Benny the Jolly Reindeer

Benny the Jolly Reindeer Knitted Toy

What is Being Made

Benny the Jolly Reindeer is an intermediate-level knitted stuffed toy designed by Cilla Webb. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a three-dimensional decorative reindeer figure suitable for seasonal display or as a handmade gift. The finished toy features distinct body sections including a body, head, legs, and antlers, all constructed through individual knitted pieces that are assembled together.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create the toy's structure and shaping. Increases are used extensively through the kfb (knit front and back) stitch to expand stitch counts and create the rounded forms of the body and head sections. Decreases using k2tog (knit two together) are applied strategically to shape and taper various components as they progress toward completion. Mattress stitch seaming is used to join the knitted pieces together with an invisible, professional finish along the edges. The pattern incorporates stockinette stitch (alternating knit and purl rows) as the primary fabric structure throughout most sections.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Kfb (knit front and back): An increase stitch that creates new stitches by knitting into the same stitch twice, used to expand the stitch count for shaping rounded sections
• K2tog (knit two together): A decrease stitch that combines two stitches into one, used to reduce stitch counts and create tapered shapes
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch pattern created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Mattress stitch: A seaming technique worked with a tapestry needle that joins two pieces of knitted fabric invisibly from the right side

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for Wendy Merino DK yarn, a worsted-weight merino wool blend offering 116 meters per 50-gram ball in 100% merino wool. The color palette includes MC1 (main color 1) in Spice requiring 65g, MC2 (main color 2) in Crepe requiring 50g, CC1 (contrast color 1) in dark green requiring 50g, CC2 (contrast color 2) in shade 2388 requiring 50g, and CC3 in white used in small amounts for details.

Needles and Notions: The pattern is worked on 3.5mm straight needles, appropriately sized for DK-weight yarn. A tapestry needle is essential for seaming pieces together with mattress stitch and for weaving in yarn ends. Polyester fiberfill stuffing is required to fill the completed toy pieces before final assembly.

Construction Overview

The toy is constructed by knitting individual components separately, then assembling them into the finished reindeer. The legs are made as two identical pieces, each cast on with 24 stitches and shaped through increases and decreases to create a three-dimensional form. The body is a single piece cast on with 15 stitches and expanded to 45 stitches through increases, then gradually decreased as it progresses. Each component is worked primarily in stockinette stitch and filled with stuffing before being sewn together using mattress stitch for seamless assembly. This modular approach allows for easier construction and precise shaping of each element.