These inquisitive bears were inspired by Reggie and Spencer from The Fiberists. Armed with a lab coat and a sense of adventure they are ready to collect samples for their color inspirations. The sample bears were worked in Collins Worsted and Collins Sport from The Fiberists. This soft and squishy yarn is perfect for toys and is a joy to knit.

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The bears are knit in the round from the bottom up. The arms are knit first and then set aside to be attached later. Next each leg is knit and then joined together to work the body. The arms are then joined before knitting the shoulders, neck and head. The stitches for the muzzle are provisionally worked with waste yarn which is later removed. The live stitches are then picked up and worked in the round to form the muzzle. The ears and tail are knit separately and sewn on. The sample bears have embroidered eyes, but tips for using safety eyes are included in the pattern if you prefer.

Materials

Yarn
For bears - Collins Worsted from The Fiberists, 210 yards/192 m. Sample used about 60 yds/55 m in Diamond for the polar bear and Monazite for the grizzly bear.
For clothes - Collins Sport from The Fiberists, 385 yds/352 m. Sample lab coat used about 56 yds/51 m in Smokey Quartz and Diamond. Pants used approximately 30 yds/28 m in Graphite.

Needles
For bears - US size 3/3.25 mm or size needed to obtain gauge below. You’ll need two sets of double pointed needles (one set for knitting and one for holding stitches).
For lab coat and pants - US size 3/3.25 mm or size needed to obtain gauge below. 24” circular needles for the lab coat plus 3 double pointed needles for the pockets. Set of 6 double pointed needles for the pants.

Gauge
Bear gauge - 6 sts by 7 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly stuffed.
Lab coat and pants gauge -5.5 sts by 8 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly blocked.

Finished size - approximately 8.25”/21 cm

Miscellaneous- darning needle for weaving in ends; 4 locking stitch markers for the lab coat; about 1/4 oz/7 g of wool stuffing per bear (or stuffing of your choice); a scrap of fingering weight yarn or embroidery floss in black for the eyes and nose; one 6”/15 cm scrap of worsted weight yarn to hold stitches for the muzzle (waste yarn), two 6”/15 cm scraps of sport or fingering weight yarn to hold stitches for the pockets (waste yarn); U.S. size D/3.25 mm crochet hook for suspenders.