A little workhorse, the Shetland pony really does originate from the Shetland Isles. They are strong, small and intelligent, and used to work down the mines as pit ponies and on farms pulling carts. These days they are more likely to be ridden by children or harnessed to a carriage for competing at shows. We had one, called Starlight, an utterly fiendish and unapproachable pony, but we loved her all the same. The English cartoonist, Norman Thelwell, wrote many books featuring an impish, big-bottomed Shetland pony called Kipper.
The tail and mane need to be luxurious.
Length: 25cm (10in)
Height to top of head: 22cm (8¾in)
Pair of 4mm (US 6) knitting needles
Double-pointed 4mm (US 6) knitting needles (for holding stitches)
10g (¼oz) of Rowan Kid Classic in Mellow
877 (ml) used DOUBLE throughout
55g (2oz) of Rowan Kid Classic in Bear 817 (be) used DOUBLE throughout
2 pipecleaners
Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 (bl) for eyes
See here.
See for Scarf Fringe Method.
See for Wrap and Turn Method.
With ml, cast on 9 sts.
Beg with k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, inc. (9 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Cont in be.
Row 5: K2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2. (7 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.*
Row 13: K2, inc, k1, inc, k2. (9 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K3, inc, k1, inc, k3. (11 sts)
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: K4, inc, k1, inc, k4. (13 sts)
Row 18: Purl.**
Row 19: Cast (bind) off 6 sts, k to end (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to **.
Row 19: K7, cast (bind) off 6 sts (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Row 13: Inc, k5, inc. (9 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.***
Row 17: Cast (bind) off 4 sts, k to end (hold 5 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Front Leg to ***.
Row 17: K5, cast (bind) off 4 sts (hold 5 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Row 1: With be, cast on 1 st, k5 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 8 sts. (14 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Inc, k13, cast on 4 sts. (19 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k18, cast on 2 sts, k7 from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (31 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K25, inc, k5. (32 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Inc, k24, inc, k6. (34 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K26, inc, k7. (35 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Inc, k26, inc, k7. (37 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 17: K28, k2tog, k5, k2tog. (35 sts)
Row 18: P2tog, p33. (34 sts)
Row 19: Inc, k25, k2tog, k4, k2tog. (33 sts)
Row 20: P2tog, p8, p2tog, cast (bind) off 8 sts, p to end (hold 13 sts on spare needle for right side of neck).
Row 21: Rejoin yarn, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog. (7 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
RUMP
Stuff the pony’s bottom well to give it that characteristic big rump.
Row 1: With be, cast on 1 st, p5 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 8 sts. (14 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Inc, p13, cast on 4 sts. (19 sts)
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: Inc, p18, cast on 2 sts, p7 from spare needle of Left Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (31 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: P25, inc, p5. (32 sts)
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: Inc, p24, inc, p6. (34 sts)
Row 10: Knit.
Row 11: P26, inc, p7. (35 sts)
Row 12: Knit.
Row 13: Inc, p26, inc, p7. (37 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 17: P28, p2tog, p5, p2tog. (35 sts)
Row 18: K2tog, k33. (34 sts)
Row 19: Inc, p25, p2tog, p4, p2tog. (33 sts)
Row 20: K2tog, k8, k2tog, cast (bind) off 8 sts, k to end (hold 13 sts on spare needle for left side of neck).
Row 21: Rejoin yarn, p2tog, p2, p2tog, p2, p2tog. (7 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
FORELOCK
To make a forelock, take some of the mane between the ears.
Row 1: With be and RS facing, k11, k2tog from spare needle of Right Side of Body and k2tog, k11 from spare needle of Left Side of Body. (24 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Inc, k9, [k2tog] twice, k9, inc. (24 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K10, [k2tog] twice, k10. (22 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Inc, k8, [k2tog] twice, k8, inc. (22 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K18, wrap and turn (leave 4 sts on spare needle).
Row 10: P14, w&t.
Row 11: K13, w&t.
Row 12: P12, w&t.
Row 13: K11, w&t.
Row 14: P10, w&t.
Row 15: K9, w&t.
Row 16: P8, w&t.
Row 17: K7, w&t.
Row 18: P6, w&t.
Row 19: K7, w&t.
Row 20: P8, w&t.
Row 21: K9, w&t.
Row 22: P10, w&t.
Row 23: K11, w&t.
Row 24: P12, w&t.
Row 25: K13, w&t.
Row 26: P14, w&t.
Row 27: K18. (22 sts in total)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 31: K6, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k6. (20 sts)
Row 32: Purl.
Row 33: K2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog. (16 sts)
Row 34: Purl.
Row 35: K2tog, k3, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k3, k2tog. (12 sts)
Row 36: Purl.
Row 37: K2tog, k8, k2tog. (10 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With be, cast on 7 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 14 rows st st.
Row 15: Inc, k5, inc. (9 sts)
Work 15 rows st st.
Row 31: K2tog, k5, k2tog. (7 sts)
Work 9 rows st st.
Row 41: K2tog, k3, k2tog. (5 sts)
Work 17 rows st st.
Row 59: K2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 63: K3tog and fasten off.
(make 2 the same)
With be, cast on 4 sts.
Knit 4 rows.
Row 5: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Row 8: K2tog and fasten off.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on row and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
LEGS With WS together, fold leg in half. Starting at hoof, sew up legs on RS.
BODY Sew along back of pony and around its bottom.
TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to bottom of pony’s bottom (where legs begin), and sew cast (bound) off row to just below neck. Ease and sew tummy to fit body, matching curves of tummy to legs. Leave a 2.5cm (1in) gap between front and back legs on one side.
HEAD AND NOSE Fold in half and sew together to top of tummy.
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 the pipecleaner and slip into body, one end down each front leg. Repeat with second pipecleaner and back legs. Starting at the head, stuff the pony firmly, especially at the bottom, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
TAIL With ml, cut 14 x 20cm (8in) lengths of yarn, fold in half; with another length, knot the yarn together at the fold. Attach tail to start of bottom. Trim.
EARS Sew cast on row of each ear to head, with 3 stitches between ears.
EYES With bl, sew 3 slanting satin stitches, positioned as in photograph.
MANE: Cut approx 34 x 15cm (6in) lengths of ml. Use crochet hook and scarf fringe method to attach pairs of strands in tufts along the centre of the neck and between the ears. Trim to shape as in photograph: the Shetland pony has a shaggy feel.
