Are you looking for a free dog knitting pattern so that you can make the perfect gift? Or maybe you are just looking for something cute to brighten up your own plush collection? Percy the puppy dog is sure to bring a smile to anyone who creates him.
I designed this dog knitting pattern specifically for anyone who is interested in making a dog plush of their own. Percy the puppy is a charming pup who is full of personality. He’s cute, soft, and super huggable. Each finished Percy measures approximately 7 inches (17.8 cm) in height.
If you’ve never made a knit plush before, this pattern is a great introduction. Percy is knit primarily in the round, but please don’t be intimidated! This video has a great description on how to start knitting on double pointed needles.
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Percy the Puppy Dog Knitting Pattern Details
Skill level: Advanced beginner/Intermediate – requires experience with circular knitting on double pointed needles, increasing/decreasing, and i-cords.
List of Items Needed:
- 1 Set of 5 size US 7 (4.5 mm) Double Pointed Needles
- Darning Needle
- Polyfill Fiber Stuffing
- 2 black plastic safety eyes with backings
- Stitch Markers
Yarn Suggestions:
Yarn A: Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn in White (65 yards)
Yarn B: Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn in Black (21 yards)
I chose to use KnitPicks Brava Worsted because it’s soft, affordable, and comes in a fantastic range of colors.
Gauge:
4.5 sts and 7 rows/1 inch (2.5 cm) on size US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs knit in the round
Please note: Gauge is not as critical with plushies, but you do want to maintain a “tighter” knitted fabric so the stuffing doesn’t come out. Feel free to adjust needle size as needed.
Copyright: You are more than welcome to sell your finished items if you’d like, but please do not copy, publish, and/or redistribute this pattern (including translations to other languages).
Construction: Percy is knit primarily in the round. We start by making by making his head and body. Then we add on i-cord arms/legs and garter stitch ears. Here is a great video on i-cords if you’re unsure of how to start.
Percy the Puppy Dog Knitting Pattern
Materials
- 1 skein MC: Knitpicks Brava Worsted in White (87 yards)
- 1 skein CC: Knitpicks Brava Worsted in Black (22 yards)
- 1 Set of 5 size US 7 (4.5 mm) Double pointed Needles
- 1 Darning Needle
- 1 bag Polyfill Fiber Stuffing
- 2 black plastic safety eyes with backings
Instructions
- Knitting Abbreviations
Head (Make 1):
- With MC, CO 6 sts, PM at the beginning of the round.
- Distribute sts across three needles and join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist.
- Rnd 1: K all sts
- Rnd 2: Kfb all sts (12 sts total)
- Rnd 3: K all sts
- Rnd 4: (Kfb, k1) repeat all around (18 sts total)
- Rnd 5: K all sts
- Rnd 6: (Kfb, k2) repeat all around (24 sts total)
- Rnd 7: K all sts
- Rnd 8: (Kfb, k3) repeat all around (30 sts total)
- Rnd 9: K all sts
- Rnd 10: (Kfb, k4) repeat all around (36 sts total)
- Rnd 9: K all sts
- Rnd 10: (Kfb, k5) repeat all around (42 sts total)
- Rnd 11: K all sts
- Rnd 12: (Kfb, k6) repeat all around (48 sts total)
- Rnds 13-23: K in stockinette st
- Rnd 24: (K2tog, k6) repeat all around (42 sts total)
- Rnd 25: K all sts
- Rnd 26: (K2tog, k5) repeat all around (36 sts total)
- Rnd 27: K all sts
- Rnd 28: (K2tog, k4) repeat all around (30 sts total)
- Rnd 29: K all sts
- Rnd 30: (K2tog, k3) repeat all around (24 sts total)
- Rnd 31: K all sts
- At this point, you’ll notice that the opening of your plush is getting smaller. To get an idea for your eyeball placement, you’ll want to first weave in your cast-on yarn tail and then gently begin to stuff your plush. Once you have half of the stuffing in, measure about 1 inch from the top of your needles for the safety eye placement.
- If you prefer NOT to use safety eyes, you can skip this step and embroider eyes on later.
- Safety eye installation: Take the black front piece and position it where you would like. I placed mine about 1 inch (2.5 cm) down from the needles and 1.25 inches (3.175 cm) apart from each other. Once you’re satisfied with the eye placement, press the grey backing pieces inside of the plush and push all the way until they are securely attached to the back of the black eyes.
- Continue knitting as follows:
- Rnd 32: (K2tog, k2) repeat all around (18 sts total)
- Rnd 33: K all sts
- Rnd 34: (K2tog, k1) repeat all around (12 sts total)
- At this point, add in even more of the stuffing. I like my plushies to be extra plump, so don’t be afraid to add a little more than you think you need!
- Rnd 35: K all sts
- Rnd 36: K2tog all around (6 sts total)
- Cut yarn leaving at least a 12 inch tail. Thread a darning needle and weave through the 6 remaining sts. Weave in ends.
- Embroider nose as follows:
- Thread a darning needle with 18 inches of CC yarn. I illustrated the approximate stitch pattern I used below, but feel free to get creative! I used a back stitch method and started with making the center vertical line. Then I added the nose details first and the mouth second.
Ears (Make 2):
- These ears are worked flat, back and forth, in garter stitch
- Using CC, CO 8, leaving 12-18 inch tail for sewing’; later
- Row 1: K
- Row 2: K
- Row 3: K1, SSK, k2, K2tog, k1 (6 sts total)
- Row 4: K
- Row 5: K1, SSK, k2tog, k1 (4 sts total)
- Row 6: K
- Row 7: SSK, k2tog (2 sts total)
- Row 8: K
- Row 9: K2tog, cut yarn and weave through remaining single st.
- Weave in cast off yarn to create a pointy ear.
- Using cast on yarn tail, whip stitch your ears to the side of your plush (about 1 inch from the top of the head).
Body (Make 1):
- CO 6 sts, PM at the beginning of the round. Leave an 18 in. tail for seaming to the head.
- Distribute sts across three needles and join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist.
- Rnd 1: K all the way around
- Rnd 2: Kfb all sts (12 total)
- Rnd 3-12: K
- At this point, take advantage of the larger opening and stuff the body with fiber fill. You can always add a tiny bit more to the top later if you need to.
- Rnd 13: K2tog all around (6 total)
- Rnd 14: K 3 sts and leave remaining sts on needle or stitch holder to be used later.
- Rnd 15: Bring yarn around to the beginning of the round to join for an i-cord across 3 sts
- Rnd 16-19: K i-cord**
- Bind off and weave in tail
- Join yarn for 3 remaining sts on needle/stitch holder and begin working i-cord for 5 rows.
- Bind off and weave in tail.
- Use the joined yarn tail to seam the “crotch” area if there is a small gap remaining.
- If needed, stuff the top of the body with remaining polyfill fiber. You can also use a chop stick for this step if the opening is too small.
- Using the cast on yarn tail, sew the body onto the bottom of the head. Make sure the body aligns directly with the “face” of your plush.
Arms (Make 2):
- Using MC and DPNs, CO 3 sts (leaving 12 in tail for weaving)
- Knit i-cord for 4 rows.
- Bind off and weave in ends.
- Using CO tail, sew to either side of the body.
Notes
If you make any of my designs, please feel free to tag @orangegrovehome over on social media.
Interested in a knit kit? I sell Percy the Puppy Knit Kits over on my Etsy shop. Our knit kits come with all of the materials you need to create your very own Percy.
