Mama Bear

Materials:

Worsted Weight Yarn, small amounts main bear color and white
Size "F" crochet hook, or size needed to obtain a tight fabric so the stuffing won't show through
Polyester Fiberfil, or your choice of stuffing material

decrease - to decrease while working in sc, pull up a loop in the next st, keeping both loops on the hook, pull up a loop in the next st, yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook
picot - this is usually worked between stitches and not into a st of the previous row, to work it ch 3, sc in 3rd ch from hook

Body (make 2)

Arm (make 2)

Ch 12
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each st across (11 st), ch 1, turn
Row 2-6: sc in each st across (11 st), ch 1, turn
Row 7: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 7 st, dec over next 2 st (9 st), ch 1, turn
Row 8: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 5 st, dec over next 2 st (7 st), ch 1, turn
Row 9: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 3 st, dec over next 2 st (5 st), ch 1, turn
Row 10: dec over first 2 st, sc in next st, dec over next 2 st (3 st), ch 1, turn
Row 11: dec over all three st (that is pull up a loop in each of the next 3 st, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on hook), fasten off

Head

Ch 17
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and each st across (16 st), ch 1, turn
Row 2: 2 sc in first st, * sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * 2 more times (20 st), ch 1, turn
Row 3: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st (24 st), ch 1, turn
Row 4: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 20 st, dec over next 2 st (22 st), ch 1, turn
Row 5: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 18 st, dec over next 2 st (20 st), ch 1, turn
Row 6: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 16 st, dec over next 2 st (18 st), ch 1, turn
Row 7: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 14 st, dec over next 2 st (16 st), ch 1, turn
Row 8: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 12 st, dec over next 2 st (14 st), ch 1, turn
Row 9: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 10 st, dec over next 2 st (12 st), ch 1, turn
Row 10: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 8 st, dec over next 2 st (10 st), ch 1, turn
Row 11: sc in each st across (10 st), ch 1, turn
Row 12: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 6 st, dec over next 2 st (8 st), ch 1, turn
Row 13: sc in each st across (8 st), ch 1, turn
Row 14: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 4 st, dec over next 2 st (6 st), ch 1, turn
Row 15: sc in each st across (6 st), ch 1, turn
Row 16: dec over first 2 st, sc in next 2 st, dec over next 2 st (4 st), ch 1, turn
Row 17: sc in each st across (4 st), ch 1, turn
Row 18: dec over first 2 st, dec over next 2 st (2 st), ch 1, turn
Row 19: sc in each st across (2 st), fasten off

Ear (make 2)

Collar

Leaving a tail for tying later, ch 24
Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook, * p (that is ch 3, sc in 3rd ch from hook), dc in next ch, repeat from * across, fasten off

Assembly

1. Sew the slanted edge of the arms to the slanted edge of the upper body, with right sides together.
2. With right sides together, sew around the outside of the arms and body, leaving the neck open. Turn right side out.
3. For the head, sew both ends of rows 1-3 together, fold over the triangular section so that row 19 meets this seam you just made, sew up the triangular seam where the folds meet.
4. Turn the head right side out.
5. Sew the ears to either side of the top of the head.
6. Use black yarn to embroider a nose (over the point where the two seams meet), a mouth and eyes.
7. Stuff the body and head and sew them together around the neck.
8. Tie the collar around her neck.