Forever the teenager, the axolotl is an amphibian closely related to the salamander. Ours is an almost transparent albino axolotl, but often they are varying shades of brown with spots. An intriguing animal, they are endangered in the wild but have been successfully bred in captivity, becoming increasingly popular as pets.
The details of the unique axolotl are important: the fins, claws and pronounced eyes.
Length: 22cm (9in)
Height to top of head: 5cm (2in)
Pair of 3¾mm (US 5) knitting needles
Pair of 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles (for back fin)
Crochet hook (for gills and claws)
15g (½oz) of Rowan Pure Wool Aran in Ivory 670 (iv)
5g (⅛oz) of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Ghost 642 (gh) used DOUBLE throughout
5g (⅛oz) of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Blushes 583 (bs) used DOUBLE throughout
2 pipecleaners for legs
Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 (bl) for eyes
See here.
See for Scarf Fringe Method.
(make 2 the same)
With 3¾mm (US 5) needles and iv, cast on 5 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 6 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With 3¾mm (US 5) needles and iv, cast on 5 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 10 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
(starting with the tail)
With 3¾mm (US 5) needles and iv, cast on 3 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Row 5: Inc, k1, inc. (5 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 13: Inc, k3, inc. (7 sts)
Work 11 rows st st.
Row 25: K1, inc, k3, inc, k1. (9 sts)
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: K2, inc, k3, inc, k2. (11 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 33: K2, inc, k5, inc, k2. (13 sts)
Work 13 rows st st.
Row 47: K3, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k3. (11 sts)
Row 48: Purl.
Row 49: K2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog. (7 sts)
Row 50: Purl.
Row 51: Inc, k1, inc, k1, inc, k1, inc. (11 sts)
Row 52: Purl.
Row 53: Inc, k2, inc, k3, inc, k2, inc. (15 sts) Work 9 rows st st.
Row 63: K2tog, k2, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k2, k2tog. (11 sts)
Row 64: Purl.
Row 65: K1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1. (9 sts)
Row 66: P2tog, p5, p2tog. (7 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With 3¾mm (US 5) needles and iv, cast on 3 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 10 rows st st.
Row 11: Inc, k1, inc. (5 sts)
Work 19 rows st st.
Row 31: K1, inc, k1, inc, k1. (7 sts)
Work 17 rows st st.
Row 49: K2tog, k3, k2tog. (5 sts)
Row 50: Purl.
Row 51: K1, inc, k1, inc, k1. (7 sts)
Row 52: Purl.
Row 53: K1, inc, k3, inc, k1. (9 sts)
Work 9 rows st st.
Row 63: K2tog, k5, k2tog. (7 sts)
Row 64: Purl.
Row 65: K2tog, k3, k2tog. (5 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With 2¾mm (US 2) needles and gh, cast on 4 sts.
Knit 10 rows.
Row 11: K1, inc, k2. (5 sts)
Knit 7 rows.
Row 19: K1, inc, k3. (6 sts)
Knit 29 rows.
Row 49: K1, k2tog, k3. (5 sts)
Knit 7 rows.
Row 57: K1, k2tog, k2. (4 sts)
Knit 5 rows.
Row 63: K1, k2tog, k1. (3 sts)
Knit 5 rows.
Row 69: K3tog and fasten off.
(make 6 in total)
With 2¾mm (US 2) needles and bs, cast on 4 sts.
For 2 gills: Beg with a k row, work 8 rows st st.
For 2 gills: Beg with a k row, work 10 rows st st.
For 2 gills: Beg with a k row, work 12 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
LEGS With WS together, fold leg in half. Starting at foot, sew up leg on RS. Cut a pipecleaner to approximately fit length of leg, leaving an extra 2.5cm (1in) at both ends, then fold over 2.5cm (1in) of one end. With a little stuffing wrapped around it, push the folded end of the pipecleaner into leg. Leave top of leg open and an end of yarn to use for sewing leg to body.
BODY AND TUMMY With WS together and starting at the tail, sew the tummy to the body, leaving a 2.5cm (1in) gap in one side.
ATTACHING FIN Fold the body in half lengthways and starting at the tail and cast on row, attach the fin along the centre of the back, picking up a couple of bars between the sts on the body and following the line of the sts to keep the fin straight.
STUFFING Starting at the head, stuff the body then sew up the gap. Mould into shape.
ATTACHING LEGS Using the long end of yarn, attach the right front leg about 1cm (½in) from neck on the side seam, pushing the pipecleaner sticking out of the top of the leg into the body at the seam. Repeat for the left front leg. Attach the back legs at the end of the tail and beginning of the body as it increases, and sew on as for front legs.
GILLS Sew gills onto neck, starting with 8-row gill on the seam at neck, then leaving 1 st between each gill, sew on 10-row gill, then 12-row gill. Repeat for other side. Cut 16 x 5cm (2in) lengths of bs, and attach 4 tufts to each gill, 2 on each side, using the Scarf Fringe Method. Trim.
EYES With bl, sew 2-loop French knots positioned as in photograph. With gh, make a small loop around the French knot eye and sew it down using whip stitch, to encircle the eye.
CLAWS Cut 8 x 5cm (2in) lengths of iv, and with a crochet hook attach 2 tufts to base of each leg using the Scarf Fringe Method. Trim.
