With the purchase of this PDF, you will receive our teddy bear sewing pattern “JOSHI” (updated 2025 version) including detailed sewing instructions and special tips & tricks for using JOSHI as a memory bear pattern. The teddy pattern comes with three different seam allowance options (or without seam allowance). After purchase and payment, you can download the instructions and print out the PDF sewing pattern.

About the teddy bear sewing pattern

A teddy bear should not be missing in any children’s room or nursery, so here’s the kullaloo pattern for the classic among cuddly toys: teddy bear JOSHI. At approx. 22″ (55 cm) from head to toe, JOSHI is the perfect size for hugging and cuddling. The pattern also works wonderfully as a memory bear pattern, allowing you to sew a keepsake from clothing of someone you love.

To sew JOSHI, you should have some sewing experience and plan for about 4–5 hours.

• Sewing time: approx. 4–5 hours
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Using teddy JOSHI as a memory bear pattern

Turn meaningful clothing into a cuddly keepsake by using JOSHI as a memory bear sewing pattern. Designed with love and attention to detail, this pattern includes everything you need to create a cherished stuffed bear from a loved one’s garments – a beautiful way to preserve memories and upcycle clothing!

You can use old shirts, sweaters, or baby clothes to sew the bear and make it extra special. For example, sew a classic collar bear using the collar of a real button-down shirt. You can also combine fabrics: use soft plush fabrics such as our SHORTY minky or sherpa for the body and clothing fabrics for details like paw pads or accessories.

Check out this full memory bear tutorial on our YouTube channel to see how to make a teddy bear from shirts step by step:

🎁 Tip: Make a weighted birth bear!

You can also use this pattern to make a birth weight bear. These are memory bears weighted to match your baby’s birth weight and often personalized with names and dates. We have a full birth weight bear tutorial on our blog. And thanks to JOSHI’s generous size, the bear can also wear baby clothes – depending on fabric and fit, sizes newborn to approx. 6 months may work.

Updated 2025 version for memory bear projects

Originally designed as a classic teddy bear sewing pattern in 2019, this updated 2025 version now works even better for memory bears:

• Improved snout construction with three darts instead of one, which shapes nicely even when sewing with non-elastic fabrics such as cotton shirts
• One-piece belly design instead of two pieces – perfect for adding embroidery, names, dates, or messages
• Turning opening extending from the back body into the back head, making it easier to sew the head to the body when scaling the pattern down while printing
• Option for classic oval belly or heart-shaped belly
• Option for classic nose or heart-shaped nose
• Option to add a removable collar sewn from an adult or kids’ sized button-down shirt to create a classic collar bear

Adding the facial elements

Important: No embroidery machine is required to appliqué the face elements. You can sew the appliqués with a regular sewing machine and double-sided iron-on adhesive webbing such as Heat’n Bond. We explain this technique in detail in the sewing instructions.

Alternatively, you can use safety eyes and a safety nose.

If you do own an embroidery machine, you can also purchase the sewing pattern together with the matching teddy bear face embroidery design.

The same applies if you own a digital cutting machine such as a Cricut or Silhouette – we also offer SVG cutting files for the facial elements and belly shapes as a separate product in our shop.

What’s included with this product

• Illustrated sewing instructions and pattern for the bear, a bandana and a removable collar (PDF file, language: English, paper size: US Letter)
• Sewing pattern with different seam allowance options: 1/8″ (3 mm), 1/4″ (0.7 cm), 3/8″ (1 cm), or without seam allowance; seam allowances can be shown or hidden using layers in Adobe Acrobat

Our memory bear pattern “JOSHI” is for private use only. However, you can buy a license extension for commercial use here in our shop.