Materials
Yarns:
- Caron Simply Soft Party – Snow Sparkle
- Caron Simply Soft – Black
- Caron Simply Soft – Autumn Red
- PaintBox Simply DK – Paper White
- Black Sewing Thread
Tools:
- 3.00mm Crochet Hook
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
Other:
- Polyfil
- 6mm Plastic Safety Eyes
Stitches Used
U.S. Terminology
Right Handed Instructions
| CH | Chain Stitch |
| ST | Stitch |
| SK | Skip Stitch |
| SL ST | Slip Stitch |
| SC | Single Crochet |
| SCINC | Single Crochet two in Same Stitch (Increase) |
| SC2TOG | Single Crochet two Together(Decrease) |
| HDC | Half Double Crochet |
| * | Stitches inside asterisk are repeated |
| , | commas are used to indicate when stitches worked into one stitch slot ends. Example: 1 sc 1 dc 1sc, sl st = 1sc 1 dc 1 sc into one stitch and then 1 sl st into the next stitch. |
Special Techniques Used
Front Paws
Make x2
Begin using Black Yarn
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, work 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
Using Sparkly White Yarn
| Round 2: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat * to * 2 more times. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3-8: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
| Row 9: | Ch 1, turn, 5 sc. | (5 stitches) |
Fasten off. Leave tail for sewing.
Back Paws
Make x2
Begin with Black Yarn.
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, work 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
Using Sparkly White Yarn
| Round 2: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat * to * 2 more times. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3-5: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat * to * 2 more times. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 7-8: | 12 sc | (12 stitches) |
Fasten off. Leave tail for sewing.
Head
Using Sparkly White Yarn
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, work 6 sc, no join | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 sc. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 3: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 3 sc, 6 scinc, 3 sc. | (18 stitches) |
-Safety Eyes will go between these rows once finished with head.-
| Round 5: | 6 sc, 6 scinc, 6 sc | (24 stitches) |
| Round 6: | 10 sc, * 1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat * to * 2 more times. 8 sc. | (27 stitches) |
| Round 7: | 2 sc2tog, 21 sc, 1 sc2tog. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 8: | 6 sc, *1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat * to * 3 more times, 2 sc. | (20 stitches) |
| Round 9: | 6 sc, * 1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat * to * 3 more times, 2 sc. | (16 stitches) |
| Round 10: | *1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat * to * 3 more times. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 11: | 6 sc2tog. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5 above the snout.
Use black thread to create eyebrows
Use black crochet thread to create a small triangle at the tip of the snout.
Stuff head and close.
Ears
Make x2
Using Sparkly White Yarn
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. Fasten off leave tail for sewing.Attach to head on the 8th Round. | (6 stitches) |
Body
Using Sparkly White Yarn
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, work 6 sc, no join | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat * to * 5 more times. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | * 1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat * to * 5 more times. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat * to * 5 more times. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6-10: | 30 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 11: | *1 sc2tog, 8 sc* repeat * to * 2 more times. | (27 stitches) |
| Round 12: | 27 sc. | (27 stitches) |
| Round 13: | *1 sc2tog, 7 sc* repeat * to * 2 more times. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 14: | *1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat * to * 5 more times. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 15: | 4 sl st, 6 sc2tog, 2 sl st, join. | (12 stitches) |
Stuff Body and attach head and limbs using the Amigurumi Join Method.
Attach back paws between rounds 4 – 9 on the body about 5 sc apart.
Attach front paws between rounds 10-12 on the body about 1-2 sc apart.
Scarf
Using Red Yarn
| Row 1: | Ch 31, 1 hdc in 2nd ch from hook, 29 hdc. | (30 stitches) |
Tail
Using Sparkly white yarn
| Ch 2, 1 sc in second chain from hook. Fasten off. Sew to the bum of your polar bear. |
Binky’s Shoe Trophy
Using White Yarn
| Round 1: | Ch 6, 1 scinc in 2nd chain from hook, 4 sc, rotate work 180 degrees to the right, 1 scinc in same chain space as last sc, 3 sc, 1 sc in same chain space as 1st increase. No join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 12 sc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | 4 sc, 2 sc2tog, 4 sc. | (10 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 3 sc, 2 sc2tog, 3 sc. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 5: | 2 sc, 2 sc2tog, 2 sc. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 6: | 6 sc. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off using the Amigurumi close method.
Using red yarn, add the “Nike” symbol to side of shoe. Note: you could also do Adidas or any tennis shoe brand.
The Real Binky
1975-1995
Since I was a little girl, I always wanted a pet polar bear that I could ride on; and the fantasy began when I met Binky at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska. Since I was so young (2-3 yrs old) I do not have very vivid memories but what I do have is the feelings of inspiration and awe I felt when seeing this majestic bear move throughout his enclosure. I feel like most children would be quite scared seeing a 1,200 pound bear only feet from them with only bars between them, but I remember feeling like Binky was a creature from a magical land. To me he was the most beautiful animal I had ever seen, for the next three years Binky became my favorite animal to see at the zoo, so much so I could spend the entire visit JUST at his enclosure. I would get very excited as we made our way to him, and very sad when it was time to move on.
Nuka was Binky’s female companion, she was a more relaxed polar bear but would still play with Binky. Although media articles describe Binky as being aggressive, he was also very playful. I can remember him playing in the pool in the enclosure as well as a pinkish ball he had. He made me wish that polar bears could be house pets like a dog or cat. It was relatively easy to tell Binky and Nuka apart by their personalities, Binky almost always walking or playing about, while Nuka would be sunbathing on the steps going towards the “den”.
When news broke that Binky and Nuka had passed away I remember feeling devastated. We went to pay our respects to my beloved bears, and it was amazing to see the enclosure covered in flowers from people from all over the world. Binky’s mischievous nature had earned him fans from near and far, he became a legend. Even today, almost 24 years later, you can find Binky merchandise in the zoo’s shop including the famous T-Shirt that displays Binky with the sneaker in his mouth and the words “Binky says…’send more tourists, this one got away’”.
Three years after the unfortunate passing of Nuka and Binky, the Alaskan Zoo welcomed the arrival of a cub who was orphaned by a man who accidentally stumbled upon the polar bear cub and her mother’s den. When the mother attacked, the man sadly had to shoot, and baby Ahpun was brought to the zoo. My family and I traveled to the zoo to see the new addition who was sharing an enclosure with Oreo,…a BROWN bear cub!! The two cubs grew up in the same enclosure for many years before being seperated due to Oreo becoming too aggressive towards Ahpun. Although we moved from Alaska soon after their arrival, I kept myself updated on how the polar bear cub was doing. Last January I found out that Ahpun unexpectedly passed away, I was again saddened, she was only 10 years old.
Today I write this piece both sad that my polar bear friends are passed on, but also happy that their memory still lives on, and excited that my pattern will not only introduce their memory to more people but also help spread awareness of their declining natural habitat and the need to support these wonderful creatures before they become extinct. I hope Binky inspires you to be you! To never apologize for acting based on who you are, and not let the actions of “stupid tourists” in your life dictate you into becoming a “monster” but instead a legend!
Binky’s Wikipedia
Binky with his cage mate Nuka.
This article, explains how Binky was not one to be taunted! But also shows just how much he was loved.
The famous attack of 1994, This is when Binky claimed the shoe of the “tourist who got away”
Warning: This could be disturbing to some viewers. There is no blood shown though.
Note: the tourist jumped over 2 barriers and was sticking her camera through the bars, she has since admitted she was in the wrong.
The famous T-shirt created after Binky claimed his first trophy.
Binky’s Trophy, story book inspired by the mischievous Binky.
Adopt a Polar Bear plushie – you can donate a polar bear plushie for $10 to a child at the Children’s Hospital at Providence or the Alaska Native Medical Center.
Donate to the Alaska Zoo, so they can house more orphaned polar bears and other orphaned animals.
This pattern and all information contained in this post is the property of Tiffany Horton. You have permission to sell any finished product created using this pattern, a link back to this pattern is appreciated. The information contained in this post (the pattern, media,etc) may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or shared in anyway. Rewriting, reselling, distributing, or copying this pattern electronically, verbally, written or otherwise, including translations, is prohibited.