Quite a few years ago now my daughter brought home an enormous stuffed polar bear and I just loved it. It was huge, maybe several feet long. I always had it in the back of my mind to create a knitted version of this style of toy which lays on its stomach but on a much smaller scale. Well, that’s exactly what I’ve done with this new adorable and cozy Sleepy Polar Bear. The toy sits on its tummy as if sleeping and wears a cozy sweater to boot. You start the seamless toy at the back end working in the round and leaving markers for the legs, arms and ears as you go. The legs, arms and ears are picked up and worked on to the body and head. The tail is worked separately and is tacked on.

The Sleepy Polar Bear is an enjoyable knit and I hope you love this new hand-crafted toy from Barrett Wool Co.

Finished Measurement: About 17-inches in length from the tip of the nose to the backend of the body.

Yarn:
Polar Bear: Home Worsted by Barrett Wool Co., 100% American Climate Beneficial Wool (230 yards/100 grams); 2 skeins in the Picket Fence colorway.

Sweater: Home Bulky Twist by Barrett Wool Co., 100% American Climate Beneficial Wool (160 yards/100 grams); 1 skein in the Peppermint Stick colorway.

Needles:
Polar Bear: US size 6/4mm double-pointed needles and 16-inch circular needles or size to obtain gauge.

Sweater: US size 10/6mm double-pointed needles and 16-inch circular needles or size to obtain gauge.

Gauge:
Polar Bear: 5.5 stitches and 8 rows per 1-inch in stockinette
Sweater: 3.5 stitches per inch and 6 rows per 1-inch in stockinette

Materials:
Stitch markers
Yarn needle
Polyester fiber-fill
Waste yarn
Black thread or yarn for the face embroidery - The sample uses Woolens by Barrett Wool Co. in the Inkwell colorway. This is a sport-weight yarn.
Black wool felt, small 5-inch square for the nose and footpads
Sewing needle and black thread to attach felt to toy
Sewing straight pins (optional)
Fabric glue (optional) - I used Sewline Fabric Glue Pen

Special Techniques
Kitchener Stitch
Backwards Loop Cast-On Method