Tina Ballerina Bear is an expert at having fun. She’ll even show you how when you crochet her with this free pattern.

Tina’s just one of the characters here at Squirrel Picnic, but she is by far the most outrageously fun-loving of the bunch. She loves karaoke, pillow fights, food fights, tickle fights, water-balloon fights, and limbo. But most importantly, she loves to dance… all the time. In fact, she was dancing right before I took this photo of her. That’s why she has that startled “caught in the act” look on her face.

She’s also a bit of a party girl. You know anyone who wears a tutu year-round brings the party with them wherever they go. She’s ready to celebrate anything and everything. She once threw a party just to celebrate the fact that she had cleaned the dishes.

Her enthusiasm and excitement are contagious. She inspires me to let loose now and then and to fully enjoy every opportunity that comes my way, big or small. So if you have something to celebrate, don’t hold back. Get out your tutu and live it up!

Tina Ballerina Bear Crochet Pattern

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Finished size: 6″ tall and 16″ around at the widest point

Materials

(A) 85 yds worsted-weight yarn in black (Caron Simply Soft in Black, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
(B) 35 yds worsted-weight yarn in light brown (Vanna’s Choice by Lion Brand, 3.5 oz [100 g], 170 yds [156 m])
(C) 50 yds worsted-weight yarn in pink (Caron Simply Soft in Soft Pink, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
1 set of size 12 mm safety eyes (If making this for a child, please consider embroidering the eyes.)
Light brown felt
Embroidery floss in black
Polyester Fiberfill
Tapestry needle
1/8 in satin ribbon in pink

Gauge

5 sts = 1″
5 rows = 1″

Abbreviation Note

inc = 2 sc in next sc
dec = sc2tog

Instructions

For Eyes: Grab your light brown felt and scissors and head on over to this tutorial for step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the eyes for your bear. Complete steps 1-4, then set them aside and continue with the instructions for the Body. (You’ll pick them back up again after Rnd 35 of the Body.)

Body

With A, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. (12)

Rnd 3: * Sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (18)

Rnd 4: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Rnd 5: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnd 6: * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (36)

Rnds 7-15: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 16: * 5 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (42)

Rnd 17: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 18: * 6 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (48)

Rnd 19: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 20: * 7 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (54)

Rnds 21-30: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 31: * 7 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (48)

Rnd 32: * 6 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (42)

Rnd 33: * 5 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (36)

Rnd 34: * 4 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnd 35: * 3 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Insert safety eyes between stitches in Rnds 9 and 10 and pop on the backs to secure.

Stuff bear firmly.

Rnd 36: * 2 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (18)

Rnd 37: * Sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (12)

Rnd 38: * Sk, sc, rep from * 5 more times. (6)

Join with slst. FO, leaving a tail. Thread tail through remaining sts and pull to close. Weave in end.

Nose and Mouth

Cut an oval out of light brown felt. Using dark brown or black embroidery floss, embroider a nose and mouth onto the felt. Then sew this oval onto Tina’s head. Check out this tutorial for step-by-step instructions.

Belly

With B, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. Slst in 1st sc to join. (12)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, * sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (18)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (24)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (30)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (36)

FO, leaving long tail for sewing.

Sew this to the middle of Tina’s belly.

Tutu

With C, pull up a loop in any st in Rnd 23 of the Body. Turn Body upside down.

Rnd 1: Continue pulling up loops and sc in ea st of Rnd 23. (When you get to the Belly Spot, just try to continue in a straight line to the other side.) Join with slst, ch 1. Do not turn.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. Join with slst, ch 1.

Rnd 3: 2 sc in ea sc around. Join with slst, ch 1.

FO and weave in ends. You may have to fiddle with the ruffles a bit to even them out.

Hands (Make 2)

With A, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc into 2nd ch from hook. (4)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. (8)

Rnds 3-5: Sc in ea sc around.

Tuck in ends and press flat, lining up 3 sets of sts in the middle.

Row 6: Sc this closed with 3 scs (skipping the sts on either end where it is folded). Ch 2 and turn. (3)

Row 7: 2 dc in each of next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 2, slst) in last sc.

FO, leaving a tail for sewing.

With the tail, thread through the 1st of the 3 sc in Row 6. Pull the thread up and over the dcs in Row 7 and back through the same space. Pull tight to create “fingers.” Then thread through the 3rd sc in Row 6. Pull the thread up and over the dcs in Row 7 and back through the same space. Weave in to secure, but don’t trim just yet. (You’ll use the rest of the tail to sew the arms to the bear.)

Sew these to the sides of the bear so that the fingers reach out just in front of her belly, above the tutu.

Feet with Ballet Slippers – Bottom (Make 2)

With C, ch 6.

Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 3 chs. 3 sc in last ch, turning around the ch as you go. Sc in next 3 ch, 2 sc in last ch. (12)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc, 2 sc in ea of next 3, 3 sc, 2 sc in ea of next 2. (18)

Rnd 3: 2 sc in next sc, 4 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc) 3 times, 4 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc) 2 times, join with slst. FO and weave in end.

Feet with Ballet Slippers – Top (Make 2)

With A, ch 6.

Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 3 chs. 3 sc in last ch, turning around the ch as you go. Sc in next 3 ch, 2 sc in last ch. (12)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc, 2 sc in ea of next 3, 3 sc, 2 sc in ea of next 2. (18)

Switch to C, leaving a long tail of A to sew to the bottom of the bear.

Rnd 3: 2 sc in next sc, 4 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc) 3 times, 4 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc) 2 times, join with slst. FO, leaving a tail.

Using long tail of C, sew tog 1 Top and 1 Bottom with RS facing out. Use long tail of A to sew each foot to bear.

Ears (Make 2)

With A, ch 2.

Row 1: 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (8)

FO, leaving long tail for sewing.

Flatten these slightly and sew to the top of the head.

Thread a length of ribbon through a stitch between her ears and tie it in a bow.

See a mistake or something I overlooked, please let me know in the comments or at squirrelpicnic{at}gmail{dot}com. Thanks!