A beast of burden and a domesticated working animal for 5,000 years, donkeys still perform important roles in developing countries, despite being notoriously stubborn. Nowadays donkeys are used to carry explosives in wars. Legend relates that the ‘cross’ marking on the donkey’s back and shoulders is a blessing to the donkey from God for stoically carrying Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Famous literary donkeys include Bottom, who dreams the dream in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Eeyore, the relentlessly despondent donkey in A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.
The donkey is a fairly straightforward knit and a good introduction to knitting four-legged animals.
Length: 25cm (10in)
Height to top of head: 14cm (5½in)
• Pair of 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles
• Double-pointed 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles (for tail and for holding stitches)
• 5g (⅛oz) of Rowan Pure Wool Worsted in Clove 108 (cv)
• 30g (1¼oz) of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Charcoal Heather 00402 (ch)
• 5g (⅛oz) of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Moss 00005 (ms)
• 2 pipecleaners for legs
• Crochet hook for mane
See here.
See for Short Row Patterning.
See for I-cord Technique.
See for Scarf Fringe Method.
See for Wrap and Turn Method.
With cv, cast on 9 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, inc. (9 sts)
Cont in ch.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, inc. (9 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2.* (7 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 15: K2tog, inc, k1, inc, k2tog. (7 sts)
Row 16: Purl.**
Join in ms.
Row 17: K2ms, incch, k1ch, incch, k2ch. (9 sts)
Row 18: P6ch, p3ms.
Row 19: K3ms, incch, k1ch, incch, k3ch. (11 sts)
Row 20: P7ch, p4ms.
Row 21: K4ms, incch, k1ch, incch, k4ch. (13 sts)
Row 22: P8ch, p5ms.
Row 23: K5ms, incch, k1ch, incch, k5ch. (15 sts)
Row 24: P9ch, p6ms.
Row 25: Incms, k5ms, k8ch, incch. (17 sts)
Row 26: P10ch, p7ms.
Row 27: Cast (bind) off 7 sts ms, 1 st ch, k9ch icos (hold 9 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to **.
Join in ms.
Row 17: K2ch, incch, k1ch, incch, k2ms. (9 sts)
Row 18: P3ms, p6ch.
Row 19: K3ch, incch, k1ch, incch, k3ms. (11 sts)
Row 20: P4ms, p7ch.
Row 21: K4ch, incch, k1ch, incch, k4ms. (13 sts)
Row 22: P5ms, p8ch.
Row 23: K5ch, incch, k1ch, incch, k5ms. (15 sts)
Row 24: P6ms, p9ch.
Row 25: Incch, k8ch, k5ms, incms. (17 sts)
Row 27: K9ch, cast (bind) off 1 st ch, 7 sts ms (hold 9 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Legs
When finished, manipulate the back legs to give them a characterful shape.
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Work 5 rows st st.***
Join in ms.
Row 13: K1ms, k6ch.
Row 14: P6ch, p1ms.
Row 15: K2ms, incch, k1ch, incch, k2ch. (9 sts)
Row 16: P7ch, p2ms.
Row 17: K3ms, k6ch.
Row 18: P6ch, p3ms.
Row 19: K3ms, incch, k1ch, incch, k3ch. (11 sts)
Row 20: P7ch, p4ms.
Row 21: Cast (bind) off 4 sts ms, 1 st ch, k6ch icos (hold 6 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Front Leg to ***.
Join in ms.
Row 13: K6ch, k1ms.
Row 14: P1ms, p6ch.
Row 15: K2ch, incch, k1ch, incch, k2ms. (9 sts)
Row 16: P2ms, p7ch.
Row 17: K6ch, k3ms.
Row 18: P3ms, p6ch.
Row 19: K3ch, incch, k1ch, incch, k3ms. (11 sts)
Row 20: P4ms, p7ch.
Row 21: K6ch, cast (bind) off 1 st ch, 4 sts ms (hold 6 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Row 1: With ch and ms, cast on 1 st ch, with RS facing k6ch from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 1 st ch, 8 sts ms. (16 sts)
Row 2: P5ms, p10ch, incch. (17 sts)
Row 3: K12ch, incch, k3ch, incch, cast on 3 sts ms. (22 sts)
Row 4: P3ms, p18ch, incch. (23 sts)
Row 5: K13ch, incch, k5ch, incch, k1ch, k2ms, cast on 2 sts ms. (27 sts)
Row 6: P3ms, p23ch, incch. (28 sts)
Row 7: Incch, k25ch, k2ms, cast on 2 sts ms, with RS facing k9ch from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 2 sts ch. (42 sts) Cont in ch.
Row 8: P41, inc. (43 sts)
Row 9: Inc, k42. (44 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Join in cv.
Row 11: Incch, k8ch, k1cv, k33ch, incch. (46 sts)
Row 12: P35ch, p1cv, p10ch.
Row 13: Incch, k9ch, k1cv, k34ch, incch. (48 sts)
Row 14: P36ch, p1cv, p11ch.
Row 15: Incch, k9ch, k2cv, k7ch, k2togch, k5, k2togch, k20ch. (47 sts)
Row 16: P34ch, p2cv, p11ch.
Row 17: Incch, k10ch, k2cv, k7ch, k2togch, k5ch, k2togch, k12ch, k2togch, k2ch, k2togch. (44 sts)
Row 18: P2togch, p28ch, p2cv, p12ch. (43 sts)
Row 19: Incch, k11ch, k2cv, k23ch, k2togch, k2ch, k2togch. (42 sts)
Row 20: Cast (bind) off 28 sts ch, 1 st cv, p13ch icos (hold 13 sts on spare needle for Neck and Head).
Row 1: With ch and ms, cast on 1 st ch, with WS facing p6ch from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 1 st ch, 8 sts ms. (16 sts)
Row 2: K5ms, k10ch, incch. (17 sts)
Row 3: P12ch, incch, p3ch, incch, cast on 3 sts ms. (22 sts)
Row 4: K3ms, k18ch, incch. (23 sts)
Row 5: P13ch, incch, p5ch, incch, p1ch, k2ms, cast on 2 sts ms. (27 sts)
Row 6: K3ms, k23ch, incch. (28 sts)
Row 7: Incch, p25ch, p2ms, cast on 2 sts ms, with WS facing p9ch from Left Back Leg, cast on 2 sts ch. (42 sts)
Cont in ch.
Row 8: K41, inc. (43 sts)
Row 9: Inc, p42. (44 sts)
Row 10: Knit.
Join in cv.
Row 11: Incch, p8ch, p1cv, p33ch, incch. (46 sts)
Row 12: K35ch, k1cv, k10ch.
Row 13: Incch, p9ch, p1cv, p34ch, incch. (48 sts)
Row 14: K36ch, k1cv, k11ch.
Row 15: Incch, p9ch, p2cv, p7ch, p2togch, p5, p2togch, p20ch. (47 sts)
Row 16: K34ch, k2cv, k11ch.
Row 17: Incch, p10ch, p2cv, p7ch, p2togch, p5ch, p2togch, p12ch, p2togch, p2ch, p2togch. (44 sts)
Row 18: K2togch, k28ch, k2cv, k12ch. (43 sts)
Row 19: Incch, p11ch, p2cv, p23ch, p2togch, p2ch, p2togch. (42 sts)
Row 20: Cast (bind) off 28 sts ch, 1 st cv, k13ch icos (hold 13 sts on spare needle for Neck and Head).
Row 1: With ch, cast on 1 st ch, with RS facing k11, k2tog from spare needle of Right Side of Body, then k2tog, k10, inc from spare needle of Left Side of Body. (26 sts)
Row 2: P11, [p2tog] twice, p11. (24 sts)
Row 3: K10, [k2tog] twice, k9, w&t (leave 1 st on left-hand needle unworked).
Row 4: P20, w&t.
Row 5: K8, [k2tog] twice, k7, w&t.
Row 6: P16, w&t.
Row 7: K15, w&t.
Row 8: P14, w&t.
Row 9: K5, [k2tog] twice, k4, w&t.
Row 11: K3, [k2tog] twice, k2, w&t.
Row 12: P6, w&t.
Row 13: K7, w&t.
Row 14: P8, w&t.
Row 15: K9, w&t.
Row 16: P10, w&t.
Row 17: K11, w&t.
Row 18: P12, w&t.
Row 19: K4, [k2tog] twice, k5, w&t.
Row 20: P12, w&t.
Row 21: K13. (14 sts in total)
Row 22: Inc, p2, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p2, inc. (14 sts)
Row 23: Knit.
Row 24: P4, p2tog, p2, p2tog, p4. (12 sts)
Row 25: Knit.
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: K2tog, k8, k2tog. (10 sts)
Cont in ms.
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 31: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k to end. (7 sts)
Row 32: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, p to end. (4 sts)
Work 2 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
With ms, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 12 rows st st.
Row 13: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 17: K1, inc, k2, inc, k1. (8 sts)
Work 19 rows st st.
Row 37: K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 41: K1, [k2tog] twice, k1. (4 sts)
Work 43 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
With double-pointed needles and ch, cast on 5 sts.
Work i-cord as folls:
Knit 16 rows.
Row 17: K2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Knit 3 rows.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With ch, cast on 4 sts.
Knit 10 rows.
Row 11: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 14: K2tog and fasten off.
Mane
The mane is made from tassels; you can cut them as long or as short as you like.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
LEGS With WS together and whip stitch, fold each leg in half and sew up legs on RS, starting at hooves.
BODY Sew along back of donkey and around bottom.
NOSE Sew centre section of nose to sides of nose, to make a square shape.
TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to base of donkey’s bottom (where legs begin), and sew cast (bound) off row to nose. Ease and sew tummy to fit body. Leave a 2.5cm (1in) gap between front and back legs on one side.
STUFFING Pipecleaners are used to stiffen the legs and help bend them into shape. Fold a pipecleaner into a U-shape and measure against front two legs. Cut to fit approximately, leaving an extra 2.5cm (1in) at both ends. Fold these ends over to stop the pipecleaner poking out of the hooves. Roll a little stuffing around pipecleaner and slip into body, one end down each front leg. Repeat with second pipecleaner and back legs. Starting at the head, stuff the donkey firmly, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
TAIL Attach cast on row of tail to start of bottom. Cut four 5cm (2in) lengths of cv yarn and use crochet hook and Scarf Fringe Method (see here) to attach to end of tail, then trim.
EARS Sew cast on row of each ear to top of head, with 4 sts between ears.
EYES With bl, sew 3 slanting satin stitches positioned as in photograph.
MANE Cut approx fifteen 5cm (2in) lengths of cv yarn and use crochet hook and Scarf Fringe Method (see here) to attach single-strand tassels along centre back of neck and between ears. Trim to shape as in photograph.
NOSE With ch, sew 3-loop French knots for nostrils.
