A Collection of Vintage Patterns for the Making of Soft Toys; Patterns for Knitting, Sewing and Crochet

By Anon Anon

This is a classic guide to knitting a variety of soft toys, including animals, dolls, clowns, puppets, toy clothing, and much more. With easy-to-follow instructions, simple patterns, diagrams, and even photographs, this fantastic volume is ideal for those with little needlework experience. Contents include: “A History Of Toys”, “Introduction to Sewing And Needlework”, “Knit Your Own Higgledy Piggledy”, “Poodle”, “Knit a Friendly Jumbo”, “'Bobby the Bear'”, “Tommy Tortoise”, “Knitted Lamb”, “Bunny with a Twinkle”, “Knitted Miniature Rabbit”, “‘Chippy’ - A Jolly Clown to Knitt Musical Clown for a Tot”, “Halloween Pop-Ups”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on the history of toys.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: May 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9781473380257

Book preview

Knit your own Higgledy Piggledy

Next row: k. 2 tog., k. 8, k. 2 tog., k. 2, k. 6, k. 2, k. 2 tog., k. 8, k. 2 tog. Next row: k. 10, (k. 2 tog.) 5 times, k. 10: 25 sts. Break R. Join in W. and knit 34 rows. Cast off 3 sts. at beg. of next 4 rows. Cast off.

Sew halves together leaving legs and neck open for stuffing. Stuff firmly and gather up openings.

Head Work in stocking-stitch in P. Cast on 15 sts. and knit 1 row. Incr. 1 st. at each end of next and every p. row until there are 25 sts. Work 7 rows straight.

Next row: purl, decr. 1 st. each end. Next row: knit. Next row: purl, incr. 1 st. each end. Work 3 rows. Next row: purl, incr. 1 st. each end. Work 9 rows straight.

Next row: purl, decr. 1 st. each end. Next row: knit. Now decr. 1 st. at each end of next 3 rows. Cast off.

Materials: Of Patons Double Knitting, 2 (1 oz.) balls each Lipstick Red 104 and Snow White 504, 1 (1 oz.) ball Pale Pink 913. Scraps of black and blue wool for features. Pair No. 10 Queen Bee needles. Kapok for stuffing.

Measurement: Height, 15 ins.

N.B. Piggy is knitted in garter-stitch, i.e. every row knit, unless otherwise stated. When making up, join all seams neatly on right side unless otherwise stated.

R.=Lipstick Red. W.=Snow White. P.=Pale Pink.

Legs and Body: Back half ** With R., cast on 15 sts. Next row: knit. Next row: knit, incr. 1 st. each end. Knit 6 rows. Next row: knit, incr. 1 st. each end. Knit 27 rows. Break R.

Push sts. to end of needle, then on to same needle,, cast on 15 sts. and make another piece the same. Work across both sets of 19 sts. as follows: Knit 2 rows.**

Next row: k. 8, k. twice in each of next 8 sts., k. 6, k. twice in each of next 8 sts., k. 8: 54 sts. Knit 14 rows. Next row: k. 2 tog., k. to last 2 sts., k. 2 tog.

Next row: k. 2, (k. 2 tog.) 24 times, k. 2: 28 sts. Knit 3 rows. Next row: k. 2 tog., k. to last 2 sts., k. 2 tog. Next row: knit. Break R.

Join in W. and knit 34 rows. Cast off 3 sts. at beg. of next 4 rows. Next row: knit. Cast off.

Front Half Work as for back half from ** to **. Next row: k. 2 tog., k. to last 2 sts., k. 2 tog. Next 9 rows: knit. Rep. the last 10 rows once more.

Make another piece the same. Join sides and cast-off edges on wrong side. Turn work and stuff firmly; gather up neck opening.

Snout Stocking-stitch in P. Cast on 3 sts. Knit 1 row, then incr. 1 st. each end of next 2 rows. Work 3 rows straight. Decr. 1 st. each end of next 2 rows. Cast off.

Cast on 5 sts. and work 16 rows straight. Cast off. Join strip just knitted into a ring and sew round circle. Stuff and sew to face. Work a circle of buttonhole stitch round top of snout.

Embroider features as illustrated using Black for eyebrows, outline of eyes and mouth. Centres of eyes are Blue and Black with a White straight st. Sew head to body.

Arms and Hands With P. cast on 20 sts. and work in st.st. as follows:—Knit 1 row, then incr. 1 st. each end of next 2 rows: 24 sts. Work 7 rows straight. Next row: k. 2 tog., k. 8, (k. 2 tog.) twice, k. 8, k. 2 tog. Next row: purl. Break P.

Join in W. and work 23 rows garter-stitch. Next row: knit, incr. 1 st. each end. Knit 15 rows. Cast off.

Make another piece the same. Fold in half lengthways and join, leaving cast-off edge open for stuffing. Stuff firmly and gather up opening. Sew arms to body.

Tail With P. cast on 31 sts., knit 1 row through back of loops. Cast off purlways. Roll long edges together and stitch. Sew tail to body.

Shoes With W. cast on 11 sts., and knit 1 row. Next 2 rows: knit, incr. 1 st. each end: 15 sts. Next row: k. 7, k. twice in next st., k. 7. Knit 6 rows. Next row: knit, decr. 1 st. each end.

Knit 5 rows. Next row: k. 2 tog., k. 3, (k. 2 tog.) twice, k. 3, k. 2 tog. Knit 5 rows, then decr. 1 st. at each end of next row. Knit 1 row. Cast off.

Make 3 more pieces the same. Join each pair leaving cast-off edges open for stuffing. Stuff and gather up opening. Sew shoes to legs.

Ears With P. cast on 4 sts. and shape by incr. 1 st. at each end of every 3rd row until there are 16 sts. Knit 6 rows, then decr. 1 st. each end of next row. Next row: k. 4, k. 2 tog., k. 2, k. 2 tog., k. 4. Next row: k. 2 tog., k. 2, (k. 2 tog.) twice, k. 2, k. 2 tog. Knit 1 row. Cast off.

Make another piece the same. Fold cast-off edges in half and sew ears to head so that they curl forward.

Poodle

Materials: Of Patons Double Quick Knitting, 4 ozs. White, 1 oz. each Radiant Pink 182 and Carnival Pink 6085. Scrap of 4-ply wool in black for features. A pair No. 12 Queen Bee needles. Kapok for stuffing.

Measurements: Height, 13 1/2 ins.

N.B.—When making up join all seams on