HANNIBAL THE DONKEY by Knitazoo
Despite his grand name, Hannibal is a sweet, lovely and romantic little donkey who loves strolling in the nature, picking flowers and just daydreaming looking at butterflies. He will be a loyal, patient and sweet companion, a romantic buddy giving you a flower! Hannibal is stiched on the round using double-pointed needles from bottom to head and is about 20 cm high from feet to ears. I used "Lana del Cigno Nero" wool, made in Italy, medium brown but you can use whatever brown yarn for the body and white for the muzzle. Don't worry about the gauge, the thicker the yarn, the bigger the donkey! Always use a needle that is one size smaller than the one recommended for the yarn, so that the stuffing will not come out.
MATERIAL:
One skein main colour (50 gr) is largely sufficient to knit Hannibal. Plus you will need a little amount of white for the muzzle and some dark brown for the tip of the tail. Medium brown/white: La Lana del Cigno Nero (made in Italy), "Punto": wool 100% 50 gr, 125 m/136 yds.
Safety eyes: 0,75 mm with this yarn. Adapt the size of the eyes to the size of the donkey = the yarn you choose. Stuffing - Double-pointed needles 3.0 (US 2.5) - Tapestry needle - Stitch marker
ABBREVIATIONS:
co: cast on BO: bind off PU: pick up k: knit p: purl sl: slip stitch kf&b: knit one st front and back k2tog: knit two sts together (a right-slanting decrease) ssk: slip, slip, knit (a left-slanting decrease) p2tog:purl two sts together [] x times: means you have to repeat what is between parenthesis for given number of times ( ): the number in parenthesis is the number of stiches after completing the round. I-cord: work on two double-pointed needles. Put all your sts on one needle and work with a free needle. When you reach the end, do not turn but slide the sts back to the beginning of the needle. Pass the needle to the left hand, pull yarn tight and knit. You will obtain a cord.
NOTES:
Unless otherwise specified, you always use 3 double-pointed needles.
Body
CO 6 STS on 3 double-pointed needles R1: KF&B all (12) R2: knit all R3: KF&B all (24) R4-5: knit all R6: [KF&B K1] around (36) R7-9: knit all R10: [KF&B K2] around (48) R11-20: knit all R21: [k2, ssk, k8, k2tog, k2] 3 times (42) R22-26: knit all R27: [k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2] 3 times (36) R28-30: knit all R31: [k2, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2] 3 times (30) R32-34: knit all R35: [k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2] 3 times (24) R36: knit all Stuff body
Neck and head
slip two sts from needle 1 to needle 2, and from needle 3 to needle 2 (6 sts on needle 1, 12 on needle 2, 6 on needle 3) R1: k6, [k2tog] 3 times, k6 (18) R2-6: knit all R7: k6, [k2tog] 3 times, k6 Stuff neck put sts from needle 2 on a spare yarn and work sts from needle 1 to needle 3 start with WS row knitting back and forth on two needles. R8-19: stockinette stitch slipping the first st on each row R20: p7, p2tog, pl, turn R21: sll, k3, ssk, kl, turn R22: sl1, p4, p2tog, p1, turn R23: sl1, k5, ssk, k1, turn R24: sl1, p5, p2tog, turn R25: sl1, k4, ssk (6 sts) share the sts on needle 1 and 3. Put back sts from spare yarn to needle 2. With needle 1, PU 8 sts from the side of the neck With needle 2, kf&b all With needle 3, PU 8 sts from the side of the neck and knit rem. sts R1: Needle 1: knit to last 3 sts on needle, k2tog k1 Needle 2: k2, kf&b, kf&b, k2 Needle 3: k1, ssk, k to end R2: Needle 1: knit to last 3 sts on needle, k2tog k1 Needle 2: knit all Needle 3: kl, ssk, k to end Repeat R2 until there are 4 sts on needle 1 and 3. Fix eyes and stuff head
Muzzle
R1: knit 8, change to white, k8. (start counting row from needle 3 now). Use white yarn from now on. R2-4: knit all R5: k2tog, k4, k2tog twice, k4, k2tog. Embroider 3 sts centered on the muzzle as shown in picture. Close with kitchener stitch
Ears
PU 4 opposite sts from top of head on 2 double pointed needles R1-3: knit all R4: [kf&b k1] 2 times R5-6: knit all R7: kl, k2tog R8-9: knit all R10: k2tog all Thread yarn through rem. sts
Tail
CO4sts work in I-cord for 14 rounds and BO. With dark brown, make fringes on every st of the tail: cut 4 pieces of yarn ca. 4 cm long. Insert hook from front to back through st and over folded yarn. Pull yarn through. Draw ends through and tighten. Trim evenly.
Back legs
CO 12 sts R1-14: knit all R15: k3, [kf&b] 6 times, k3 R16-19: knit all R20: k3 [k2tog] 6 times, k3 R21: knit all R22: k2tog around Thread yarn through rem sts. Stuff only the foot.
Front legs
CO 8 sts R1-14: knit all R13: k3, [kf&b] 2 times, k3 R14-17: knit all R18: [k2tog] all Thread yarn through rem sts. Stuff only the hand. Sew now in place front and back legs and tail Sweet Hannibal is ready for a hug!
