zoom the greyhound

Working to a tight tension will keep this greyhound in good shape.

RATING

yarn

Lightweight (DK) yarn

1 × 1¾oz (50g) ball in grey (MC)

needles

4 × size 3 (3mm) double-pointed knitting needles

notions

2 × ¼in- (6mm-) diameter toy safety eyes (or black yarn)

Black yarn for nose

gauge

13 sts and 16 rows to 2in (5cm) of st st, using MC and size 3 (3mm) needles

Don't worry if the gauge is not exact – it doesn't matter if the dog is a little bigger or smaller than shown.

finished size

Approx. 8in (20cm) long (not including the tail) × 5in (13cm) tall

Zoom by name, but not necessarily by nature. This small, pocket-sized little greyhound pal won't be chasing rabbits, but he might give the odd spider or beetle a run for its money. Of course, Zoom would win in his ‘go-faster’ speedy red coat!

Zoom's limbs are quite fine, so stuff them with care to give them a good greyhound shape.

DOG PATTERN

knitting notes

The main part of the dog is worked in one piece from the nose to the tail.

The dog is worked on double-pointed knitting needles using the techniques i-cord and working in the round.

Do not use even safety eyes on toys for an infant, as they can be a potential choking hazard. Instead, embroider the eyes in place with thread.

If you want a tighter fabric, simply knit on needles that are one size smaller than specified.

HEAD, BODY, LEGS AND TAIL
Cast on 4 sts using MC and size 3 (3mm) needles.
Row 1 (WS) P.
Row 2 Kfb, k to last st, kfb. 6 sts.
Row 3 Pkfb, p to last st, pkfb. 8 sts.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 12 sts.
Work 6 rows in st st.
Shape front of head
Row 12 (RS) K4, kfb 4 times, k4. 16 sts.
Row 13 P.
Shape jaw
Row 14 (RS) Kfb, k to last st, kfb. 18 sts.
Row 15 P.
Row 16 Divide st: k6 onto n1, k6 onto n2, k6 onto n3.
With RS facing, keeping gauge fairly tight on first rnd, work in the rnd as follows:
Rnd 17 K9, M1, k9. 19 sts.
Shape back of head
Rnd 18 K16, skpo, turn and work the head back and forth as follows:

Row 19 (WS) Sl 1, p13, p2tog, turn.
Row 20 Sl 1, k11, skpo, turn.
Row 21 Sl 1, p8, p2tog, turn.
Row 22 Sl 1, k4, skpo, turn.
Row 23 Sl 1, p2, p2tog, turn.
Row 24 Sl 1, k8 to beg of rnd.
Join to work in the rnd as follows:
Rnd 25 (RS) K13.
Rep last rnd once more.
Shape neck
Rnd 27 Kfb, k4, k3tog, k4, kfb.
Rnd 28 K13.
Rep last 2 rnds once more.
Divide sts: 3 sts onto n1, 7 sts onto n2, 3 sts onto n3.
Rep last 2 rnds once more.
Rnd 31 Kfb twice, k3, k3tog, k3, kfb twice. 15 sts.
Rnd 32 K15.
Rnd 33 Kfb twice, k4, k3tog, k3, kfb twice. 17 sts.
Rnd 34 K17.
Place marker. Work 5 rnds without shaping.
Divide for front
Rnd 40 K4, sl last 8 sts onto a safety pin. K9, turn.
With WS facing, work back and forth as follows:
Shape front legs
Cast on 22 sts at beg of next 2 rows. 53 sts.
Shape feet
Row 43 (WS) P5, turn.
Row 44 Sl 1, k3, turn.
Row 45 Sl 1, p2, turn.
Row 46 Sl 1, k1, turn.
Row 47 Sl 1, p to end.
Row 48 K5, turn.
Row 49 Sl 1, p3, turn.
Row 50 Sl 1, k2, turn.
Row 51 Sl 1, p1, turn.
Row 52 Sl 1, k to end.
Work 3 rows in st st.
Work inside front left leg
Row 56 (RS) K22, turn.
Work 3 rows in st st on these 22 sts for the inside left leg.
Shape inside left foot
Row 60 (RS) K5, turn.
Row 61 Sl 1, p3, turn.
Row 62 Sl 1, k2, turn.
Row 63 Sl 1, p1, turn.
Row 64 Sl 1, k19 to the end of the inside leg, turn.
Bind off 22 sts.
With WS facing, rejoin MC to the foot end of the right leg.
Work inside front right leg
Row 65 (WS) P22, turn.
Row 66 K.
Shape inside right foot
Row 67 (WS) P5, turn.
Row 68 Sl 1, k3, turn.

Row 69 Sl 1, p2, turn.
Row 70 Sl 1, k1, turn.
Row 71 Sl 1, p19 to the end of the inside leg, turn.
Bind off 22 sts.
Leave 9 sts from the back of the dog on the needle and return to the front as follows:
Work front
Sl 8 sts at the neck off the safety pin onto size 3 (3mm) needles. With RS facing, rejoin MC.
Row 72 K.
Work 7 rows in st st.
Join front to back
Row 80 (RS) K8, K4 from the back onto n2, k5 from the back onto n3. 17 sts.
With RS facing, keep gauge tight across junctions, work in the rnd as follows:
Shape tummy
Rnd 81 (RS) K8, [k2, M1] twice, k1, [M1, k2] twice. 21 sts.
Rnd 82 K21.
Rnd 83 [K2, M1] 6 times, k2, kfb, k2, [M1, k2] twice, M1. 31 sts.
Rnd 84 K31.
Rep last rnd 6 times more.
Rnd 91 K2tog, k7, k2tog, k20. 29 sts.
Rnd 92 K2tog, k5, k2tog, k20. 27 sts.
Rnd 93 K2, k3tog, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k2, k2tog. 21 sts.
Rnd 94 K21.
Rnd 95 K1, k3tog, k17. 19 sts.
Rnd 96 K19.
Rnd 97 K3tog, k17. 17 sts.
Rnd 98 K17.
Rep last rnd 8 times more.
Divide for back legs
Rnd 107 K17, sl last 4 sts onto a safety pin.
Rnd 108 Cast on 25 sts, k to end. 38 sts.
Work in st st as follows:
Row 109 (WS) Cast on 25 sts, p to end. 63 sts.
Shape feet
Row 110 (RS) K5, turn.
Row 111 Sl 1, p3, turn.
Row 112 Sl 1, k2, turn.
Row 113 Sl 1, p1, turn.
Row 114 Sl 1, k to end.
Row 115 P5, turn.
Row 116 Sl 1, k3, turn.
Row 117 Sl 1, p2, turn.
Row 118 Sl 1, k1, turn.
Row 119 Sl 1, p to end.
Shape back
Row 120 (RS) K30, k3tog, k to end. 61 sts.
Row 121 P.
Row 122 K29, k3tog, k to end. 59 sts.
Divide for tail
Row 123 (WS) P28, sl next 5 sts onto a safety pin, p28 sts under the tail to end. 54 sts. (Keep tension tight to avoid gaps as you purl above the sts on safety pins.)
Work inside back left leg
Row 124 (RS) K25, turn.
Work 3 rows in st st on these 25 sts for the inside left leg.
Shape inside left foot
Row 128 (RS) K5, turn.
Row 129 Sl 1, p3, turn.
Row 130 Sl 1, k2, turn.
Row 131 Sl 1, p1, turn.
Row 132 Sl 1, k22 to end of inside leg, turn.
Bind off 25 sts.
With WS facing, rejoin MC to the foot end of the right leg.
Work inside back right leg
Row 133 (WS) P25, turn.
Work 3 rows in st st on these 25 sts for the inside right leg.
Shape inside right foot
Row 137 (WS) P5, turn.
Row 138 Sl 1, k3, turn.
Row 139 Sl 1, p2, turn.
Row 140 Sl 1, k1, turn.
Row 141 Sl 1, p22 to the end of the inside leg, turn.
Bind off 25 sts.
Sl 4 sts on the safety pin at the tail end onto size 3 (3mm) needles.
Row 142 (RS) MC K across.
Work st st for 5 rows, so ending with a WS row.
Cut yarn and leave sts on needle.
Join seam under back legs
Sl 4 sts from the safety pin at the under body onto size 3 (3mm) needle.
With WS tog, hold needles parallel. Work Kitchener stitch to close the seam. Weave in end.
Shape tail
Sl 5 sts off the safety pin at the tail onto size 3 (3mm) needle.
Work as i-cord for 7 rows.
Next rnd K2tog, k1, k2tog. 3 sts.
Work as i-cord until the tail measures 4in (10cm).
Cut yarn and thread end through sts. Pull up tight and secure.

EARS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 3 sts using MC and size 3 (3m) needles.
Row 1 (WS) P.
Row 2 Kfb, k to last st, kfb. 5 sts.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 7 sts.
Row 5 P.
Row 6 K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. 5 sts.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 3 sts.
Row 9 P3tog. 1 st.
Fasten off. Weave in end.

MAKING UP
HEAD
Carefully turn the work to the wrong side. Backstitch the row ends at the side of the head and along the nose. Carefully turn right side out. Use your finger to push out the shaping at the nose.

EYES
Following the manufacturer's instructions, snap the eyes in place on each side of the nose. Alternatively, embroider the eyes with yarn.
Stuff the head and neck fairly firmly.

NOSE
Embroider the top of the nose with a few long stitches in black yarn.

EARS
Join the bind-off end of each ear to each side of the head where the shaping decreases.

FRONT LEGS
With WS facing, fold the front leg in half, joining the row ends and matching the foot shaping. Leaving the tops (bind-off edges) of the legs unsewn, mattress stitch the row ends to join the inside leg to the outer leg. Work a running stitch around the bind-off end at the foot, pull it up tight to gather and secure.
Using tweezers, stuff the leg fairly firmly. Shape the leg and foot. Weave in the end. Stuff and shape the other leg and foot to match.
Join the seam around the front leg. Then stuff the body quite firmly.

BACK LEGS
Sew up, stuff and shape the back legs as for the front legs.
Join the seam around the back legs. Then stuff the back of the body quite firmly. If necessary, backstitch any opening under the tail.
Take time to really sculpt your dog to give it a greyhound shape.