Polar Bear Rug ♥ Crochet Pattern

Hi, it’s Michelle from 2025! I’ve been going back to my past crochet patterns and reformatting my old patterns so that they’re easier to understand. I first posted this pattern back in 2016! It was part of my ’12 Days of DIY’ Blogmas series, where I would post 12 DIY projects leading up to Christmas in December. Baby Michelle was sure ambitious! lol

The idea for this project first came to me when I needed a new rug for my bedroom. Instead of going out and buying one, I wanted to crochet one! Because I love to make things more difficult for myself! Just kidding! I just prefer my decor items to have personality and character. And, what better way to add that yourself by making your own decor!

Anyway, I went ahead and crocheted a polar bear rug because it was winter and it’s polar bear season! Feel free to use this pattern to make whatever bear or animal you would like for your home. Also, use whatever hook size your bulky yarn recommends you to use, because that’s what I did.

If you crochet this project, you can post it on Ravelry or tag me @mooeyscrochet so that I can see your creation. If you would like to support me in making this crochet pattern available for free, you can send me a Ko-fi. Check out all of my free crochet patterns here and my shop to see my original crocheted items.

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this post might be affiliate links. If you make a purchase with the links I provide, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Supplies
– P/ll.5 mm crochet hook (my favorite hook)
– 5 skeins of thick white yarn
– Black scraps of yarn
– Slanted tapestry needle (I use these)
– Fabric glue (this is my favorite)
– Rug non-slip gripper or tape (optional)
– Scissors

Aberrations
ch(s) – chains
st(s) – stitch(es)
slst – slip stitch (same as join)
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
flo – front loop only
blo – back loop only
cc – color change
dec – decrease (same as sc2tog) (single two st together)
inc – increase (make 2sc in a single st)
RS – right side/front side
WS – wrong side/back side
(x_) – repeat (_) amount of times
[x_] – repeat everything inside the [_] times amount of times

Crochet Level
Intermediate

Pattern Notes
The pattern is written in US terms
If you have any problems with this pattern, feel free to contact me so I can help you

POLAR BEAR BODY
With hook and white yarn
Row 1: ch 41 sts, dc 40 sts. Total = 40 sts
Rows 2-37: ch 1, dc 40 sts. Total = 40 sts
Cut off and weave ends

ARMS & LEGS (MAKE 4)
With hook and white yarn
Attach to the corners of the rug, sc 8 stitches on the top of the rug, and continue to sc 8 stitches on the side of the rug. You should have 16 stitches total. Total = 16 sts
Row 2: ch 1, sc 16 sts. Total = 16 sts
Row 3: ch 1, sc 7 sts, dec, sc 7 sts. Total = 15 sts
Row 4: ch 1, sc 15 sts. Total = 15 sts
Row 5: ch 1, dec, sc 11 sts, dec. Total = 13 sts
Row 6: ch 1, sc 13 sts. Total = 13 sts
Row 7: ch 1, dec, sc 9 sts, dec. Total = 11 sts
Rows 8-17: ch 1, sc 11 sts. Total = 11 sts
Row 18: ch 1, dec, sc 7 sts, dec. Total = 9 sts
Row 19: ch 1, dec, sc 5 sts, dec. Total = 7 sts
Row 20: ch 1, dec, sc 3 sts, dec. Total = 5 sts
Row 21: ch 1, dec, sc 1 sts, dec. Total = 3 sts
Cut off and weave ends

POLAR BEAR HEAD
With hook and white yarn
Attach to the center of the rug to one end of the polar bear rug. Center it by leaving the same number of stitches on each side.
Row 1: ch 1, flo, dc 14 sts. Total = 14 sts
Round 1: ch 1, blo, dc 14 sts. Total = 28 sts
Rounds 2-3: dc 28 sts. Total = 28 sts
Round 4: [2sc in next st, dc 3 sts](x7). Total = 35 sts
Round 5: dc 35 sts. Total = 35 sts
Round 6: [dec, dc 3 sts](x7). Total = 28 sts
Round 7: [dec, dc 1 st](x14). Total = 14 sts
Cut off and leave a long tail for sewing
Weave and sew the 14 stitches closed, and weave in the remaining ends

POAR BEAR TAIL
With hook and white yarn
Attach to one end of the polar bear rug. Center it by leaving the same number of stitches on each side
Row 1: ch 1, flo, sc 7 sts. Total = 7 sts
Round 1: ch 1, blo, sc 7 sts. Total = 14 sts
Round 2: sc 14 sts. Total = 14 sts
Round 3: [dec, sc 1 st](x7). Total = 7 sts
Round 4: sc 7 sts. Total = 7 sts
Cut off and leave a long tail for sewing
Weave and sew the 7 stitches closed, and weave in the remaining ends

POAR BEAR EARS
With hook and white yarn
Attach to one end of the polar bear head
Row 1: ch 1, flo, sc 3 sts. Total = 3 sts
Round 1: ch 1, blo, sc 3 sts. Total = 6 sts
Round 2: sc 6 sts. Total = 6 sts
Round 3: [dec, sc 1 st](x2). Total = 4 sts
Cut off and leave a long tail for sewing
Weave and sew the 4 stitches closed, and weave in the remaining ends

ASSEMBLY
With a yarn needle, sew the ears onto where you started the head part. Weave in the remaining loose ends. Add in claws, nose, and eye details with black yarn. You can attach a rug non-slip gripper or tape pads to the bottom to prevent the rug from slipping.

What’s your favorite type of bear?