Santa Bear (Advent Cal 2020)

Around this time last year I was participated in a lovely Advent Cal (2019) on Instagram, organised by @iwannabehara. I had such a good time so it was only natural to be very excited when iwanna announced this year’s cal, the Advent Cal 2020.

If you are new, let me share a few things about Advent Call 2020. The Advent is a crochet along event that takes place on Instagram. 23 crocheters (Greece related) design 24 crochet patterns. Every day one pattern is released on the designer’s feed. By the 24th of December you will have 24 free patterns.

At the end of this post you will find links for all the designers that participating.

So my pattern for the Advent Call 2020 was a Santa Bear.

Add It To Your Ravelry Queue Or Favourites

Materials

Yarn: Sport weight, cotton yarn in beige, red and white. Small amount of black yarn for eyes (if you don’t use safety eyes).

Crochet Hooks: 2.5 mm.

Other notions: Fiberfill for stuffing, 6 mm safety eyes (optional), tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors.

Finished Measurements

Aprox. 10cm (4 in) tall.

Abbreviations

The pattern is written in US terminology.

R: Round/ Row
mc: magic circle
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: increase 1 st
dec: decrease 1 st
sl st: slip stitch
st(s): stitch(es)
{…}:x repeat instructions between { } x times
(…sts): total number of sts of the round

Head and Body

Start with beige yarn.

R1: In mc work 6 sc. (6 sts)
R2: {inc} 6 times. (12 sts)
R3: {1 sc, inc} 6 times. (18 sts)
R4: {2 sc, inc} 6 times. (24 sts)
R5: {3 sc, inc} 6 times. (30 sts)
R6: {4 sc, inc} 6 times. (36 sts)
R7-10: 36 sc. (36 sts)
R11: {4 sc, dec} 6 times. (30 sts)
R12: 30 sc. (30 sts)
R13: {3 sc, dec} 6 times. (24 sts)
If you use safety eyes insert them between rows 7 and 8, 6 or 7 stitches apart.
R14: {2 sc, dec} 6 times. (18 sts)
Stuff the head.
R15: {1 sc, dec} 6 times. (12 sts)
Change to red yarn.
R16: 12 sc on the back loops. (12 sts)
R17: {1 sc, inc} 6 times. (18 sts)
R18: {2 sc, inc} 6 times. (24 sts)
R19: {3 sc, inc} 6 times. (30 sts)
R20: {4 sc, inc} 6 times. (36 sts)
R21: 36 sc. (36 sts)
R22: {5 sc, inc} 6 times. (42 sts)
R23: {6 sc, inc} 6 times. (48 sts)
R24-27: 48 sc. (48 sts)
Change to beige yarn.
R28: {[6 sc, dec] on the back loops} 6 times. (42 sts)
R29: {5 sc, dec} 6 times. (36 sts)
R30: {4 sc, dec} 6 times. (30 sts)
R31: {3 sc, dec} 6 times. (24 sts)
R32: {2 sc, dec} 6 times. (18 sts)
Stuff the body.
R33: {1 sc, dec} 6 times. (12 sts)
R34: {dec} 6 times. (6 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 sts, then pull to close the hole. Weave in the ends.

Collar

Use white yarn. Attach yarn at the front loops of round 15. {inc} 12 times. (24 sts) Join with a sl st to the first st. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Hem

Use white yarn. Attach yarn at the front loops of round 27. {inc} 48 times. (96 sts) Join with a sl st to the first st. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Snout

Use beige yarn.
R1: In mc work 6 sc. (6 sts)
R2: {inc} 6 times. (12 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail.

Ears

Make two. Use beige yarn.
R1: In mc work 4 sc. (4 sts)
R2: ch 1, turn. 4 sc. (4 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail.

Arms

Make two. Start with beige yarn.

R1: In mc work 4 sc. (4 sts)
R2: {inc} 4 times. (8 sts)
R3-4: 8 sc. (8 sts) Change to red yarn.
R5: 8 sc in the back loops. (8 sts)
R6-14: 8 sc. (8 sts)
Stuff the arm slightly.
R15: Flatten the top and work 4 sc through both layers to close the opening.
Fasten off and leave a long tail.

Sleeves hem

Use white yarn. Attach yarn at the front loops of round 4 of the arm. {inc} 8 times. (16 sts) Join with a sl st to the first st. Fasten off and weave in the ends. Repeat for the second arm.

Legs

Make two. Use beige yarn.
R1: In mc work 6 sc. (6 sts)
R2: {inc} 6 times. (12 sts)
R3: {1 sc, inc} 6 times. (18 sts)
R4: 18 sc in the back loops. (18 sts)
R5: 18 sc. (18 sts)
R6: {dec} 6 times, 6 sc. (12 sts)
R7: {dec} 3 times, 6 sc. (9 sts) Stuff the leg.
R8-10: 9 sc. (9 sts)
R11: Flatten the top and work 4 sc through both layers to close the opening.
Fasten off and leave a long tail.

Buttons

Use white yarn. Make two.
R1: in mc work 5 sc. (5 sts) Join with a sl st to the first st.
Fasten off leave a long tail.

Assembly

Sew the snout on the head.
Use brown yarn to embroidery the nose on the snout.
If you didn’t use safety eyes, use black yarn to embroider them between rows 7 and 8, 6 or 7 stitches apart.
Sew the ears on the head.
Sew the arms on the sides of the body.
Sew the legs on the bottom of the body.
Sew the buttons in front of the body

Advent Cal 2020 Designers

1: Little star by @iwannabehara

2: Roly Poly toy ornament by @thebluebobbin

3: Mountain Ridge Shawl by @ltblogged

4: Christmas donut by @yum_yarn

5: Santa Honey by @eliso._

6: Puff Puff Cowl by @loula.lalou

7: Elf-owl by @aminationblog

8: Bobble Candy Pouch by @nioshandmade

9: Santa Bear by @kouvarakia

10: Tin Soldier by @moe_crochet

11: Christmas Tree Basket by @mariadimitrakopulu