Why not knit your own Halty Bear ready for the Festival!
Try this pattern, courtesy of Gwen Marples:
The following pattern produces a basic Halty Bear knitted almost exclusively in garter stitch. As such, it is possible for a novice knitter to create their own bear. For the more experienced knitters amongst you, the options are endless; a cabled sweater, a moss stitch gilet, a short sleeved top, shorts...you are only limited by your own imagination. The colours used are in keeping with our new corporate colours but some Halty Bears may wish to be “rebels” and that too is perfectly acceptable!
Materials
1 ball DK wool (Turquoise)
1 ball DK wool (Black)
1 ball DK wool (Light brown) or preferred choice for body colour 1 ball DK wool (Dark brown)
1 ball Dk2 DK wool (Light green)
1 ball DK wool (Yellow)
Small amount of stuffing material
1 Pair 3.25mm needles (UK size 10)
Head
Using light brown wool cast on 30 stitches
Rows 1-4 Knit (garter stitch)
Row 5 K2, skpo, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1
Rows 6-7 Knit (garter stitch)
Repeat the previous three rows decreasing until 8 stitches remain - decrease on row 8, 11, 14, 17, 20 etc. Next row K2, skpo, k2 tog, K2
Next row K2, skpo, K2
Next row K1, sl1. K2 tog psso, K1
Next row K3 together
Fasten off securely
Body and Legs (make 2 identical pieces)
Using turquoise DK wool cast on 12 stitches
Rows 1-2 Knit (garter stitch)
Rows 3-8 Increase 1 stitch at each end of rows 3, 5 and 7 (18 stitches)
Rows 8-20 Knit (garter stitch)
Rows 21-22 K1, p1 rib
Break off turquoise wool and join in black wool
Rows 23-35 Knit (garter stitch)
Row 36 (dividing row) K8, cast off 2 stitches, knit to the end of the row (8 stitches) Continue on these 8 stitches for the first leg
Rows 37-50 Knit (garter stitch)
Break off black wool and join in dark brown wool
Rows 51-52 Knit (garter stitch)
Row 53 K 2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, K2 tog Row 54 Cast off
Re-join black wool to remaining stitches and complete to match the first leg. Arms (make 2 identical pieces)
Using light brown wool cast on 6 stitches
Row 1 Knit
Row 2 Knit twice into each stitch to end of row (12 stitches) Row 3-6 Knit
Row 7 Inc. 1 stitch at each end of the row (14 stitches) Row 8 Knit
Break off light brown wool and join in turquoise wool
Rows 8-27 Knit (garter stitch)
Row 28 Dec 1 stitch at each end of the row (12 stitches) Row 29 Knit
Row 30 Dec 1 stitch at each end of the row (10 stitches) Row 31 K2, (K2tog 3 times), K2 (7 stitches)
Row 32 Knit
Cast off (this edge is the top of the arm)
Rucksack
Using yellow wool, cast on 12 stitches
Rows 1-2 Knit
Row 3 Knit
Row 4 K1, purl to last stitch K1
Repeat 3and 4 rows 16 more times (34 rows in total)
Cast off
Straps (make 2 identical straps)
Cast on 3 stitches
Knit 36 rows (garter stitch) Cast off
Gilet
Back
Using light green wool cast on 22 stitches
Row 1-14 Knit (garter stitch)
Row 15-16 Cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of each row (18 stitches) Row 17-29 Knit (garter stitch)
Next row Cast off
Right front
Using light green wool, cast on 11 stitches Rows 1-13 Knit (garter stitch)
Row 14 Cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of the row, knit to the end (9 stitches) Rows 17-24 Knit (garter stitch)
Row 25 Cast of 2 stitches knit to the end (7 sttiches)
Row 26 Knit
Row 27 Cast off 1 stitch, knit to the end (6 stitches) Row 28 Knit
Row 29 Cast off 1 stitch, knit to the end (5 stitches) Row 30 Cast off
Left Front
Cast on 11 stitches
Knit as above reversing the shapings
(Row 15 Cast 2 stitches at the beginning of the row, knit to the end (9 stitches)
(Row 25 Cast off 2 stitches at the beginning of the row, knit to the end 7 stitches) etc.
To make up the bear:
Make the head by folding the three corners of the triangle into the centre. Sew the two side seams either side of the nose. Sew across the corner edges to form the ears.
Using black wool sew a nose shape, two eyes and a mouth onto the face of the bear. Stuff the head firmly to create the required firm head shape.
Stitch the two body pieces together using a flat seam and different coloured wools as necessary. Stuff the legs/body firmly and then attach the stuffed head to the body. Attach the arms to the body at the level of the decreased rows on the upper body.
To make up the gilet
Join the side seams using a flat seam, fasten off secur ely
Join the shoulder seams, fasten off securely
To make up the rucksack
Fold the main body of the rucksack to create a bag shape complete with flap. Stitch side seams. Stuff the bag to obtain a firm bag shape. Sew a bag fastener using black wool. Fasten straps to back of the rucksack using black wool.
The pattern is adapted from the basic bear pattern in the following book:
Pierce, Val (2010) “Twenty to Make Knitted Bears All dressed up!” Search Press. The patterns can be used for personal use only but cannot be used for commercial purposes without the prior permission of the Publishers.
Now all that remains is to christen your Halty Bear!
