Mr Plod Policeman

Mr Plod Policeman Knitted Doll

What is Being Made

Mr Plod Policeman is a beginner-friendly knitted toy doll designed by Andrew Lucas, measuring approximately 17 centimeters in height. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a charming stuffed doll character with distinct body sections including a uniformed body, head, and facial features.

Construction Overview

The doll is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques, building the toy from the ground up through a series of shaped sections. The design progresses from the main body through shoulder shaping to the head, with strategic increases and decreases creating the three-dimensional form necessary for a stuffed toy.

Techniques Used

• Casting on and binding off: The pattern uses standard cast-on methods to establish the initial stitch count, with a specialized bind-and-tie (B and T) technique for finishing edges by threading yarn through stitches on the knitting needle and drawing them closed
• Increases and decreases: Strategic increases (inc) and decreases (dec) throughout the pattern shape the body and head sections, including techniques like knit-two-together (k2tog) and purl-two-together (p2tog) for tapering
• Color changes: The pattern incorporates multiple yarn colors to create the policeman's uniform and features, requiring yarn changes between sections
• Stuffing integration: The knitted pieces are designed to be stuffed with fiberfill, creating a three-dimensional toy form

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st st): The primary stitch throughout the pattern, created by alternating knit rows and purl rows to produce a smooth, uniform fabric ideal for toys
• Garter stitch (gs): Knit rows worked consecutively to create textured sections where needed
• Yarn round needle (yrn): Used to create decorative elements or openings within the fabric
• Knit and purl stitches: Fundamental stitches forming the basis of all stitch patterns used

Pattern Structure

Body section: Created using blue double knitting wool on 3.25mm needles, beginning with 25 cast-on stitches. The first row increases into every stitch, doubling the stitch count to 50 stitches. Stocking stitch is then worked for 23 rows to establish the main body depth. Shoulder shaping follows, using knit-two-together decreases to reduce stitches back to 25.

Head section: Transitioned to beige wool for the head, beginning with increases to expand the stitch count to 37 stitches. Stocking stitch is worked for 17 rows to create the head height. Subsequent decrease rows progressively reduce stitches, first to 25, then to 13 stitches, creating the rounded head shape.

Materials Required

• Needles: 3.25mm knitting needles
• Yarn: Double knitting wool in multiple colors—blue for the uniform body, beige for the head, plus white, yellow, brown, grey, and black for details and facial features
• Filling: Small amount of polyester stuffing or similar fiberfill material
• Notions: Tapestry needle for finishing and threading yarn ends

Skill Level

Designed as a beginner project, Mr Plod Policeman requires only fundamental knitting knowledge. The pattern uses basic stitches, straightforward shaping through increases and decreases, and simple color changes, making it an excellent introduction to knitted toy construction.