I like to knit my stuffed animals as seamlessly as possible. Seams can be weak spots, particularly when being pulled and dragged about by little hands. So I've designed all my stuffed animals with seamless appendages. They're set up the same way you would do an afterthought heel on a sock, or an afterthought thumb on a mitten, but if you haven't done it before, it can be a bit fiddly. So let's walk through it together, shall we?
Want to knit a cuddly and strong seamless friend of your own? I'll be selling Bradac kits this Saturday (11/19) at Knitwit yarn shop in Portland or check out my toy designs below!
Knit seamlessly in the round from nose to tail, Bradac is a quick knit that makes a great cuddly companion or holiday decoration. Most details, like the ears, are worked in short rows, while the legs are knit with scrap yarn and then picked up and worked in a similar fashion to an afterthought thumb or heel. The bear is stuffed as you go and measures approximately 12 inches from nose to tail and takes 200 yards of worsted weight yarn, plus some additional contrast yarn for the face and scarf.
- One Size
- 180-200 yds of Worsted weight yarn, sample shown in Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted
- Set of dpns, US 4 -3.5 mm
- 12 stitches and 16 rows = 2 inches in stockinette stitch
Learn more about Bradac in the Chronicles
Photos © Leah B. Thibault
Size
17”/ 43 cm from nose to tail.
Yarn
Brown Sheep Co. Lambs Pride Super Wash; 200 yds/ 183 m per 3.5 oz / 100g skein; 100% wool in the following:
• MC: SW197 Cinnamon Twist – 50g/100yds
• CC1: SW117 Sable – 10g/20 yds
• CC2: SW10 Alabaster – 5g/10 yds
• CC3: SW176 BonVivant Blue – 5g/10 yds
Gauge
12 sts and 16 rows = 2” /5 cm in St st.
Needles
• A set of Size US 4/3.5mm double-pointed needles or circular needle (Adjust needle size as necessary to obtain gauge.)
Notions
• Approx 2.5 oz Polyfill Stuffing
• 13 removable stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
Also available as part of an ebook, or kit
Contains almost* everything to make one cuddly, washable bear, so you can get right to stitching. Knit in the round, the finished bear measures approximately 12 inches from nose to tail, the perfect size for hugging.
- Printed Pattern
- 1 skein Lamb’s Pride Superwash Wool in Alabaster
- 25 yds Lamb's Pride Superwash Wool in Holly Green
- 5 yds Lamb's Pride Superwash Wool in Onyx
- Tapestry Needle
- 4 oz. Polyfill Stuffing
Kit is packaged in a kraft paper gable box suitable for giving.
* Pattern suggests size US 4 DPNs or circular needle, optionally available
Kit does not include completed bear
Finished Size:
11 inches/ 28 cm tall.
Yarn:
Brown Sheep Co. Lambs Pride Super
Wash; 200 yds/ 183 m per 3.5 oz /
100g skein; 100% wool:
MC: #SW169 Sunshine Yellow or 200 yds worsted weight yarn.
CC: #SW038 Alabaster or 25 yds worsted weight yarn
• 1 yard black yarn or embroidery thread.
Pattern is knit in the round from the bottom up with a short-row tail. Wings and beak are picked up seamlessly with an afterthought technique. The first few rounds of all appendages will be fiddly, but it is easier if you use the magic loop technique.
Step by step tutorial available at MsCleaver.com
Also available as a complete kit.
Learn more about Domenic (Duck) in the Chronicles
Photos © Leah B. Thibault
A stubby-legged, big-nosed, seamlessly stitched Zebra, baby-tested and approved. Knit seamlessly from the nose to the tail, the legs are held on waste yarn and picked up and knit afterward.
- One Size
- 100-216 yds of Aran weight yarn, sample shown in Berroco Remix
- Set of dpns or circular needle, US 7 - 4.5 mm
- 9 stitches and 14 rows = 2 inches in Stockinette St
Learn more about Zienna the Zebra in the Chronicles
Photos © Leah B. Thibault
