Wall Mounted Pig's Head

Wall Mounted Pig's Head Knitting Pattern

What Is Being Made

This is a decorative wall-mounted pig's head knitting pattern designed by madmonkeyknits (pattern no. 392). The finished piece measures 20 cm in height and 15 cm in width, making it a charming handmade decoration suitable for displaying on walls or shelves. The pig's head is a three-dimensional stuffed knitted sculpture featuring realistic details including safety eyes and is mounted on a cardboard backing for wall display.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental knitting techniques to create dimension and shape. The pattern uses increases (knit or purl into both front and back of stitches) to expand the fabric and create the rounded contours of the pig's head. Decreases (knitting or purling 2 stitches together) are used to shape and reduce stitches as needed. The piece is constructed using stocking stitch, which alternates knit rows with purl rows to create a smooth, flat fabric surface ideal for this sculptural project. The pattern involves strategic shaping through increases and decreases positioned at specific points to form the pig's distinctive facial features and head structure.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) - the fundamental stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl stitch (p) - alternated with knit stitches to create stocking stitch fabric
• Increases (inc) - knit or purl into both front and back of stitches to add volume and shape the head
• Decreases (dec) - knit or purl 2 stitches together to reduce stitches and refine the shape
• Stocking stitch (st.st) - the primary fabric construction method, created by alternating knit and purl rows

Materials Required

This project uses DK weight yarn (also known as 8ply), which is a medium-weight yarn ideal for creating detailed, sculptural pieces. You will need approximately 50g of yarn distributed as follows: 1 ball of pink yarn for the main pig's head, approximately 20g of brown yarn for details and features, and a tiny amount of grey yarn for accents. The pattern calls for 3.00 mm knitting needles, which are appropriately sized for DK weight yarn. Additional materials include 16mm brown safety eyes for realistic facial features, approximately 30g of safety stuffing to fill and shape the piece, and a stiff piece of cardboard measuring approximately 8 inches by 6 inches to serve as the wall-mounting backing.

Pattern Notes

The pattern begins with casting on 36 stitches using 3.00 mm needles and pink DK yarn. The initial rows incorporate increases at both ends to establish the foundational width of the head. The design progresses through a series of strategically placed increases distributed across the knitted fabric to create the pig's characteristic rounded head shape. While safety precautions are incorporated into the design of this decorative item, the pattern notes that unattended play by very young children is not recommended due to the safety eyes and stuffing components.