Frankie s Knitted Stuff Ducks These little knitted ducks measure 8cm / 3" from chest to tail when knitted in 4 ply and 13cm / 5" if double knitting is used. Use 2mm / US size 0 needles with 4 ply and 3mm / US size 3 with double knitting. Note: Throughout this pattern there will be instructions to increase, sometimes at each end of the row and sometimes only at the start or end of the row. In all cases the increases should be worked as make 1s (lift the thread between the sts and knit into the back of it) either after the first st or before the last st of the row. Increase rows are always knit rows. Now to get on with some duck knitting. Body The main body of the duck is knitted sideways in one piece, beginning and ending at the tail and working in stocking stitch. Using your chosen yarn and the long tail method cast on 4 sts. Next row: (and every other row) Purl. Increase at each end of the knit rows until you have 8 sts. Now increase at the start of the knit rows to 10 sts.
Go back to increasing at each end of the knit rows to 18 sts. Beginning with a purl row, work 6 rows in stocking stitch. Now cast on 8 sts for the head (I used the backward loop method) and purl the next row (26sts). If you re really fussy you might like to work into the back of the 9 th st to avoid a small hole. Increase at the end of the knit rows until you have 30 sts. Now decrease (P2tog) at the start of the next and alternate rows until you are back to 26 sts. Next row: Knit Slipping the first st, cast off 8 sts at the start of the next row (18sts) Again slipping the first sts, cast off 3 sts at the start of the next 4 rows. You should now have 6 sts on your needle and have completed half a duck! Cast on 3 sts at the start of the next 4 rows, slipping the first sts when working the rows (18 sts). Next row: Knit Cast on 8 sts for the head and purl the next row (26sts). Increase at the end of the knit rows until you have 30 sts. Now decrease (P2tog) at the start of the next and alternate rows until you are back to 26 sts. Slipping the first st, cast off 8 sts at the start of the next row (18sts) Beginning with a knit row, work 6 rows in stocking stitch. Now decrease at the start of each row (SSK on knit rows, P2tog on purl) to 10 sts. Then decrease at the start of knit rows only to 8sts. Go back to decreasing at the start of each row until you have 4 sts. Cast off purlwise.
Making up the Body With wrong sides together, pin and sew the duck using mattress stitch and leaving a gap for stuffing. Stuff the duck firmly, rounding the body and flattening the base. Close the gap. Fasten a length of yarn tightly around the neck (poor duck!) to emphasise the head. Attach a length of yarn a short way in from the tail, thread through to the base of the duck and pull tightly to shape the tail before fastening off. Beak Cast on 7 sts. Decrease at the start of each row (SSK on knit rows and P2tog on purl) until you have 3 sts. Now increase at each end of the knit rows until you are back to 7 sts. Cast off. Sew the two side seams and sew the beak to the duck s face, keeping the shape open. Embroider the eyes with a few small straight stitches.
Wings (make 2) These are worked in moss stitch (alternate knit and purl sts) throughout, you will have to keep the pattern correct as the increasing and decreasing means that you will sometimes need to begin a row with a knit stitch and sometimes a purl. For the wings increases should be made by working into the front and back of the first st, again bearing in mind the moss stitch pattern. Begin at the front of the wing and cast on 3 sts. Increase at the start of each row until you have 5 sts. Now increase at the start of the next and alternate rows to 11 sts. Work 11 rows without shaping. Decrease (SSK or K2tog) at the start of the next and alternate row (9sts). Now decrease at the start of each row until you have used up all your stitches. Sew the wings to the sides of your duck with the straight edges at the bottom. That s it. You can personalise these ducks in lots of ways stripy ducks, spotty ducks, ducks embroidered or decorated with all manner of things flowers, hearts, stars. How about a black pirate duck with a skull and crossbones on his side? A punk duck with spiky hair and safety pins? Or, on a more romantic note, attach a veil and a few flowers and you have a bridal duck! Abbreviations st sts K2tog P2tog SSK stitch stitches knit 2 together purl 2 together slip, slip, knit (see below)
Slip, slip, knit slip 2 sts knitwise (or knitwise followed by purlwise) one at a time, insert tip of left needle into sts from above, put yarn round right needle and knit both sts together. Frankie Brown, 2009