Crochet Care Bear Costume
If you were a kid in the 80’s like I was, you probably grew up watching Care Bears on tv. It was one of my favorite cartoons! Of all the bears, Cheer Bear was my favorite. I had a lot of fun designing the rainbow (my first attempt didn’t look so great) and of course, I added a little heart for the rump. I’m also excited to share that the pattern for this costume is available in sizes 0/3- 18/24 months!
Materials
– H/5 mm & I/5.5 mm crochet hooks (I love these Clover hooks!)
– tapestry needles
– stitch markers
– worsted weight yarn in dark pink & light pink (dress) and for the rainbow you need hot pink, orange, yellow, blue, green, & white
– ironing board
– iron
Matching Care Bear Hooded Scarf Pattern
Finished Sizes
0/3, 3/6, 6/12, 12/18 & 18/24 months
Gauge
15 dc stitches and 11 rows = 4 inches
Important Notes
Use an I 5.5 mm crochet hook & begin with the darker pink yarn. Color changes are noted in the pattern.
Instructions between two asterisks should be repeated for the remainder of the round.
Your first dc always goes in the same st where you joined and made your ch 2.
Pictures to help show rounds 1-5 are from my unicorn dress so you can ignore the color changes.
***Be mindful where you place your next dc after making the v-stitches. If your stitch count is off (low), you likely skipped over that next st you were supposed to dc into.***
Crochet Care Bear Costume Pattern
Chain
0/3 months & 3/6 months: chain 64, join in the round
6/12 months: chain 72, join in the round
12/18 months & 18/24 months: chain 76, join in the round
Round 1
v-stitch: in the same stitch make (dc, ch 1, dc)
0/3 & 3/6: ch 2, dc 8, v-stitch, dc 14, v-stitch, dc 16, v-stitch, dc 14, v-stitch, dc 8, join
6/12: ch 2, dc 9, v-stitch, dc 16, v-stitch, dc 18, v-stitch, dc 16, v-stitch, dc 9, join
12/18 & 18/24: ch 2, dc 10, v-stitch, dc 17, v-stitch, dc 19, v-stitch, dc 17, v-stitch, dc 9, join
Round 2
v-stitch: in the same stitch make (dc, ch 1, dc)
0/3 & 3/6: ch 2, dc 9, v-stitch, dc 16, v-stitch, dc 18, v-stitch, dc 16, v-stitch, dc 9, join
6/12: ch 2, dc 10, v-stitch, dc 18, v-stitch, dc 20, v-stitch, dc 18, v-stitch, dc 10, join
12/18 & 18/24: ch 2, dc 11, v-stitch, dc 19, v-stitch, dc 21, v-stitch, dc 19, v-stitch, dc 10, join
Round 3
v-stitch: in the same stitch make (dc, ch 1, dc)
0/3 & 3/6: ch 2, dc 10, v-stitch, dc 18, v-stitch, dc 20, v-stitch, dc 18, v-stitch, dc 10, join
6/12: ch 2, dc 11, v-stitch, dc 20, v-stitch, dc 22, v-stitch, dc 20, v-stitch, dc 11, join
12/18 & 18/24: ch 2, dc 12, v-stitch, dc 21, v-stitch, dc 23, v-stitch, dc 21, v-stitch, dc 11, join
Round 4
0/3 & 3/6: ch 2, dc 11, dc into v-stitch area, ch 1, dc into NEXT v-stitch area (first sleeve made), dc 22, dc into v-stitch area, ch 1, dc into NEXT v-stitch area (second sleeve made), dc 11, join [48 total]
6/12: ch 2, dc 12, dc into v-stitch area, ch 1, dc into NEXT v-stitch area (first sleeve made), dc 24, dc into v-stitch area, ch 1, dc into NEXT v-stitch area (second sleeve made), dc 12, join [52 total]
12/18 & 18/24: ch 2, dc 13, dc into v-stitch area, ch 1, dc into NEXT v-stitch area (first sleeve made), dc 25, dc into v-stitch area, ch 1, dc into NEXT v-stitch area (second sleeve made), dc 12, join [54 total]
Round 5
switch to the lighter pink yarn
0/3 & 3/6: ch 2, dc 12, 2 dc under sleeve (you are making those dc around the ch you made in rnd 4), dc 24, 2 dc under sleeve (you are making those dc around the ch you made in rnd 4), dc 12, join [52 total]
6/12: ch 2, dc 13, 2 dc under sleeve (you are making those dc around the ch you made in rnd 4), dc 26, 2 dc under sleeve (you are making those dc around the ch you made in rnd 4), dc 13, join [56 total]
12/18 & 18/24: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc under sleeve (you are making those dc around the ch you made in rnd 4), dc 27, 2 dc under sleeve (you are making those dc around the ch you made in rnd 4), dc 13, join [58 total]
Continue for Size 0/3 Months
Rnd 6: ch 2, dc 13, 2 dc in next st, dc 25, 2 dc in next st, dc 12, join [54 total]
Rnd 7: ch 2, dc 13, 2 dc in next st, dc 26, 2 dc in next st, dc 13, join [56 total]
Rnd 8: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 27, 2 dc in next st, dc 13, join [58 total]
Rnd 9: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 28, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [60 total]
Rnd 10: ch 2, dc in each st, join [60 total]
Rnd 11: ch 2, dc in each st, join [60 total]
Rnd 12: ch 2, dc in each st, join [60 total]
Rnd 13: ch 2, 2dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st*, join [90 total]
switch to the darker pink yarn for rounds 25- 28
Rnd 14- 28: ch 2, dc in each st, join [90 total]
Rnd 29: ch 1, sc in each st, join and weave in ends [90 total]
Continue for Size 3/6 Months
Rnd 6: ch 2, dc 13, 2 dc in next st, dc 25, 2 dc in next st, dc 12, join [54 total]
Rnd 7: ch 2, dc 13, 2 dc in next st, dc 26, 2 dc in next st, dc 13, join [56 total]
Rnd 8: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 27, 2 dc in next st, dc 13, join [58 total]
Rnd 9: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 28, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [60 total]
Rnd 10: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 29, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [62 total]
Rnd 11: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 30, 2 dc in next st, dc 15, join [64 total]
Rnd 12: ch 2, dc in each st, join [64 total]
Rnd 13: ch 2, dc in each st, join [64 total]
Rnd 14: ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st*, join [96 total]
switch to the darker pink yarn for rounds 27- 30
Rnd 15- 30: ch 2, dc in each st, join [96 total]
Rnd 31: ch 1, sc in each st, join and weave in ends [96 total]
Continue for Size 6/12 Months
Rnd 6: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 27, 2 dc in next st, dc 13, join [58 total]
Rnd 7: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 28, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [60 total]
Rnd 8: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 29, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [62 total]
Rnd 9: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 30, 2 dc in next st, dc 15, join [64 total]
Rnd 10: ch 2, dc 16, 2 dc in next st, dc 31, 2 dc in next st, dc 15, join [66 total]
Rnd 11: ch 2, dc 16, 2 dc in next st, dc 32, 2 dc in next st, dc 16, join [68 total]
Rnds 12- 14: ch 2, dc in each st, join [68 total]
Rnd 15: ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st*, join [102 total]
switch to the darker pink yarn for rounds 32- 35
Rnds 16- 35: ch 2, dc in each st, join [102 total]
Rnd 36: ch 1, sc in each st, join and weave in ends [102 total]
Continue for Size 12/18 Months
Rnd 6: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 28, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [60 total]
Rnd 7: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 29, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [62 total]
Rnd 8: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 30, 2 dc in next st, dc 15, join [64 total]
Rnd 9: ch 2, dc 16, 2 dc in next st, dc 31, 2 dc in next st, dc 15, join [66 total]
Rnd 10: ch 2, dc 16, 2 dc in next st, dc 32, 2 dc in next st, dc 16, join [68 total]
Rnd 11: ch 2, dc 17, 2 dc in next st, dc 33, 2 dc in next st, dc 16, join [70 total]
Rnd 12: ch 2, dc 17, 2 dc in next st, dc 34, 2 dc in next st, dc 17, join [72 total]
Rnds 13- 15: ch 2, dc in each st, join [72 total]
Rnd 16: ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st*, join [108 total]
switch to the darker pink yarn for rounds 37- 40
Rnds 17- 40: ch 2, dc in each st, join [108 total]
Rnd 41: ch 1, sc in each st, join and weave in ends [108 total]
Continue for Size 18/24 Months
Rnd 6: ch 2, dc 14, 2 dc in next st, dc 28, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [60 total]
Rnd 7: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 29, 2 dc in next st, dc 14, join [62 total]
Rnd 8: ch 2, dc 15, 2 dc in next st, dc 30, 2 dc in next st, dc 15, join [64 total]
Rnd 9: ch 2, dc 16, 2 dc in next st, dc 31, 2 dc in next st, dc 15, join [66 total]
Rnd 10: ch 2, dc 16, 2 dc in next st, dc 32, 2 dc in next st, dc 16, join [68 total]
Rnd 11: ch 2, dc 17, 2 dc in next st, dc 33, 2 dc in next st, dc 16, join [70 total]
Rnd 12: ch 2, dc 17, 2 dc in next st, dc 34, 2 dc in next st, dc 17, join [72 total]
Rnd 13: ch 2, dc 18, 2 dc in next st, dc 35, 2 dc in next st, dc 17, join [74 total]
Rnd 14: ch 2, dc 18, 2 dc in next st, dc 36, 2 dc in next st, dc 18, join [76 total]
Rnds 15 & 16: ch 2, dc in each st, join [76 total]
Rnd 17: ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st*, join [114 total]
switch to the darker pink yarn for rounds 39- 42
Rnds 18- 42: ch 2, dc in each st, join [114 total]
Rnd 43: ch 1, sc in each st, join and weave in ends [114 total]
Sleeves
Use an I 5.5 mm crochet hook & the darker pink yarn.
Attach yarn (I’d attach in the back so you don’t see the join seam), ch 2 and make 2 hdc in each st and in between the stitches in the bottom of the armhole, join and fasten off.
Rainbow Applique Pattern
Use an H 5 mm crochet hook & yarn in hot pink, orange, yellow, blue, green, & white
Row 1: (blue yarn): magic ring, 8 dc, DO NOT JOIN, turn [8]
Row 2: (attach green yarn) ch 2, 2 dc in same st, 2 dc in each rem st, turn [16]
Row 3: (attach yellow yarn) ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st* [24]
Row 4: (attach orange yarn) ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts* [32]
Row 5: (attach hot pink, yarn) ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts*, fasten off leaving a long tail [40]
Row 6: (attach white yarn) ch 2, 2 dc in same st, dc in next 4 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts*, when you get to the end, ch 1 and continue to work around the bottom of the rainbow- make 3 dc in each color/section, in the blue part you will make 3 dc in the first end, 3 dc in the magic loop center, and 3 dc in the next end
The sample dress in the pictures is size 6/12 months and the rainbow fit perfectly after I completed row/round 7. If you make a smaller size (0/3 or 3/6) you may want to stop after row 6.
Row 7: ch 2 and loosely dc around the entire rainbow (in the two bottom corners you will make dc- ch 1- dc)
I choose to iron my rainbow to flatten it out. Using my iron and ironing board, I covered it with a piece of fabric (I used a cloth napkin) and ironed each side on the highest heat setting.
I didn’t hold the iron down for long. I just pressed the iron down in the middle and pushed it outwards in each direction. I did this on each side. Tip: Let the crochet piece cool completely before moving it from your ironing board.
Sew your rainbow onto the front of the dress.
Heart Applique Pattern
Use an H 5 mm crochet hook & hot pink yarn.
Magic loop, ch 2, 4 dc, 2 tc, ch 3, sl st, ch 3, 2 tc, 4 dc, join to top of first dc, fasten off leaving a long tail.
Sew your heart onto the back of the dress in the “butt” area on the right side.
I hope you like my pattern. Please tag me on Instagram lovable_loops if you make your own!