Tiny Black Bear- Summer Mini Amigurumi Crochet Along Day 1

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 *Ebook with all 12 patterns included available for purchase on Etsy and Ravelry

I am so excited for today, it is Day 1 of the Summer 2023 Mini Amigurumi Crochet Along. This is my second Mini Amigurumi Crochet Along of the Year. The first was the Spring version which included the patterns for 12 mini farm animal amigurumi. For this crochet along- the Summer version- the theme will be camping, and it will also include 12 different designs released over the course of 2 weeks. 

The farm animals from the spring were all very similar patterns, so they were all almost the exact same size. Since they were all animals I made them all with the same basic head and body pattern, however this time there will be a little more variation in the patterns. There will be a combination of animals that you may see on a camping trip, as well as some supplies you may take with you when you go camping or items you may use. As a result the patterns will be all a little bit different (more like the Christmas Mini Amigurumi Advent last year), but all around 3"-4", since they are all mini amigurumi. 

For the first design in the camping crochet along I made a tiny black bear. When I think of animals you might see when camping a bear is one of the first ones I think of, probably mostly because I think it would be pretty terrifying to have a bear at your campsite. I chose to make a little black bear because I that is what I think of when I think of bears you might run into in the mountains or woods. 

To be honest I also chose to make a black bear just because I thought it would be cute. I originally planned to make a bear standing on all fours, more like an actual bear, but I struggled a little getting it to turn out the way that I was picturing and still keeping it as small as I wanted. So I ended up making the same "teddy bear" style that I used for the farm animals, and most of the animals included in this series will be in this same style. 

You only need 2 colors of yarn, black and tan, as well as some little safety eyes and safety nose, unless you choose to embroider the faces instead. You could obviously use any colors you wanted for your little bear, switch it up to make a brown bear or white for a polar bear, but I think the black bear is a pretty cute way to go. These are great projects for using up small scraps in your stash because all of the animals are so tiny they hardly use any yarn, and black and tan are pretty commonly used, neutral colors, so chances are you may already have some on hand.

 *Ebook with all 12 patterns included available for purchase on Etsy and Ravelry

How to Crochet a Tiny Black Bear

Finished Size: about 3" tall sitting

You will need:

• medium weight yarn in black and tan (sample made in Loops and Threads Impeccable in Black and Soft Taupe)
• G crochet hook (4 mm)
• 2- 6 mm safety eyes
• 9mm safety nose
• Polyfil fiberfill
• yarn needle
• stitch markers 
• scissors

Instructions:

All of the pieces are made in the round beginning with a magic ring, the head and body made in one piece, the arms, legs, muzzle, and ears made separately and sewn on. Safety eyes and nose attached where directed, if you choose two embroider the eyes and nose (better for small children) just embroider in the same spot. 

Body/Head

Make 1 with black yarn, beginning with magic ring

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc)

Round 3: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st] repeat around (18 sc)

Rounds 4-8: 1 sc in each st (18 sc)

Begin stuffing and continue stuffing as you work

Round 9: sc2tog around (9 sc)

Round 10:  2 sc in each st (18 sc)

Round 11: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next 2 sts] repeat around (24 sc)

Round 12-15: 1 sc in each st (24 sc)

Round 16: [sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts] repeat around (18 sc)

Insert safety eyes between rounds 13 and 14 about 3 stitches apart

Round 17: [sc2tog, sc in next st] repeat around (12 sc)

Round 18: sc2tog around (6 sc)

Finish off, weave in ends

Muzzle

Make 1 with tan yarn, beginning with magic ring

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc)

Round 3: 1 sc in each st (12 sc)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Attach safety nose just above the center

Sew the muzzle to the head just below the eyes adding a tiny bit of stuffing as you sew it on.

Ears

Make 2 with black yarn, beginning with a magic ring

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st] repeat around (9 sc)

Finish off and cut yarn, leaving long tail for sewing 

Flatten the ears to a semicircle and sew ears to the sides of the head towards the top

Arms

Make 2 with black yarn, beginning with magic ring

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: [2 sc in first st, 1 sc in next st] repeat around (9 sc)

Round 3: [sc2tog, sc in next st] repeat around (6 sc)

Rounds 4-5: 1 sc in each st (6 sc)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing

Sew the 2 arms to the side of the body between the body and head

Legs

Make 2 with black yarn, beginning with magic ring

Round 1: in mr, ch 1, 6 sc (6 sc)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc)

Round 3: [sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts] repeat around (9 sc)

Add a tiny bit of stuffing to the bottom of the legs at this point if desired

Round 4: [sc2tog, sc in next st] repeat around (6 sc)

Round 5: 1 sc in each st (6 sc)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing

Sew the 2 legs to the bottom side of the body in a sitting position