Hewitt The Hare

Hewitt The Hare: A Knitted Toy by Candice Le Grange

What Is Being Made

Hewitt The Hare is a charming knitted stuffed toy designed by independent designer Candice Le Grange. This handmade hare stands 26cm (10 inches) tall including his ears, making it an ideal size for a decorative keepsake or child's toy. The project combines traditional knitting techniques with finishing details to create a three-dimensional amigurumi-style character.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting project suitable for crafters with intermediate skill level. The design uses fundamental knitting methods to construct the toy's various pieces, which are then assembled and stuffed to create dimension and form.

Stitches and Knitting Techniques Used

Hewitt The Hare employs several essential knitting stitches and techniques:

• Garter Stitch (K) - Created by knitting every row, producing a textured, reversible fabric
• Stocking Stitch (St-st) - Alternating knit and purl rows to create a smooth, classic knitted appearance
• Purl Stitch (P) - The reverse of knit stitch, used in combination with knit stitches
• Make 1 Right (M1R) - An invisible increase technique that picks up the bar between stitches from back to front, adding one stitch without creating visible holes
• Make 1 Left (M1L) - A directional increase worked from front to back, allowing for shaping control
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog) - A right-leaning decrease that reduces stitches by one
• Cast On - Using the thumb method to establish the foundation stitches
• Cast Off - Securing stitches to finish edges

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for Alize Show Punto Batik Design Aran Yarn in colour 6364, requiring 100g or 3.53 oz (approximately 170 metres or 186 yards). Aran weight yarn is a medium-weight option that works well for toy construction, providing good stitch definition and durability.

Knitting needles required are 4mm (US 6 or UK 8), appropriately sized for aran weight yarn to achieve proper fabric density for stuffed toys.

Additional Materials and Finishing Details

Beyond yarn and needles, completing Hewitt The Hare requires:

• Polyester fiberfill stuffing to fill the toy and create its three-dimensional shape
• 13mm dark brown safety eyes for secure, child-safe eye placement
• A small piece of cream felt for facial or decorative details
• Black embroidery thread for adding fine details such as nose, mouth, or other embellishments
• 50cm (20 inches) of 20mm grey organza ribbon for a decorative accent, such as a collar or bow
• Pompom maker (optional) - an accessory tool that simplifies creating pompoms if the design includes them as decorative elements

Project Summary

Hewitt The Hare is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern that combines straightforward stitch work with creative finishing to produce a finished toy. The intermediate difficulty level makes it accessible to knitters who have mastered basic techniques but are ready for projects involving shaping, assembly, and embellishment. The use of aran weight yarn and appropriately sized needles ensures the toy holds its shape and withstands stuffing, while the combination of knitted fabric, safety eyes, embroidery, and ribbon creates a polished, handmade character.