32 rounds · filed under dense · 8 of them
Amigurumi · added 16 Sep 2026
Amigurumi bear head worked in single crochet rounds
Single crochet builds a dense, firm fabric for this bear head and muzzle, shaped by increases into a stuffed toy.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn
- Worsted
- Rounds
- 32
About this pattern
Single crochet, worked round after round without a break, packs the loops close enough that stuffing cannot push through. Every stitch in this head and muzzle piece is sc, so the wall stays even in thickness from the first round at the crown to the last one before the neck, and the surface reads as smooth rather than open or lacy. That density is what lets the fabric hold a rounded shape under stuffing pressure instead of bulging between stitches.
The piece rises from a 6-stitch magic ring into a dome, then narrows again, giving the head its rounded outline before the muzzle is worked as a separate small piece and joined on. Stuff as you go, a little firmer than feels necessary, since single crochet fabric relaxes and softens slightly once the hook moves on. Mount the eyes between rounds 6 and 7 before the opening closes too far to reach through.
The swatch in numbers
- Rounds
- 32
- Parts
- 3
- Level
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn
- Worsted
The yarn and the hook
- cotton or cotton/acrylic yarn (Alize Cotton Gold, YarnArt Jeans and others)
- eyes for toys on a secure mount
- holofiber or other suitable stuffing material
- hook number 2
- scissors
- sewing and tightening needle
Stitches, spelled out
MR Magic ringDense; Sc Single crochetDense; Inc Increase; Dec Decrease; Slst Slip stitch.
Tension and hand-feel
After round 1, check that the 6 single crochets sit snugly around the magic ring with no gap at the center; a loose center means the ring cinch needs pulling tighter before you continue.
If the fabric feels loose or thin by round 3, drop to a smaller hook so the stitches close ranks and stuffing stays hidden underneath.
The finished teddy bear size given in the pattern is about 12 cm; use this as your reference point if you want the finished toy to match the original scale.
Muzzle and Head
Stuff the piece tightly while crochet.
Eyes on a secure mount are inserted between 6 and 7 side by side at a distance of 7 sc from each other.
Ears (Make 2)
Body
Stuff the piece tightly while crochet.
How the texture is built
- Round 1 starts from a 6-stitch magic ring, and round 2 doubles that to 12 by working an increase in every stitch, the fastest possible growth rate for a flat starting circle.
- The alternating pattern in round 3, (1sc, inc) repeated six times, spaces the increases evenly around the round so the head grows into a dome rather than a cone.
- Eyes are placed between rounds 6 and 7, set 7 single crochets apart, timed to go in while the crown is still open enough to reach a hand inside for the backing washers.
If you swap the yarn
| Cotton, worsted weight | Closest match to the pattern's cotton or cotton-blend base; gives a crisp, slightly stiff fabric that holds its shape well with a hook 2 and needs firm stuffing to avoid a flat look. |
|---|---|
| Acrylic, worsted weight | Softer drape than cotton and easier on the hands over 23 rounds; the finished head will feel a touch squishier and may need slightly more stuffing to stay firm. |
| Cotton-acrylic blend, DK weight | Produces a smaller, denser head than the worsted original; size down the hook from a 2 to keep the single crochet fabric tight enough to hide the stuffing. |
Colorways
- Classic tan bear Work the full head, rounds 1 through 23, in a warm tan or camel; keep the muzzle in the same shade for a seamless, one-color face.
Washing and blocking
Hand wash the cotton or cotton-blend fabric in cool water and press out excess moisture in a towel rather than wringing, since twisting can distort the round shape.
Lay the head flat to dry, reshaping the muzzle and ears by hand while damp so the single crochet rounds settle back into their curved lines.
Store away from direct sun and damp spots, since cotton yarn holds moisture longer than synthetic fiber and can develop a musty smell if packed away wet.
When it does not look right
- The head comes out lopsided or leans to one side.
- The increases were likely not spaced evenly within a round; count stitches between each inc against the pattern's spacing before moving to the next round.
- The eyes end up too close together or crooked.
- The 7-stitch spacing between rounds 6 and 7 was measured unevenly; unpick the eye posts and recount stitches from the same starting point on each side before remounting.
Questions people ask
Can the head be worked without stuffing as you go?
Stuffing while crocheting is recommended here because the neck closes before hand access does; waiting until the piece is finished makes it hard to pack the crown and muzzle evenly. Add fill in small amounts each round rather than all at once.
What hook size does this pattern call for?
The materials list a hook number 2, sized for worsted-weight cotton or cotton-acrylic blends. A different yarn weight may call for sizing the hook up or down to keep the single crochet fabric dense.
How do you keep the eye placement symmetrical?
Mount both eyes between rounds 6 and 7, counting 7 single crochets between them on each side before inserting the posts. Check the spacing from the front before locking the safety backs in place.
Why does the fabric need to be so tight?
A dense single crochet fabric keeps the stuffing from peeking through the gaps and lets the head hold a firm, rounded shape once filled. Loose stitches flatten under pressure and show the fill as lumps.
New patterns, as they are filed
One short email when a batch lands, with the feel of each.