Clara Camel is a charming vintage knitted camel toy with long legs, a shaped neck and head, little ears and the unmistakable camel hump.
The pattern has a wonderfully traditional construction and is worked almost entirely in garter stitch.
Quick Pattern Information
- Project: Knitted camel toy
- Yarn Weight: 4-ply / fingering weight
- Yarn Required: Approx. 1oz (28g) fawn yarn
- Needles: Vintage No. 10 knitting needles
- Construction: Knitted flat
- Main Stitch: Garter stitch
- Designer: Finella
- Original Publication: Wife and Home Magazine
- Get the Free Pattern: Download Clara the Camel PDF
About Clara Camel
The camel is cleverly constructed from just a few main pieces. Two mirrored sides create the distinctive camel silhouette, including the legs, hump, long neck and head, while a separate underpart helps give the finished animal its three-dimensional shape.
Most of the knitting is garter stitch, with increases, decreases and casting off used to create the camel’s unusual outline.
The finishing details add plenty of vintage charm, including embroidered facial features, a plaited wool tail and decorative French knots along the camel’s back.
Knitting Bee Pattern Notes
Best for: Vintage toy collectors and knitters looking for an unusual traditional animal pattern.
Difficulty: Intermediate. The knitting itself is relatively simple, but the shaping and assembly require a little more attention.
What makes it special: Clara’s recognisable camel shape is achieved with simple flat knitting and clever shaping rather than complicated techniques.
Vintage yarn note: The original calls for 4-ply yarn. When substituting a modern yarn, concentrate on matching the yarn weight and creating a firm knitted fabric that will hold the stuffing well.
Find more animals in our free toy knitting patterns.