CORGI
When she's not polishing her crown, knitting booties for the grandkids (we're sure she does) or modelling for stamps, there is nothing Her Royal Highness likes better than walking her four-legged corgi friends around the Buckingham Palace Gardens. It would be a right royal shame if your mini Liz should be four-legged friendless. You can knit her tiny stitched snuffling hounds to keep her company when she steps out to meet us crafty commoners. Just make sure to walk the handmade hounds twice a day. They may have little legs, but they still need exercise.
GUBBINS
Needles
Pair of 2.5mm (US B1) needles Small amount of yellow/brown mohain for back, ears and tail Small amount of white DK (worsted) acrylic for belly and legs Small amount of black DK (worsted) acrylic for nose Other bits 2 x black seed beads for eyes Black embroidery thread (optional for dog lead) Difficulty rating: London Local Size: 4cm (1 %in) long Gauge: Not important
PATTERN
BacK
Cast on 2 sts in yellow/brown yarn. Row I IncI twice (4 sts). Row 2 P across. Row 3 K, mI, k2, mI,k (6 sts). Row 4 P across. Row 5 K, mI, k4, mI, k (8 sts). Rows 6-II Work in st st starting with purl row. Row I2 P2tog four times (4 sts). Row I3 K across. Row I4 P2 tog twice (2 sts). Row I5 K across. Row I6 P across. Row I7 K across. Thread yarn through sts for nose and fasten off.
Belly
Cast on 2 sts in white yarn. Row I IncI twice (4 sts). Row 2 P across. Row 3 K, ml, k2, mI, k (6 sts). Rows 4-II Work in st st starting with purl row. Row I2 P2tog across (3 sts). Rows I3-20 Work in st st starting with knit row. Thread yarn through sts for nose and fasten off.
Ears (make 2)
Cast on 2 sts in yellow/brown yarn. Row I K across. Row 2 P across. Row 3 K across. Thread yarn through sts and fasten off.
ALL CHANGE
Turn your cheerful corgi into an adorable armadillo by knitting him in green and swapping stocking stitch (US: stockinette) for garter stitch for the "back' part of the pattern (change all purls to knits). Make an awesome anteater with grey yarn, with a few more rows for that long, long nose and a pink strand of yarn for the sticky tongue.
FINISAING
Make the legs in white and the tail in yellow/brown with French knots. To make a French knot:Thread the yarn into the body and bring the needle out where you want the legs or tail to be. Hold the yarn taut and flat to the fabric with your left thumb. With your right hand, twist the needle round the yarn twice. Still holding the yarn firm, push the needle back into the fabric slightly away from where the yarn emerges from the fabric and insert the needle. Pull the yarn through to make a knot. For the feet, push the needle out at the point where you want the next leg and repeat four times. Use black yarn to embroider nose. Tie black thread around neck, leaving a long end for the lead.
This free pattern was released into the wild as part of the knitty city Stitch London book by Lauren O'Farrell. www.knitthepigeon.com|ISBN:978-0-7153-3867-6This pattern is not for commercial use
