Penny the Pig

Penny the Pig Knitted Toy by Jody Long

Project Overview

Penny the Pig is an intermediate-level knitted toy design created by independent designer Jody Long. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a standing pig figure measuring approximately 40cm (15¾ inches) tall. The project combines colorwork and shaping techniques to create a three-dimensional stuffed animal suitable for crafters with some knitting experience.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a complete knitted pig toy featuring multiple colored components. The finished piece stands upright and incorporates various yarn colors to define different parts of the pig's body, including facial features and body sections. The toy is constructed using traditional knitting methods and requires stuffing to achieve its three-dimensional form.

Techniques Used

• Knit and purl stitching for fabric construction
• Increases and decreases for shaping body parts
• Colorwork techniques using multiple yarn colors
• Working through back loops for specialized stitch variations
• Yarn round needle techniques for creating openings and details
• Sewing and assembly of individual knitted components
• Stuffing and finishing to create a three-dimensional toy

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches including knit stitch, purl stitch, and combinations thereof. Shaping is achieved through increases (working into the front and back of stitches) and decreases (working two stitches together). The pattern also incorporates yarn round needle techniques and through back loop variations to create texture and structural detail.

Materials and Yarn

Penny the Pig is designed using Woolcraft New Fashion DK yarn, a double knitting weight suitable for detailed toy work. The pattern requires a total of approximately 175g of yarn distributed across multiple colors:

• 60g of Violet 718
• 50g of Fondant 291H
• 25g of Matador 160
• Oddments of Mexican Rose 488, Inca 318, Butterscotch 4F33, Chocolate 892, Kingfisher 511, White 7F76, and Black 940

The multi-color palette allows crafters to create a pig with distinctive features and personality through strategic color placement.

Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for both 4mm (UK 8 / US 6) and 5mm (UK 6 / US 8) knitting needles, as well as a 3mm circular needle. The recommended tension is 26 stitches and 36 rows measured over 10cm (4 inches) in stocking stitch using 3mm needles. Checking tension before beginning is essential to ensure the finished toy achieves the correct measurements and proportions.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the project requires white sewing thread for assembling the knitted pieces and attaching features. Toy stuffing material is needed to fill the completed knitted sections and create the toy's three-dimensional structure.

Difficulty Level

Classified as intermediate, this pattern assumes familiarity with basic knitting techniques and is suitable for crafters ready to progress beyond simple projects. The combination of colorwork, shaping, and assembly requires attention to detail and some experience with following complex pattern instructions.