Pretty little penguin - Why not knit this adorable cute toy to give as a festive gift?
Get ready to knit something so adorable it will melt your heart with our free little penguin knitting pattern. While we don't recommend having a penguin as a pet, you can still have your very own snuggly version with this easy-to-follow knitting pattern. With its distinctive black and white markings, button nose, and cute little flippers, this knitted penguin is guaranteed to melt your heart and bring a smile to your face.
Whether you're a seasoned knitter or just starting out, this penguin knitting pattern is perfect for adding some charm to your knitting collection or gifting to a penguin-loving friend. So, grab your knitting needles and let's get started!
Size
Approximate height 20cm.
Materials
- One 50g ball of Debbie Bliss Rialto DK in each of Black 03 (A) and Ecru 02 (B) and oddments in Yellow 57 (c)
- Pair of 3mm knitting needles
- Toy stuffing
- Two 11 x 8cm pieces of cotton fabric and sewing thread (optional)
- Handful dried round lentils or peas (optional)
Tension
28 sts and 37 rows to IOcm square over st-st using 3mm needles.
Abbreviations
beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; dec decrease; foll following; inc increase; k knit; kfb k into front and back of next st; ml make one st by picking up and working into back of loop lying between st just worked and next st; p purl; patt pattern; rem remaining; rep repeat; S right side; s2togkpo sl next 2 sts together, k1,then pass the slipped sts over; sl slip; ssk [slip 1] twice, insert tip of left hand needle from left to right through the fronts of both slipped sts and work 2 tog; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; tbl through back loop; tog together; WS wrong side.
Notes
- 3mm needles and st-st are used throughout.
- You will need to use 2 balls of A to work the Body, but you can wind off yarn from the single ball to make it.
- Twist yarns at the colour change to avoid holes.
- We made a filled fabric pouch to slightly weigh down the base and help the penguin to stand but you can omit this if you are making it for very small children.
Base
- With 3mm needles and A, cast on 40 sts.
- 1st row (RS) K26, turn.
- 2nd row Sl 1, p to last 14 sts, turn.
- 3rd row Sl 1, k to last 14 sts, turn.
- 4th row Sl 1, pto last 7 sts, turn.
- 5th row Sl 1, k to last 7 sts, turn
- 6th row Sl 1, p to end. K 1 row, P 1 row.
- Next row (RS) KI, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, kl. Work 3 rows in st-st. Rep the last 4 rows once more. 36 sts.
- Next row (RS) KI, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, kl. P 1 row. Rep the last 2 rows twice more. 30 sts.
- Next row (RS) KI, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, kl.
- Next row Pl, p2tog, pto last 3 sts, p2tog tbl, pl. Rep the last 2 rows until 14 sts rem. Cast off.
Body
- With A, cast on 82 sts. 1st row (RS) K24 sts in A, 34 sts in B and 24 sts in A. Keeping yarns as set, and beg with a k row, work 19 rows in st-st.
- Next row (RS) Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. Work 5 rows.
- Next row Ssk, k22A, k32B, k22A, k2tog. Work 5 rows in A and B as set.
- Next row ssk, k22A, k30B, k22A, k2tog. Work 3 rows in A and B as set.
- Next row Ssk, k22A, k28B, k22A, k2tog. Work 2 rows.
- Next row (WS) P24A, p26B, p24A.
- Next row (RS) ssk, k22A, k26B, k22A, k2tog.
- Next row (WS) P24A, p24B, p24A.
- Next row Ssk, k22A, k24B, k22A, k2tog.
- Next row P24A, p22B, p24A
- Next row Ssk, k22A, k22B, k22A, k2tog.
- Next row P24A, p20B, p24A.
- Next row Ssk, k23A, k18B, k23A, k2tog.
- Next row P2tog, p23A, p16B, p23A, p2tog tbl.
- Next row Ssk, k23A, k14B, k23A, k2tog. Now cont in A only and dec 1 st as set at beg and end of next 4 rows. 54 sts. P 1 row.
Shape for head
1st Side
- Next row (RS) ssk, k21, turn. Next row SI 1, p to end.
- Next row K19, turn. Next row Sl 1, p to end.
- Next row Ssk, k15, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, p to end.
- Next row Ssk, k13, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, p to end.
- Next row Ssk, kll, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, p to end.
- Next row Ssk, k9, turn.
- Next row SI 1, p7, p2tog tbl.
- Next row Ssk, k6, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, p4, p2tog tbl.
- Next row Ssk, k3, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, pl,p2tog tbl.
- Next row Ssk, turn.
- Next row Pl.
- Next row Working across all sts, work: [k2, ml], 3 times, kl, ml, k to last 2 sts, k2tog.
2nd Side
- Next row (WS) P22, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, k to end.
- Next row P19, turn.
- Next row SI 1, k16, k2tog.
- Next row P16, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, k13, k2tog.
- Next row P14, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, kll, k2tog.
- Next row P12, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, k9, k2tog.
- Next row P2tog, p8, turn.
- Next row SI 1, k6, k2tog.
- Next row P2tog, p5, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, k3, k2tog.
- Next row P2tog, p2, turn.
- Next row Sl 1, k2tog.
- Next row Working across all sts, work: [p2, ml] 3 times, pl, ml, p to end. 40 sts. Cast off all sts. Place a marker in the centre of the cast off edge for centre front.
Feet (Make 2)
- With 3mm needles and C, cast on 6 sts. P 1 row.
- Next row KI, ml, k to last st, ml, kl. Rep the last 2 rows 3 times more. 14 sts. Work 3 rows in st-st
- Next row (RS) Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. P 1 row.
- Next row Ssk,
- k to last 2 sts, k2tog.10 sts.
- Foldline row (WS) K to end.
- Next row KI, ml, k to last st, ml, kl. Pl row.
- Next row KI, ml, k to last st, ml, kl. Work 3 rows in st-st.
- Next row Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. P 1 row. Rep the last 2 rows twice more, then the dec row again. 6 sts. Cast off working 2 sts tog at each end of row. Fasten off and fold in half along the foldline row and stitch all around the edges.
Flippers (Make 2)
- With A, cast on 2 sts.
- 1st row (RS) Kfb, kfb. 4 sts.
- 2nd row Pto last st, ml, pl.
- 3rd row KI, ml, k to end.
- 4th row Pl, ml, pto last st, ml, pl. 8 sts. KI row.
- 6th row P to last st, ml, pl.
- 7th row K to last st, ml, kl. Pl row.
- 9th row KI, ml, k to end. 11 sts.
- 10th row Pl, ml, p to end. K 1 row.
- 12th row As 10th row. K 1 row.
- 14th row As 10th row.
- 15th row KI, ml, k to end. P 1 row.
- 17th row As 15th row. 16 sts. Work 9 rows in st-st.
- 27th row Ssk, k to end. P 1 row.
- 29th row K to last 2 sts, k2tog. P 1 row.
- 31st row Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. P 1 row.
- 33rd row K to last 2 sts k2tog. 11 sts.
- Foldline row (WS) K to end.
- 35th row K to last st, ml, kl. P 1 row.
- 37th row KI, ml, k to last st, ml, kl. P 1 row. Rep the last 2 rows once more.
- 41st row KI, ml, k to end. 16 sts. Work 9 rows in st-st.
- 51st row K to last 2 sts, k2tog. Pl row.
- 53rd row Ssk, k to end.
- 54th row P2tog, p to end. K 1 row. Rep the last 2 rows once more.
- 58th row P2tog, p to end. 59th row Ssk, k to end. Pl row.
- 61st row K to last 2 sts, k2tog.
- 62nd row P to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl.K 1 row.
- 64th row P2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl.
- 65th row Ssk, k to end.
- 66th row P to last 2 sts, p2tog tbl. 4 sts.
- 67th row Ssk, k2tog, pass 1st st over 2nd and fasten off. Fold along the foldline and stitch around the edge.
Pouch (Optional, see notes)
Cut 2 pieces of fabric, approximately the size of the knitted base and either using a sewing machine or very small hand stitches, stitch the pieces together, leaving a lcm gap in the seam, turn through. Pour some lentils or dried peas into the pouch to weight it down and sew the gap closed, do not over fill.
To Make Up
Join centre back row-ends, leaving a 5cm gap in the seam. Matching the end of the beak seam to the centre cast off body edge marker and the centre of the top of the face section to the top of the back seam, carefully sew the edges of the face and beak to the body. With the centre of the cast on edge of base to the end of back seam and centre of cast off edge of base to centre of cast on edge of body, sew base to body, easing to fit. If using, insert the pouch to rest in the base, evening out the filling. Stuff the head, but only put a small amount of stuffing in the beak. Stuff the body firmly so anchoring the pouch in place and close the gap in the back seam. Sew the flippers in place to each side of the body. Sew the feet to the body base. Embroider the eyes with black yarn.
Happy crafting
Now that you've got the hang of knitting penguins, you can go wild and create an entire penguin colony in your home - imagine a bunch of cute little knitted penguins waddling around, bringing joy and laughter to everyone who sees them!
Check out some of our other makes and patterns with our free cooks cross stitch pattern, our tutorial on how to make bean bag cushions or our floral patchwork cushions make.
