Yarn Combos
Yarn & Hook Combos
My goal in designing for this patten was to create a bear small enough to fit inside a bento box. Initially, I also wanted Bento to be white to most resemble the little rice animals I had seen in bento boxes. Of course, you don’t have to choose white for your Bento Bear!
I experimented with a variety of yarns before I found “The One” for me, which also happens to be the yarn I would considered the most difficult to work with all the yarns I tried, but since I spent a lot of time trying different yarns in the process, I thought the best thing to do with all that information is to share it with you. Although, it would be a lot simpler to give you one yarn recommendation, I hope you will find this information helpful and that is will make this pattern available to makers of all skill levels and experiences.
Please note, I am not affiliated with any of the yarn brands I describe below. My recommendations are based soley on my own experiences and preferences and are intended to help ensure you find the right combination for you.
If these yarns are not available to you or you prefer to use a yarn you already have, check out YarnSub.com to find a match for similar yarns!
You can use this pattern to make either a lunch box sized-bear or a classic-sized bear. Here are some important points to help you decide which size bear you want to make:
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment or tag me on socials!
Happy Making,
Tania
Lunch Box Bear Yarn Recommendations
I have listed the recommendations in order according to difficulty from easiest to use to most challenging.
Option A
Cozy Cub (Loops & Threads)
3mm Hook
If you are a beginner to intermediate crocheter or simply prefer working with chenille yarn, this is the combination I would recommend for a quick and easy finished bear. I loved how the stitches reminded me of grains of rice and that the finished bear would still fit inside comfortably inside a little lunch box. I choose a slightly smaller hook than I normally would to maximize the compatibilty the bento accessories. Cozy Cub is very similar another line by Loops and Threads called Posh Purl. Posh Purl feels a little thicker in my opinion, but may yield similar results. I prefer Cozy Cub for the feel and finish and yarn colours. While I normally go rogue and skip the stitch marker with chenille and plush yarn since I can easily count the rounds and stithces, I would recommend one in this case since I have opted for really small tight stitches which are harder to count.
Option C Feels Like a Dream by Lion Brand + 5mm Hook
I paired this yarn with a 5mm crochet hook. This yarn is categorized as a bulky weight yarn, but it is far from bulky. It is truly is as described: light, airy, and soft as a cloud. If you like the idea of imagining yourself as an enchanted being who can turn wisps of cloud into magical little creations, then this is the yarn for you! It also has the benefit of working up exceptional small considering the size of hook I opted for! I loved the soft fluffy texture it creates and the finished size was perfect for what I needed. That said, there are a few things you should know before you click “Add to Cart” or head out on a quest for freshly spun cloud. Firstly, this yarn can present a challenge even for experienced crocheters. I would rank it is harder to use than the furry Teddy yarn because it also can slip off your hook easily and make you question if it was every really there at all. I recommend this yarn, only if you are already experienced working with fuzzy or furry yarns that require you to feel for your stitches and to work at a more moderate pace. I was able to “see” stitches once I got comfortable, but it does require suspending disbelief that there are even stitches hiding in the cloud wisps you’ve already given shape to. Do not skip on the stitch marker.
Classic Little Bear Yarn Recommendations
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Option E Premier Basix Chenille by Premier Yarns + 5.5mm Hook
This is my current go-to for chenille yarns. It’s fluffy and soft and super huggable for plushies. Your finished bear will not fit in a bento box or on a key chain, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want to just eat him up ;) My favorite colour from this line is caramel, but white, winter white or sand (think soy sauce) will give you a more traditional rice colour for you bear. I can’t think of any downsides to this yarn, other than it’s not available for me in stores in Canada, so I order it online. It’s a easy to use chenille, doesn’t really snap or shed and is considered beginner friendly.
Option B
Feels Like Bliss (Lion Brand Yarn)
5mm Hook
This yarn is really fun to work with (in my opinion) and has been gaining lots of attention on social media lately with soft and for a good reason! Just like the Feels Like a Dream yarn I described above, this yarn can require extra patience and experience. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s unique construction makes it a stretchy yarn that’s equal parts slippery. It’s easier to see and feel you stitches and you’ll most likely need to use rely on both senses while working. For me it works up much faster than Feels Like a Dream, but if it happens to slip of your hook, you might lose a few stitches in the process. I recommend a running stitch marker to mark several rounds just to be safe!
Option D Teddy by Go Handmade (Hobbii) + 6mm Hook
This yarn is described as fluffy and I love it how it creates a classic scruffy bear that you’ll be want to hold on to as long as possible. I loved how the little crinkly strands add texture and personality! Even though I describe this texture as scruffy, it’s actually incredibly soft and reminds me of bathtime and wrapping an extra big towel about my little ones shoulders so they will be cozy and warm. I also will add that when I first started crocheting, I ordered this yarn to make a teddy bear and it’s taken me 2.5 years to be able to finally work with it. You’ll need to be comfortable feeling for your stithces, as they will not be visible. I tried a few techniques to make this yarn easier like playing with hook sizes and even using another similar colour yarn with it to make the stitches more visible, but honestly, none of them worked for me very well. In this case, time and experience were my best friends. So don’t be discouraged if fuzzy yarns just aren’t for you. It may just be a matter of gaining more experience. As a final note, so makers will recommend that you crochet inside out or flip your project so its inside out, I did not do either of those things for this project. I was happy with the end result, although I did use scissors to carefully trim around Bento’s facial features and round out his ears. Remember for textured yarns, stitch markers are your best friends.
Notes
Lunch Box Bear
Works up small enough to fit most bento lunch boxes
The finished bear will be palm-size.
Use a regular size bento box to hold both bear and accessories.
This is a great size to create a bento bear keychain or bag charm!
Follow the instructions for the mini bento accessories (smaller hook size, single strand dk weight yarn)
Classic Little Bear
Will not work up small enough to fit in a lunch box.
The finished bear will be a little larger than you hand.
Use a snack size bento box to hold all the bento accessories.
Use the head only as a bag charm or keychain.
Follow the instructions for the midi bento accessories (larger hook size, double strand dk weight yarn or similar weight yarn)
