Knitted Ducks
Finished size:
Small duck: approximately 5 in
Large duck: approximately 6½ in
Instructions are for the small duck, with changes for the large duck in parentheses.
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn: 1 (2) oz white
- Set of size 5 double-pointed needles
- Scraps of yellow and blue felt
- All-purpose glue
- Cotton batting or toy stuffing
- Sewing thread
- Stitch holder
- Yarn needle
- Pipe cleaner
Abbreviations
k – knit
p – purl
st – stitch
sts – stitches
st st – stocking stitch
rnd – round
rnds – rounds
inc 1 – increase 1 stitch
k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
dp needles – double-pointed needles
beg – beginning
dec – decrease
Body
Beginning at the neck edge, cast on 21 (27) sts.
Divide the stitches between 3 double-pointed needles and join to work in the round.
Knit every round for 21 (25) rnds.
Large duck only:
Next rnd: (K2tog, K7) 3 times. 24 sts
Next rnd: (K2tog, K6) 3 times. 21 sts
Both sizes now have 21 sts.
Shape Tail
Next rnd: K7, k2tog, K10, k2tog. 19 sts
Next rnd: K7, (k2tog, K1) 4 times. 15 sts
Next rnd: K7, (k2tog) 4 times. 11 sts
Next rnd: K2tog, K3, (k2tog) 3 times. 7 sts
Knit 2 rnds.
Next rnd: K2tog, K1, (k2tog) 2 times. 4 sts
Cut yarn, leaving a tail. Thread the yarn through the remaining 4 sts, draw up tightly and fasten securely.
Head and Neck
Using 2 double-pointed needles, cast on 3 sts.
Working back and forth in stocking stitch, work 2 rows.
Next row: Inc 1 st at each side. 5 sts
Work 3 rows even.
Next row: Inc 1 st at each side. 7 sts
Work 1 (3) rows even.
At the end of the last row, cast on 3 (5) sts. 10 (12) sts
Next row: Knit, then cast on 3 (5) sts at the end of the row. 13 (17) sts
Divide the stitches between 3 double-pointed needles. Mark the beginning of the round and join.
Knit 6 (8) rnds.
Next rnd: K2tog, K9 (13), k2tog. 11 (15) sts
Knit 6 (8) rnds.
Shape Head
K3 (4), then slip the next 6 (8) sts onto a stitch holder.
Using 2 needles, work back and forth in stocking stitch over the remaining 5 (7) sts for 6 rows.
Slip the stitches from the holder onto a double-pointed needle.
Divide all 11 (15) sts between 3 double-pointed needles. Mark the beginning of the round and join.
Knit 2 rnds.
Next rnd: Inc 1 st in next st, K3 (5), inc 1 st in each of next 2 sts, K4 (6), inc 1 st in next st. 15 (19) sts
Knit 4 (5) rnds.
Large duck only:
Next rnd: K2tog, K5, (k2tog, K4) twice. 16 sts
Both ducks:
Next rnd: K1 (2), (k2tog) around. 10 (12) sts
Next rnd: K2tog around. 5 (6) sts
Cut yarn, leaving a tail. Thread through the remaining sts, draw up tightly and fasten securely.
Wings
Make 2.
Beginning at the tip of the wing, cast on 6 sts.
Divide the stitches evenly between 3 double-pointed needles and join to work in the round.
Knit 3 rnds.
Next rnd: *Inc 1 st in next st, K2, place a marker on the needle, inc 1 st in next st, K2. 8 sts
Knit 1 (3) rnds.
Next rnd: Knit around, increasing 1 st in the first st and 1 st immediately after the marker. 2 sts increased
Knit 1 rnd.
Repeat the previous 2 rnds 1 (3) more times. 12 (16) sts
Next rnd: Knit around, increasing 1 st in the first st and 1 st immediately after the marker. 2 sts increased
Repeat this increase round 4 more times. 22 (26) sts
Remove marker.
Knit 4 (6) rnds.
Next rnd: K2tog, K18 (22), k2tog. 20 (24) sts
Next rnd: K2tog, K16 (20), k2tog. 18 (22) sts
Next rnd: K2tog, K14 (18), k2tog. 16 (20) sts
Next rnd: K2tog, K12 (16), k2tog. 14 (18) sts
Next rnd: K2tog around. 7 (9) sts
Cut yarn, leaving a tail. Thread through the remaining sts, draw up tightly and fasten securely.
Finishing
Stuff the tail and body for approximately 1½ (2) in.
Bend a pipe cleaner into a U shape and insert it into the body, leaving the ends protruding to form the legs.
Finish stuffing the body, keeping the pipe cleaner positioned through the centre of the stuffing.
Sew the gussets at the side of the head.
Stuff the head and neck firmly. Sew the head and neck to the body, positioning the point at the front of the body as shown in the original photograph.
Sew the decrease side of each wing to the body.
Felt Details
Complete the half-pattern pieces indicated by the dashed lines on the original template.
Using yellow felt:
- Cut 2 leg-and-foot pieces as one piece.
- Cut 2 separate lower foot pieces along the dotted lines.
- Cut the bill.
Using blue felt, cut two pieces measuring ¼ × ⅛ in for the eyes. Cut each piece in half lengthwise and glue into position.
Fold the bill in half along the solid line and sew in place.
Trim the pipe-cleaner legs so they extend approximately 1¼ in (2½ in) from the body.
Fold the felt leg pieces in half lengthwise, cutting a slight slit on each side near the foot.
Glue the felt around each pipe-cleaner leg with the seam positioned at the back and the pipe cleaner enclosed between the felt.
Glue the lower foot piece to the upper foot.
Bend the legs and feet into position.