Toy Kangaroo & Joey

Toy Kangaroo & Joey Knitting Pattern by Rian Anderson

What is Being Made

This downloadable knitting pattern creates a pair of stuffed toy animals: a female kangaroo mother standing 40 cm (16 inches) tall to the top of her ears, and a baby joey measuring 17 cm (7 inches) in height. The joey is sized appropriately as a young kangaroo just beginning to venture out of the mother's pouch, making this an ideal pair for display or play.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern requires 8 ply/DK weight yarn in multiple colors to complete both animals. The main color (available in grey, fawn, or reddish brown) totals 85–100 grams, with approximately 70–75 grams used for the kangaroo mother and 15–20 grams for the joey. A small amount of pale pink 8 ply/DK yarn (5 grams) is needed for the ear details, and a minimal quantity of black 8 ply/DK yarn provides the noses.

Additional materials include 4 mm (US 6) knitting needles, a tapestry needle for seaming, safety pins for holding stitches, dacron toy filling for stuffing, and safety eyes. The pattern specifies either 24 mm "eyelash" safety eyes or 20 mm "joggle" sew-on eyes for the kangaroo mother, with 10 mm eyes for the joey. Note that sew-on eyes are not recommended for children under 3 years of age.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for crafters with some experience. The primary stitch used is stocking stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for stuffed toys. The pattern specifies a tension/gauge of 20 stitches and 27 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) in stocking stitch on 4 mm needles, making accurate gauge work essential before beginning the project.

Construction involves knitting individual pieces for the kangaroo and joey separately, then assembling them through seaming with a tapestry needle. The pattern includes shaping techniques to form the distinctive kangaroo silhouette, including the characteristic large ears, muscular tail, and body proportions. Stuffing with dacron filling creates the three-dimensional toy form after pieces are sewn together.

Pattern Details

• Designer: Rian Anderson
• Copyright: 2013, updated June 2015
• Craft: Knitting
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Format: Downloadable PDF
• Yarn Weight: DK (8 ply)
• Needle Size: 4 mm (US 6)

This pattern is ideal for knitters seeking an engaging intermediate project that produces a charming pair of toy animals with personality and presence suitable for gifts or personal collection.