Koalas Knitted in King Cole Truffle DK - 9142 - Downloadable PDF

Koalas Knitted in King Cole Truffle DK – Pattern 9142

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole provides instructions for creating two adorable knitted koala toys in different sizes: a large koala measuring approximately 27 cm (10.5 inches) and a smaller koala measuring approximately 22 cm (8.5 inches). Both designs are worked in King Cole Truffle DK yarn, a soft and textured double knitting weight yarn well suited to toy making. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to tackle three-dimensional construction.

Each koala is knitted in separate pieces — including the body, arms, and legs — which are then seamed together and stuffed to create a fully rounded, sculptural toy. This piece-by-piece construction method is typical of knitted toy patterns and allows for neat, controlled shaping of each individual body part before assembly.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces two knitted koala soft toys in two distinct sizes. Both koalas share the same construction approach, with each component — body, arms, and legs — knitted separately and assembled at the finishing stage. The toys are stuffed during seaming to give them their characteristic plush, three-dimensional form. The use of a Main Colour (MC) and a Contrast Colour (CC) allows for realistic detailing, such as differentiating the body from the inner ears, face, or belly areas, echoing the natural two-tone colouring of a real koala.

Yarn and Materials

The specified yarn is King Cole Truffle DK, a double knitting (DK) weight yarn. Truffle DK is known for its soft, slightly fluffy texture, which lends itself beautifully to toy making by giving the finished koalas a tactile, cuddly quality. Two colours of this yarn are required: one serving as the Main Colour (MC) for the majority of the body, and one as the Contrast Colour (CC) for specific sections such as the legs and detail areas.

The pattern calls for 3.5mm knitting needles, which is a slightly tighter gauge than typically recommended for DK yarn. This is a deliberate choice in toy knitting — working on smaller needles creates a denser, tighter fabric that prevents stuffing from showing through the stitches and helps the toy hold its shape over time. Toy stuffing is also required to fill the completed pieces during assembly.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round / flat knitting: Pieces are worked flat on straight needles and then seamed together, a classic approach for knitted toys.
• Short-row shaping using Wrap and Turn (W&T): This technique involves bringing the yarn to the wrong side of the work, slipping a stitch, returning the yarn, and turning the work mid-row. It creates subtle three-dimensional curves and shaping without leaving holes, ideal for sculpting rounded toy forms such as limbs and body sections.
• Increasing with M1 (Make One): Stitches are added by picking up the bar of yarn lying between two stitches and knitting into it, creating a nearly invisible increase used to widen pieces gradually.
• Decreasing with K2tog, P2tog, and K3tog: These decrease methods reduce stitch counts to taper and shape the various body parts. K2tog and P2tog each reduce by one stitch, while K3tog reduces by two stitches in a single action for more dramatic shaping.
• Casting off purlwise: A specific cast-off method worked by purling each stitch as it is bound off, often used to create a neater or more flexible edge on certain pieces.
• Stuffing and seaming: Pieces are sewn together using mattress stitch or similar seaming methods, with toy stuffing inserted as work progresses to ensure even filling.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (St-st): The primary stitch pattern throughout, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. Stocking stitch creates a smooth, even fabric surface that is ideal for toy construction.
• Knit (K): The