Dexter the Labrador - Toy Dog Knitting Pattern in Deramores Studio DK Acrylic

Dexter the Labrador – Toy Dog Knitting Pattern by Amanda Berry

This intermediate-level knitting pattern by designer Amanda Berry guides knitters through creating Dexter the Labrador, a charming stuffed toy dog worked in Deramores Studio DK yarn. The finished toy captures the loveable look of a Labrador Retriever, complete with carefully shaped body parts, floppy ears, and expressive safety eyes. Because the pattern is rated intermediate, it suits knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to tackle a multi-piece construction project.

What Is Being Made

Dexter is a knitted toy Labrador — a soft, stuffed dog figure assembled from multiple individually knitted pieces. The design includes a body, head, legs, ears, and a tail, all sewn together using a darning or tapestry needle once knitting is complete. The finished toy is filled with toy stuffing to give it its three-dimensional shape, and two 12mm toy safety eyes are added for character. An important safety note accompanies the pattern: the finished toy is not suitable for children under 3 years of age due to small parts.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for Deramores Studio DK Acrylic yarn, a double knitting weight yarn. Three colours are used across the design:

• Yarn A – Vanilla (Deramores Studio DK) or Light Caramel (Paintbox Yarns Simply DK) – 1 x 100g ball
• Yarn B – Ebony (Deramores Studio DK) or Pure Black (Paintbox Yarns Simply DK) – 1 x 100g ball
• Yarn C – Rose (Deramores Studio DK) or Bubblegum Pink (Paintbox Yarns Simply DK) – 1 x 100g ball

As an alternative yarn, the pattern also references Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, making it accessible to knitters who may not have Deramores Studio DK readily available. Both are DK weight yarns, ensuring consistent results when the recommended tension is achieved.

Needles and Extras

• A pair of 3.75mm straight knitting needles (US size 5)
• Toy stuffing to fill the finished pieces
• Two 12mm toy safety eyes
• A darning or tapestry needle for seaming and assembly

Tension

The recommended tension is 22 stitches x 28 rows over a 10cm x 10cm square worked in stockinette stitch on 3.75mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important for toy knitting, as it affects the final size of each piece and ensures the stuffing does not show through the fabric.

Techniques and Construction

Dexter is constructed using the classic knit-and-sew method, where individual pieces are knitted flat and then seamed together. This approach is well suited to toy making because it allows precise shaping of each body part before assembly. The knitter works each section separately — such as the body, head, limbs, ears, and tail — and joins them using mattress stitch or a similar seaming technique with a tapestry needle.

Stitches Used

The pattern draws on a focused set of knitting stitches and techniques, all clearly defined within the pattern key:

• K (Knit) – the foundational stitch used throughout
• P (Purl) – used in combination with knit stitches to create stockinette stitch, the primary fabric of the toy
• kfb (Knit into the front and back) – an increase stitch used to add stitches and shape the rounded forms of the toy's body parts
• k2tog (