Thursday 1 June 2017

Buster Bear

Buster (short for Stash-Buster) Bear was made using a leftover ball of light brown chunky yarn. I have no idea what kind of yarn because it came from a friend who gave me his deceased mother's stash earlier this year. 

I also have no idea how much yarn exactly. I started with one big ball of hand-wound yarn finishing with only a short strand leftover ... so lucky.
Buster Bear was happy to pose for photos. Isn't he a sweet little bear?
Boo Bear is soft and cuddly while Buster Bear is sturdier on his feet. Boo Bear and Buster Bear get along famously despite their differences. 

Buster Bear was made following my pattern for Boo Bear with extensive alterations to allow for chunky weight yarn making up the hood, arms, legs and body combined with worsted weight yarn for the head. You can read about the controversy over Boo Bear's pattern here if you missed it.

Buster Bear is different enough from Boo Bear that I think it totally fair to share his pattern. If you look closely, you can clearly see the difference in stitch sizes. My yarn was really quite thick, unfortunately, I do not know exactly how thick. If you choose a different weight yarn, you can use this pattern as more of a guideline making alterations as required.

Buster BEAR PATTERN

 

Materials used:
1 ball of worsted weight yarn in cream colour (from stash)
1 ball of chunky weight yarn in brown colour (from stash)
Hook size = 3.25 mm + 4.0 mm
yarn needles to join pieces
Polyester Fiberfill for stuffing
Small amount of black yarn (for eyes)

Stitches used:
ch - chain stitch
ss - slip stitch
sc - single crochet
inc - sc increase
dec - sc decrease (sc2tog - single crochet 2 together)
Magic Circle - see how here (start each piece with magic circle)

Time to Complete - 14 hours (approximately)
Finished size - 14 inches tall

Legs (x2)
Use brown chunky yarn and 4.0 mm hook. Working from the bottom up, starting with a magic circle, use stitch marker to mark end of rows (work in continuous rounds with no joining)
R1 - 6 sc (6)
R2 - inc x6 (12)
R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)
R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)
R5-R6 - sc around (24)
R7 - sc2tog x4 + 16 sc (20)
R8 - sc2tog x4 + 12 sc (16)
R9-R16 - sc around (16)
R17 - (3 sc inc) x4 (20)
R18-R20 - sc around (20)
R21 - (4 sc inc) x4 (24)
R22 - sc around (24) Finish off and stuff leg.

Body
Join legs on middle 2 stitches as shown in this tutorial. The instructions are in German but the video alone is enough to understand the technique. Once the legs are joined continue crocheting around both legs to form the body.

R23 - sc around (50)
R24 - sc around (50)
R25 - (5 sc inc) x 7 + 7 sc (55)
R26 - sc around (55)
R27 - sc around (55)
R28 - sc around (55)
R29 - sc around (55)
R30 - (9 sc dec) x5 (50)
R31 - sc around (50)
R32 - (8 sc dec) x5 (45)
R33 - sc around (45)
R34 - (dec 7 sc) x5 (40)
R35 - sc around (40)
R36 - (dec 6 sc) x5 (35)
R37 - sc around (35) 
R38 - (dec 5 sc) x5 (30)
R39 - sc around (30)
R40 - sc around (30)
R41 - sc around (30)
R42 - sc around (30)
R43 - sc around (30)
R44 - sc around (30)
R45 - sc around (30)
R46 - sc around (30)
R47 - sc around (30)
R48 - dec 2x on each hip (26)
R49 - sc around (26)
R50 - dec 1x on each hip (24)
R51 - sc around (24)
R52 - dec 2x on each side (20)
R53 - sc around (20)
R54 - dec 2x on each side (16)
R55 - sc around (16)
Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail to attach the head. Stuff body firmly.

Arms (x2)
Start with cream worsted weight yarn and 3.25 mm hook
R1 - 6 sc (6)
R2 - inc x6 (12)
R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)
R4 - sc around (18)
R5 - (4 sc dec) x3 (15)
R6 - sc around (15)
R7 - (3 sc dec) x 3 (12)
Change to dark brown yarn at end of R7
R8 - sc around (12)
R9 - (4 sc dec) x 2 (10)
R10-R34 - sc around (10)
Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff only hands and part way up arm.

Head
Use cream worsted weight yarn and 3.25 mm hook.
R1 - 6 sc (6)
R2 - inc x6 (12)
R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)
R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)
R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)
R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)
R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)
R8 - (6 sc inc) x6 (48)
R9 - (7 sc inc) x6 (54)
R10 - (8 sc inc) x6 (60)
R11 - sc around (60)
R12 - sc around (60)
R13 - sc around (60)
R14 - sc around (60)
R15 - sc around (60)
R16 - sc around (60)
R17 - sc around (60)
R18 - sc around (60)
R19 - sc around (60)
R20 - sc around (60)
R21 - (8 sc dec) x6 (54)
R22 - sc around (54)
R23 - (7 sc dec) x6 (48)
R24 - (6 sc dec) x6 (42)
R25 - (5 sc dec) x6 (36)
R26 - (4 sc dec) x6 (30)
R27 - (3 sc dec) x6 (24)
R28 - (2 sc dec) x6 (18)
R29 - (2 sc dec) x3 + 6 sc (15)
R30 - sc around (15)
R31 - sc around (15)
Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff head and neck firmly to hold shape.

Hood
Use brown chunky yarn and 4.0 mm hook. Check to make sure hood fits. You may have to adjust increases or decreases depending on your yarn thickness.
R1 - 6 sc (6)
R2 - inc x6 (12)
R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)
R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)
R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)
R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)
R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)
R8 - (6 sc inc) x6 (48)
R9 - (7 sc inc) x6 (54)
R10 - sc around (54)
R11 - sc around (54)
R12 - (7 sc dec) x6 (48)
R13 - sc around (48)
R14 - sc around (48)
R15 - sc around (48)
R16 - sc around (48)
R17 - sc around (48)
R18 - sc around (48)
R19 - sc around (48)
R20 - (6 sc dec) x6 (42)
R21 - ss loosely around (42)
Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Position on head as shown in photos above. After attaching head to body, I like to wrap the tail from the hood around the neck to cover joining stitches.

Ears (x2)
Use brown chunky yarn and 4.0 mm hook.
R1 - 6 sc (6)
R2 - inc x6 (12)
R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)
R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)
R5-7 - sc around (24)
Finish off leaving 8" tail for joining.
Fold ear in half to form a natural curve and attach to head (see photo above).

Tail 
Use brown chunky yarn and 4.0 mm hook.
R1 - 6 sc (6)
R2 - inc x6 (12)
R3-4 - sc around (12)
Finish off leaving 6" tail for joining.
I just stuffed starting yarn end into tail so it is only lightly stuffed then attached to form a neat little ball on his backside (see photo above).

Refer to photos of Buster Bear before joining ears, head, arms and tail. I like to pin the pieces in place to pick the most pleasing look before attaching. 



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8 comments:

  1. He is adorable Beth you are such a talented woman.

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  2. Thank you for this delightful free pattern. I have used one of your patterns before to make a couple of monster dolls that turned out incredibly well. You are a very generous person to share your patterns with us all :)

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  3. Thank you for responding so quickly to my email. You are so talented to be able to design.

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    Replies
    1. You're very welcome. I hope you have fun making Buster Bear.

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  4. I am so lucky to find this post... Greet from Indonesia who is desperate for the pattern of this creature. ^_^v.. quite fair, smart design, and nicely shared. love it. and love you

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words. Have fun making this bear. Cheers from Canada.

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  5. Gracias por compartir este hermoso proyecto Me encanto

    ReplyDelete