knitaBles
Koala
www.knitables.co.uk
Koala
I hope you have fun knitting this delightful koala, which has been designed to have many uses. It could be made into a soft and cuddly toy, a finger puppet or a catnip toy for the family pet. It could be filled with chocolates, sweets or a small treat and given as a gift or party favour. It is also ideal for charity fundraising.
Materials
Happy knitting! Sarah Double knitting wool (various colours) Knitting needles size 314mm (UK size 10) Sewing needle Good quality washable toy stuffing
Abbreviations
K Knit P Purl st(s) Stitch(es) beg Beginning tog Together inc Increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch dec Decrease by knitting two stitches together K2tog Knit two stitches together P2tog Purl two stitches together sl Slip 1 stitch (stitch is passed from the left needle to the right needle without being knitted, slip purl-wise) psso Pass slip stitch over (pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch and off the needle) st-st Stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row purl) g-st Garter stitch (every row knit) m-st Moss stitch (knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch) B & T Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread through remaining stitches on needle, draw up tightly and fasten off.
Casting off
Always cast off knit wise unless otherwise stated. Working in stripes When knitting different coloured stripes, carry yarns up side of work.
Embroidered stitches
Thread sewing needle with yarn and knot end of yarn. Take needle through the stuffed toy and bring it out at the position required. Pull yarn to draw the knotted end right inside the stuffing. Now work the embroidered stitches. Insert the needle back into the toy at the same place and bring the needle point back up at the opposite end of the stitch. Loop the yarn around the needle and pull the needle through. Repeat the procedure to make a row of chain stitches.
Twisted cords
To make a twisted cord from a single length of yarn, cut a strand of yarn four times as long as the measurement required. Knot one end round a door knob, chair leg or hook and knot a loop in the other end to fit around the index finger of your right hand. Now keeping the yarn taught, twist your finger round and round in a clockwise direction. Keep twisting until when relaxed, the strand of yarn begins to curl back on itself. Fold cord at centre, bringing ends together. Allow yarn to twist tightly and knot ends.
Rows worked in double yarn
There are occasions where one or more rows are worked using double yarn, changing back to a single strand of yarn for subsequent rows. When changing from double to single yarn, treat the two loops on each stitch on the previous row as one stitch when working the next row.
Toy safety
These characters have been designed for young children, so please ensure that attached pieces are sewn on very securely and seams are tightly finished off. If a twisted cord is tied in a bow, sew through bow so that it can not be undone if pulled. Use only new, hygienic, washable stuffing that conforms to current safety standards.
Size
Finished height: Approximately 12cm Raising funds for Bobath Children's Therapy Centre Wales and Marie Curie Cancer Care
Body and head
With grey cast on 22 sts Row 1 K4, (inc, K3) 4 times, K2 (26 sts) Row 2 Purl Row 3 (K2, inc, K2) 5 times, K1 (31 sts) Rows 4 - 8 Beg with a P row, st-st 5 rows Row 9 In grey K13, in white K5, in grey K13 Row 10 In grey P12, in white (P1, K1) 3 times, P1, in grey P12 Row 11 In grey K11, in white (K1, P1)4 times, K1, in grey K 11 Row 12 In grey P10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey P10 Row 13 In grey K10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey K10 Row 14 In grey P10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey P10 Row 15 In grey K10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey K10 Row 16 In grey P10, in white (P1, K1)5 times, P1, in grey P10 Row 17 In grey K10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey K10
Row 18 In grey P10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey P10 Row 19 In grey K10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey K10 Row 20 In grey P10, in white (P1, K1) 5 times, P1, in grey P10 Row 21 In grey K10, in white K2tog, (P1, K1) 3 times, P1, K2tog, in grey K10 (29 sts) Row 22 In grey P10, in white (K1, P1) 4 times, K1, in grey P10 Row 23 In grey K10, in white K2tog, (K1, P1) 2 times, K1, K2tog,in grey K10 (27 sts) Row 24 In grey purl Row 25 Shape head row In grey (K6, inc) 3 times, K6 (30 sts) Rows 26 - 34 Beg with a P row, st-st 9 rows Row 35 K7, K2tog, K12, K2tog, K7 (28 sts) Row 36 Purl Row 37 K6, K2tog, K12, K2tog, K6 (26 sts) Row 38 Purl Row 39 K5, K2tog, K12, K2tog, K5 (24 sts) Row 40 Purl Row 41 K4, K2tog, K12, K2tog, K4 (22 sts) Row 42Purl Row 43 K2tog to end (11 sts) B& T
Ears (make two)
With grey cast on 3 sts Row 1 Inc K wise into every stitch (6 sts) Row 2 Purl Row 3 (Inc, K1)3 times (9 sts) Row 4 Purl Row 5 (Inc, K1)4 times, K1 (13 sts) Row 6 Purl Row 7 Change to white, knit Row 8 K1, (pass yarn under and over the tip of right hand needle to make a stitch, K2tog) to end (13 sts) Row 9 Knit Row 10 Purl Row 11 (K1, K2tog) 4 times, K1 (9 sts) Row 12 Purl Row 13 (K1, K2tog) 3 times (6 sts) Row 14 P2tog to end (3 sts) B& T With right side of st-st outside, fold ears in half and over sew the white row ends to the grey row ends at each side of the ear.
Nose
With black cast on 3 sts Row 1 Purl Row 2 Knit Row 3 Purl Row 4 Cast off
To Make Up
Join the side edges of the koala, working down from gathered top of head. Leave cast on edge open and turn right side out. To make the head, work a gathering thread through every stitch on shape head row, draw up and stuff head. Sew the ears onto the sides of the head as illustrated. Position and sew on the nose and embroider black eyes.
