We all love piglets. It’s hard to decide which is the most beloved of all fictional piglets – Piglet himself, Winnie-the-Pooh’s diminutive chum; Babe, the hero of Dick King-Smith’s brilliant The Sheep-Pig (later made into a wonderful film); or Wilbur, of Charlotte’s Web fame. There are numerous other examples of fictional piglets, and they’re very big on the internet, especially the tiny teacup variety.
This is a tiny version of the pig and therefore a good animal to start with.
Length: 13cm (5in)
Height to top of head: 6cm (2½in)
• Pair of 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles
• Double-pointed 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles (for holding stitches)
• 25g (1oz) of Rowan Pure Wool DK in Dew 057 (de)
• Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 (bl) for eyes, nose and trotters
• 2 pipecleaners for legs
With de, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Row 5: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K1, inc, k2, inc, k1. (8 sts)
Row 8: Purl.*
Row 9: Cast (bind) off 4 sts, k to end (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Row 9: K4, cast (bind) off 4 sts (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
With de, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Row 5: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.**
Row 9: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k to end (hold 3 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Front Leg to **.
Row 9: K3, cast (bind) off 3 sts (hold 3 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Row 1: With de, cast on 2 sts, with RS facing k3 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 10 sts, k4 from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 3 sts. (22 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K21, inc. (23 sts)
Row 4: P23, cast on 8 sts. (31 sts)
Row 5: K30, inc. (32 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k28 icos, inc. (30 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K2tog, k28. (29 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K2tog, k25, k2tog. (27 sts)
Row 12: P2tog, p23, p2tog. (25 sts)
Row 13: Cast (bind) off 6 sts, k17 icos, k2tog. (18 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
Row 1: With de, cast on 2 sts, with WS facing p3 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 10 sts, k4 from spare needle of Left Back Leg, cast on 3 sts. (22 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: P21, inc. (23 sts)
Row 4: K23, cast on 8 sts. (31 sts)
Row 5: P30, inc. (32 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, p28 icos, inc. (30 sts)
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: P2tog, p28. (29 sts)
Row 10: Knit.
Row 11: P2tog, p25, p2tog. (27 sts)
Row 12: K2tog, k23, k2tog. (25 sts)
Row 13: Cast (bind) off 6 sts, p17 icos, p2tog. (18 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With de, cast on 1 st.
Beg with a k row, cont in st st.
Row 1: Inc. (2 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Work 33 rows st st.
Row 39: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 43: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 44: Purl.
Row 45: K2tog and fasten off.
With de, cast on 14 sts.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With de, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1 (forms ridge on RS): Knit.
Row 2: Inc, k1, inc. (5 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K2, inc, k2. (6 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: Purl.
Row 8: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Row 9: [P2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 10: K2tog and fasten off.
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 trotters.
BODY Sew along back of piglet and 2.5cm (1in) down bottom.
TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to where you have finished sewing down bottom, 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 trotters. 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 piglet firmly, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
TAIL Attach tail to start of bottom. Twist tail around to curl in a pig-like way.
EARS With knit side uppermost, sew cast on row of each ear to top of head, parallel to front of front legs, with 3 rows between ears. The ears should flop forwards.
EYES With bl, make a tiny horizontal stitch for each eye, 2 rows below centre seam and approx 5 sts back from nose (or do French knots if you prefer).
TROTTERS With bl, sew 2 sts vertically down front of each trotter.
NOSTRILS With bl, sew tiny sts for nostrils (optional).
