Mella the Fox

Mella the Fox Knitted Toy Pattern

What is Being Made

Mella the Fox is a knitted stuffed toy designed by EZ Toy Patterns. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a charming fox figure suitable for gift-giving or personal collection. The toy is constructed primarily through knitting in the round, with minimal sewing required to complete the finished piece.

Craft and Techniques

This pattern is designed exclusively for knittingknitting in the round, which creates seamless cylindrical sections ideal for toy construction. Knitters should be familiar with circular knitting methods before beginning this project, as most pieces are worked continuously in rounds rather than flat rows. This technique minimizes seaming and creates a more polished, professional-looking finished toy.

The pattern employs standard toy construction methods, with most pieces requiring minimal or no sewing once knitted. This streamlined approach makes assembly straightforward for intermediate-level crafters. Details such as the fox's facial features are added through embroidery, allowing for personalization and expression in the finished toy.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for intermediate knitters:

• k (knit stitch) – the basic building block stitch
• p (purl stitch) – creates textured surfaces
• m1 (make 1) – increases stitches for shaping
• m1p (make 1 purl-wise) – purl-direction increases
• k2tog (knit two stitches together) – decreases for shaping
• k3tog (knit three stitches together) – double decreases for more dramatic shaping
• p2tog (purl two stitches together) – purl-direction decreases
• kfb (knit front and back) – alternative increase method

These stitches work together to create the three-dimensional shaping necessary for toy construction, allowing the knitter to increase and decrease stitches strategically to form the fox's body, head, ears, and limbs.

Materials Required

Yarn: The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn totaling approximately 300 meters (328 yards) per 100 grams (3.53 ounces). Specific yardage requirements by color are:

• White: 45 meters / 49 yards
• Red: 95 meters / 104 yards
• Navy blue: 10 meters / 11 yards
• Light blue: 50 meters / 55 yards
• Black: small amount for embroidering eyes and knitting the nose

Needles and Tools: The pattern requires double pointed knitting needles in size 3 mm (US size 2.5, UK size 11). A full set includes 5 needles, with 2 additional needles of the same size recommended for flexibility during knitting in the round. Additional tools include a mattress needle for seaming, scissors, and an optional pencil for marking.

Filling: Polyester or cotton fiberfill is needed to stuff the completed toy pieces, creating the three-dimensional form and weight of the finished fox.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated for intermediate-level knitters. While it uses fundamental stitches, the requirement for proficiency in knitting in the round and managing multiple colors and shaping techniques makes it suitable for knitters with some prior experience beyond absolute beginners.