Calgary Zoo Penguins

(photo courtesy of the Calgary Zoo)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Height: About 5.75" MATERIALS [MC] Patons Astra [100% acrylic]; color: (black); about 0.30 skein [CC1] Patons Astra [100% acrylic]; color: (aran); about 0.15 skein [CC2] Patons Astra [100% acrylic]; color: (school bus yellow); about 0.15 skein 1 set US #4/3.5mm straight needles two beads or buttons for eyes tapestry needle stitch marker GAUGE 24 sts/32 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch PATTERN NOTES w&t (wrap and turn) On a knit row: slip the next stitch purlwise, bring the yarn to the front of the work, and replace the slipped stitch back onto the left needle without twisting it. Turn the work around to begin working back in the other direction. On a purl row: slip the next stitch purlwise, bring the yarn to the back of the work, and replace the slipped stitch back onto the left needle without twisting it. Turn the work around to begin working back in the other direction.

DIRECTIONS

Back
Worked from the tail end to the tip of the beak. Using MC, CO 28 sts. Row 1 [RS]: K 14, pm, k14. Cont in stockinette stitch for 7 more rows. Decrease Row [RS]: K to 3 sts before m, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to end. Cont in stockinette stitch for 11 more rows. Work decrease row Cont in stockinette stitch for 9 more rows. Work decrease row Remove marker. Work 3 rows even. Begin Short Row Shaping for Head Row 1 [RS]: K20, w&t. Row 2 [WS]: P16, w&t. Row 3 [RS]: K14, w&t. Row 4 [WS]: P12, w&t. Row 5 [RS]: K10, w&t. Row 6 [WS]: P8, w&t. Row 7 [RS]: K to end, picking up and knitting wraps together with respective sts. Row 8 [WS]: P all sts, picking up and purling wraps together with respective sts. Rep these 8 rows once more. Next row [RS]: Use backwards loop or knitted-on method to CO 4 sts, k to end. Next row [WS]: CO 4 sts, p to end. 30 sts. Begin Decreases for Head Next row [RS]: K5, [k2tog, k4] to last 7 sts, k2tog, k5. 26 sts rem. Next row [WS]: P all sts. Next row [RS]: K1, [K1, k2tog] to last st K1. 18 sts rem. Work 2 rows even. Begin Beak Change to CC2 and work 3 rows even. Next row [RS]: [k2tog, k1] across. 12 sts rem. Work 3 rows even. Next row [RS]: K2tog across. Break yarn, thread through rem 6 sts and fasten off.

Front
Worked from the bottom to the neck in stockinette stitch. With CC1, CO 10 sts. P 1 row. Increase Row [RS]: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1. Work one row even. Work these 2 rows twice more. Work Increase Row. Work 3 rows even.

Work Increase Row once more. 20 sts. P 2 rows. The single row that is purled on the RS forms the fold line that separates the bottom from the stomach. Work 2 rows even. Increase Row [RS]: [K4, m1] to last 4 sts k4. 24 sts| P 1 row. Begin Short Row Shaping for Stomach Row 1 [RS]: K20, w&t. Row 2 [WS]: P16, w&t. Row 3 [RS]: K14, w&t. Row 4 [WS]: P12, w&t. Row 5 [RS]: K10, w&t. Row 6 [WS]: P8, w&t. Row 7 [RS]: K all sts, picking up and knitting wraps together with respective sts. Row 8 [WS]: P all sts, picking up and purling wraps together with respective sts. Row 9 [RS]: K all sts. Row 10 [WS]: P all sts. Rep these 10 rows one more. Next row [RS]: K12, pm, k to end. P 1 row. Decrease Row [RS]: K to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to end. P 1 row. Rep Decrease Row. 20 sts rem. Change to CC2. P 1 row and remove marker. Decrease Row [RS]: K1, [k2tog, k2] to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 15 sts rem. Work 5 rows even. BO all sts

Wings (Make 2)
With MC, CO 15 sts. Work 20 rows in stockinette stitch. Decrease Row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. P 1 row. Work these 2 rows 4 times more. BO rem 5 sts.

Feet (Make 4* see note below)

With CC2, CO 9 sts. Work 2 rows in stockinette stitch. Decrease Row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. P 1 row. Work these 2 rows once more. Next Row [RS]: K1, ssk, k to end. Work 2 rows even. BO rem 4 sts.

*Alternate method for feet is to use your preferred toe up sock cast-on and work them in the round, making only 2 pieces FINISHING With yellow yarn, sew beak closed at underside. Sew on eyes with black yarn. Please do not substitute sewing thread as the intent is to mimic googly eyes. **N.B., eye placement is important they are meant to look silly. Please refer to the photo above** With black yarn, sew back and front together, beginning at the center back bottom, working up and around the yellow part at the neck, and ending at the bottom again. The side back will need to be eased to fit the side front. Leave a small opening for stuffing. Stuff, but dont overstuff. They should be quite squishy! Sew opening closed. Place two feet pieces wrong sides together and whipstitch edges. Sew feet to body with whipstitch. Fold wings in half, wrong sides together, and whipstitch long edge closed. Whipstitch wings to body with rough stitched edge toward the belly.

(photo courtesy of www.knitty.com)