Bonjour, I'm Beau Bear!

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.