Hey Duckie ...

I've been meaning to write up the pattern for this little guy for a-g-e-s, and with one thing and another I have procrastinated so that he's remained an undocumented doodle in my notebook.

Anyway, here he sharing his spring-time glory with the buttercups.

If you'd like to make him, just read on for the pattern.

Abbreviations used:

k = knit
k2 tog = knit 2 together to make a 1 stitch decrease.
KFB = knit into the front and back of the stitch to make a 1 stitch increase
LLI = left lifted increase: using the left needle, lift the stitch 2 rows below the stitch just worked, and knit it to make a 1 stitch increase.
m1 = make 1 stitch by knitting into the stand of wool that links the last stitch on right needle with the first stitch on left needle. Insert the right needle under this strand (front to back) to knit a stitch through the back loop, making a 1 stitch increase.
p = purl
PM = place stitch marker
RLI = right lifted increase: using the right needle, lift the right leg of the stitch below the next stitch on the left needle, and knit into it to make a 1 stitch increase.
SKPO = slip 1 stitch knit-wise, knit next stitch, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch making a 1 stitch decrease.
SM = slip marker and carry on with the stitches on the other side
SSK = slip, slip knit i.e. slip 2 stitches knit-wise from the left to the right needle. Then insert the left needle into the fronts of the 2 slipped stitches, and knit them together to make a 1 stitch decrease.


I've knit Duckie using our own label pure organic cotton 4 ply yarn. Tension: this yarn normally knits to a tension of 28 stitches x 36 rows on a 10cm x 10cm swatch on 3 mm needles.

The Body

The body is knit from the bottom up.

Cast on 6 stitches using the 2 needle twisted cast-on method.

To work a 2 needle twisted cast on: -

Hold the two needles side by side, parallel in your right hand. Twist the yarn around the top needle, looping it over itself at the back. Holding the working yarn over your forefinger and the tail over your thumb, twist the forefinger yarn around the bottom needle, looping it over itself at the back, and the thumb yarn over the top needle, looping it over itself at the back as well. Carry on with a rocking movement until you have the desired number of stitches. Turn the needles over so that the purl bumps are facing upwards, and knit the stitches off the bottom needle. Push the work to the other end of the needles, and knit the second needle with the working yarn, working in the opposite direction. 

Row 1, and all odd numbered rows: k

Row 2: KFB all the way round.  (12 stitches)

Row 4: *k1, LLI*.  Repeat from * to *  (18 stitches)

Row 5: k, dividing the stitches onto 3 needles as you go so that you have 6 stitches on each needle.

Row 6: *RLI, k2*.  Repeat from * to *  (24 stitches)

Row 8: *k3, LLI*.  Repeat from * to *  (30 stitches)

Row 10: *RLI, k4*. Repeat from * to * (36 stitches)
Row 12: *k5, LLI*. Repeat from * to * (42 stitches)
Row 14:  *RLI, k6*. Repeat from * to *  (48 stitches)
Row 16: *k7, LLI*.  Repeat from * to *  (54 stitches)
Row 18: *RLI, k8*.  Repeat from * to *  (60 stitches)
Row 20: *k9, LLI*.  Repeat from * to *  (66 stitches)
Row 22: *k9, SSK*. Repeat from * to *  (60 stitches)
Row 24: *k2tog, k8*. Repeat from * to *  (54 stitches)
Row 26: *k7, SSK*. Repeat from * to *  (48 stitches)
Row 28: *k2tog, k6*. Repeat from * to *  (42 stitches)
Row 30: *k5, SSK*. Repeat from * to *  (36 stitches)

Row 32: *k2tog, k4*. Repeat from * to *  (30 stitches)
Row 34: *k3, SSK*. Repeat from * to *  (24 stitches)
Row 36: *k2tog, k2*. Repeat from * to *  (18 stitches)
Row 38: *k1, SSK*. Repeat from * to * all the way around. (12 stitches)

Now stuff the body, as we've reached the neck. Add some (un-popped) popcorn at the bottom for ballast to help him stay upright, and then stuff the remainder with normal toy stuffing. 

The Head

We're going to carry on knitting so that the head follows on directly from the body.

Row 1, and all odd numbered rows: k (12 stitches)

Row 2: *k1, LLI*.  Repeat from * to *  (18 stitches)

Row 4: *RLI, k2*.  Repeat from * to *  (24 stitches)

Row 6: *k3, LLI*.  Repeat from * to *  (30 stitches)

Row 8: *RLI, k4*. Repeat from * to * (36 stitches)
Row 10: *k5, LLI*. Repeat from * to * (42 stitches)
Row 12:  *RLI, k6*. Repeat from * to *  (48 stitches)
Row 14: *k7, LLI*.  Repeat from * to *  (54 stitches)
Row 16: *RLI, k8*.  Repeat from * to *  (60 stitches)
Row 18: *k2tog, k8*. Repeat from * to *  (54 stitches)
Row 20: *k7, SSK*. Repeat from * to *  (48 stitches)
Row 22: *k2tog, k6*. Repeat from * to *  (42 stitches)
Row 24: *k5, SSK*. Repeat from * to *  (36 stitches)

Row 26: *k2tog, k4*. Repeat from * to *  (30 stitches)
Row 28: *k3, SSK*. Repeat from * to *  (24 stitches)
Row 30: *k2tog, k2*. Repeat from * to *  (18 stitches)
At this point you should position the eyes, and attach them. I like to use a piece of felt on the opposing side (i.e. the inside of the head) to secure the safety eyes. This gives added security that they won't tear the knitting or detach. Usually I cut a circle and position it on the underside of where the face is going to be. Once you've got the eyes positioned, stuff the head. Add plenty of toy stuffing to the neck area otherwise the head may droop a bit.
Row 32: *k1, SSK*. Repeat from * to * all the way around. (12 stitches)

Add some more stuffing

Row 34: k2tog all the way round (6 stitches)

Finish off the stuffing.

Row 36: k2tog all the way round onto one needle (3 stitches)

Work 7 rows of a 3 stitch i-cord to finish off with Duckie's feather crown. Cut the wool and darn in the loose ends.

Beak

Top Beak - make 2

Using your beak-coloured yarn cast on 11 stitches. 

Row 1: purl (11 stitches)

Row 2: k4, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, k4 (9 stitches)

Row 3: purl (9 stitches)

Row 4: k3, sl1, k2 tog, psso, k3 (7 stitches)

Row 5: purl (7 stitches)

Row 6: k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2 (5 stitches)

Row 7: purl (5 stitches)

Cast off. 

Make a back beak in exactly the same way as the front beak and sew the two together wadding slightly in between with toy stuffing so that the beak doesn't look 2 dimensional.

Scarf

Cast on 5 stitches and knit in stocking stitch until scarf measures 25 cm. I changed colour every other row to give the scarf some zippy stripes. Cast off, darn in the loose ends and tie around Duckie's neck with a double knot.

Legs and flippers - make 2

We're going to make mitered squares for the flippers, which will end in 4 stitch icords for the legs.

 Cast on 12 stitches

Row 1: knit and place a stitch marker in the middle of the row.

Row 2: k4, ssk, sm, k2 tog, k4 (10 stitches).

Row 3: knit (10 stitches).

Row 4: k3, ssk, sm, k2 tog, k3 (8 stitches).

Row 5: knit (8 stitches).

Row 6: k2, ssk, sm, k2 tog, k2 (6 stitches).

Row 7: knit (6 stitches).

Row 8: k1, ssk, sm, k2 tog, k1 (4 stitches).

Row 9: knit 5 rows as a 4 stitches i-cord to form the leg.

Sew legs to the body and you've got a Duckie who's ready to go.

All the best for now,

Bonny x