Here comes Beau...right out of the northern woods and into the hearts of anyone who finds lovable, huggable furry teddies irresistible! Dapper Beau, the latest member of Canadian Living's family of bears debuts as a coureur de bois. In the best Quebec woodsman style, his bright wool jacket is belted with a traditional multicoloured woven sash – une ceinture fléchée. His tuque is, of course, hand-knit and his handcrafted snowshoes let him wander through the soft deep snow without getting his bear knees wet!

Beau, made of a luxurious fur fabric – the same quality found in expensive ready-made teddies – was designed especially for Canadian Living by Trois Chatouilles.

Finished bear is approx 38 cm (15 in) tall.
 

You need:
• View and print the pattern (PDF format requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader) and enlarge (see below for instructions).
• .35 m fawn-coloured fake fur with 2.5 cm (1-in) pile, 150 cm wide
• Matching thread
• Black embroidery floss
• Buttonhole twist thread
• 2 brown lock-in eyes, 15 mm in diameter
• Polyester fibrefill
• Water-soluble fabric marker
• Brown paper

To make:
Enlarge pattern by the squaring method, as follows: On brown paper, draw a grid of horizontal and vertical lines 2.5 cm (1 in) apart. Each square on the diagram equals a 2.5 cm (1 in) square on your paper. Enlarge by drawing each part of the design onto the corresponding square on your paper. Transfer any markings.

Note: Use a 6 mm (1/4-in) seam allowance throughout. Backstitch at beginning and end of seams. Sew fabric with right sides together, tucking fur to inside.

1. Place pattern pieces on wrong side of single thickness of fake fur, positioning each piece so arrow runs in direction each of nap. To determine direction of nap, stroke fur in whichever direction will make it lie flat and feel smoothest. Trace around pattern pieces with marker, being careful to reverse them where indicated. Transfer markings. Cut out pieces; use tip of scissors only to snip through fabric backing, being careful not to cut fur on right side. Trim fur pile to approx 8 mm (5/16 in) on snout gusset, snout and sole pieces.

2. Head: Stitch darts on each head piece. Matching A to A and B to B, stitch snout to head piece. Repeat with other snout and head piece. Matching C to C and D to D, stitch snout gusset to head gusset. With snout and snout gusset seams aligned and with neck end of gusset even with neck at back of head, stitch 1 side of gusset to 1 head piece. Stitch other side of gusset to second head piece in same manner. Stitch chin seam from tip of snout to neck. Turn head right side out. Cut tiny eye holes in head where indicated. Insert eye shanks. Lock in place on wrong side. Baste under 6 mm around neck edge. Stuff head firmly, filling out nose.

3. Ears: Stitch 2 ear pieces together, leaving open where indicated. Turn right side out. Baste under 6 mm around open edge. Repeat with remaining ear pieces for second ear.

4. Torso: Stitch front pieces together from dot to dot along stomach, and back pieces together along centre back. Matching E to E and F to F, stitch 1 arm to each armhole on front and back of body, beginning and ending seam 6 mm from edge. Pin front arms to back arms, lining up armhole seams. Stitch around arms and up small shoulder section.

5. Feet/Legs: Matching G to G and H to H, stitch 1 top of foot piece to each front leg. Matching I to I and J to J, stitch 1 heel to each back leg. Pin front legs to back legs, lining up seams. Stitch side seams from underarm to bottom of foot. Stitch inner leg seams and crotch. Matching X to X on top of foot, stitch sole to bottom of foot. Repeat with other sole on other foot. Turn bear right side out. Baste under 6 mm around neck edge. Stuff feet and legs very firmly, keeping sole flat. Stuff hands lightly and arms very lightly. Stuff body firmly, filling out round tummy.

6. Using doubled buttonhole thread, slipstitch head securely to top of body. Avoid catching a lot of fur in seam. Using doubled buttonhole thread, slipstitch unstuffed ears securely in place across head gusset seams, approx 6 cm (2-3/8 in) apart on either side of top of head.

7. Using doubled floss (12 strands) and satin stitch, embroider nose at tip of snout. Embroider over nose again to make it more solid. Embroider 3 stitches for mouth.

8. Thread a long needle with a doubled strand of buttonhole thread. Starting at centre of seam under snout, bring needle up through snout and out at seam at top of snout. Take a small stitch along seam then down through snout again and out at seam under snout. Pull thread taut. Repeat once or twice more to give snout more definition.

Page 1 of 2 -- Learn how to make Beau Bear's snowshoes on page 2

Beau Bear's Snowshoe Outfit

You need:
• Download the pattern (PDF format requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader) and enlarge (see below for instructions)

For coat:
• .30 m coat fabric, 115 cm wide
• Matching thread
• 3 wooden buttons
• .90 m woven-look ribbon, 15 mm wide

For bag:
• Piece of suede or felt, 23 x 20 cm (9 x 7-7/8 in)
• Strip of suede or felt, 48 x 1.5 cm (18-7/8 x 5/8 in)
• Matching thread

For tuque:
• 1 ball (50 g) Patons Canadiana Sayelle yarn
• Four 5.50 mm double-pointed needles

For snowshoes:
• Piece of 1-in pine, 12 x 11 in
• Strip of suede, 24 x 4 cm (9-1/2 x 1-5/8 in)
• Brown crochet cotton
• Darning needle
• Coping, scroll or hobby saw
• Sandpaper
• Polyurethane varnish
• Artist's paintbrush

To make:
Enlarge pattern by the squaring method, as follows: On brown paper, draw a grid of horizontal and vertical lines 2.5 cm (1 in) apart. Each square on the diagram equals a 2.5 cm (1 in) square on your paper. Enlarge by drawing each part of the design onto the corresponding square on your paper. Transfer any markings.

Coat
Note: Sew fabric with right sides together unless otherwise indicated. Use a 6 mm (1/4-in) seam allowance throughout.

1. From coat fabric, cut 1 back, 2 fronts, 2 sleeves and 2 hood pieces.

2. Stitch fronts to back at shoulders. Turn under 1 cm (3/8 in) on cuff on each sleeve. Topstitch. Stitch sleeves into armholes. Stitch sleeve and side seams. Turn coat right side out. Turn under 1 cm around neck, along bottom and down front edges. Topstitch.

3. Cut ear openings in hood pieces. Satin-stitch around each slit. Stitch hood pieces together from X to Y to Z. Turn under 1 cm along front edge. Topstitch. Baste small tucks A to A and B to B along neck edge of hood. Turn hood right side out and hold as though it were over bear's head. Pin to inside neck of coat so that raw edge of hood is even with turned-under raw edge of coat neck and centre backs match. Topstitch in place over previous neck topstitching.

4. Make 3 buttonholes evenly spaced down 1 front edge and sew corresponding buttons to opposite edge. Fit coat on bear.

5. Topstitch across ends of ribbon, 10 cm (4 in) from each end. Fray ends to stitching line and knot threads in 5 sections. Trim to 4 cm (1-5/8 in). Tie sash around bear's waist over coat.

Bag
1. From suede, cut 1 rectangle 18.5 x 11.5 cm (7-1/4 x 4-1/2 in) and another 10 x 11.5 cm (4 x 4-1/2 in). Place 10 cm piece on top of 18.5 cm piece so 11.5 cm edges are even at one end (bottom). Insert ends of long strip at a slight angle between layers at top corners of 10 cm piece, to form shoulder strap. Topstitch through all layers 6 mm from side edges and 3 cm (1-1/8 in) from bottom edge. Cut 2.5 cm (1-in) fringe along double bottom edge and along opposite (flap) edge. Fold flap down over front of bag.

Tuque

ABBREVIATIONS:
beg = begin(ning)
CC = contrasting colour
cm = centimetre(s)
dec = decrease(s)(d)(ing)
g = gram(s)
inc = increase(s)(d)(ing)
in(s) = inch(es)
k = knit
M1 = make 1 stitch by picking up horizontal loop in front of next stitch and knitting into back of it
MC = main colour
mm = millimetre(s)
p = purl
psso = pass slipped stitch(es) over
rem = remain(ing)
rep = repeat(ed)(ing)
rnd(s) = round(s)
sl = slip
st(s) = stitch(es)
St st = stocking stitch
tog = together

Cast on 72 sts, divide onto 3 needles and join in rnd. Work in (k1,p1) ribbing for 2 cm (3/4 in), dec 1 st on last rnd. 71 sts now in rnd. Work in St st (k every rnd) for 2 cm.

To make ear holes:
Next rnd: Cast off 8 sts, k12, cast off 8 sts, k to end of rnd.
Next rnd: Knit, casting on 8 sts over cast-off sts of previous rnd.

Continue even until work from beg measures 13 cm (5 ins).

* Dec 3 sts evenly across rnd (1 st per needle) on following 3 rnds. Work 2 rows even. Rep from * until 20 sts rem. Work even for 4 cm (1-1/2 ins).

Dec 3 sts evenly across each of following 4 rnds. Thread yarn through rem 8 sts. Draw up and fasten securely,

Make a small tassle and sew to tip of tuque.

Snowshoes
1. Trace snowshoe pattern twice onto pine. Cut out along outside lines and cut out shaded areas inside each. Sand smooth.

2. String each snowshoe by winding doubled crochet cotton around frame following numbers 1 to 35 and knotting at each •. Continue stringing from upper-case letters X to Y on one side and X to Y to Z on the other, from uppercase letters A to I and lower-case a to i at each end of shoe.

3. Brush 3 coats of varnish on to snowshoes and strings.

4. Cut suede into 4 narrow strips, each 24 x 1 cm (9-1/2 x 3/8 in). Stitch one end of each strip to strings 3 to 4 and Y to Z on each snowshoe. Position bear's feet on snowshoes; cross straps over front of each foot and tie behind leg.

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