Tiffany the Turtle in Deramores Studio DK Acrylic - Downloadable PDF

Tiffany the Turtle Knitting Pattern by Amanda Berry – Deramores Studio DK Acrylic

This downloadable PDF pattern by designer Amanda Berry guides knitters through creating Tiffany the Turtle, an adorable soft toy measuring approximately 28cm long. Published by Deramores and rated as a beginner knitting project, this pattern is a wonderful introduction to knitted toy making, combining straightforward flat knitting with a fun decorative technique to bring a charming turtle to life. Please note that the finished toy is not suitable for children under 3 years due to small parts.

What Is Being Made

Tiffany the Turtle is a knitted stuffed toy, worked in sections and assembled to form a complete turtle figure complete with a decorative shell trim. The finished toy is approximately 28cm in length and is stuffed with toy filling to give it a soft, three-dimensional form. The design uses multiple yarn colours to create visual interest across the body and shell, and features button eyes for a charming, characterful finish.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern uses Deramores Studio DK Acrylic yarn in three colourways:

• Yarn A – Jade (1 x 100g ball)
• Yarn B – Peridot (1 x 100g ball)
• Yarn C – Frost (1 x 100g ball)

The combination of Jade and Peridot brings the natural green tones of a turtle to life, while Frost provides a contrasting lighter shade, likely used for the underside or accent details. Deramores Studio DK Acrylic is a machine-washable, durable yarn well suited to toy making, as it holds its shape well and is easy to care for.

Needles and Tension

The pattern calls for 3.5mm (UK 10–9 / US 4) knitting needles for the main body sections. Additionally, a pair of 3.5mm double pointed knitting needles (DPNs) are required specifically for working the i-cord shell trim. It is worth noting that the 3.5mm needle size is intentionally smaller than the size typically recommended on the ball band of a DK yarn. This tighter gauge creates a firmer fabric that holds its shape well and prevents toy stuffing from poking through the stitches – an important consideration in toy construction.

The tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 32 rows to 10cm / 4 inches measured over stocking stitch on 3.5mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in toy making to ensure the finished size is accurate and the fabric is suitably dense.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This is a beginner-level knitting pattern, making it accessible to those who are relatively new to the craft. The key stitches and techniques featured include:

• Knit stitch (K) – the foundational stitch used throughout the pattern
• Stocking stitch – the primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit and purl rows, giving a smooth right side and a textured wrong side
• K2tog (Knit Two Together) – a simple right-leaning decrease worked by knitting two stitches together through the front of the loops, used to shape the body and limbs of the turtle
• I-cord – a knitted tube worked on two double pointed needles, used to create the decorative shell trim. I-cord is made by casting on a small number of stitches onto a DPN, knitting across, then sliding the stitches back to the other end of the needle and knitting again without turning, pulling the yarn across the back. This creates a neat, rounded cord that adds texture and detail to Tiffany's shell.

Additional Materials and Finishing

Beyond yarn and needles, the following extras are needed to complete Tiffany the Turtle:

• Toy filling – less than 125g required to stuff the finished toy
• Yarn needle – for sewing up seams and finishing