Large deer

Body

With 2.75mm needles and G/C, cast on 11 sts for tail-end of body. Beginning with a k row, ss 2 rows.

1st increase row: [K1, up1] 9 times, k2 – 20 sts. P 1 row.

2nd increase row: [K1, up1, k1] to end – 30 sts. P 1 row.

3rd increase row: [K2, up1, k1] to end – 40 sts.

Beginning with a p row, ss 25 rows.

1st decrease row: [K1, k2tog, k1] to end – 30 sts. P 1 row.

2nd decrease row: [K1, k2tog] to end – 20 sts. P 1 row.

3rd decrease row: [K2tog] 10 times

– 10 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Work a gathering thread through the cast-on stitches, pull up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join the seam, adding stuffing as you go.

Neck

With 2.75mm needles and G/C, cast on 8 sts for base of neck.

Beginning with a k row, ss 2 rows.

Next row: Increase row: K1, up1, k to last st, up1, k1 – 2 sts increased.

Next row: P to end.

Repeat last 2 rows, twice more, then repeat increase row again – 16 sts. Thread a length of contrast yarn through first and last stitch on row – these will act as a marker. Beginning with a p row, ss 7 rows. Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam as far as the markers, leaving shaped edge of neck open, and stuff. Remove scrap yarn and pin the shaped opening of the neck to the body so that the cast-on edge of the neck covers the gathered cast-on edges of the body. Sew neck in place, adding extra stuffing if necessary.

TaIl

With 2.75mm needles and G/C, cast on 16 sts for base of tail.

Beginning with a k row, ss 2 rows.

1st decrease row: K1, k2tog, k10, ssk, k1 – 14 sts. P 1 row.

2nd decrease row: K1, k2tog, k8, ssk, k1 – 12 sts. P 1 row.

3rd decrease row: [K2tog] 6 times

– 6 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam, adding stuffing as you go and leaving the cast-on edge open. Pin tail to back of body and sew in place.

legs

(make 4) With 2.75mm needles and G/C, cast on 12 sts for top of leg. Beginning with a k row, ss 14 rows.

Change to Cream and k 1 row. Change to C/G and ss 2 rows. Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam, adding stuffing as you go and leaving the cast-on edge open. Pin legs to underside of body, making sure that the body can stand unaided. Sew legs in place.

Head

With 2.75mm needles and G/C, cast on 13 sts for back of head.

Beginning with a k row, ss 2 rows.

1st increase row: [K1, up1] 11 times, k2 – 24 sts. P 1 row.

2nd increase row: [K1, up1, k1] to end – 36 sts. P 1 row.

1st decrease row: K1, k2tog, k12, ssk, k2, k2tog, k12, ssk, k1 – 32 sts. P 1 row.

2nd decrease row: K1, k2tog, k10, ssk, k2, k2tog, k10, ssk, k1

– 28 sts. P 1 row.

3rd decrease row: K1, k2tog, k8, ssk, k2, k2tog, k8, ssk, k1 – 24 sts. P 1 row.

4th decrease row: K1, k2tog, k6, ssk, k2, k2tog, k6, ssk, k1 – 20 sts. P 1 row.

5th decrease row: K1, k2tog, k4, ssk, k2, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1 – 16 sts. P 1 row.

Change to Buttermilk or Cream.

6th decrease row: K1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1 – 12 sts. Beginning with a p row, ss 3 rows. Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Work a gathering thread through the cast-on stitches, pull up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam, adding stuffing as you go.

ears

(make 2) With 2.75mm needles and G/C, cast on 9 sts for base of ear.

Beginning with a k row, ss 2 rows.

Next row: Increase row: [K1, up1] 7 times, k2 – 16 sts. P 1 row.

1st decrease row: [K1, k2tog, k1] to end – 12 sts. P 1 row.

2nd decrease row: K1, k2tog, k6, ssk, k1 – 10 sts. P 1 row.

3rd decrease row: [K2tog] 5 times

– 5 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam, leaving the cast-on edge open. No stuffing is required. Pin ears to head but do not sew in place yet. When adding features, all yarn ends should be secured at the top of the head, where they will eventually be hidden by the ears.

The eyes and nose are created by making a large knot in the centre of a 50cm length of Black yarn. To do this, twist the yarn as you would to make a single knot but, before pulling it tight, wrap the yarn around five more times. Pull the ends gently to create an oval knot. Thread one end of yarn on to needle and take it from the eye position, through the head to the ear on the opposite side. Then do the same with the other end of the yarn. Repeat for the second eye on opposite side of head and for the nose. Once eyes and nose are in position, knot yarn ends so that the features are snug against the head. Sew ears in place. Massage the neck into a slight s-shape and then sew the head in place, making sure the deer can stand unaided.

ANTLERS

Main antler section (make 2): With 2.75mm needles and Gold, cast on 6 sts for base. Beginning with a k row, ss 14 rows.

Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam. No stuffing is required.

Medium antler section (make 2):

With 2.75mm needles and Gold, cast on 6 sts for base. Beginning with a k row, ss 7 rows.

Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through the stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam. No stuffing is required.

small antler section (make 2):

With 2.75mm needles and Gold, cast on 6 sts for base. Beginning with a k row, ss 5 rows.

Cut yarn, leaving a long end for sewing up. Thread yarn through stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off. Using mattress stitch, join seam. No stuffing is required. Each antler is made using one main, medium and small antler section. Using mattress stitch, sew the medium and small antler sections to one side of main antler section, as pictured. Sew antlers between ears of large Camel-coloured deer, before bending antlers into desired shape.

BODY