Mer-bear
Materials needed:
A few oz of sport weight yarn 3 size 3.5 double pointed needles small crochet hook buttons/thread fiberfill Note: actual stitch gauge is unimportant, but it should be tight enough so the stuffing does not poke through. The examples are approximately 8 inches high and 4 inches across, but the finished size will vary with yarn and needle substitutions.
Stitch Glossary
K knit Kfb knit into front and back loops of stitch K2tog knit 2 stitches together as one St stitch M1 make 1 stitch Note: for the purposes of this pattern pick up a loop from stitch in row below working stitch, instead of the \*bar' between stitches Ssk slip 2 stitches, one at a time, from left needle to right, then insert left needle into stitches and knit them together Sl1 k1 psso slip 1 stitch, knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch and off the needle K1 sl1 psso knit 1 stitch, slip next stitch from left needle to right, slip both stitches back to left needle, slip left stitch over right stitch and of needle, return remaining stitch to right needle Detailed directions, pictures, and video of all of these techniques can easily be found through Google. The bear is knit from bottom to top. Cast on 12 stitches with tail color, six each on 2 double pointed needles. Join and knit 2 rounds. Round 3 m1 k6 m1 repeat 16 st Round 4 knit Round 5 m1 k8 ml repeat 20 st Round 6 knit Round 7 m1 k10 m1 repeat 24 st Round 8 knit Round 9 m1 k12 m1 repeat 28 st Round 10-16 knit Optional: add knit rounds here for a longer tail. On last round, place stitch marker after 7th stitch and $21^{\mathrm{st}}$ stitch.
Rearrange stitches on needles to work front to back instead of side to side with 14 stitches on each needle.
Drop tail color and join body color on right side of $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ needle. Round 17-20 knit Optional: add a few knit rounds here for a longer torso Round 21ssk k24 k2tog26 st Round 22 knit Round 23 ssk k9 k2tog repeat 22 st Round 24 knit Round 25ssk k18 k2tog20 st Round 26 knit Round 27 ssk k6 k2tog repeat 16 st Round 28 knit Round 29 ssk k12 k2tog 14 st Round 30 knit Round 31 kfb k5 kfb repeat 18 st Round 32 knit Round 33 kfb k7 kfb repeat 22 st Round 34 knit Round 35 kfb k9 kfb repeat 26 st Round 36 knit Round 37 kfb k24 kfb 28 st Round 38-40 knit At this point I like to stuff the lower body. Round 41 (sl1 k1 psso) k24 (k1 sll psso) 26 st Round 42 (sl1 k1 psso) k22 (k1 sll psso) 24 st Round 43 (sl1 k1 psso) k8 k2tog ssk k8( k1 sll1 psso) 20 st Round 44 knit Round 45 ssk k6 k2tog repeat 16 st Round 46 knit Round 47 ssk k4 k2tog repeat 12 st Round 48 ssk k2 k2tog repeat 8 st Cut yarn and draw through remaining stitches loosely. Stuff bear and pullstitches tight.
Tailfin
Cast on 6 stitches Row 1 knit Row 2 purl Row 3 kfb repeat 12 st Row 4 purl Row 5 k2 kfb repeat 16 st Row 6 purl Row 7 knit Row 8 purl Row 9 k8 and leave remaining 8 st on left needle. Put these stitches on a holder, they will be worked later. Next row turn and purl 8 Next row kfb k5 k2tog 8 st Next row purl Repeat last two rows once and bind off. More repeats can be added for longer fins. Put leftover stitches back on a needle and attach yarn on the purl side. Next row purl Next row(knit side) k2tog k5 kfb Next row purl Repeat last 2 rows once and bind off. Sew to end of tail. Tip: single crochet around the edges will make a stiffer fin.
Ears knit 2
Cast on 5 stitches Knit 4 rows Row 5 k2tog k1 k2tog 3 st Bind off Sew to top of head. Tip: weave yarn in and out around outer edge of ear and pull slightly. This can help create a curved ear shape.
Finishing Options
Paws
Make 2 with tail color and 2 with body color Cast on 6 stitches Row 1 knit Row 2 purl Row 3 kfb k4 kfb 8 st Row 4 purl Row 5 kfb k6 kfb 10 st Row 6 purl Row 7 knit Row 8 purl Row 9 k2tog k6 k2tog 8 st Row 10 purl Row 11 k2tog k4 k2tog 6st Bind off Sew purl sides together of opposite yarns, lea \~fl.d..
Fins (make 2)
Cast on 4 stitches Row 1 knit Row 2 kfb each st 8 st Row 3 knit Change color and knit 4 rows. Bind off and sew to sides of body. For a seahorse look, knit a $3^{\mathrm{rd}}$ fin and sew to top of the head like a mohawk. Flower Chain 4 Slip stitch into first chain Chain 3 Slip stitch into first chain again Repeat 4 times Cut yarn and pull through. Sew next to ear. Sew on buttons for eyes and embroider nose and mouth. \*\*COPYRIGHT NOTICE\*\* This pattern is protected by international copyright laws. It is intended for personal use only. Other uses are strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.
