Learn how to make this adorable USA themed crochet bear lovey following this free pattern modification. This pattern modification is based on my original Crochet Bear Lovey.
My favorite holiday is 4th of July so of course I had to take one of my cutest patterns and make it American flag inspired.
This lovey would make a cute addition to a patriotic themed nursery. I also think it would be cute as a baby shower gift for a baby being born around Independence Day!
The only difference between this modification and the original pattern is the color changes to create the stripes of the ‘flag’.
The star details and the mouth could be made using puff paint, or you could embroider the mouth and stars!
Here I’ve linked a full video tutorial for the ORIGINAL Crochet Bear Lovey. This video tutorial does not include the color changes for the USA Bear Lovey modification.
If any of the instructions to the original Crochet Bear Lovey sound confusing, referring to the video will help clear it up for you.
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS MEANING I (ASHLEY) MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION FROM PURCHASES MADE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.
If you’d like an ad-free experience you can purchase the PDF pattern for the original Crochet Bear Lovey here. Please be advised that this modification is not included in the ad-free pattern PDF.
Let’s dive right in and see what you will need to create your own USA themed crochet bear lovey.
This post may contain affiliate links meaning I may receive a small commission from purchases made at no extra cost to you.
USA Crochet Bear Lovey (Modification)
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 11.75 inches tall and 8.25 inches wide.
Materials
- G (4mm) size hook
- I (5.5mm) crochet hook
- Worsted weight yarn in your choice of Red, White, and Blue.
- A tiny amount of yarn for your bear nose, snout, eyes, and stars (Note: I used Linen from I Love This Yarn for my snout, but you could use the white from your stripes if you’d like)
(Optional: use puff paint for the snout, eyes and stars) - Polyfill
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
- Stitch markers or scrap yarn
- Sewing Pins
Stitch Key (US Terms)
CH = Chain
SC = Single Crochet
HDC= Half Double Crochet
INC= Increase (Put two stitches in the same space.)
DEC=Decrease
SL ST= Slip Stitch
YO= Yarn Over
*= To Be Repeated
Special Stitches
Invisible Decrease: Insert your hook under the front loop of the first stitch, insert your hook under the front loop of your second stitch. Place a SC there. I explain this in detail in the video that goes with this pattern.
USA Crochet Addi Bear Head
Starting with your blue and G (4.0mm) crochet hook.
Round 1: Make a magic circle. SC 6. (6)
The crochet bear lovey is made in the round, use a stitch marker if you need to.
Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: INC, SC * around 6 times (18)
Round 4: INC, SC, SC* around 6 times (24)
Round 5: INC, SC, SC, SC* around 6 times (30)
Round 6: INC, SCx4* around 6 times (36)
Round 7: INC, SCx5* around 6 times (42)
Round 8: INC, SCx6* around 6 times (48)
Rounds 9-16: SC in each stitch around (48)
Round 17: Invisible DEC, SCx6* around 6 times (42)
Round 18: Invisible DEC, SCx5* around 6 times (36)
Round 19: Invisible DEC, SCx4* around 6 times (30)
Round 20: Invisible DEC, SCx3* around 6 times (24)
Stuff your head with polyfil.
Round 21: Invisible DEC, SCx2* around 6 times (18)
Add any more stuffing if necessary.
Round 22: Invisible DEC, SC* around 6 times (12)
Round 23: DEC in each stitch going through the back loops only and leaving the front loops exposed. (6) Mark the first and last exposed back loop with a stitch marker.
Tie off leaving a tail for sewing and close shut your circle.
Arms- Make 2
Starting with your blue and G (4.0mm) crochet hook.
Round 1: Make a magic circle. SC 6. (6)
The arms are made in the round, use a stitch marker if you need to.
Round 2: SC INC in each stitch around (12)
Rounds 3-15: SC in each stitch around (12) Sew in your starting tail after row 4.
Stuff your arm with poly fill.
Squish the opening of your arm closed and DEC across the opening with 3 DEC stitches. (3) Tie off
Body
Using your I (5.5mm) crochet hook and your blue yarn, join your working yarn into the first exposed front loop on the bottom of your head. CH to secure.
Round 1 (blue): Starting in that same stitch, SC in each exposed front loop around (12)
The bear body is made in the round.
The first 3 stitches of round 2 will be worked through the arm stitches and row 1 stitches at the same time.
Face your arm so the first stitch you go through was the last DEC you made. (where you tied off)
Round 2: INC, SC, INC (going through the arm stitches and the round 1 stitches.
SC, INC, SC in the next 3 body stitches from round 1.
The next 3 stitches are made going through the second arm stitches and round 1 stitches at the same time.
INC, SC, INC joining the second arm to our Addi Bear.
SC, INC, SC in the last 3 stitches. (18)
The rest of the bear body will be made in HDC stitches.
Round 3 : INC in each stitch around (36)
Round 4 (red): HDC, INC* around (54)
Round 5: HDC in each stitch around but place two more increases (approximately one under each armpit) to take our stitch count to 56. (56)
Sew in all your tails making sure to secure your arm tails with double knots first. If you want to see how I did this refer to the video tutorial that goes with this pattern.
Rounds 6-7 (white): HDC around (56)
Rounds 8-9 (red): HDC around (56)
Rounds 10-11 (white): HDC around (56)
Rounds 12-13 (red): HDC around (56)
Rounds 14-15 (white): HDC around (56)
Rounds 16-17 (red): HDC around (56)
Rounds 18-19 (white): HDC around (56)
Rounds 20-21 (red): HDC around (56)
Now we are going to crochet across the bottom opening of our crochet bear lovey, joining the front half to the back half and closing the body together.
We’ll be using the Join-As-You-Go (JAYG) method. You can see this in action in the video at Time Stamp 30:21.
Make sure your last HDC stitch is in the bottom-right corner of your Addi Bear. You may need to add or remove stitches to make this work.
Without chaining up, turn your work and place a SC in the last HDC stitch from round 21.
Remove your hook from your working yarn and insert it into the first open stitch from round 21 on your work.
Grab your working yarn and pull it through the stitch.
Insert your hook into the next stitch on the front half of your Addi Bear and place a SC.
Remove the hook from your working yarn, insert it into the next open stitch on the back half of your Addi Bear, grab the working yarn and pull it through.
Continue all the way down until your entire Addi Bear is closed up. Tie off and sew in your tail.
Face
Snout– Made with SC stitches
Starting with your snout color (I used Linen but feel free to use the white from your strips if you prefer) and G (4.0mm) crochet hook.
Round 1: Make a magic circle. SC 8. (8)
The snout is made in the round, use a stitch marker if you need to.
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (18)
Round 3: INC, SC* 8 times around (24)
Round 4: INC, SCx2* 8 times around (32)
Tie off leaving a very long tail for sewing our snout onto our crochet bear lovey head.
Ears- Make 2
Starting with your head color (blue) \and G (4.0mm) crochet hook.
Round 1: Make a magic circle. SC 7. (7)
The ears are made in the round, use a stitch marker if you need to.
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (14)
Rounds 3-4: SC in each stitch around (14)
Round 5: DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 3, DEC, SC 2 (11)
Tie off leaving a long tail for attaching your ears to your Addi Bear head.
Assembly
Stars– using white embroider or puff paint them on the head. If you decide to embroider the stars, they’re just simple “x’s” between stitches.
Place your snout on your Addi Bear face and hold it in place with sewing pins.
Attach it to your head using the whip stitch by going into the head stitches and then out through the snout stitches. Repeat until your snout is secure. Tie off and sew in your tail.
If you need more help I show how to do this in detail in the video that goes with this pattern.
To attach your ears, line them up where you want them to go and secure them with sewing pins.
Begin sewing them on using a tapestry needle. Once secure tie off and sew in your tail.
Using scrap yarn, embroider your nose.
I used puff paint for the eyes and line on the nose. But you could use black yarn and embroider the eyes and nose line.
Now you have a competed USA Crochet Bear Lovey! Step back and take a look at all your hard work.
I hope you love this pattern. If you make any USA Bear Loveys and post pics online I’d love to see them. Tag me @ACraftyConcpet on all social media platforms.
Happy Crocheting
❤️ Ashley