This adorable Three Little Pigs knitting pattern brings the classic fairy tale to life with three tiny knitted pigs and their much larger Big Bad Wolf. Designed by Sachiyo Ishii for Clover, the pigs measure only around 7.5 cm tall while the wolf stands approximately 15 cm, giving the finished set a wonderfully playful sense of scale. The real charm is in the details: each little pig gets its own brightly colored pair of dungarees with crossed straps, while the wolf has blue dungarees, a knitted vest and a fluffy two-part pom-pom tail. Everything is made predominantly from small quantities of 4-ply yarn, making this a lovely choice for using colorful leftovers from your stash.
- Yarn weight: 4-ply
- Needle size: 3 mm
- Crochet hook: 3 mm
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Finished size: Pigs approximately 7.5 cm; Wolf approximately 15 cm
- Knit flat or in the round: Knit flat and seamed
- Characters included: Three pigs and the Big Bad Wolf
- Techniques: Stocking stitch, increases, decreases, seaming, stuffing, embroidery and simple crochet chains
- Designer: Sachiyo Ishii
- Get the free pattern: Get the free Three Little Pigs knitting pattern
🧶 Yarn pick: This is exactly the kind of toy pattern where your leftover yarn becomes more useful than buying everything new. The pigs themselves require only 20 g of peach 4-ply, with just 5 g each of yellow-green, yellow and red for their different dungarees. The wolf needs 20 g of grey and 5 g of blue, plus tiny quantities of additional colors. Keep the pigs roughly the same color, then raid your stash for three contrasting shades for their outfits.
Materials Used in This Pattern
For the Three Pigs
- Peach 4-ply: 20 g
- Yellow-green 4-ply: 5 g
- Yellow 4-ply: 5 g
- Red 4-ply: 5 g
- Dark brown 4-ply: Small amount
- Eyes: Three pairs of 4 mm black beads
- Black cotton thread
- Toy stuffing
For the Wolf
- Grey 4-ply: 20 g
- Blue 4-ply: 5 g
- Orange 4-ply: Small amount
- White 4-ply: Small amount
- Dark brown 4-ply: Small amount
- Eyes: One pair of 4 mm black beads
- Black cotton thread
- Toy stuffing
Tools
- Knitting needles: 3 mm
- Crochet hook: 3 mm
- Pom-pom makers: 20 mm and 25 mm
- Yarn needle
The original toys were knitted with Patons Baby Smiles Fairytale Fab 4-ply, a 100% acrylic yarn with approximately 184 m per 50 g.
Similar Knitting Patterns
- Free Little Red Riding Hood Finger
- Free Three Little Pigs Knitting Pattern
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears Knitting Pattern
Three Tiny Knitted Pigs
The pigs share the same basic construction, but their colorful clothing gives each one its own personality.
The body is worked in stocking stitch and shaped with simple increases and decreases. The ears, snout, arms and feet are knitted separately before being assembled and attached.
Their little dungarees are knitted separately too, with crochet chains forming the shoulder straps. The straps cross at the back, which is a particularly cute finishing detail on such tiny toys.
Make the three pairs of dungarees in different colors and you instantly have three individual little pigs.
And Then There’s the Big Bad Wolf
The wolf is much more substantial than the pigs.
At approximately 15 cm tall, he’s designed to be around twice their height. He has a separate shaped head and body along with knitted ears, arms and legs.
He also gets his own blue dungarees, complete with a tiny knitted pocket and crossed straps, plus a separate knitted vest.
One of my favorite details is the tail. Instead of knitting it, you make two dense grey-and-white pom-poms in slightly different sizes and join them together to create a wonderfully fluffy wolf’s tail.
What You Need to Know Before Knitting
Clover rates this pattern Intermediate, and that seems appropriate.
The individual knitting techniques aren’t particularly intimidating. Most pieces rely on stocking stitch with straightforward increases and decreases.
The challenge comes from the number of small components and the finishing.
You’ll be knitting and assembling bodies, ears, snouts, arms, feet, clothing and other tiny details. Neat sewing will make a considerable difference to how professional your finished characters look.
Clover recommends leaving a long yarn end at the beginning and end of each piece for sewing and working the seams with the right sides facing using mattress stitch.
A Great Scrap Yarn Toy Pattern
You don’t need much yarn to make an entire fairy-tale cast.
The three pigs require only 20 g of the main peach yarn, while their individual clothing colors require just 5 g each. The wolf similarly requires only 20 g of grey for his main color.
That makes this an excellent project for the small balls of 4-ply yarn that accumulate after other projects.
The clothing colors don’t need to match the original exactly either. Try mustard, sage, denim blue, rust, burgundy or whatever small amounts you already have available.
A Knitted Toy Set Made for Storytelling
There is something particularly fun about knitting characters that belong together.
Rather than making another standalone stuffed animal, you end up with a complete little cast that children will immediately recognize.
The size difference between the pigs and wolf makes the collection even more effective, while their removable-looking clothing and expressive details give them plenty of character.
They would make a lovely handmade gift presented together — perhaps alongside a copy of the Three Little Pigs story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Three Little Pigs pattern knitted or crocheted?
The toys are predominantly knitted. A 3 mm crochet hook is used to make the simple chain straps for the dungarees.
How big are the knitted pigs?
Each finished pig measures approximately 7.5 cm tall.
How big is the knitted wolf?
The finished wolf measures approximately 15 cm tall, making him roughly twice the height of the pigs.
What yarn weight do I need?
The pattern uses 4-ply yarn. The original sample was made using Patons Baby Smiles Fairytale Fab 4-ply.
How much yarn do the Three Little Pigs need?
The pattern calls for 20 g of peach for the pigs plus 5 g each of three different colors for their dungarees and a small amount of dark brown.
Is this a good scrap yarn knitting pattern?
Yes. Most colors are needed in quantities of only 5–20 g, with some details requiring even less. It’s a particularly useful project for leftover 4-ply yarn.
Are the Three Little Pigs knitted in the round?
No. The main pieces are knitted flat in rows and then seamed and stuffed.
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
Clover rates the project Intermediate. The knitting itself relies heavily on stocking stitch and fairly straightforward shaping, but there are numerous small pieces to assemble and finish neatly.
What knitting techniques do I need?
You’ll need to be comfortable with knit and purl stitches, stocking stitch, basic increases and decreases, binding off, seaming, stuffing and assembling small knitted pieces.
Is gauge important?
The pattern gives a tension of 26 stitches and 34 rows over 10 x 10 cm, but Clover states that exact tension isn’t essential for this project.
Are the pigs’ clothes knitted separately?
Yes. Each pig has a separate pair of knitted dungarees. Crochet chains are used to make the straps, which are crossed at the back.
Does the free pattern include the Big Bad Wolf?
Yes. This isn’t just a knitted pig pattern. The complete project includes instructions for making the three pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, including his clothing and fluffy pom-pom tail.
Where can I get the complete free knitting pattern?
Use the free pattern link near the top of this page to access the complete original Three Little Pigs knitting pattern by Sachiyo Ishii for Clover, including all of the knitting and assembly instructions.