Play Pig by Amy Bahrt is a colourful knitted pig with striped clothes, a jaunty bandana and plenty of little details to make.
Designed for Cascade Yarns, this character pig is knitted predominantly flat rather than in the round, making it quite different from many three-dimensional pig patterns.
The finished toy has a wonderfully playful appearance, complete with a contrasting snout, little shoes and shoelaces, button eyes and a curly tail.
Quick Pattern Information
- Pattern: Play Pig (DK700)
- Designer: Amy Bahrt
- Publisher: Cascade Yarns
- Skill Level: Experienced
- Project: Knitted pig toy
- Yarn Used: Cascade 220 Superwash Sport
- Yarn Weight: Sport
- Construction: Knitted flat
- Main Stitch: Stocking stitch
- Features: Striped clothing, bandana, shoes, shoelaces and curly tail
- Get the free pattern: Download the free Play Pig knitting pattern PDF
What Makes Play Pig Special?
This pig is all about character.
Rather than creating a plain pink stuffed animal, Amy Bahrt has incorporated the pig’s clothing into the design. Stripes create the appearance of a shirt, while contrasting sections form the trousers and shoes.
Then there are the finishing touches: a knitted bandana, little shoelaces and a curly pig’s tail.
The result feels more like a storybook character than a realistic farm animal.
A Pig Knitted Flat
One particularly useful feature is the construction.
The main pig is knitted flat, with separate front and back pieces that are shaped and then joined during finishing.
That’s a completely different approach from the Cascade Pink Pig by Betty Balcomb, which is worked three-dimensionally on double-pointed needles.
If you strongly prefer working back and forth rather than juggling several needles, Play Pig may therefore be the more appealing of the two.
Yarn Used
The original design uses Cascade 220 Superwash Sport, a superwash merino wool.
Several colours are combined to create the pig and its clothing, including white, denim blue, peach and a bright contrasting shade.
The stripes are an important part of the finished look, but they’re also an obvious place to personalise your pig. Changing the clothing colours could give the same character a completely different personality.
Check the original Cascade pattern for the complete yarn requirements before choosing substitutes.
Lots of Little Details
Play Pig isn’t simply two body pieces sewn together.
Separate pieces and finishing details create the ears, dimensional snout and arms, while crochet is used for some of the small finishing elements.
There’s even a separate knitted bandana.
Those details explain why this pattern is better suited to someone who enjoys the finishing stage of toy knitting rather than a knitter looking for the fastest possible stuffed animal.
Who Would I Recommend This Pattern To?
Cascade rates Play Pig experienced, so this isn’t the pig I’d choose as a first-ever knitting project.
I’d recommend it to someone who enjoys shaped toy knitting and is comfortable following detailed instructions before assembling several elements into a finished character.
Interestingly, however, you don’t need to be an expert at knitting in the round. Much of the project is worked flat.
That makes it worth considering for an experienced flat knitter who wants to make a more elaborate toy.
Knitting Bee Pattern Notes
Best feature: The striped outfit and tiny accessories give Play Pig loads of personality.
Best for: Experienced knitters who enjoy detailed character toys.
Style: Colourful, playful and storybook-like.
Construction: Primarily knitted flat rather than in the round.
Yarn: Sport-weight superwash merino wool.
Personalisation potential: Excellent. Change the striped clothing, bandana or shoe colours to create your own version.
Consider before choosing it: There is plenty of shaping, assembly and finishing involved. If you want a simple pig with minimal pieces, choose another pattern from our collection.
Play Pig vs Cascade Pink Pig
These two Cascade pigs are surprisingly different projects.
Play Pig is the choice for someone who prefers flat knitting and wants an elaborate character with clothing and accessories.
Pink Pig by Betty Balcomb is a more traditional plump pig and a better choice if you specifically want to practise knitting toys in the round on double-pointed needles.
So I’d choose between them based on technique:
Prefer flat knitting and lots of details? Play Pig.
Want to learn or practise knitting in the round? Pink Pig.
Is Play Pig Right for You?
Choose Play Pig if you’re looking for:
- a pig knitted primarily flat
- a detailed character toy
- an experienced-level toy project
- a pig with knitted clothing
- a sport-weight toy knitting pattern
- plenty of decorative finishing details
If you’d prefer something quick, simple or worked almost seamlessly in the round, compare it with the other pigs in our collection before starting.
Before You Start
Download the original Cascade Yarns PDF and read through the complete pattern before buying your materials.
The original pattern contains the finished measurements, yarn quantities, needle and hook requirements, gauge, stitch counts, shaping, assembly instructions and chart needed to make Play Pig.
Knitting Bee’s guide is here to help you decide whether Play Pig suits the way you like to knit; the complete instructions remain with Cascade Yarns and the designer.
More Free Pig & Toy Knitting Patterns
Compare more designs in our collection of free pig knitting patterns, including simple pigs, character toys and designs worked using different construction methods.
For hundreds more knitted animals, dolls and characters, explore our free toy knitting patterns.
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