HOW TO KNIT A CUDDLY AUSSIE

ABBREVIATIONS

Alt = alternate; beg = begin/ing; cont = continue; dec = decrease; excl = excluding; foll/s = follows; inc = increase/ing; K = knit; M1L = make 1 le leaning; M1R = make 1 right leaning; P = purl; rem = remaining; rep = repeat; st/s = stitch/es; ssk = slip, slip, knit decrease; tog = together

CUDDLY CREATURES

Skill level Intermediate knitting

Finished size Approx. (excl ears) 12cmh x 20cm circum.

Gather your supplies

Patons Dreamtime Merino 8 ply 50g.

Platypus 1 ball each Donkey (2957), Ruby (4981) and Honey (3916); small quantity Charcoal (2958). Koala 1 ball each Silver (2959) and Fig (4977); small quantity Cream (0051) and Charcoal (2958).

Kangaroo 1 ball Honey (3916); small quantity Clear Water (3909) and Charcoal (2958).

Wombat 1 ball each Mahogany (3914) and Stonewash Blue (4978); small quantity Charcoal (2958). Plus 1 set 3mm double-pointed kni ing needles; 3 medium safety pins; lockable stitchmarker; wool needle for finishing; fibrefill

NOTE Parental supervision is recommended for children under 3 as these toys have small parts which may present a choking hazard. Make sure all small parts are securely stitched in place.

Tension

28 sts and 38 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using 3mm needles. Correct tension is not essential for these toys. These toys are worked on smaller needles and at a firmer tension than usually recommended for this yarn. Use only the yarn specified because other yarns are likely to produce different results.

PLATYPUS

Body

Beg at top of head

NOTE Leave approx. 20cm ends at beg and end of all pieces to assist in finishing, unless otherwise stated. Using set of 3mm double-pointed needles and Donkey, cast on 3sts to one needle.

Next row Inc in each st, working 2sts each onto 3 needles, do not turn work… 6sts.

Join to work in rounds, being careful not to twist edge (see instructions, opposite). Pin a lockable stitch-marker to first st to identify beg of rounds and move up every few rounds as required. ** NOTE Beg of rounds is centre back of body.

1st round Inc in each st to end… 12sts.

2nd and foll alt rounds Knit. 3rd round * K1, M1L (see instructions, above le ), K1, rep from * to end… 18sts. 5th round * K1, M1L, K2, rep from * to end… 24sts.

7th round * K1, M1L, K3, rep from * to end… 30sts.

9th round * K1, M1L, K4, rep from * to end… 36sts.

11th round * K1, M1L, K5, rep from * to end… 42sts.

13th round * K1, M1L, K6, rep from * to end… 48sts. Work 4 rounds stocking st (every round knit).

18th round * K5, ssk (see

instructions, page 166), K10, K2tog, K5, rep from * once… 44sts.

Work 1 round.

20th round * K5, ssk, K8, K2tog, K5, rep from * once… 40sts.

Work 1 round.

22nd round * K5, ssk, K6, K2tog, K5, rep from * once… 36sts.

Work 3 rounds.

26th round * K6, M1L, K6, M1R (see instructions, page 167), K6, rep from * once… 40sts.

Work 1 round.

28th round * K6, M1L, K8, M1R, K6, rep from * once… 44sts.

Work 1 round.

30th round * K6, M1L, K10, M1R, K6, rep from * once… 48sts.

Break off Donkey. Using Ruby, work 8 rounds.

Divide for legs

1st round K24, slip rem 24sts evenly onto 3 safety pins for ease of working. Divide first 24sts between 3 needles and join to work in rounds for first leg. Place a stitch-marker on first st (as before).

Work 2 rounds. Break off Ruby.

Using Donkey, proceed as folls:

*** 4th, 6th and 8th rounds

Knit.

5th round * K2tog, K2, rep from * to end… 18sts.

7th round * K2tog, K1, rep from * to end… 12sts.

9th round * K2tog, rep from * to end… 6sts.

Break off yarn, thread end through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely. ***

Slip 24sts from safety pins to 3 needles. With right side facing, rejoin Ruby to inside leg and join to work in rounds for second leg. Place a stitch-marker on first st (as before). Work 3 rounds.

Break off Ruby.

NOTE At this point secure loose ends on wrong side, leaving 1 Ruby end on right side for finishing. Insert fibrefill into body and first leg.

Using Donkey, work as for first leg from *** to ***, adding more fibrefill before fastening off.

Using Ruby end, sew gap between legs closed.

Bill

Using set of 3mm double-pointed needles and Honey, cast on 24sts and divide between 3 needles as folls: 1st needle – 6sts; 2nd needle – 12sts; 3rd needle – 6sts.

Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist cast-on edge.

Work 6 rounds stocking st.

7th round * K5, M1R, K2, M1L, K5, rep from * once… 28sts.

8th and 10th rounds Knit.

9th round * K6, M1R, K2, M1L, K6, rep from * once… 32sts (1st needle – 8sts; 2nd needle – 16sts; 3rd needle – 8sts).

11th round * K6, K2tog, ssk, K6, rep from * once… 28sts.

12th round * K5, K2tog, ssk, K5, rep from * once… 24sts.

13th round * K4, K2tog, ssk, K4, rep from * once… 20sts.

14th round * K3, K2tog, ssk, K3, rep from * once… 16sts (1st needle – 4sts; 2nd needle – 8sts; 3rd needle – 4sts).

Knit sts from 1st needle, then slip sts from 3rd needle onto end of 1st needle… 8sts on each of 2 needles.

Break off yarn, then gra sts tog (see instructions, page 166).

Tail

Using Donkey, work as for Bill.

Arms

Work as for Body to **.

1st round Knit.

2nd round * K1, M1L, K1, rep from * to end… 9sts. Work 10 rounds stocking st. Cast off.

To make up

Insert fibrefill into Arms, Bill and Tail. Sew cast-off edge of Arms in position securely to sides of Body. Sew Bill (pictured, page 164) and Tail (pictured, below) in position securely, as shown. Using Charcoal and satin stitch (see instructions, page 166), embroider Eyes and Nostrils as pictured, securing ends.

KOALA

Body and Arms

Work as for Platypus, using Silver in place of Donkey and Fig in place of Ruby.

Ears

Using set of 3mm doublepointed needles and Silver, cast on 20sts and divide between 3 needles as folls: 1st needle – 5sts; 2nd needle – 10sts; 3rd needle – 5sts.

Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist cast-on edge.

1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th rounds Knit.

2nd round * K4, M1L, K2, M1R, K4, rep from * once… 24sts.

5th round * K4, ssk, K2tog, K4, rep from * once… 20sts.

7th round * K3, ssk, K2tog, K3, rep from * once… 16sts.

9th round * K2, ssk, K2tog, K2, rep from * once… 12sts (1st needle – 3sts; 2nd needle – 6sts; 3rd needle – 3sts).

Knit sts from 1st needle, then slip sts from 3rd needle onto end of 1st needle… 6sts on each of

Proudly knitted in homegrown Australian 100% merino wool

2 needles.

Break off yarn, then graft sts tog.

Nose

Using two 3mm doublepointed needles and Charcoal, cast on 6sts.

1st row Inc in first st, K3, inc in next st, K1… 8sts. Work 5 rows stocking st, beg with a purl row.

7th row K2tog, (K1, K2tog) twice… 5sts.

8th row Purl.

9th row K2tog, K1, K2tog… 3sts.

Break off yarn, thread end through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely.

To make up

Insert fibrefill into Arms and sew cast-off edges in position securely to sides of Body. Sew Ears and Nose in position securely, (pictured, page 164). Using Cream and loop stitch (see instructions, page 166), embroider loops to Inner Ears (pictured, page 164). Using Charcoal and satin stitch, embroider Eyes, securing ends.

KANGAROO

Body and Arms

Work as for Platypus, using Honey in place of both Donkey and Ruby.

Tail

Work as for Body to **. Work 3 rounds stocking st.

4th round * K1, M1L, K1, rep from * to end… 9sts. Work 7 rounds.

12th round * K1, M1L, K2, rep from * to end… 12sts. Cont in stocking st without further inc until Tail measures 6cm from beg. Cast off. Ears Using set of 3mm double- pointed needles and Honey, cast on 16sts and then divide between 3 needles as folls: 1st needle – 4sts; 2nd needle – 8sts; 3rd needle – 4sts.

Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist cast-on edge.

Work 3 rounds stocking st.

4th round * K2, ssk, K2tog, K2, rep from * once… 12sts. Work 3 rounds.

8th round * K1, ssk, K2tog, K1, rep from * once… 8sts. Work 3 rounds. Break off yarn, thread end through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely.

Snout

Using set of 3mm double- pointed needles and Honey, cast on 20sts and divide between 3 needles as folls: 1st needle – 5sts; 2nd needle – 10sts; 3rd needle – 5sts.

Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist cast-on edge.

1st, 3rd and 5th rounds Knit.

2nd round * K4, M1L, K2, M1R, K4, rep from * once… 24sts.

4th round * K3, ssk, K2, K2tog, K3, rep from * once… 20sts.

6th round * K2, ssk, K2, K2tog, K2, rep from * once… 16sts (1st needle – 4sts; 2nd needle – 8sts; 3rd needle – 4sts).

7th and 8th rounds Knit. Knit sts from 1st needle, then slip sts from 3rd needle onto end of 1st needle… 8sts on each of 2 needles. Break off yarn, then graft sts tog.

Pouch

Using two 3mm doublepointed needles and Honey, cast on 9sts.

1st row (wrong side) Purl.

2nd row K1, M1R, knit to last st, M1L, K1… 11sts. Work 6 rows stocking st, beg with a purl row. Cast off loosely knitways on wrong side.

Bow

Using two 3mm doublepointed needles and Clear Water, cast on 9sts. 1st row K1, * P1, K1, rep from * to end.

Rep 1st row 7 times. Cast off in patt.

Cut a 30cm length of Clear Water and wrap around centre of bow 4 times. Secure in position at back, leaving an end to attach to Kangaroo’s head.

To make up

Insert fibrefill into Arms and sew cast-off edges in position securely to sides of Body. Sew Ears and Pouch in position securely, (pictured, page 165). Fill Snout and Tail, then sew securely in position, (pictured, pages 165 and 168). Sew Bow securely to side of head, as pictured. Using Charcoal and satin stitch, embroider Eyes and Nose as pictured, securing ends.

WOMBAT

Body, Arms and Nose

Work as for Koala, using Mahogany in place of Silver and Stonewash Blue in place of Fig. Ears Using set of 3mm doublepointed needles and Mahogany, cast on 16sts and divide between 3 needles as folls: 1st needle – 4sts; 2nd needle – 8sts; 3rd needle – 4sts.

Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist cast-on edge.

1st, 3rd and 5th rounds Knit.

2nd round * K3, M1L, K2, M1R, K3, rep from * once… 20sts.

4th round * K3, ssk, K2tog, K3, rep from * once… 16sts.

6th round * K2, ssk, K2tog, K2, rep from * once… 12sts.

7th round * K1, ssk, K2tog, K1, rep from * once… 8sts (1st needle – 2sts; 2nd needle – 4sts; 3rd needle – 2sts). Knit sts from 1st needle, then slip sts from 3rd needle onto end of 1st needle… 4sts on each of 2 needles. Break off yarn, then graft sts tog.

To make up

Insert fibrefill into Arms and sew cast-off edges in place securely to sides of Body. Sew Ears and Nose in place securely (pictured, page 165). Using Charcoal and satin stitch, embroider Eyes as shown, securing ends.