Spud is truly the star of the show, the center of attention, and the scenestealer whether he likes it or not! I have used the wooly twisted loop stitch on Spud’s body and hair to add depth and dimension to his coat. Spud is loads of fun to knit and even more fun to have around when completed.
Finished Measurements
8 inches tall (not including hair on head), 5 inches wide across the body, 5½ inches long from the front end of the body to the back end of the body
Yarn
Spud & Chloë Sweater (55% superwash wool, 45% organic cotton; 100 grams/160 yards), 1 hank each in Ice Cream #7500, Toast #7506, and Firecracker #7509
Needles
U.S. size 4 (3.5 mm) double-pointed needles (set of four) or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions
Stitch markers
Ruler or tape measure
Yarn needle
Scissors
Plastic pellets (optional—do not use for young children or babies, as they pose a choking hazard)
Polyester fiberfill
Embroidery needle
Black embroidery floss
Gauge
5½ sts per inch in stockinette stitch
Knit the stitch, leave it on the left needle, pull the loop from the right needle out 2 inches with your fingers. Place your finger in the loop and twist the loop until it folds over on itself. Place the loop on the left needle. Knit the 2 stitches together.
BODY
Starting at the base of the body, cast on 9 sts with Ice Cream, placing 3 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Increase Rounds
Rnd 1 and every odd round: Knit.
Rnd 2: Kfb in each st—6 sts per needle, 18 sts total.
Rnd 4: (k1, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—9 sts per needle, 27 sts total.
Rnd 6: (k2, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—12 sts per needle, 36 sts total.
Rnd 8: (k3, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—15 sts per needle, 45 sts total.
Rnd 10: (k4, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—18 sts per needle, 54 sts total.
Rnd 12: (k5, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—21 sts per needle, 63 sts total.
Rnd 14: (k6, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—24 sts per needle, 72 sts total.
Place a stitch marker on round 14 and leave it there.
Twisted Loop Pattern
Begin pattern as follows:
Rnd 1: (tl, k1); repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: (k1, tl); repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Repeat rounds 1–4 until the body measures 3 inches above the marker on round 14, ending with round 1.
Rnd 1: (k6, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—21 sts per needle, 63 sts rem.
Rnd 2: (k1, tl); repeat to the last st, k1.
Rnd 3: (k5, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—18 sts per needle, 54 sts rem.
Rnd 4: (tl, k1); repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 5: (k4, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—15 sts per needle, 45 sts rem.
After round 5, thread the tail from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and take some stitches to close the hole on the bottom. Stitch to secure, pull the end to the inside of the body, and trim.
Fill one-third full with plastic pellets and stuff the rest with fiberfill or stuff only with fiberfill up to the needles. Continue to add stuffing as you finish the Decrease rounds.
Rnd 6: (k1, tl); repeat to the last st, k1.
Rnd 7: (k3, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—12 sts per needle, 36 sts rem.
Rnd 8: (tl, k1); repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 9: (k2, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—9 sts per needle, 27 sts rem.
Rnd 10: (k1, tl); repeat to the last st, k1.
Rnd 11: (k1, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—6 sts per needle, 18 sts rem.
Rnd 12: (tl, k1); repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 13: K2tog to the end of the round—3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Add any remaining stuffing needed.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and thread it on a yarn needle. Draw it through the remaining sts and stitch to secure. Pull it through to the inside and trim so the end stays inside.
HEAD
Starting at the back of the head with Toast, cast on 9 sts, placing 3 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnd 2: (k1, m1, k1, m1, k1); repeat on each needle—5 sts per needle, 15 sts total.
Rnds 3 and 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: (k1, [k1, m1 four times]) repeat between (and) on each needle— 9 sts per needle, 27 sts total.
Rnds 6 and 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: (k3, m1); repeat 3 times on each needle—12 sts per needle, 36 sts total.
Rnds 9–20: Knit.
Rnd 21: (ssk, k8, k2tog); repeat on each needle—10 sts per needle, 30 sts rem.
Rnd 22: Knit.
Rnd 23: (ssk, k6, k2tog); repeat on each needle—8 sts per needle, 24 sts rem.
Rnds 24 and 25: Knit.
Rnd 26: (ssk, k4, k2tog); repeat on each needle—6 sts per needle, 18 sts rem.
Rnd 27: Knit.
Rnd 28: (k4, k2tog); repeat on each needle—5 sts per needle, 15 sts rem.
After round 28, thread the tail from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and take stitches to close the hole at the back of the head. Stitch to secure, then pull the end to the inside and trim. Fill the head with fiberfill until firm. Continue adding stuffing until the Decrease rounds are completed.
Rnd 29: (k3, k2tog); repeat on each needle—4 sts per needle, 12 sts rem.
Rnd 30: (k2, k2tog); repeat on each needle—3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Add any final stuffing needed. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Stitch to secure, then pull the tail to the inside and trim.
With a length of Toast threaded on a yarn needle, whipstitch the head to the top front of the body. Pull the ends to the inside of the head or body and trim.
FEET (Make 4)
Cast on 15 sts with Toast, placing 5 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1–6: Knit.
Rnd 7: (k3, k2tog); repeat on each needle—4 sts per needle, 12 sts rem. Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: (k2, k2tog); repeat on each needle—3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Stuff the foot with fiberfill until firm. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Stitch to secure, then pull the tail to the inside and trim.
Thread the tail from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the foot to the bottom of the body.
EARS (Make 2)
Cast on 6 sts with Toast, placing 2 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1–3: Knit.
Rnd 4: (k1, m1, k1); repeat on each needle—3 sts per needle, 9 sts total.
Rnds 5 and 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: (k1, k2tog); repeat on each needle—2 sts per needle, 6 sts rem.
Cut the yarn and thread the tail on a yarn needle. Draw the tail through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Pull the tail to the inside and trim. Flatten out the ear.
Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the ears to the head, using the photo as a guide. Pull the end to the inside of the head and trim.
TAIL
Cast on 12 sts with Ice Cream, placing 4 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1–3: Knit.
Rnd 4: (k2, k2tog); repeat on each needle—3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Rnd 5: (k1, k2tog); repeat on each needle—2 sts per needle, 6 sts rem.
Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Stitch to secure, then pull the end to the inside and trim. Flatten out the tail. Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the tail to the back end, toward the top of the body. Pull the end to the inside and trim.
HAIR
Cast on 6 sts with Ice Cream. Use two dpns to work back and forth. Row 1: Tl in each st.
Row 2: Knit.
Rows 3 and 4: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Row 5: Repeat row 1.
Bind off. Cut the yarn and draw it through the remaining st. Thread the tail on a yarn needle and arrange and whipstitch the hair between the ears on the top of the head. Pull the tail through to the inside and trim.
FACE
With an embroidery needle and a length of black embroidery floss, take 2 straight stitches to make each eye. Make a V for the nose and take 3 straight stitches to complete the mouth, using the photograph as a guide. Pull all ends to the inside and trim to stay inside of the head.
BOW TIE
Cast on 12 sts with Firecracker, placing 4 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Knit every round until the bow tie measures 1¾ inches from the cast-on edge. Place 6 sts on each of two dpns and graft them using the Kitchener stitch. With the end from the cast-on sts threaded on a yarn needle, whipstitch the other end closed.
Center Loop
Cast on 4 sts with Firecracker. Using two dpns, work in I-cord until the center loop measures 2¾ inches from the cast-on edge. Bind off. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining st. Place the I-cord around the middle of the bow tie. Whipstitch the ends together to form a ring.
COLLAR
Cast on 2 sts with Firecracker. Using two dpns, work in I-cord until the collar measures 7½ inches from the cast-on sts. Continue on to make a bobble, working back and forth as follows:
Row 1: Kfb, kfb—4 sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit, do not turn, pass the second, third, and fourth sts over and off the needle—1 st rem.
Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining st. Gather up the bobble with a few stitches. Pull the end to the inside and trim.
Thread the tail from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle.
Stitch the cast-on end to the cord to form a loop that measures ¾ inch (big enough for the bobble to pass through but not too loose). Pull the collar through the back of the center loop on the bow tie. Place the collar around Spud’s neck and pull the bobble through the loop.
LEASH
Cast on 2 sts with Firecracker. Using two dpns, work in I-cord until the leash measures 8 inches from the cast-on edge. Bind off. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining st. Stitch the bind-off end to the cord to form a ¾-inch loop. This loop will go on Spud’s collar. On the other end of the I-cord make a loop the same way measuring 1 inch. Slip this loop over Chloë’s hand.
