Farms always have a dog or two running around keeping things in order. Farm Dog is the spirited greeter living at this farm. He is a barker and a jumper, but in the friendliest of ways. Have fun creating this silly dog with a big presence.
Finished Measurements
8 inches tall, 3 inches wide, 2½ inches long from the front 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 Toast #7506, Root Beer #7503, Ice Cream #7500, and Splash #7510
Needles
U.S. size 6 (4 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
Plastic drinking straw
Gauge
5½ sts per inch in stockinette stitch
Starting at the back end of the body, cast on 9 sts with Toast, 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 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Kfb in each st—6 sts per needle, 18 sts total.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: Kfb in each st—12 sts per needle, 36 sts total.
Rnds 5 and 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: (k3, kfb); repeat to the end of the round—15 sts per needle, 45 sts total.
Place a stitch marker at the beginning of round 8 and leave it there. Knit until the body measures 3 inches above the stitch marker.
Decrease Rounds
Rnd 1: (k3, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—12 sts per needle, 36 sts rem.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: (k2, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—9 sts per needle, 27 sts rem.
At this point, thread the tail from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle. Take a few stitches to close the hole. Pull the end to the inside of the body and trim. Fill the bottom with a layer of plastic pellets and stuff the rest of the body until firm with fiberfill or stuff with fiberfill only. Continue to stuff the body.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: (k1, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—6 sts per needle, 18 sts rem.
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: (k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Finish any stuffing. 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. Leave the end out to use later for attaching the head.
HEAD
Starting at the back of the head, work rounds 1–8 the same as for the body—15 sts per needle, 45 sts total. Place a stitch marker on round 8 and leave it there. Knit every round until the head measures 1¼ inches above the stitch marker.
Decrease Rounds
Rnd 1: On Needle 1, knit. On Needles 2 and 3 (k3, k2tog), repeat to the end of the round—12 sts rem on Needles 2 and 3 needle; 39 sts rem.
Rnd 2: On Needle 1, knit. On Needles 2 and 3, (k2, k2tog), repeat to the end of the round—9 sts rem on Needles 2 and 3; 33 sts rem.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: On Needle 1, k1, ssk, k9, k2tog, k1—13 sts rem. On Needles 2 and 3, (k1, k2tog), repeat to the end of the round—6 sts rem on each needle; 25 sts rem.
Rnds 5–10: Knit.
Rnd 11: On Needle 1, k1, (k1, k2tog) four times—9 sts rem. On Needles 2 and 3, knit—21 sts rem.
Rnd 12: On Needle 1, (k1, k2tog) three times—6 sts rem. On Needles 2 and 3, knit—18 sts rem.
At this point, thread the tail from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle. Take a few stitches to close the hole, pull the tail to the inside of the head, and trim. Fill the head with fiberfill until firm. Continue to stuff the head as needed as you work. Rnd 13: (k1, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round—4 sts per needle, 12 sts rem.
Rnd 14: Knit.
Rnd 15: (k1, k2tog, k1); repeat to the end of the round—3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.
Finish any stuffing. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Take a couple of stitches to secure, pull the end to the inside, and trim.
Thread the end from the top of the body on a yarn needle and whipstitch the head to the body.
EARS (Make 2)
Outer Ear
Cast on 7 sts with Root Beer. Use two dpns to work back and forth.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Rows 3–6: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Row 7: Ssk, k3, k2tog—5 sts rem.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Ssk, k1, k2tog—3 sts rem.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Slip 1 st, k2tog, pass the slipped st over and off the left needle—1 st rem.
Cut the yarn and pull the end through the remaining st.
Inner Ear
Cast on 5 sts with Ice Cream. Use two dpns to work back and forth.
Rows 1–6: Same as for the outer ear.
Row 7: Ssk, k1, k2tog—3 sts rem.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Slip 1, k2tog, pass the slipped st over and off the left needle—1 st rem.
Cut the yarn and pull the end through the remaining st.
Place the inner ear on the outer ear with the purl sides together.
Thread an end from the inner ear on a yarn needle and whipstitch the inner and outer ears together around the edge. Thread an end from the outer ear on a yarn needle and whipstitch the ear to the top of the head. Pull the ends from the outer ear into the head and trim. Pull the ends from the inner ear between the layers and trim.
Repeat with the other ear.
NOSE
Cast on 1 st with Root Beer. Use two dpns to work back and forth.
Row 1: Knit in the front and back and front again—3 sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit, do not turn, pass the second and third sts over the first st and off the needle—1 st rem.
Cut the yarn and pull the end through the remaining st. Place the end on a yarn needle and whipstitch the nose to the front of the face. Pull all ends to the inside of the head and trim.
FACE
Note: Pull all ends to the inside and trim to stay inside of the head.
Eyes
With a length of black embroidery floss on an embroidery needle take 2 tiny straight horizontal stitches per eye and then take 1 vertical stitch slightly above the horizontal stitches to catch the stitches and pull them up. Repeat for the other eye.
Mouth
With a length of black embroidery floss threaded on an embroidery needle, take straight stitches to make a vertical line coming down from the center of the nose. Then take 2 straight stitches on each side of the vertical stitch to form the upturned mouth.
Cast on 6 sts with Ice Cream. Use two dpns to work back and forth.
Row 1: K1, m1, k4, m1, k1—8 sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, m1, k6, m1, k1—10 sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Purl.
Rows 7–10: Repeat rows 5 and 6.
Row 11: K1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1—8 sts rem.
Row 12: Purl.
Bind off. Cut the yarn, leaving an 8-inch end, and thread it on a yarn needle. Whipstitch the bib to the front of the body below the head. Pull the ends to the inside and trim.
LEGS (Make 4)
Cast on 9 sts with Toast, 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.
Rnds 1–7: Knit.
Bind off. Cut the yarn and pull the end through the remaining st.
Paws (Make 4)
Starting at the back of the paw, cast on 12 sts with Root Beer, 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: (k1, m1, k2, m1, k1); repeat on each needle—6 sts per needle, 18 sts total.
Rnds 5 and 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: (ssk, k2, k2tog); repeat on each needle—4 sts per needle, 12 sts total.
Place the first 6 sts on the first needle. Place the last 6 sts on a second needle. Cut the yarn and thread it on a yarn needle. Use the Kitchener stitch to close the end of the paw. Pull the end to the inside and trim. Stuff the paw lightly with fiberfill.
Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and take stitches to close the hole at the back of the paw. Pull the end to the inside and trim.
Thread the end from the leg’s cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the leg to the top of the paw. Pull the end to the inside and trim. Place a 1-inch piece of drinking straw inside the leg. Place a small amount of fiberfill around the straw inside of the leg. Thread the end from the leg’s bind-off sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the leg to the underside of the body. Pull all ends to the inside of the body and trim.
Cast on 9 sts with Root Beer, 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.
Knit every round until the tail measures 1 inch from the cast-on edge.
Next rnd: K1, then k2tog to the end of the round—5 sts rem.
Next rnd: Knit.
Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Take a couple of stitches to secure, pull the end to the inside, and trim.
Stuff the tail lightly with fiberfill. Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the tail to the lower center back.
COLLAR
Cast on 3 sts with Splash. Use two dpns to work in I-cord for about 7 inches. Measure by trying the collar on the dog as you work to get the correct length. It should fit around the neck and be long enough to form a loop at the end. To make the bobble at the other end, work back and forth as follows:
Row 1: Kfb, k1, kfb—5 sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit, do not turn. Pass the second, third, fourth, and fifth sts over the first st and off the needle— 1 st rem.
Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining st. Take stitches to form the bobble into a ball shape, then pull the end to the inside and trim.
Thread the tail from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and stitch down the other end of the collar to form a loop that the bobble can pass through snugly.
