Morris & Myna Mole Toys in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino - Downloadable PDF

Morris & Myna Mole Knitted Toys – Pattern Summary for Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino

This free, downloadable PDF pattern by designer Janice Anderson for Rowan presents two charming knitted mole toys: Morris and Myna. Each mole is a distinct character with its own colour palette, making the pair a delightful matching set. The pattern is rated as beginner level, making it an accessible and rewarding project for those new to toy knitting, while still offering enough shaping detail to engage more experienced crafters.

What Is Being Made

Morris and Myna are three-dimensional knitted mole soft toys. Each toy is constructed from multiple knitted panels and sections that are seamed together to create a fully rounded, stuffable figure. The two moles share the same basic pattern structure but are differentiated by their individual colour combinations, giving each one a unique personality. These toys make wonderful handmade gifts for babies and young children, and the use of a premium baby yarn ensures they are soft and gentle against delicate skin.

Materials Used

The pattern calls for Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino, a luxurious 4-ply weight yarn. This yarn is specifically formulated for baby and children's projects, blending the softness of cashmere with the warmth and durability of merino wool, making it an ideal choice for a toy that will be handled frequently.

• Morris uses: Colour A – Mint (00109), Colour B – Vintage Pink (00105), Colour C – Denim (00112)
• Myna uses: Colour A – Sea Green (000109), Colour B – Denim (00112), Colour C – Vintage Pink (00105)
• Each main colour requires 1 x 50gm ball; Colour C is used in a small oddment quantity only

Additional materials information, including recommended needle size, is available via knitrowan.com. The pattern is worked on standard knitting needles appropriate for 4-ply weight yarn.

Techniques Used

Although classified as a beginner pattern, Morris & Myna Mole introduces several fundamental toy-making techniques that build a solid foundation in three-dimensional knitting construction.

• Shaped knitting: The body sections involve careful decreasing to create the rounded, organic form of a mole. Decreases are worked at each end of rows at regular intervals – on every 4th row, every alternate row, and in combination sequences – to sculpt the curved silhouette of the toy's body and limbs.
• Marker placement: The pattern uses both red markers and blue markers placed at specific row ends to act as reference points for picking up stitches later. This is a key toy-making and garment construction technique that helps ensure accurate assembly.
• Picking up and knitting stitches: Side panels are created by picking up stitches along shaped and straight row-end edges, as well as from cast-on edges. For example, the left side panel involves picking up 18 stitches along a shaped edge to a blue marker, 14 stitches along a straight edge to a red marker, and a further 26 stitches along a shaped edge to held stitches, totalling 58 stitches.
• Holding stitches: Sections of stitches are left on holders rather than cast off, allowing them to be rejoined seamlessly at a later stage of construction.
• Seaming and assembly: The separately knitted sections are joined together to form the finished three-dimensional toy.

Stitches Used

The pattern is worked primarily in standard knitting stitches, keeping the construction approachable for beginners:

• Knit stitch (K) – the foundation stitch used throughout
• Purl stitch (P) – used on wrong-side rows to create stocking stitch fabric
• Stocking stitch – the main fabric of the toy, created by alternating knit and purl rows, producing a smooth right-side surface ideal for toy