Get those needles out folks and knit up some fabulous stocking fillers. This easy knit pattern will delight the youngsters!

If, like me, you always want to change a pattern and put your spin on it, create the penguins – and snowmen if you like – in bright colours. I made some in the summer and called them penguins of paradise. The only difference from the pattern was that I used bright colours and added a tuft of hair.

I’ve lifted the penguin from the Winter Knits pattern book and copied it here for you, so no excuses please! All you need is a pair of 4mm knitting needles, scissors, small amounts of yarn, a scrap of toy filling and a darning needle to sew them together.

Penguin
A little intarsia needed here. If you’re not sure about intarsia, (knitting with more than one colour in a row) check out the intarsia notes below.

Double knitting yarn required: (approx. lengths)
12metres of black
3metres of white

Method:
abbreviations used in this pattern:
B: Black yarn, W: White yarn.
st/s -stitch/es
st.st. – stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row)
NR – Next row

Back:
*With 4mm needles and black yarn, cast on 8sts.
Start with a knit row and keep to st.st. throughout.
Increase 1st at each end of first three rows. (14sts)*
Starting with a purl row, st.st. 17 rows.
Work 2 sts together at each end of next 3 rows (8sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a length for sewing up and thread through remaining sts. Fasten off by using a darning needle and sewing the end in to tighten the sts

Front:
Work as for back from * to *
Then, starting with a purl row, follow intarsia pattern:
NR: 4B, 6W, 4B
NR: 3B, 8W, 3B
NR: 3B, 8W, 3B
NR: 3B, 8W, 3B
NR: 3B, 8W, 3B
NR: 4B, 6W, 4B
NR: 5B, 4W, 5B
NR: 6B, 2W, 6W
Carry on in black yarn only, and starting with a purl row, st.st. 9 rows.
Work 2 sts together at each end of next 3 rows (8sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a length for sewing up and thread through remaining sts. Fasten off by using a darning needle and sewing the end in to tighten the sts.

To make up:
With right sides facing, sew round edges leaving a gap at the cast on edges to stuff. Turn right side out, stuff gently and sew up gap.
Using embroidery cotton or silk, sew features.

Intarsia Notes

If you’re unfamiliar with intarsia knitting, these tips may help;

*When joining a new colour, fold the new colour round the old, and work the first stitch using two strands of yarn. When you work this stitch on the next row, make sure you knit it as one stitch, not two.

*Always make sure you cross your yarns at the back of your work when changing from one colour to another in a row.

In this image, the next stitch to be purled will be red.

*Wind the yarn along the row by crossing yarn over at the back of work but carrying on in the same colour. Do this every 2-3sts to avoid pulling too tight.

*Yarn can get easily tangled. Either untangle after every 1-2 rows, or use yarn bobbins to help keep it all in order! You can buy yarn bobbins on Etsy and, I suspect, Amazon and Ebay. Or make your own.

And last but not least – practice!

As with any new endeavor, intarsia knitting takes a little practice usually but it’s worth the effort. Start by making the penguins and work your way up to fancy Fair Isle patterns.

Happy Knitting!
Linda x

P.S. If you’d like to download the pattern so you can make the Santa Claus and snowman toys as well, here it is!

Winter Nits

This knitting pattern book contains patterns for:
A penguin
A snowman
A Santa Claus
and a colour co-ordinated sleeping bag for each of them!

Toys are only a few inches high and take very little time to knit. Two of the toys require a little intarsia knitting. There are a few notes on intarsia if its something new to you.

You’ll need:
a pair of 4mm knitting needles
small amounts of Double knitting yarn
soft toy filling
embroidery silk or cotton for features.
A darning needle or large eyed sewing needle

Happy Knitting!

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