 sts remain. Purl 1 row.
K2tog across—3 sts. Purl 1 row. Bind off.
With RS facing, sew Tongue to Mouth. Sew to bottom
of Muzzle, leaving 1 1/2”/3.5cm at each side
to hold mouth together.
EAR BACK
With size 15 needles and 2 strands A, 1 strand each
B and C, cast on 12 sts. Work even in garter st for
2 1/2”/6.5cm. Dec 1 st each end of every other
row until 6 sts rem. Bind off.
EAR FRONT
With size 11 needles and 3 strands C, cast on 12 sts.
Work 6 rows even in St st. Dec 1 st each end of every
other row until 6 sts rem. Bind off as if to purl.
Sew ear front into ear back leaving bottom open. Stuff
lightly and sew to bear head.
CLAWS (make 10)
With dpns and 2 strands E, cast on 5 sts. *Slide sts
to other end of dpn and knit them, pulling yarn tightly
across the back of the work. (Do not turn work.) Repeat
from * to * for 2”/5cm. End by ssk, k1, k2tog,
turn; sl 1-p2tog-psso. Fasten off. Sew 5 claws to
each front paw.
EYES (make 2)
With size 11 needles and 2 strands E, cast on 15 sts.
Purl 1 row, then pass 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. (all sts)
over first st. Fasten off. Sew ends together. Attach
one purchased eye in center of each knit eye and sew
to face 3”/7.5cm above snout and 4”/10cm
apart.
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