Owl - Large, Medium & Small in King Cole Tinsel Chunky, Dollymix, Merino Blend Double Knitting - 9022 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole 9022 – Owl Knitting Pattern: Large, Medium & Small Sizes

This downloadable PDF from King Cole is a knitting pattern for a set of three adorable toy owls in Large, Medium, and Small sizes. Designed as knitted stuffed toys, these owls make charming handmade gifts, nursery decorations, or playful accessories for children and adults alike. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to move beyond simple beginner projects.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces three distinct owl toys, each sharing the same construction approach but differing in finished size. As noted in the original pattern leaflet, tension is not critical for this project — however, the final size of each owl will vary depending on how much toy filling is used during assembly. This gives knitters some creative flexibility in achieving their preferred look and firmness for each finished owl.

Yarns and Materials

The pattern calls for three specific King Cole yarn ranges, each contributing a different texture and character to the finished owls:

• King Cole Tinsel Chunky – Used for the main body of all three owl sizes, this yarn provides a sparkly, textured finish that gives the owls a fun and eye-catching appearance. It is worked on 5mm needles.
• King Cole Dollymix – A lightweight yarn used for finer details and contrast elements within the design, adding a soft and playful quality to the finished toys.
• King Cole Merino Blend Double Knitting – A smooth, high-quality DK weight yarn blended with merino wool, used for additional detail sections, offering a neat and polished contrast to the Tinsel Chunky body.

Toy filling (stuffing) is also required to complete the owls, and the amount used will directly influence the final dimensions of each size.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The owls are constructed using straightforward knitted panels and shaped pieces that are seamed and stuffed to create a three-dimensional toy. The construction method is typical of knitted toy making, where flat pieces are worked in rows, shaped through increases and decreases, and then assembled by sewing together and filling with stuffing.

Shaping Techniques

The pattern uses standard knitting shaping methods to create the rounded, organic forms of the owl bodies and features:

• Increasing – Worked by knitting into the front and back of a stitch (Inc), adding one stitch and gradually widening the fabric to form the body shape.
• Decreasing – Worked using K2tog (knit two stitches together), which reduces the stitch count by one and is used to taper and shape the top of the body and other rounded elements.
• M1 (Make 1) – A lifted increase where the loop between the last and next stitch is picked up and worked through the back of the loop, creating a neat, virtually invisible increase.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a small selection of classic knitting stitches, keeping the construction accessible for intermediate knitters:

• Stocking Stitch (St.st) – The primary fabric stitch, worked with a knit row followed by a purl row, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface ideal for the owl's body.
• Garter Stitch (g.st) – Every row is knitted, producing a ridged, reversible fabric. This is often used for contrast sections, borders, or detail pieces within toy patterns.
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – The two fundamental knitting stitches that form the basis of all fabric in the pattern.

Pattern Format and Sizing

This is a downloadable PDF pattern, meaning it can be purchased and accessed immediately after download. The leaflet number is 9022 and it is published by King Cole, a well-established British yarn brand. The pattern covers all three owl sizes — Large, Medium, and Small — within the same document, with separate written instructions provided for each size. This makes it excellent value, as one purchase yields three different toy designs.

Charity Connection

King Cole notes on this pattern that for every King Cole pattern purchased, a donation is made to the