The second half of the pattern is here.
Edited to add: The entire pattern in PDF format, with additional diagrams, is now available!
Edited 1 June 2009: Hind leg errors fixed
Kangaroo
G’day! This kangaroo is knitted from the nose-down almost seamlessly. This kangaroo can be made with any yarn, and you should use needles for a tight gauge, so that the stuffing does not show through. The pattern is basically the same for Jack (dad), Jill (mom), and Joey (babe), so if you want the Joey to be able to fit into Jill’s pouch, they will need to be far apart in gauge—the Joey in the picture is in fingering/sock weight, and the Jill is in a heavy worsted, and he barely fits.
If you have any comments or questions, or notice any errors, please email me at yoelknits at gmail dot com.
Skills you will need:
-Knitting in the round on double pointed needles
-Turkish cast-on
-Short rows
-Increase by make 1, decrease by ssk or k2tog
-I-Cord
Materials:
-yarn: any gauge. One 50-gram ball of fingering weight yarn, or One 100-gram ball of worsted weight yarn should be enough
-double pointed needles, set of 4 or 5 (preferably 5), to produce tight gauge with yarn
-stuffing
-5 stitch markers
-yarn needle
-contrasting thread, buttons, or fabric for eyes and nose
-2 stitch holders, or length of scrap yarn to hold stitches
-pins (straight or safety)
Gauge:
Use needles to produce a tight gauge for the yarn.
Abbreviations:
k: knit
p: purl
m1: increase by make one
kfb: increase by knit into front loop then knit into back loop of same stitch
k2tog: decrease by knit two together
ssk: decrease by slip, slip, knit
All of the appendages are made first, then the main portion of the kangaroo is last, so that the appendages can be attached as you go along.
Tail
Cast on 4 stitches
Row 1-4: I-cord for 4 rows
Re-distribute on needles to work in the round; place marker to mark end of row
Row 5: Kfb all – 8 st
Rows 6-11: K all
Row 12: m1, k rest
Row 13: k all, m1 before marker
Row 14: k all
Row 15: k all
Repeat rows 12-15 eight more times – 26 st
*for Jill or Jack only*: Rows 16-21: K all
Place stitches on holders, 13 on each holder
Ears (make 2)Cast on 9, leaving longish tail
Row 1: p all
Row 2: sl 1, k3, move yarn forward, sl 1 purlwise, move yarn back, k 4
Row 3: sl 1, p3, k1, p4
Rows 4-11: Repeat rows 2-3 four more times
Row 12: k2tog, k2, move yarn forward, sl 1 purlwise, move yarn back, k2, ssk
Row 13: sl 1, p2, k1, p3
Row 14: k2tog, k1, move yarn forward, sl 1 purlwise, move yarn back, k1, ssk
Row 15: sl 1, p1, k1, p2
Row 16: k2tog, move yarn forward, sl 1 purlwise, move yarn back, ssk
Row 17: sl 1, k1, p1
Row 18: slip 2 together as though to k2tog, k1, pass both slipped st over
Cut yarn, pull through
Fold bottom (cast-on edge) in half so that right side faces in. Sew 2 stitches together. Push remaining bottom edge flat against the sewn portion, into a smushed triangle shape. Sew in place
Weave yarn at top of ear down towards the bottom, going back and forth behind the slipped stitches, to make the ear more rigid.
Forepaws (make 2)
Cast on 8 st, arrange to work in the round
Kfb all
K all
[K1, Kfb] around
k all
p all – this separates the flat part of the paw from the “arm” conical part
k all for 4 rows
pause to sew up the hole in the center of the bottom. Fudge to make the end of the paw nice and flat. Stuff.
[k2tog, k4]x4
k all for 3 rows
[k2tog, k3] x4
k all for 2 rows
[k2tog, k2] x4
k all for 3 rows
Stuff again.
k2tog around – 4 st
Cut yarn leaving several inches tail, draw yarn through, knot securely.
Hindlegs(make two)
Cast on 12 in Turkish cast-on
Row 1: k all, distributing on 3-4 needles to decrease tension
Row 2: [k1, m1, k4, m1, k1] x2
Row 3: k all
Row 4: [k2, m1, k4, m1, k2] x2
Row 5: k all
Row 6: [k2, m1, k6, m1, k2] x2
Row 7: k all
Row 8: [k1, m1, k2, m1, k6, m1, k2, m1, k1] x2
Row 9, k all
Row 10: p all – this forms a ridge between the sole of the foot and the rest of the leg
Row 11-18: k all for 8 rows
Weave in loose yarn in center of foot, fudging to make it nice and flat. Stuff firmly so far.
Row 19: k 18, ssk, turnRow 20: slip 1, p4, p2tog, turn
Row 21: slip 1 purlwise, k4, ssk, turn
Row 22: slip 1, p4, p2tog, turn
Row 23: slip 1 purlwise, k4, ssk, turn
Row 24: slip 1, p4, p2tog, turn
Row 25: slip 1 purlwise, k4, ssk, turn
Row 26: slip 1, p4, p2tog, turn
Row 27: slip 1 purlwise, k4, ssk, turn
Row 28: slip 1, p4, p2tog, turn
Row 29: slip 1 purlwise, k4, ssk, wrap next st, turn
Row 30: slip 1, p4, p2tog, wrap next st, turn
Row 31: slip 1 purlwise, k all to end, picking up prior wrap
Row 32: k all, picking up prior wrap on seventh st --20 stitches
Row 33-43: k all for 11 rows
Row 44: k 15, wrap next st, turn
Row 45: p 10, wrap next st, turn
Row 46: k 9, wrap next st, turn
Row 47: p 8, wrap next st, turn
Row 48: k 7, wrap next st, turn
Row 49: p 6, wrap next st, turn
Row 50: k 5, wrap next st, turn
Row 51: p 4, wrap next st, turn
Row 52: k 3, wrap next st, turn
Row 53: p 2, wrap next st, turn --20 stitches
Row 54: k2, k next st with its wrap, wrap next st, turn
Row 55: p3, p next st with its wrap, wrap next st, turn
Row 56: k4, k next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 57: p5, p next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 58: k6, k next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 59: p7, p next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 60: k8, k next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 61: p9, p next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 62: k10, k next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 63: p11, p next st with its wraps, wrap next st, turn
Row 64: k all (around), pick up wraps on 4th and 17th st --20 stitches
Row 65: k 9, m1, k2, m1, k9
Rows 66-67: k all for 2 rows
Row 68: k 10, m1, k2, m1, k10 --24 stitches
Stuff firmly up to the knee, then stuff very loosely above that.
Divide stitches on two needles, so that the leg folds in half to make a vertical seam when the needles are lined up.
Do three-needle bind-off. Cut yarn with longish tail, and pull through.
