Project excerpted from Itty-Bitty Toys: How to Knit Animals, Dolls and Other Playthings for Kids
Every knitter loves a knitted lamb, both to have and to make. The boucle yarn used for the body and the curly topknot are perfect for creating that wooly look. The legs are cleverly constructed of I-cords stuffed with straws, which allow the lamb to stand on its own. His thoughtful expression and mop of hair are my favorite features. Make one for your favorite child and another for your favorite knitter—they’ll both love it.
Finished Measurements
6 1/2 inches tall when standing, 5 inches long, front to back
6 1/2 inches tall when standing, 5 inches long, front to back
Yarn
• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan (60% wool, 30% microfiber, 10% cashmere; 77 yards/50 grams), 1 skein in Off-White #3
• Blue Sky Organic Cotton (100% organic cotton; 150 yards/100 grams), 1 skein in Sand #81
• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan (60% wool, 30% microfiber, 10% cashmere; 77 yards/50 grams), 1 skein in Off-White #3
• Blue Sky Organic Cotton (100% organic cotton; 150 yards/100 grams), 1 skein in Sand #81
Tools
• U.S. size 4 set of four double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Stitch marker
• Black embroidery floss
• Polyester fiberfill, 1 small bag
• Poly pellets (optional), 32-ounce bag
• 1 drinking straw
Gauge• U.S. size 4 set of four double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Stitch marker
• Black embroidery floss
• Polyester fiberfill, 1 small bag
• Poly pellets (optional), 32-ounce bag
• 1 drinking straw
• 6 sts per inch in stockinette stitch for the body
Back end
With Off-White and two double-pointed needles used as straight needles, cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1: kfb, k to last stitch, kfb (6 sts)
Row 2: pfb, p to last stitch, pfb (8 sts)
Rows 3 and 4: repeat rows 1 and 2 (12 sts)
With Off-White and two double-pointed needles used as straight needles, cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1: kfb, k to last stitch, kfb (6 sts)
Row 2: pfb, p to last stitch, pfb (8 sts)
Rows 3 and 4: repeat rows 1 and 2 (12 sts)
Work in stockinette stitch (see p.00) until the back end measures 2 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a purl row.
Decrease rows
Row 1: ssk, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog (10 sts remain)
Row 2: p2tog, p to last 2 stitches, p2tog (8 sts remain)
Rows 3 and 4: repeat rows 1 and 2 (4 sts remain)
Row 1: ssk, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog (10 sts remain)
Row 2: p2tog, p to last 2 stitches, p2tog (8 sts remain)
Rows 3 and 4: repeat rows 1 and 2 (4 sts remain)
Body
Continue on from the back end.
Continue on from the back end.
Knit the 4 stitches on the needle, then on the same needle pick up 10 stitches (see p.00), on a second double-pointed needle pick up 14 stitches, and on a third double-pointed needle pick up 14 stitches. (14 sts per needle, 42 sts total)
Place a stitch marker on the first stitch, and begin working in the round.
Increase round: (kfb, k to the last stitch, kfb), repeat on each needle (16 sts per needle, 48 sts total)
Next round: repeat the increase round one more time (18 sts per needle, 54 sts total)
Knit every round until the body measures 2 inches above the pickup round
Decrease rounds
Round 1: (k7, k2tog), repeat to end of round (16 sts per needle, 48 sts total remain)
Rounds 2–5: knit
Round 6: (k6, k2tog), repeat to end of round (14 sts per needle, 42 sts total remain)
Round 7: (k5, k2tog), repeat to end of round (12 sts per needle, 36 sts total remain)
Rounds 8 and 9: knit
Round 10: (k4, k2tog), repeat to end of round (10 sts per needle, 30 sts total remain)
Round 11: (k3, k2tog), repeat to end of round (8 sts per needle, 24 sts total remain)
Round 12: knit
Round 13: (k2, k2tog), repeat to end of round (6 sts per needle, 18 sts total remain)
Holding the body horizontally, pour a layer of poly pellets into the bottom, fill the top with fiberfill, or stuff with fiberfill only.
Round 14: (k1, k2tog), repeat to end of round (4 sts per needle, 12 sts total remain)
Round 15: k2tog, repeat to end of round (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Round 1: (k7, k2tog), repeat to end of round (16 sts per needle, 48 sts total remain)
Rounds 2–5: knit
Round 6: (k6, k2tog), repeat to end of round (14 sts per needle, 42 sts total remain)
Round 7: (k5, k2tog), repeat to end of round (12 sts per needle, 36 sts total remain)
Rounds 8 and 9: knit
Round 10: (k4, k2tog), repeat to end of round (10 sts per needle, 30 sts total remain)
Round 11: (k3, k2tog), repeat to end of round (8 sts per needle, 24 sts total remain)
Round 12: knit
Round 13: (k2, k2tog), repeat to end of round (6 sts per needle, 18 sts total remain)
Holding the body horizontally, pour a layer of poly pellets into the bottom, fill the top with fiberfill, or stuff with fiberfill only.
Round 14: (k1, k2tog), repeat to end of round (4 sts per needle, 12 sts total remain)
Round 15: k2tog, repeat to end of round (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Finish stuffing. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inchlong tail, and thread the tail on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches, gather up tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure (see p.00). Weave the end to the inside and trim.
Tail
With Off-White, cast on 12 stitches, placing 4 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
With Off-White, cast on 12 stitches, placing 4 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Knit every round until the tail measures 1/2 inch from the cast-on edge.
Decrease rounds
Round 1: (k2, k2tog), repeat on each needle (3 sts per needle, 9 sts total remain)
Round 2: (k1, k2tog), repeat on each needle (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Round 3: (k2tog), repeat on each needle (1 st per needle, 3 sts total remain)
Round 1: (k2, k2tog), repeat on each needle (3 sts per needle, 9 sts total remain)
Round 2: (k1, k2tog), repeat on each needle (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Round 3: (k2tog), repeat on each needle (1 st per needle, 3 sts total remain)
Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch-long tail, and thread on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches, gather up tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure. Weave the end to the inside and trim. Thread the tail from the cast-on edge on a yarn needle. Whipstitch the tail to the top of the back end. Weave the end to the inside and trim.
Legs (make 4)
With Sand and two double-pointed needles used as straight needles, cast on 4 stitches. Work in I-cord (see p.00) until the leg measures 1 inch from the cast-on edge. Bind off. Cut the yarn and pull through the remaining stitch.
With Sand and two double-pointed needles used as straight needles, cast on 4 stitches. Work in I-cord (see p.00) until the leg measures 1 inch from the cast-on edge. Bind off. Cut the yarn and pull through the remaining stitch.
Cut the drinking straw to fit inside of the I -cord. Push the straw inside of the I -cord and set aside.
Feet (make 4)
With Sand, cast on 9 stitches, placing 3 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
With Sand, cast on 9 stitches, placing 3 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Round 1: knit
Round 2: (k1, m1, k1, m1, k1), repeat on each needle (5 sts per needle, 15 sts total)
Rounds 3–7: knit
Round 8: (k3, k2tog), repeat on each needle (4 sts per needle, 12 sts total remain)
Round 2: (k1, m1, k1, m1, k1), repeat on each needle (5 sts per needle, 15 sts total)
Rounds 3–7: knit
Round 8: (k3, k2tog), repeat on each needle (4 sts per needle, 12 sts total remain)
Thread the tail from the cast-on stitches on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the stitches in the cast-on row and gather up, pulling tight to close the hole. Stitch to secure. Fill the foot with poly pellets or stuff with fiberfill. The foot is supposed to be flat, not rounded.
Round 9: (k2, k2tog), repeat on each needle (3 sts per needle, 9 sts total remain)
Round 10: (k1, k2tog), repeat on each needle (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Round 10: (k1, k2tog), repeat on each needle (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch-long tail, and thread on a yarn needle. Pull through the remaining stitches, gather up tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure. Weave the end to the inside and trim.
Whipstitch the feet to the back top of the legs with the cast-on tail from the legs threaded on a yarn needle, using the photograph as a guide. Whipstitch the leg to the bottom of the body, using the bound-off tail threaded on a yarn needle.
Head
With Sand, cast on 9 stitches, placing 3 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
With Sand, cast on 9 stitches, placing 3 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Round 1: knit
Round 2: (k1, m1, k1, m1, k1), repeat on each needle (5 sts per needle, 15 sts total)
Rounds 3 and 4: knit
Round 5: (k1, [k1, m1] four times), repeat on each needle (9 sts per needle, 27 sts total)
Rounds 6–15: knit
Round 16: (ssk, k5, k2tog), repeat on each needle (7 sts per needle, 21 sts total remain)
Rounds 17 and 18: knit
Round 19: (ssk, k3, k2tog), repeat on each needle (5 sts per needle, 15 sts total remain)
Round 20: knit
Round 21: (k3, k2tog), repeat on each needle (4 sts per needle, 12 sts total remain)
Round 2: (k1, m1, k1, m1, k1), repeat on each needle (5 sts per needle, 15 sts total)
Rounds 3 and 4: knit
Round 5: (k1, [k1, m1] four times), repeat on each needle (9 sts per needle, 27 sts total)
Rounds 6–15: knit
Round 16: (ssk, k5, k2tog), repeat on each needle (7 sts per needle, 21 sts total remain)
Rounds 17 and 18: knit
Round 19: (ssk, k3, k2tog), repeat on each needle (5 sts per needle, 15 sts total remain)
Round 20: knit
Round 21: (k3, k2tog), repeat on each needle (4 sts per needle, 12 sts total remain)
Thread the tail from the cast-on stitches on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast-on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the head with fiberfill.
Round 22: (k2, k2tog), repeat on each needle (3 sts per needle, 9 sts total remain)
Finish stuffing. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inchlong tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches, gather up tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure. This is the nose end of the head. Pull the tail through to the bottom side of the head and whipstitch to the front top of the body, using the photograph as a guide.
Ears (make 2)
With Sand, cast on 6 stitches, placing 2 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
With Sand, cast on 6 stitches, placing 2 stitches on each of three double-pointed needles. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rounds 1–4: knit
Round 5: (k1, m1, k1), repeat on each needle (3 sts per needle, 9 sts total)
Rounds 6–9: knit
Round 10: (k1, k2tog), repeat on each needle (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Round 11: knit
Round 5: (k1, m1, k1), repeat on each needle (3 sts per needle, 9 sts total)
Rounds 6–9: knit
Round 10: (k1, k2tog), repeat on each needle (2 sts per needle, 6 sts total remain)
Round 11: knit
Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch-long tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches, pull tight to close the hole, and stitch to secure. Weave the end to the inside and trim. Thread the tail from the cast-on stitches on a yarn needle. Whipstitch the ears to the head, using the photograph as a guide.
Hair
With Off-White and two double-pointed needles used as straight needles, cast on 4 stitches and begin to work in twisted loop stitch.
Row 1: complete the twisted loop stitch in every stitch, as follows:
Knit the stitch and leave it on the left needle. Pull the loop that is on the right needle out about 2–3 inches (depending on how long the twist should be). Transfer the loop onto your right index finger. Twist the loop in one direction until it folds back on itself.
Place the loop back on the left needle.
Knit the two stitches together.
Row 2: purl
Row 3: repeat row 1
Row 4: p2tog twice (2 sts remain)
Row 2: purl
Row 3: repeat row 1
Row 4: p2tog twice (2 sts remain)
Bind off. Cut the yarn and pull through the last stitch, leaving a 6-inch-long tail. Thread the tail on a yarn needle and whipstitch the hair to the top of the head between the ears. Weave the end to the inside and trim.
Face and toes
With black embroidery floss and a yarn needle, create the eyes with 2 small straight stitches each. Create the nose with straight stitches. On each foot, take a stitch at the center front of the foot, stitching over and under the foot, using the photograph as a guide.
With black embroidery floss and a yarn needle, create the eyes with 2 small straight stitches each. Create the nose with straight stitches. On each foot, take a stitch at the center front of the foot, stitching over and under the foot, using the photograph as a guide.
Excerpted from ITTY-BITTY TOYS by Susan B. Anderson (Artisan Books).Copyright 2009. Liz Banfield photographer.
Itty-Bitty Toys: How to Knit Animals, Dolls, and Other Playthings for Kids - Available at Amazon
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