Boris Johnson choc orange cover / toy

Boris Johnson Chocolate Orange Cover or 14cm Toy

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted novelty cover designed to fit a chocolate orange or alternatively function as a standalone 14 centimetre stuffed toy. The design humorously recreates a recognizable figure using contrasting colored knitted sections, making it an amusing decorative item or gift.

Craft and Techniques

This project uses knitting as the primary craft method, classified as a beginner-level difficulty pattern. The construction combines fundamental knitting techniques with basic shaping to create a three-dimensional form.

The garment is constructed in distinct sections using increases and decreases to shape the body and head. The body begins with a cast-on of 25 stitches, which is immediately increased in the first row to 50 stitches to create width. The shoulders are formed by working knit-two-together decreases across a row to reduce stitches back to 25. The head section uses strategic increases to expand from 25 stitches to 37 stitches, then decreases back down to create a rounded head shape.

Color changes are introduced at specific points in the pattern to create visual definition between body sections and design details. The pattern uses stocking stitch (alternating knit and purl rows) as the primary fabric structure, which creates a smooth, flat surface ideal for a toy or cover. Garter stitch (knitting every row) may be used for specific sections requiring texture or structure.

Stitches Used

• Cast on: Foundation row to begin the project
• Knit (k): Basic knit stitch forming the primary fabric
• Purl (p): Reverse stitch used in alternation with knit for stocking stitch
• Increase (inc): Adding stitches to expand width, worked in every stitch in the first row and selectively in head shaping
• Knit two together (k2tog): Decreasing technique used to shape shoulders and head
• Stocking stitch (st st): Primary fabric created by alternating knit rows and purl rows
• Garter stitch (gs): Textured stitch created by knitting every row
• Bind and tie (B and T): Finishing technique using a tapestry needle to thread yarn through remaining stitches, draw them closed, and secure

Materials Required

The project requires 3.25mm knitting needles as the primary tool for constructing the main fabric sections. A crochet hook is also needed, likely for finishing details or securing seams.

Yarn is worked in double knitting weight wool in multiple colors to create the design: black, blue, white, beige, light blue, and lemon are used in small amounts (oddments). The blue wool forms the initial body section, white creates the middle section, and beige is used for the head, with other colors incorporated for facial features and details.

Additional materials include a small amount of stuffing for padding the toy if not being used as a cover, and a tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in ends using the bind and tie method.