"When stuffing, add toy filling in small pieces, working around the edge of the fabric first then adding some to the middle until each piece of the toy is filled evenly."
Row 25 *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. [28 sts] Row 27 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. [21 sts] Row 29 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. [14 sts] Cast off. MAKING UP
Gather around cast-on sts of legs and pull up tightly. Sew seams then turn right side out. Stuff with filling, a little at a time. Sew seam of body then turn right side out. With seams at centre back, sew leg tops to body. Stuff body with filling.
Top Tip
When stuffing toys, fill the feet of both legs at the same time, then work your way up the legs. This will help to make sure one leg is not stuffed more firmly than the other.
BREECHES FIRST LEG Cast on 16 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn D. Rows 1 and 2 Knit.
Row 3 (WS) Purl.
Row 4 *Kfb; rep from * to end. [32 sts] Row 5 Purl.
Break yarn and leave sts on a holder. SECOND LEG
Work as given for First Leg but do not break yarn.
Row 6 K32, with RS facing, knit across held 32 sts of First Leg. [64 sts]
Rows 7 to 25 Starting with a WS purl row, work in st st. Row 26 *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end. [56 sts] Rows 27 and 29 Purl.
Row 28 *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. [48 sts] Row 30 *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. [40 sts] Cast off. MAKING UP
Sew Leg seams then sew seam up back of Breeches, leaving a 2cm gap about 2.5cm down from waist (for Tail). Turn right side out and dress on Body. Sew cast-off edge to first row of Yarn D on Body. Use a length of Yarn C to work 3 tiny straight sts at top of Breeches, the first in centre of body, then one each side of this, leaving 2 sts between them. Separate the strands of a length of brown yarn and, using 2 strands tog, work 4 straight sts over front of foot to make indents for toes (pull quite tightly) – you may have to go over each st twice, leaving 2 sts between each one. HEAD Cast on 6 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 (WS) Purl.
Row 2 *Kfb; rep from * to end. [12 sts] Row 3 Purl.
Row 4 *K1, kfb; rep from * to end. [18 sts] Row 5 Purl.
Change to Yarn B.
Row 6 *K2, kfb; rep from * to end. [24 sts]
Row 7 and foll WS rows Purl.
Row 8 *K3, kfb; rep from * to end. [30 sts]
Row 10 K12, (kfb) 6 times, K12. [36 sts]
Row 12 *K5, kfb; rep from * to end. [42 sts]
Rows 14 and 16 Knit.
Row 18 *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. [36 sts]
Row 20 *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. [30 sts]
Row 22 *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. [24 sts]
Row 24 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. [18 sts]
Row 26 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. [12 sts]
Row 27 (WS) *P2tog; rep from * to end. [6 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
MAKING UP
Gather around cast-on sts and pull up tightly. Sew seam, leaving a 2.5cm gap. Turn right side out and stuff.
With nose (Yarn A) facing forward, centre the Head so that the inc’d sts are at the centre top. Use a length of Yarn C to duplicate stitch a stripe going backwards, starting from the first inc row and working back for about 5cm. Now work another stripe each side of this, leaving 2 sts in between. Leaving 5 sts between stripes, work a further stripe each side, going across cheek. Work 2 final stripes below these, missing 2 sts between them.
Take a length of brown yarn and separate the strands. Use a single strand to create a small Y shape at tip of nose, then work a curved line each side of base of Y for mouth. Using the same yarn in a single strand, work a straight line directly above each stripe, and to the left of the stripes on the top of head.
Attach 2 black beads for eyes, one on each side of natural muzzle in line with first stripe of cheek. Sew rem seam of head to close gap.
ARMS (MAKE 2)
6 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn B. Start at the hand.
Row 1 (WS) Purl.
Row 2 *Kfb; rep from * to end. [12 sts] Rows 3 to 5 Starting with a WS purl row, work in st st.
Change to Yarn D.
Rows 6 and 7 Starting with a RS knit row, work in st st. Row 8 *K3, kfb; rep from * to end. [15 sts] Rows 9 to 11 Starting with a WS purl row, work in st st. Row 12 *K4, kfb; rep from * to end. [18 sts]
Row 13 Purl.
Row 14 K8, (kfb) twice, K8. [20 sts]
Row 15 Purl.
Row 16 K2tog, K7, (kfb) twice, K7, k2tog.
Row 17 Purl. Rows 18 to 21 Rep Rows 16 and 17 twice. Row 22 *K2tog; rep from * to end. [10 sts] Cast off purlwise.
MAKING UP
Gather around cast-on sts, fold arm and sew seam, leaving a 2.5cm gap. Turn right side out and stuff lightly. Sew rem seam. Sew Head to cast-off edge of Body. Position arms each side of Body (about 1cm down from neck) so that hands are facing the front. Sew in place securely.
Tip Sew both arms up before adding filling – this way it is easier to add the same amounts to both, ensuring an even look once sewn to body. COLLAR Cast on 37 sts loosely using 3mm sts and Yarn E. Row 1 (WS) Knit.
Row 2 K1, *yo, P1, p3tog, P1, yo, K1; rep from * to end. Row 3 Purl.
Row 4 *K2tog; rep from * to last st, K1. [19 sts] Cast off. MAKING UP
Place collar around neck and sew end seams tog. Sew seam to neck securely. OUTER EARS (MAKE 2) Cast on 7 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn B. Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [2 sts dec’d] Row 4 Purl. Rows 5 and 6 Rep Rows 3 and 4. [3 sts] Row 6 Sk2po and fasten off. INNER EARS (MAKE 2) Cast on 6 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [4 sts] Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 Ssk, k2tog. [2 sts]
Pass 2nd st on RH needle over first and fasten off.
MAKING UP
With Yarn C, Swiss darn a stripe up the centre of Outer Ear. Place Inner Ear to front of Outer Ear (with WS touching) and sew the seams tog, taking care to keep tip of Ear pointy. Sew across seam at base. Pin ears in position each side of 3 central stripes, about 2.5cm behind eyes, and curve slightly at base. Sew to head. HAT BRIM Cast on 80 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn D. Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. [60 sts] Row 4 Purl.
Row 5 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. [40 sts] Row 6 Purl. Cast off. HAT Cast on 40 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn D. Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Knit.
Row 4 (WS) Knit.
Row 5 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. [30 sts] Row 6 Purl.
Row 7 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. [20 sts] Row 8 Purl.
Row 9 *K2tog; rep from * to end. [10 sts] Row 10 *P2tog; rep from * to end. [5 sts] Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten. MAKING UP
Sew seam across top of Hat and down side seam. Sew ends of brim tog then sew Hat to Brim. Place on head with seam at centre back. Sew Hat to Head. TAIL Cast on 6 sts using 3mm needles and Yarn C. Rows 1 to 3 Starting with a WS purl row, work in st st. Change to Yarn B.
Row 4 Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [8 sts]
Row 5 Purl.
**Change to Yarn C.
Rows 6 and 7 Starting with a RS knit row, work in st st. Change to Yarn B.
Rows 8 and 9 Starting with a RS knit row, work in st st. Rep from ** once more.
Change to Yarn C.
Row 14 Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [10 sts]
Row 15 Purl.
Change to Yarn B.
Rows 16 and 17 Starting with a RS knit row, work in st st. Change to Yarn C.
Rows 18 and 19 Starting with a RS knit row, work in st st.
Work 12 more rows in st st and colour stripe patt as set. Cast off in Yarn C. MAKING UP
Gather around cast-on sts and pull up tightly. Sew seam on the outside, taking care to match the stripes, and stuffing as you go. With seam at centre back, sew across seam at top of Tail. Attach Tail to body through gap in Breeches.
Tip Do not overstuff tail, particularly at the base, to allow you to curve the tail slightly.