How to Knit a Stuffed Dog
Stuffed knit toys, such as dogs, make excellent gifts for children and adults alike. They are compact projects, making them easily portable for the knitter. While stuffed dogs may look difficult to create, all that is required is a knowledge of basic knitting skills and how to knit on double-pointed needles. Stuffed dogs are knit in multiple pieces, such as the body, head and limbs, which are then stuffed and sewn together with yarn.
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Things You'll Need
- Knit toy dog pattern
- Yarn, size as stated in the pattern
- Double-pointed knitting needles, size as stated in the pattern
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Pillow stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Embroidery thread
- Embroidery needle
Instructions
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Instructions
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1
Purchase a knitting pattern or book with a stuffed dog you would like to make. There are many patterns for animal shapes available for downloading on the Internet.
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2
Knit a gauge swatch and measure it as instructed in the pattern. Be sure your knitting is tight enough that the stuffing will not show between the stitches. If your swatch stitches are too loose, consider using larger needles. Knit another swatch with the bigger needles, to make sure your stitches are tight enough to keep the stuffing securely inside the dog.
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3
Cast on your beginning stitches, and start knitting according to the pattern. The various pieces of your dog will be knit in the round. The legs, arms and tail will be knit as closed tubes. The body and head will be more spherical in shape.
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4
Check your knit work after several inches to be sure the fabric is as tightly knit as your gauge swatch. As you become more comfortable with the pattern, you may unintentionally loosen your work. If you find this to be the case, you may need to switch to larger needles before continuing.
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Knit each of the pieces of the dog, but stop just before you complete it. Leave an opening about 1 inch in diameter at the end of each piece.
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Fill each piece of your dog with the pillow stuffing, using enough stuffing for the pieces to keep their shape, but not so tightly that you can't knit the opening shut.
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7
Sew the stuffed knit pieces together according to the pattern, being sure to secure the beginning and ending stitches so that the dog does not fall apart with play.
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8
Use the embroidery thread to create facial features on the dog. Use straight hand-sewn stitches and tie off the thread securely when completed.
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Tips & Warnings
While most knitting patterns state that you shouldn't use knots to join pieces together, you may want to knot the sewing yarn as you attach the finished pieces to each other. This will help the dog hold together. Pull the knots to the inside of the stuffed pieces, so they are not visible.
Do not use buttons or plastic eyes on toys intended for small children. These pieces can be pulled off and pose a choking hazard to the child.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Knitting image by Yuriy Rozanov from Fotolia.com
