Ballerina in Deramores Studio Anti-Pilling DK - Downloadable PDF

Ballerina Knitted Toy Pattern by Amanda Berry in Deramores Studio Anti-Pilling DK

This intermediate knitting pattern by designer Amanda Berry guides you through creating a charming knitted ballerina toy, standing 18.5cm tall when finished. Designed exclusively for Deramores and worked in Deramores Studio Anti-Pilling DK yarn, this delightful stuffed figure is a wonderful project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and are ready to tackle a three-dimensional toy construction. The finished toy is intended for decorative or adult collector purposes, as it contains small parts and is not suitable for children under 3 years.

Amanda Berry is a specialist in knitted toys and characters, having graduated from the London College of Fashion with First Class Honours in 2014. Her designs are known for their personality and charm, bringing small stuffed figures to life with careful shaping and embroidered detail.

What You Will Make

The pattern produces a single one-size ballerina toy figure, approximately 18.5cm in height. The finished piece is a fully three-dimensional stuffed knitted doll with embroidered facial features, making her a beautiful handmade gift or decorative keepsake. The ballerina is constructed in separate pieces that are seamed together and then stuffed, giving her a neat, sculpted appearance.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Deramores Studio Anti-Pilling DK yarn, a smooth, durable yarn that holds its shape well and resists pilling — an ideal choice for toys that need to maintain their appearance over time. Three colourways are used across the design:

• Yarn A – Latte (1 x 50g ball): used for skin tones and body sections
• Yarn B – Blush (1 x 50g ball): used for the ballerina's costume or clothing details
• Yarn C – Chocolate (1 x 50g ball): used for hair or contrasting details
• Approximately one metre of Ebony DK yarn is also required for embroidering the facial features
• 150g of toy filling is needed to stuff the finished figure

The DK weight of the yarn ensures good stitch definition at the recommended tension, making the shaping of the figure clear and precise. The anti-pilling property of Deramores Studio Anti-Pilling DK is particularly beneficial for a toy or display piece, as it keeps the surface looking fresh and smooth.

Needles and Tools

• Three single-pointed 3.25mm knitting needles, each a minimum of 20cm in length
• A 2.5mm crochet hook for any crochet finishing or joining elements
• A tapestry needle for seaming the pieces together
• A stitch holder to hold stitches while working other sections

Tension

The pattern is worked to a tension of 25 stitches x 32 rows per 10cm in stockinette stitch on 3.25mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is especially important for toy knitting, as it directly affects the final size of the figure and ensures the fabric is dense enough to contain the toy filling without it showing through the stitches.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This is rated as an intermediate knitting pattern, meaning knitters should be confident with basic knit and purl stitches before attempting the design. The pattern introduces a range of shaping techniques that are commonly used in toy and amigurumi-style knitting:

• Knit (k) and Purl (p) — the foundational stitches used throughout
• Stockinette stitch — the primary stitch pattern used across the body and limbs, creating a smooth, even fabric surface
• kfb (Knit into front and back) — an increase stitch used to add stitches and shape the figure's curves
• pfb (Purl into front and back