Bear Sewing Patterns for the Six Weeks of Love for Softies Contest

The Six Weeks of Love for Softies contest over at Sew Mama Sew is in full swing. Take a look at all of the entries that have been submitted so far. The contest is running through April 5 so there’s still time to whip up a softie (or three!) and enter to win.

Categories include:

• This Is My First Stuffed Animal, Soft Toy or Cloth Doll
• I Designed it Myself
• Check Out These Details
• Overall Cute/Scary/Beautiful/Squeezability Factor

The grand prize is a Pfaff 3.0 sewing and embroidery machine. The prizes for each category are a whole package of books, patterns, thread, and fabric. Enter! You’ve got a great chance of winning something awesome.

Today I’ve pulled together some teddy bear patterns for you to sew. All of these are available online as tutorials or PDFs for instant access. The patterns in the first set are free those in the second set are for purchase.

Teddy bears are a classic toy. In fact, the teddy bear was the first commercially available stuffed animal! It doesn’t get more classic than that.

Okay, here we go!

Warren the Charity Bear; How Joyful Bear; Cuddle Buddy Bear; Wool and Liberty Bear; Mr. Ted; and Pete the Bear

Free patterns are terrific, of course, but when you buy a pattern from an independent designer you’re supporting a small business and in exchange you can almost always ask that designer for help as you sew and become part of their community of customers. Those things make sewing even more fun.

Here are some delightful bear patterns for sale by indie designers:

Izzy Insomniac Bear; Felt teddy bear with basket; Baby Bear and Blankie Set; Dolls and Daydreams Bear; Eddie the Bear; and Oh Sew Dollin Bear

For some additional inspiration take a look at my Bears board on Pinterest. It’s full of cute bears. And if you’d like to sew a doll instead of a bear, check out my round-up of free and for purchase doll patterns.

Most of these patterns can be sewn up in an afternoon. Wool, fleece, fur, or even quilting cotton scraps are all perfect for softie making. Give your finished toy to a child in your life, or donate it to the National Foster Parent Association and they will give your softie to a child living in foster care.

Happy sewing and good luck.