Knitted Little Penguin

The knitted little penguin is an adorable creation that is bound to warm your heart with its charm. This tiny handmade masterpiece brings joy and coziness wherever it goes, making it a delightful companion for both children and adults alike. With its soft texture and cute design, this knitted penguin is perfect for cuddling and displaying proudly in your home. Its black and white colors, along with its charming details like the tiny beak and flippers, make it a standout addition to any collection. Whether given as a gift or kept for yourself, the knitted little penguin is sure to bring smiles and happiness wherever it goes.

Materials: 15 g of worsted weight yarn in black (B), 10 g of worsted weight yarn in white (W), 5 g of worsted weight yarn in yellow (Y), pair of 4 mm (US size 6) knitting needles, pair of 9 mm black safety eyes, stuffing, tapestry needle, 15 cm (6") of narrow ribbon

Gauge: 5.5 sts and 8 rows per 2.5 cm (1") in st st

Size: 8 cm (3") tall

Notes

1. Use a long-tail, or similar, cast on. Leaving a 20 cm (8") yarn end when casting on will give you a convenient length of yarn for sewing.
2. Use mattress stitch to sew seams, and whip stitch to attach pieces together. To secure yarn ends on the stuffed toy pieces, weave the yarn ends through the body 2–3 times, then trim off any excess yarn.
3. The colour changes for the intarsia sections are indicated by the yarn colour preceding the instructions. For example, B k3, W k3, B k3 - here you would work 3 sts in black (B) yarn, then change to white (W) yarn for the next 3 sts, then change to another length of B yarn for the final 3 sts. Make sure to prepare enough lengths of yarn to work the intarsia sections.
4. For the bobble feet and single stitch in black on the penguin's forehead, it's simpler to run the black yarn across the WS of your work, as in stranded knitting. (See photo after body instructions, which shows this method).

Penguin Body

Begin at bottom. CO 13 sts with B.

Row 1: Purl.

Row 2: K1, [m1, k1] to end. (25 sts)

Intarsia begins on next row.

Row 3: B p10, Y p1, B p3, Y p1, B p10.

Row 4: B K10, Y mb, B k3, Y mb, B k10.

Continue in B.

Row 5: Purl.

Row 6: K1, ssk, k6, m1, k7, m1, k6, k2tog, k1.

Row 7-8: Repeat Rows 5-6 once more.

Intarsia begins on next row.

Row 9: B p10, W p5, B p10.

Row 10: B k9, W k7, B k9.

Row 11: B p9, W p7, B p9.

Row 12-15: Repeat Rows 10-11 twice more.

Row 16: B k5, k2tog, k2, W k7, B k2, ssk, k5. (23 sts)

Row 17: B p8, W p7, B p8.

Row 18: B k8, W k7, B k8.

Row 19-20: Repeat Rows 17-18 once more.

Row 21: B p8, W p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, B p8.

Row 22: B k8, W k3, B k1, W k3, B k8.

Continue in B.

Row 23: Purl.

Row 24: K3, [k2tog, k3, ssk, k3] x 2. (19 sts)

Row 25: Purl.

Row 26: K1, [ssk] x 4, k1, [k2tog] x 4, k1. (11 sts)

Cut yarn, thread end through remaining sts, and pull tight to gather.

Tie the yarn ends from the yellow bobbles together with a secure knot, and trim the ends to 1 cm (⅜"). Weave in the yarn ends from white intarsia section. Attach the safety eyes at the purled stitches from Row 21. Sew together the bottom seam from back to front. Sew the back seam from the top of the head towards the bottom, leaving an opening. Stuff the toy, then sew closed. Secure yarn ends by weaving them through the stuffed body 2-3 times, then trim excess yarn.

Penguin Wings (make 2)

CO 4 sts with B.

Row 1: Purl.

Row 2: K1, m1, k2, m1, k1. (6 sts)

Row 3-7: Work 5 rows in st st.

Row 8: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1. (4 sts)

Row 9: Purl.

Row 10: K1, k2tog, k1. (3 sts)

Cut yarn, thread end through remaining sts, and pull tight to gather. Weave in this yarn end on WS.

Finishing

Beak: Embroider a beak between the eyes with some of the yellow yarn: a french-knot works well for this, or try a satin stitch triangle.

Wings: Place the cast-on edge of the wings in line with the shoulders, then sew them to the body with a whip stitch. Leave the lower ends of the wings free. Weave in yarn ends.

Bow-tie: Thread one end of the ribbon onto the tapestry needle, then insert it under a stitch on the upper chest of the penguin. Pull through until the ends match up, then tie into a neat bow. Trim the ends.

Hanging loop: Cut a 10 cm (4") length of yarn, then use the tapestry needle to thread one end under 2-3 stitches on the top of the head. Tie the ends in a knot and trim excess.

Abbreviations

[ ] x N = repeat sequence in brackets N times ("to end" means to repeat until the end of the row)

CO = cast on

K or k = knit

k2tog = decrease 1 by knitting 2 stitches together

m1 = increase 1 by picking up loop between stitch just worked and next stitch, with your left needle, from front to back, and knit into the back of this loop

mb = Make Bobble: make 4 sts into next st (knit into front, then back, front, back of st), turn. (4 sts) P4, turn. K4, turn. P4, turn. Ssk, k2tog, turn. (2 sts) P2tog. (1 st) Slip this last stitch from the right to the left-hand needle, then turn the work to continue the row.

P or p = purl

p2tog = decrease 1 by purling 2 together

RS = right side (knit in stockinette stitch)

ssk = decrease 1 by slipping 2 stitches purl-wise from left to right-hand needle, slip both stitches back to left-hand needle, then knit slipped stitches together

st or sts = stitch or stitches

st st = stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side)

turn = turn work around, so next set of instructions is worked on opposite side of fabric

WS = wrong side (purled in stockinette stitch)