Note: Simply Knitting version is only the Polar Bear; Alan Dart website version is Polar Bear, Seal, and Penguin

Now you can make your very own chilly Polar Bear, wrapped up in a festive jacket that wouldn’t look out of place hanging in Father Christmas’s wardrobe.

This little fellow is a great place to start if you’re new to knitting toys. The design is worked in easy garter and stocking stitch, in only four different colours, and there aren’t too many pieces to keep track of.

Though poles apart they’re friends at heart

Measurements: The seal is 4½in (11.5cm) tall, 5in (12.5cm) long, the polar bear is 6in (15cm) tall, and the penguin is 4½in (11.5cm) tall.

You will need:

• for the Seal: Of Hayfield Bonus DK, 100g balls: 14g in Dark Grey Mix 790, 4g each in Primrose 957 and Grass 825, and 1g in Black 965; 20g of washable toy stuffing.
• For the Polar Bear: Of Hayfield Bonus DK, 100g balls: 14g in Cream 812, 8g in Signal Red 977, and 4g each in White 961 and Black 965; 25g of washable toy stuffing.
• For the Penguin: Of Hayfield Bonus DK, 100g balls: 10g in Black 965, 2g each in White 961 and Bottle Green 839, 3g in Signal Red 977 and 4g in Sunflower 978; 15g of washable toy stuffing. You will also need: Pair of 3mm (no.11) knitting needles; long tweezers.