Knit a floppy dog

A very low-cost, low-maintenance dog that requires no walking or feeding. Why aren't we all knitting our own pets?

Extract from Knitted Toys: 25 Fresh And Fabulous Designs

Size: Approx. 31 cm (12 in) tall

Materials:

  • 250 g (1¾ oz) balls of Jaeger Baby Merino DK in main colour M (soft grey/Flannel 228) and 1 ball in C (pale brown/Choco 188)
  • Pair of 3.25 mm (US 3) knitting needles
  • Knitter's sewing needle
  • Washable stuffing
  • Embroidery needle
  • Pink velvet ribbon

Tension/gauge

26 sts and 36 rows to 10 cm (4 in) square over stocking/stockinette stitch using 3.25 mm (US 3) needles.

Body and head

Start at lower edge
Using M, cast on 20sts.

  1. 1st row (WS) and alt rows P.
  2. 2nd row K4, m1, k2, m1, (k4, m1) twice, k2, m1, k4. (25sts)
  3. 4th row K1, m1, k4, m1, k2, m1, k5, m1, k1, m1, k5, m1, k2, m1, k4, m1, k1. (33sts)
  4. 6th row K.
  5. 8th row K7, m1, k2, m1, k15, m1, k2, m1, k7. (37sts)
  6. 10th row K.
  7. 12th row K2, m1, k6, m1, k2, m1, k7, m1, k3, m1, k7, m1, k2, m1, k6, m1, k2. (45sts)
  8. 13th-17th rows Stocking/stockinette stitch.

Body patch

Using stocking/stockinette stitch and intarsia technique, work 1st-29th rows from body patch chart.

Shape top of body

  1. 1st row (K3, k2tog) twice, k2, (skpo, k3) twice, k1, (k3, k2tog) twice, k2, (skpo, k3) twice. (37sts)
  2. 2nd-4th rows Stocking/stockinette stitch.
  3. 5th row (K2, k2tog) twice, k2, (skpo, k2) twice, k1, (k2, k2tog) twice, k2, (skpo, k2) twice. (29sts)
  4. 6th-8th rows Stocking/stockinette stitch.

Shape head

  1. 1st row (K2, m1, k3, m1) twice, k3, m1, (k1, m1) three times, k3, (m1, k3, m1, k2) twice. (41sts)
  2. 2nd row P.
  3. 3rd row K18, m1, k2, m1, k1, m1, k2, m1, k18. (45sts)
  4. 4th-10th rows Stocking/stockinette stitch.
  5. 11th row K19, k2tog, k3, skpo, k19.
  6. 12th row P18, p2togb, p3, p2tog, p18.
  7. 13th row K17, k2tog, k3, skpo, k17.
  8. 14th row P.
  9. 15th row K16, k2tog, k3, skpo, k16. (37sts)
  10. 16th row P.

Eye patch

Using stocking/stockinette stitch and intarsia technique, work 1st-10th rows from eye patch chart.

  1. 27th row K1, (k3, k2tog) 7 times, k1.
  2. 28th row P.
  3. 29th row K1, (k2, k2tog) 7 times, k1.
  4. 30th row P.
  5. 31st row K1, (k1, k2tog) 7 times, k1.
  6. 32nd row (P2tog) 8 times.
  7. Break yarn, leaving a length for sewing. Thread yarn through remaining sts, pull together and secure firmly. With RS together, sew back seam leaving cast on edge open.

Feet and legs

Start at foot.
Using M, cast on 30 sts.

  1. 1st row (Inc, k13, inc) twice.
  2. 2nd row P.
  3. 3rd row (Inc, k15, inc) twice. (38sts)
  4. 4th-8th rows Stocking/stockinette stitch.
  5. 9th row K15, (skpo) twice, (k2tog) twice, k15.
  6. 10th row P.
  7. 11th row K11, (skpo) three times, (k2tog) three times, k11.
  8. 12th row P.
  9. 13th row K8, (skpo) three times, (k2tog) three times, k8. (22sts)
  10. 14th-36th rows Stocking/stockinette stitch.
  11. Cast/bind off.
  12. Make second foot and leg to match.

Arms (make 2)

Using M, cast on 8sts.

  1. 1st row (Inc, k1) 4 times.
  2. 2nd row P.
  3. 3rd row (K2, m1) twice, k4, (m1, k2) twice.
  4. 4th row P.
  5. 5th row (K3, m1) twice, k4, (m1, k3) twice. (20sts)
  6. 6th-30th rows Stocking/stockinette stitch.
  7. 31st and 32nd rows Cast/bind off 3sts, work to end.
  8. 33rd-35th rows Dec each end.
  9. 36th row P.
  10. Cast/bind off.
  11. Make second arm to match.

Ears

Using M, cast on 8sts.

  1. Work 48 rows in stocking/stockinette stitch, inc each end of 3rd and 7th rows, dec each end of 21st, 23rd and 24th rows, inc each end of 26th, 27th and 29th rows and dec each end of 43rd and 47th rows.
  2. Cast/bind off.
  3. Make second ear to match.

Tail

Using M, cast on 12sts.
Work 16 rows in stocking/stockinette stitch.

  1. 17th row K2tog, k3, (inc) twice, k3, k2tog.
  2. 18th row P.
  3. 19th-22nd rows Work as 17th-18th rows, twice. (12sts)
  4. 23rd row K2tog, knit to last 2sts, k2tog.
  5. 24th row P.
  6. 25th-30th rows Work as 23rd?24th rows, 3 times. (4sts)
  7. 31st row (K2tog) twice.
  8. 32nd row P2tog, fasten off.

Finishing
Weave in any loose ends.

Legs
With RS together, join leg and foot seam. Turn RS out and stuff lightly to give floppy effect, close cast/bound off edge.

Arms
With RS together, join arm seam. Turn RS out and stuff lightly to give floppy effect.

Body
Stuff lightly to give floppy effect and close lower edge, make sure that seam to head is at centre back. Attach legs to lower edge. Attach arms to body, adding stuffing if necessary.

Ears
Fold ear in half, RS together and sew side seams. Turn RS out. Attach to head.

Tail
With RS together sew seam. Turn RS out and stuff. Close opening and attach to back seam.

Embroider face, see photograph. Tie ribbon around neck and stitch in place if preferred.

Extract from Knitted Toys: 25 Fresh And Fabulous Designs by Zoe Mellor, priced £14.99, published by Hamlyn.