There is an immense affinity between man and horse. For hundreds of years the horse was a working animal; now supplanted by vehicles, they are mainly ridden for enjoyment. There’s a wealth of different ways to engage with horses: racing, hacking, dressage, cross-country, hunting, show jumping and carriage racing. My sister Lucy is a keen horsewoman; her connection with her horse is so strong, they seem to be one entity. Famous horses (both real and make-believe) include Champion the Wonder Horse, Black Beauty, My Little Pony, Red Rum, Arkle and poor Shergar, kidnapped by the IRA but never found.
The horse is a large but simple animal to knit. The rump needs plenty of stuffing.
Length: 30cm (12in)
Height to top of head: 21cm (8¼in)
• Pair of 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles
• Double-pointed 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles (for holding stitches)
• Small amount of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Charcoal Heather 00402 (ch) for hooves
• 5g (⅛oz) of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Natural 00100 (na)
• 40g (1½oz) of Rowan Pure Wool Worsted in Clove 108 (cv)
• 10g (¼oz) of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Ebony 00500 (eb)
• 2 pipecleaners for legs
• Crochet hook for mane
See here.
See for Loopy Stitch, Work 2-finger loopy stitch throughout pattern.
See for Short Row Patterning.
See for Scarf Fringe Method.
With ch, cast on 13 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k3, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k3, inc. (13 sts)
Row 4: Inc, p3, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p3, inc. (13 sts)
Cont in na.
Row 5: K4, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k4. (11 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K1, loopy st 9, k1.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K1, loopy st 2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, loopy st 2, k1. (9 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K1, loopy st 1, k5, loopy st 1, k1.
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: K1, loopy st 1, k5, loopy st 1, k1.
Row 14: Purl.**
Join in cv.
Row 15: K1cv, k7na, k1cv.
Row 17: K3cv, incna, k1na, incna, k3cv. (11 sts)
Row 18: P5cv, p1na, p5cv.
Cont in cv.
Row 19: K4, inc, k1, inc, k4. (13 sts)
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: K5, inc, k1, inc, k5. (15 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K6, inc, k1, inc, k6. (17 sts)
Row 24: Purl.
Row 25: K7, inc, k1, inc, k7. (19 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 29: K8, inc, k1, inc, k8. (21 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.*
Row 33: Cast (bind) off 10 sts, k to end (hold 11 sts of spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Legs
Stuff the horse’s legs well for added muscle.
Fetlocks
Trim the loops for fetlocks to the length you prefer.
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Row 33: K11, cast (bind) off 10 sts (hold 11 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to **.
Work 2 rows st st.
Join in cv.
Row 17: K3na, k3cv, k3na.
Row 18: P2na, p5cv, p2na.
Row 19: Incna, k7cv, incna. (11 sts)
Row 20: P2na, p7cv, p2na.
Cont in cv.
Row 21: Inc, k9, inc. (13 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: Inc, k11, inc. (15 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.***
Row 27: Cast (bind) off 7 sts, k to end (hold 8 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Front Leg to ***.
Row 27: K8, cast (bind) off 7 sts (hold 8 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Row 1: With cv, cast on 1 st, with RS facing k8 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 11 sts. (20 sts)
Row 2: P19, inc. (21 sts)
Row 3: Inc, k10, inc, k7, inc, k1, cast on 4 sts. (28 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k11, inc, k7, inc, k5, inc, k1, cast on 2 sts. (34 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K34, cast on 1 st, with RS facing k11 from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (48 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Inc, k47. (49 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K39, inc, k4, inc, k3, inc. (52 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 15: K40, inc, k6, inc, k3, inc. (55 sts)
Row 23: K40, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k5. (53 sts)
Row 24: Purl.
Row 25: K15, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k20. (50 sts)
Row 26: P2tog, p48. (49 sts)
Row 27: K2tog, k12, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4. (44 sts)
Row 28: P2tog, p42. (43 sts)
Row 29: K19, cast (bind) off 12 sts, k10 icos, k2tog (hold 19 sts on spare needle for Row 32).
Row 30: Working on 11 sts, p2tog, p7, p2tog. (9 sts)
Row 31: Cast (bind) off.
Row 32: Rejoin yarn to rem 19 sts, p19.
Row 33: K2tog, k17. (18 sts)
Row 34: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, p to end (hold 16 sts on spare needle for Neck and Head).
Row 1: With cv, cast on 1 st, with WS facing p8 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 11 sts. (20 sts)
Row 2: K19, inc. (21 sts)
Row 3: Inc, p10, inc, p7, inc, p1, cast on 4 sts. (28 sts)
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: Inc, p11, inc, p7, inc, p5, inc, p1, cast on 2 sts. (34 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: P34, cast on 1 st, with WS facing p11 from spare needle of Left Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (48 sts)
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: Inc, p47. (49 sts)
Row 10: Knit.
Row 11: P39, inc, p4, inc, p3, inc. (52 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 15: P40, inc, p6, inc, p3, inc. (55 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 23: P40, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p5. (53 sts)
Row 24: Knit.
Row 25: P15, p2tog, p7, p2tog, p5, p2tog, p20. (50 sts)
Row 26: K2tog, k48. (49 sts)
Row 27: P2tog, p12, p2tog, p7, p2tog, p12, p2tog, p4, p2tog, p4. (44 sts)
Row 28: K2tog, k42. (43 sts)
Row 29: P19, cast (bind) off 12 sts, p10 icos, p2tog (hold 19 sts on spare needle for Row 32).
Row 30: Working on 11 sts, k2tog, k7, k2tog. (9 sts)
Row 31: Cast (bind) off.
Row 32: Rejoin yarn to rem 19 sts, k19.
Row 33: P2tog, p17. (18 sts)
Row 34: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, k to end (hold 16 sts on spare needle for Neck and Head).
Row 1: With cv and RS facing, k16 from spare needle of Right Side of Body, then k16 from spare needle of Left Side of Body. (32 sts)
Row 2: P14, [p2tog] twice, p14. (30 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Inc, p12, [p2tog] twice, p12, inc. (30 sts)
Row 5: K8, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k8. (28 sts)
Row 6: P12, [p2tog] twice, p12. (26 sts)
Row 7: Inc, k10, [k2tog] twice, k10, inc. (26 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K11, [k2tog] twice, k10, w&t (leave 1 st on left-hand needle unworked).
Row 10: P22, w&t.
Row 11: K9, [k2tog] twice, k8, w&t.
Row 12: P18, w&t.
Row 13: K17, w&t.
Row 14: P16, w&t.
Row 15: K6, [k2tog] twice, k5, w&t.
Row 16: P12, w&t.
Row 17: K4, [k2tog] twice, k3, w&t.
Row 18: P8, w&t.
Row 19: K9, w&t.
Row 20: P10, w&t.
Row 21: K11, w&t.
Row 22: P5cv, p2na, p5cv, w&t.
Row 23: K5cv, k2na, k6cv, w&t.
Row 24: P5cv, p4na, p5cv, w&t.
Row 25: K5cv, k4na, k6cv, w&t.
Row 26: P6cv, p3na, p7cv, w&t.
Row 27: K7cv, k3na, k7cv. (18 sts in total)
Row 28: Inccv, p7cv, p2na, p7cv, inccv. (20 sts)
Row 29: K9cv, k2na, k9cv.
Row 30: P5cv, p2togcv, p2cv, p2na, p2cv, p2togcv, p5cv. (18 sts)
Row 31: K2togcv, k6cv, k2na, k6cv, k2togcv. (16 sts)
Row 32: P7cv, p2na, p7cv.
Row 33: K3cv, k2togcv, k2cv, k2na, k2cv, k2togcv, k3cv. (14 sts)
Row 34: P6cv, p2na, p6cv.
Row 35: K2cv, k2togcv, k2cv, k2na, k2cv, k2togcv, k2cv. (12 sts)
Row 36: P5cv, p2na, p5cv.
Row 37: K5cv, k2na, k5cv.
Row 38: P5cv, p2na, p5cv.
Row 39: K5cv, p1na, p6cv.
Cont in cv.
Row 40: P12.
Row 41: Cast (bind) off 4 sts, k to end. (8 sts)
Row 42: Cast (bind) off 4 sts, p to end. (4 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
Mane
This horse has a casual mane, but it could be made neater if you prefer.
Head
Stuff firmly into the nose so that the horse has a characteristic muzzle and cheek shape.
With cv, cast on 6 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 16 rows st st.
Row 17: K1, inc, k2, inc, k1. (8 sts)
Work 23 rows st st.
Row 41: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Work 27 rows st st.
Row 69: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 77: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 83: K1, [k2tog] twice, k1. (4 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 87: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 88: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 89: Knit.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With cv, cast on 5 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 6 rows st st.
Row 7: K2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Work 2 rows st st.
Row 10: P3tog 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 hooves.
BODY Sew along back of horse 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 horse’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 horse firmly, especially at the bottom, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
TAIL Cut twelve 25cm (10in) lengths of eb yarn and fold in half; with another length, knot the yarn together at the fold. Attach knotted end to start of bottom, then trim.
EARS With purl side facing forwards, sew cast on row of each ear to top of head, with 4 sts between ears.
MANE Cut approx twenty 15cm (6in) lengths of eb yarn and use crochet hook and Scarf Fringe Method (see here) to attach 2-strand tassels along centre back of neck up to ears. Trim to shape as in photograph.
FORELOCK Cut four 10cm (4in) lengths of eb yarn and attach single-strand tassels between the ears.
EYES With eb, sew 4-loop French knots positioned as in photograph.
NOSTRILS With eb, make 4-loop elongated French knots at tip of nose.
