Small toys are great to knit. They show love and thought, but let’s not pretend they’re not also quick and deeply satisfying to make. This free baby bear rattle knitting pattern is a proper stash buster, and exactly the thing to reach for when you need the perfect baby gift, yesterday.
It’s also a brilliant project for warm weather. Cotton yarn is lovely to work with when it’s too hot to have wool in your lap, and this rattle is small enough to keep in your bag for knitting on the go, on the train, in the garden, or wherever you find five minutes.
It’s also the perfect companion to my Baby Bear Romper and Hat knitting pattern, if you fancy making a full matching set.
Free Baby Bear Rattle Knitting Pattern Overview
This baby bear rattle knitting pattern uses King Cole’s new Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK to create a knitted teddy head and shoulder piece, wrapped around a wooden teething ring. It’s a confident beginner make, with simple shaping throughout, a little stuffing, and some sewing to bring the teddy to life.
The finished rattle measures 14cm tall by 7cm wide, just the right size for little hands. Worked on 3.25mm needles, it’s quick to knit up, and a lovely first toy knitting project if you’ve never made an amigurumi style knit before.
Speaking of yarn, let’s talk about what’s behind this little rattle, because it mattered a great deal in choosing it.
The Yarn, King Cole Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK Review
When I sat down to design this little rattle, I wanted a yarn that ticked every box for baby safety, since this pattern is, quite literally, going straight into little hands and little mouths. King Cole’s Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK turned out to be exactly right, and I designed and knitted this rattle myself, so I know the yarn well.
The thing that surprised me most was just how soft it is to the touch. I wasn’t expecting that level of softness from a 100% cotton DK. I also knitted to a tighter gauge than the ball band recommends, since a firm fabric matters for toy safety, and even then, the yarn was not splitty at all. That’s a genuine relief when you’re working small, fiddly pieces like a teddy head and ears.
Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK comes in 25g balls with 56m (62 yds) per ball, and is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and EN71-3 certified for toy making. For something that’s going to be chewed, dribbled on, and loved within an inch of its life, that certification matters enormously. It’s also fully washable, which any parent will tell you is non-negotiable for a baby toy.
Colour wise, I found the shades accurately reflected the shade cards, so what you see is genuinely what you get, Oatmeal, Natural, and Cocoa all knitted up true to expectation.
My one small gripe, and it’s not really about the yarn itself, is the ball band. The text is quite small and hard to read, so if you’re yarn shopping without your glasses, you might want to ask a member of staff, or do what I do and zoom in on your phone camera. Ask me how I know.
Materials
Yarn King Cole Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK, 100% Cotton, 56m (62 yds) per 25g ball
- Yarn A (6683) Oatmeal, one ball
- Yarn B (6681) Natural, one ball
- Yarn C (6685) Cocoa, oddment
Needles
3.25mm straight needles
Also needed
Toy stuffing
Wooden teething or craft ring, 7cm (2.75in) diameter
Tension
26 sts x 34 rows using 3.25mm needles and stocking stitch to measure 10cm x 10cm
Finished Measurements
14cm tall x 7cm wide (5.5in x 2.75in)
Skill Level
Confident Beginner
Abbreviations
New to some of the terms in this pattern? You can download my free Abbreviations Guide here: Free Knitting Abbreviations Guide
A Note on Toy Safety
Please pay special attention when securing the small pieces on this rattle. I’d highly recommend reinforcing the joins between the small pieces with a strong sewing thread and needle, as well as the yarn itself.
If you plan to sell finished items made from this pattern, it’s worth familiarising yourself with the toy safety guidelines that apply to handmade items for children. The UK Hand Knitting Association has a helpful overview of the relevant regulations, including guidance on small parts, materials, and CE marking. King Cole yarns, used in this pattern, are listed as compliant.
Baby Bear Rattle Knitting Pattern
Teddy Head
Cast on 13 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): (K2, m1) 6 times, k1. 19 sts
Row 3 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 4: (K3, m1) 6 times, k1. 25 sts
Row 6: (K4, m1) 6 times, k1. 31 sts
Row 8: (K5, m1) 6 times, k1. 37 sts
Rows 9-15: Beg with a purl row, work in st st.
Row 16: K6, (ssk) 6 times, (k2tog) 6 times, k7. 25 sts
Change to Yarn B
Rows 17-21: Beg with a purl row, work in st st.
Row 22: (Ssk) 6 times, (k2tog) 6 times, k1. 13 sts
Cut yarn leaving a long tail, using a tapestry needle thread through rem 13 sts and pull close to form tip of nose. Sew seam from nose to back of head using mattress stitch, stuffing as you work. Work a running stitch along cast on stitches and pull tight to close. Secure with stitches.
Using Yarn B work a running stitch around the edge of the Muzzle and pull gently to shape the Muzzle, secure with stitches.
Ears (make two)
Cast on 13 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1: Knit.
Change to Yarn B
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: (P2tog) 3 times, p1, (p2tog) 3 times. 7 sts
Cut yarn leaving a long tail, thread through rem 7 sts and pull to form base of Ear, secure with stitches.
Shoulder
Cast on 16 sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): Knit.
Rows 3-8: Beg with a purl row, work in St st as set.
Cast off purlwise.
Finishing
Using the photos as a guide and Yarn C, embroider on eyes and nose.
Sew on the ears, then wrap the shoulder piece around the wooden ring and secure with stitches, sewing the teddy head to the centre of the shoulder piece.
A reminder on safety here, since this rattle is designed for little hands and mouths, I’d recommend reinforcing every join, ears, head to shoulder, with a strong sewing thread and needle as well as the yarn itself. It only takes a few extra minutes and gives real peace of mind.
Free Baby Bear Rattle Knitting Pattern, Print and Keep Version
This pattern is free here on the blog, ad supported, and that’s exactly how I like to keep my free patterns. If you’d rather have a clean, print and keep copy without the ads, the premium PDF is available for £3.95. It’s the same pattern, just tidied up for printing and easy to keep on hand while you knit.
Make the Matching Set
If you’d like to make this little rattle alongside something bigger, this is the perfect companion to my Baby Bear Romper and Hat knitting pattern. Same whimsical bear theme, perfect for a full matching gift set for a baby shower, a new arrival, or a thoughtful Christmas knit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Baby Bear Rattle knitting pattern?
It’s a small knitted teddy bear toy attached to a wooden teething ring, designed as a quick, satisfying knit and a lovely gift for a new baby. It’s also the perfect companion to my Baby Bear Romper and Hat knitting pattern.
What skill level is this pattern?
This is a confident beginner pattern. It uses simple increases and decreases, a little stuffing, and some sewing to finish. If you’ve knitted a few small projects before, you’ll be absolutely fine.
What yarn is used for the Baby Bear Rattle?
This pattern uses King Cole Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK, a soft, washable 100% cotton yarn. You can read my full review of the yarn above.
Is King Cole Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK suitable for baby toys?
Yes. It’s OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and EN71-3 certified for toy making, alongside being a soft, washable 100% cotton.
Is King Cole Itsy Bitsy Cotton DK machine washable?
Yes, it’s fully washable, which makes it a sensible choice for anything a baby will hold, chew, or drop regularly. Always check the ball band for specific care instructions.
How do I make this rattle safe for a baby?
Reinforce every join, the ears and the head to shoulder seam, with a strong sewing thread and needle as well as the yarn itself. If you plan to sell finished items, it’s worth reading the UK Hand Knitting Association’s toy safety guidelines, linked above.
Is there a printable version of this pattern?
Yes, a print and keep, ad free PDF version is available for £3.95 in my shop.
Can I make a matching set with this rattle?
Yes, this rattle pairs perfectly with my Baby Bear Romper and Hat knitting pattern, if you’d like to make a full set.
Full disclosure: King Cole kindly provided the yarn for this review. The yarn link above is an affiliate link, so I may earn a small commission if you purchase through it, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are entirely my own.
Show Me Your Bears
If you make this little rattle, I’d love to see it. There’s something rather lovely about watching the same pattern turn into dozens of slightly different teddies, depending on who’s making them and what they’ve got in their stash.
Tag me or send me a photo, I’m always genuinely delighted to see finished makes, even (especially) the slightly wonky first attempts.
You can find me on Pinterest @janeburnsdesigner, Facebook @JaneBurnsDesigns, and Instagram @jane.burns.designs.