It's a particularly blustery day today, which reminded me of a pattern I published a while ago:
The Wizard of Oz is one of those classic stories everybody is familiar with. It is such a wonderful story that I simply had to knit these little characters using all the colours of the rainbow! And speaking of rainbows... the all-too-familiar song from this story just popped into my head… try not to sing it, I dare you!
Yarn:
T his pattern was originally commissioned for a magazine featuring a kit of 66m
unbranded mini skeins of yarn in red, orange, blue, green, black, white, purple and
yellow. To make the characters in this pattern, you will need approximately 25g of
DK yarn in these colours.
Needles:
3.5mm Straight needles
Other supplies:
Toy stuffing
Tapestry Needle
Crochet hook to attach hair
8 small safety eyes
Size:
15 cm tall
Abbreviations:
[ ] x times: Knit the instructions between the brackets x amount of times.
* ; rep from * to end: Repeat the instructions between the * and ; until the end of the row.
st(s): stitch(es)
K: knit, if followed by a number, knit that amount of stitches
P: purl
St st: stocking stitch: alternate a row of knitting and a row of purling.
G st: garter stitch: knit every row
K2tog: knit two stitches together knitwise.
P2tog: purl two stitches together purlwise.
Kfb: knit in the front and back of the stitch, creating an increase.
Pfb: Purl in the front and back of the stitch, creating an increase.
Yo: Yarn over: Wrap the yarn over the needle to create an increase.
Dorothy
Head and body:
Starting form the head, cast on 13 sts in White.
Row 1: [kfb] 13 times. 26 sts
Row 2-4: St st 3 rows.
Row 5: [K1, kfb] 13 times. 39 sts
Row 6-8: St st 3 rows.
Row 9: [K1, kfb, k1] 13 times. 52 sts
Row 10-20: St st 11 rows.
Row 21: [K1, k2tog, k1] 13 times. 39 sts
Row 22-24: St st 3 rows.
Row 25: [K1, k2tog] 13 times. 26 sts
Row 26 and all even rows: P.
Row 27: [k2tog] 13 times. 13 sts
Row 29: K1, [k2tog] 6 times. 7 sts
Row 30: Change to Blue and p to end.
Row 31: K1, [kfb] 5 times, k1. 12 sts
Row 33: [Kfb] 12 times. 24 sts
Row 35: [K1, kfb] 12 times. 36 sts
Row 36-46: St st 11 rows.
Row 47: [K1, k2tog] 12 times. 24 sts
Row 49: [K2tog] 12 times. 12 sts
Row 50: [P2tog] 6 times. 6 sts
Break yarn and thread through the remaining stitches. Pull tight and fasten. Sew along the edge using mattress stitch and stuff. Secure two safety eyes and close.
Arms: make two
Starting from the top of the arm, cast on 6 sts in White.
Row 1 and all odd rows: P.
Row 2-3: Cast on 3 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 12 sts
Row 4-15: St st 12 rows.
Row 16: [K2tog] 6 times. 6 sts
Break yarn and thread through the remaining stitches. Pull tight and fasten. Sew along the edge using mattress stitch and stuff. Attach to either side of the body.
Legs: make two
Starting from the bottom of the foot, cast on 13 st in Red.
Row 1: K.
Row 2: K2, [kfb] 10 times, k1. 23 sts
Row 3-8: G st 6 rows.
Row 9: K4, [k2tog, k1] 5 times, k4. 18 sts
Row 10: K4, [k2tog] 5 times, k4. 13sts
Row 11-22 Change to White and st st 12 rows, starting with k.
Cast off. Using mattress stitch sew the bottom of the foot and along the back edge. Stuff and connect to the body
Dress:
Using White cast on 51 sts.
Row 1-3: St st 3 rows starting with a k row.
Row 4: P1, *p2tog, yo; rep. from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 5-6: St st 2 rows.
Row 7-16: Change to Blue and st st 10 rows.
Row 17: K1, [k2, k2tog, k3] 7 times, k1. 44 sts
Row 18-20: St st 3 rows.
Row 21: K1, [k2, k2tog, k2] 7 times, k1. 37 sts
Row 22: P.
Cast off. Fold the picot edge inwards and secure with a running st. Using mattress st, sew along the side edge. Attach to the body using a running stitch.
Sleeves: make two
Using White cast on 51 sts.
Row 1-3: St st 3 rows starting with a k row.
Row 4: P1, *p2tog, yo; rep. from * to last 2 sts, p2.
Row 5-6: St st 2 rows.
Row 7-16: Change to Blue and st st 10 rows.
Row 17: K1, [k2, k2tog, k3] 7 times, k1. 44 sts
Row 18-20: St st 3 rows.
Row 21: K1, [k2, k2tog, k2] 7 times, k1. 37 sts
Row 22: P.
Cast off. Fold the picot edge inwards and secure with a running st. Using mattress st, sew along the side edge. Attach to the body using a running stitch.
Hair:
Starting with a hair piece:, cast on 54 sts with Black.
Row 1-4: St st 4 rows.
Row 5: [K2, k2tog, k2] 9 times. 45 sts
Row 6-8: St st 3 rows.
Row 9: [K1, k2tog, k2] 9 times. 36 sts
Row 10-12: St st 3 rows.
Row 13: [K1, k2tog, k1] 9 times. 27 sts
Row 14 and all even rows: P.
Row 15: [K2tog, k1] 9 times. 18 sts.
Row 17: [K2tog] 9 times. 9 sts
Row 18: P1, [p2tog] 4 times. 5 sts
Break yarn and thread through the rem. stitches. Pull tight to fasten. Sew along the edge using mattress stitch and attach diagonally to the top of the head with running stitch. Cut approximately 50 strands of Black yarn measuring 30cm. The easiest way to do this is to wrap the yarn around a solid objects measuring 15cm in length and cutting
along one side. Then using a crochet hook attach the strands to the cast on edge of the hair piece as followed: insert the hook through the cast on edge of the hair piece, fold a strand of yarn over the hook, pull the hook through the stitch and then using the crochet hook, grab the two ends of the yarn with the hook and pull those through the loop
created. Repeat this for the length of the hair cap, then across the centre of the head.
Divide the hair in 2 pieces and plait. Using a strand of yarn, tie securely.
Bow:
Using Red cast on 20 sts.
Row 1-4: St st 4 rows.
Cast off and fold in half. Join side seam and wrap yarn around the centre of the bow several times. Add a few stitches to secure and attach to the hair
Lion:
Body:
Using Yellow cast on 7 sts
Row 1: K1, [kfb] 5 times, k1. 12 sts
Row 2 and all even rows; P.
Row 3: [Kfb] 12 times. 24 sts
Row 5: [K1, kfb] 12 times. 36 sts
Row 6-16: St st 11 rows.
Row 17: [K1, k2tog] 12 times. 24 sts
Row 19: [K2tog] 12 times. 12 sts
Row 20: [P2tog] 6 times. 6 sts
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. Using mattress stitch sew up along the side seam, stuff and close.
Head:
Cast on 12 sts in Yellow
Row 1: [kfb] 12 times. 24 sts
Row 2-4: St st 3 rows.
Row 5: [K1, kfb] 12 times. 36 sts
Row 6-8: St st 3 rows.
Row 9: [K1, kfb, k1] 12 times. 48 sts
Row 10-20: St st 11 rows.
Row 21: [K1, k2tog, k1] 12 times. 36 sts
Row 22-24: Change to White and st st 3 rows.
Row 25: [K1, k2tog] 12 times. 24 sts
Row 27: [k2tog] 12 times. 12 sts
Row 29: [K2tog] 6 times. 6 sts
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. Using mattress stitch sew up along the side seam and stuff. Embroider a triangular nose and attach the safety eyes. Close the head.
Arms: make two
Work as Dorothy using yellow.
Legs: make two
Starting from the bottom of the foot, cast on 13 st in Yellow.
Row 1 and all odd rows: P.
Row 2: K2 [kfb] 10 times, k1. 23 sts
Row 3-7: St st 5 rows.
Row 8: K4, [k2tog, k1] 5 times, k4. 18 sts
Row 10: K4, [k2tog] 5 times, k4. 13sts
Row 11-22 St st 12 rows.
Cast off. Using mattress stitch sew the bottom of the foot and along the back edge. Stuff and connect to the body.
Ears: make two
Using Yellow cast on 14 sts.
Row 1-2: St st 2 rows.
Row 3: K2tog, k3, [k2tog] twice, k3, k2tog. 10 sts
Row 4 and all even rows: P
Row 5: K2tog, k1, [k2tog] twice, k1, k2tog. 6 sts
Row 7: [K2tog] 3 times. 3 sts
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. Using mattress stitch sew up along the side. Attach to either side of the head
Tail:
Cast on 10 sts in yellow.
Row 1-18: St st 18 rows.
Row 19: [K2tog] 5 times.
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight and fasten. Sew along the side edge and attach to the back of the body. Cut 6 strands of yarn measuring 10 cm and attach
to the end of the tail using as crochet hook. (see Dorothy for method)
Main:
Cut 60 strands of yarn measuring 10 cm. Attach around the face, ears and back of the head using the same method as Dorothy’s hair.
Tinman:
Body parts:
Work the body, head and arms as Dorothy using Blue yarn. Make up as Dorothy and embroider a small red heart to the body. For the legs, work as Lion using Blue yarn.
Hat:
Using Purple cast on 48 sts
Row 1: K
Row 2: [K5, k2tog, k5] 4 times. 44 sts
Row 3 and all odd rows: P.
Row 4: [K5, k2tog, k4] 4 times. 40 sts
Row 6: [K4, k2tog, k4] 4 times. 36 sts
Row 8: [K4, k2tog, k3] 4 times. 32 sts
Row 10: [K3, k2tog, k3] 4 times. 28 sts
Row 12: [K3, k2tog, k2] 4 times. 24 sts
Row 14: [K2, k2tog, k2] 4 times. 20 sts
Row 16: [K2, k2tog, k1] 4 times. 16 sts
Row 18: [K1, k2tog, k1] 4 times. 12 sts
Row 20: [K1, k2tog] 4 times. 8 sts
Row 22: [K2tog] 4 times. 4 sts
Break yarn and thread through the rem. stitches. Pull tight to fasten. Using mattress st sew along the side seam and stuff. Attach to the top of the head on a slight angle.
Handle:
Using Purple cast on 12 sts. Row 1: K. Cast off knitwise. Secure to the side of the hat
Scarecrow:
Body parts:
Legs: as Dorothy using Black and Purple yarn.
Body and head: work as Dorothy, using Orange to cast
on, changing to Green at the start of row 20 and Purple at
the start of row 43.
Arms: work as Dorothy using Orange yarn.
Make up the body of Scarecrow as Dorothy.
Sleeves: make two
Starting from the top of the arm, cast on 10 sts in Green.
Row 1 and all odd rows: P.
Row 2-3: Cast on 3 st at the beginning of the next 2 rows. 16 sts
Row 4-11: St st 8 rows.
Cast off. Using mattress st sew along the side seam up to row 4. Position over the arms and sew to the body.
Shirt trim:
Using Green cast on 40 sts.
Row 1-6: St st 6 rows.
Cast off. Using mattress st sew along the side seam and then secure the cast off edge to the body. Crochet a chain measuring 20cm and tie around the waist.
Neck ruffle:
Using Orange cast on 40 sts
Row 1 and all odd rows: P.
Row 2: [K2tog] 20 times. 20 sts
Row 4: [K2tog] 10 times. 10 sts
Cast off. Using mattress st sew along the side seam and then secure the cast off edge to the neck
Hat:
Using Purple cast on 98 sts.
Row 1 and all even rows: P.
Row 2: [K3, k2tog, k2] 14 times. 84 sts
Row 4: [K2, k2tog, k2] 14 times. 70 sts.
Row 6: [K2, k2tog, k1] 14 times. 56 sts
Row 7: K.
Row 8: [K6, k2tog, k6] 4 times. 52 sts
Row 10: [K5, k2tog, k6] 4 times. 48 sts
Row 12: [K5, k2tog, k5] 4 times. 44 sts
Row 14: [K5, k2tog, k4] 4 times. 40 sts
Row 16: [K4, k2tog, k4] 4 times. 36 sts
Row 18: [K4, k2tog, k3] 4 times. 32 sts
Row 20: [K3, k2tog, k3] 4 times. 28 sts
Row 22: [K3, k2tog, k2] 4 times. 24 sts
Row 24: [K2, k2tog, k2] 4 times. 20 sts
Row 26: [K2, k2tog, k1] 4 times. 16 sts
Row 27: [P2tog] 8 times. 8 sts
Break yarn and thread through rem. Sts. Pull tight and fasten. Using mattress st sew along the side seam and stuff. Secure to the top of the head. Cut 50 strands of Yellow yarn measuring 15 cm and secure to the head, underneath the hat using the crochet
hook method as Dorothy’s hair. Repeat for the sleeve edges and just above the shoes.
Hints and tips:
Small knitted pieces can be quite tricky to stuff. Try using a tweezer to place small lumps of stuffing a little at a time until you are satisfied with the results, but remember, when it comes to stuff: less is more! Try out different positions for your eyes by inserting pins before you secure the eyes. That way you are certain the eyes are exactly where you want them to be. If you don’t have safety eyes, you could embroider two small black pupils instead.
If you’re planning on substituting the yarn to a different yarn weight, remember to use needles 2 sizes smaller than suggested on the yarn band and note that you might use slightly more yarn than stated in the pattern.
I hope you will enjoy knitting these iconic story characters.
Please note: this pattern is copyrighted and is not to be reproduced or sold in any format.
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