‘Zingy’ or EDF-style Knitted Mascot

Knitting pattern with instructions for either googly eyes or felt eyes.

You can choose to use felt for nose or black / coloured ‘dome’ buttons

Abbreviations:

• K = Knit
• P = Purl
• Inc = Increase
• st(s) = Stitch(es)
• st-st = Stocking Stitch (K1 row P1 row)
• K2tog = Knit two together
• P2tog = Purl two together
• B&T Tightly = bind and tie by threading your yarn end on a tapestry needle and passing it through the stitches on your knitting needle, draw up the stitches and tie off

For the body:

• DK yarn*
• Stuffing
• 4mm knitting needles*
  • (Imperial Size 8)
  • (US Size 6)

For facial features:

Option 1:

• I used 2 x 25mm googly eyes
• Black felt
• Dome button (second option for nose)

Option 2:

• Black felt
• White felt
• Template (see image, print out image for a template or draw freehand)
• Dome button (see image, second option for nose)

Both options:

• Scissors
• Fabric Glue

The Body

• Starting from the base, cast on 16 stitches
• First row: P
• Next row: Inc into every st (32 sts)
• Starting with a P row, st-st a further 16 row

To shape the neck:

• Row 1: P2tog to end (16 sts)
• Row 2: Inc into every st (32sts)

The head:

• Starting and ending with a P row, st-st 14 rows

Top of head:

• Row 1: P1, P2tog, P1, P2tog, repeat to last 2sts then P2 (22sts)
• Row 2: K
• Row 3: P2tog to end (11sts)
• Row 4: K2tog 5 times, K1 (6sts)
• Row 5: P2, P2tog, P2 (5sts)
• Beginning with a K row, st-st 6 rows
• B&T Tightly leaving sufficient yarn to sew up the whole body and the opening at bottom

To make up:

With wrong side of work facing, join the row ends. Do not sew up the cast on sts at the bottom; use this to turn your work the right way around.

Tie off yarn but do not break off at this stage

Use wrong end of knitting needle to gently help turn out the little bit out at top of head

Stuff firmly (do not stuff the little bit sticking up on top of head) and sew up the gap at bottom, tie off yarn then thread through body before cutting ends off

The neck

To make the mascot’s distinctive double-blob shape, weave the same colour yarn in and out around the body twice at the neck and pull gently until desired shape is achieved.

Tie off and thread ends through body before cutting off

The face:

Option 1: Affix googly eyes and felt nose firmly, using the fabric glue, to the face as shown

Option 2: Cut out whites of eyes; be sure they are joined at middle (1 piece). Cut out other pieces (2x12.5mm pupils, 1x10mm nose). Stick on black 12.5mm pupils to the white shape then stick to face. Stick 10mm nose on **.

Your finished work will be approx 12cm tall

If using 4mm needles and DK yarn

* For a variety of sizes:

Whilst these instructions are for DK yarn with 4mm needles, you can adjust to make different sizes

Small – Use 4ply yarn with 2 ¾ mm (Size 10 imperial) (US Size 2) needles

Medium – Use DK yarn with 3mm (Size 11 imperial) (US Size 3) needles

Remember to adjust the size of the template, shown in previous step, to accommodate smaller faces

** You can also use ‘dome’ shaped black buttons for the nose.

Sew and glue on

Be aware that these mascots are not suitable for young children as glued on pieces can be pulled off, even with the smallest of fingers