FINLAY FOX KNITTED DOLL (FREE KNITTING PATTERN)
Excerpted with permission from Knit Your Own Dolls: Over 35 patterns for dolls and their outfits, accessories, and pets.
There’s something a bit country estate about Finlay Fox, who loves his rural home. In his fashionable jacket with its asymmetrical front and mandarin collar, Finlay thinks of himself as a trendsetter among foxes. And, of course, there are those adorable green breeches that no self-respecting fox should be without.
YARN AND MATERIALS: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (55% wool, 33% acrylic, 12% cashmere), 137yd (125m) per 1-3/4oz (50g) ball of sport weight (light DK) yarn ¾ ball Sienna 67 (A)—main fox Small amount Ecru 101 (B)—main fox, eyes ½ ball Pale Lilac 608 (C)—jacket Small amount Drake 302 (D)—breeches ¼ ball Apple 02 (E)—breeches Very small amounts of Black 300 (F)—features 1oz (30g) polyester toy filling 4 x 5/16 in (8mm) white buttons Small amount of purple sewing thread
NEEDLES AND EQUIPMENT: US3 (3.25mm) knitting needles Yarn sewing needle Large-eyed embroidery needle
GAUGE (TENSION): Approximately 25 stitches and 34 rows to 4in (10cm) over st st
Before starting this doll, you'll want to check the pattern for the Basic Knitted Doll, which Finlay Fox is based on.
Step 1
ABBREVIATIONS:
m1 below = Find the top loop of the stitch below the next stitch on the left-hand needle. Insert the tip of the right-hand needle into that top loop from front to back. If this is difficult try picking up the stitch from the back, hold it with the left thumb and forefinger, then remove the needle and reinsert it into the loop from front to back. Knit into the stitch then knit into the stitch on the needle.
Step 2
FRONT:
(MAKE 1) Cast on 18 sts in A. Work 28 rows in st st beg with a k row. Row 29: [Ssk] 4 times, k2, [k2tog] 4 times. (10 sts) Work 3 rows in st st beg with a p row. Break A and join in B. Row 33: K1, m1 below, k to last 2 sts, m1 below, k1. (12 sts) Row 34: Purl. Rep rows 33–34 twice more.* (16 sts) Row 39: K1, m1 below, k6, m1, k6, m1 below, k1. (19 sts) Row 40: Purl. Row 41: In B, k1, ssk, k6, m1; join in A and k1; with B from ball center: m1, k6, k2tog, k1. Row 42: P8 in B, 3 in A, 8 in B. Row 43: In B, k1, ssk, k5; in A, m1, k3, m1; in B, k5, k2tog, k1. Row 44: P7 in B, 5 in A, 7 in B. Break all yarns and rejoin A to RS of work. Row 45: K1, ssk, k4, m1, k5, m1, k4, k2tog, k1. Row 46: Purl. Row 47: K1, ssk, k3, m1, k7, m1, k3, k2tog, k1. Row 48: Purl. Row 49: K1, ssk, k2, m1, k9, m1, k2, k2tog, k1. Row 50: Purl. Row 51: Knit. Row 52: Purl. Row 53: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (17 sts) Bind (cast) off pwise.
Step 3
BACK:
(MAKE 1) Work as for front to *. Row 39: K1, m1 below, k to last 2 sts, m1 below, k1. (18 sts) Work 13 rows in st st beg with a p row. Row 53: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. (16 sts) Bind (cast) off pwise.
Step 4
ARMS:
(MAKE 2) Cast on 11 sts in A. Work 32 rows in st st beg with a k row. Row 33: K1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1. (9 sts) Break yarn and thread it through rem sts.
Step 5
LEGS:
(MAKE 2) Cast on 30 sts in A. Work 4 rows in st st beg with a k row. Row 5: K9, [ssk] 3 times, [k2tog] 3 times, k to end. (24 sts) Row 6: Purl. Row 7: K6, [ssk] 3 times, [k2tog] 3 times, k to end. (18 sts) Row 8: Purl. Row 9: K5, [ssk] twice, [k2tog] twice, k to end. (14 sts) Row 10: Purl. Row 11: K5, ssk, k2tog, k to end. (12 sts) Work 27 rows in st st beg with a p row. Bind (cast) off
Step 6
EARS:
(MAKE 4) Cast on 8 sts in A. Work 4 rows in st st beg with a k row. Row 5: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. (6 sts) Row 6: Purl. Row 7: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1. (4 sts) Row 8: P2tog, p2tog tbl. (2 sts) Row 9: K2tog. (1 st)
Step 7
TO MAKE UP FOX:
Make up main animal in the same way as basic doll explained on page 9. For the ears, work Swiss embroidery in B (see chart, opposite) on two ear pieces to form ear fronts. Seam each front to a back piece along sides and lower edge using mattress page stitch. Sew in position using the photograph as a guide. For eyes, work French knots using F. Using B, work a circle of chain stitch around each French knot. For nose, work a small coil of chain stitches using F. Add a straight vertical stitch at the bottom using a separated strand of the same yarn. You can gently brush the head with a nylon toothbrush or nail brush to make it fluffier. Dampening the knitting before brushing it can make this easier.
Step 8
Jacket BACK AND FRONT:
(MAKE 1) Cast on 44 sts in C. Knit 2 rows. Row 3: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2. Row 4: Knit. Row 5: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2. Row 6: K to last 2 sts, m1 below, k1. (45 sts) Row 7: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2. Rep rows 4–7 (last 4 rows) once more. (46 sts) Row 12: Knit. Row 13: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2. Row 14: K11, turn. Work on these 11 sts only leaving rem sts on needle. Next row: P to last 2 sts, k2. Next row: Knit. Next row: P to last 2 sts, k2. Rep last 2 rows twice more. Next row: Knit. Break yarn and rejoin it to rem 35 sts on RS of work. Next row: K22, turn. Work on these 22 sts only leaving rem sts on needle. Work 8 rows in st st beg with a p row. Break yarn and rejoin it to rem 13 sts on RS of work. Next row: K to last 2 sts, m1 below, k1. (14 sts) Next row: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2. Next row: Knit. Next row: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2. Rep last 4 rows once more. (15 sts) Next row: K to last 2 sts, m1 below, k1. (16 sts) Now work across all 49 sts. Next row: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2. Next row: K4, ssk, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, ssk, k2, ssk, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k to end. (39 sts) Next row: K8, ssk, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k4, ssk, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k to end. (31 sts) Next row: Knit. Next row: Bind (cast) off 5 sts, k to end. (26 sts) Knit 2 rows. Bind (cast) off.
Step 9
SLEEVES:
(MAKE 2) Cast on 16 sts in C. Row 1: Knit. Work 20 rows in st st beg with a k row. Bind (cast) off.
Step 10
TO MAKE UP JACKET Sew sleeve seams. Insert into armholes and stitch in place from the inside. Sew buttons onto jacket using purple sewing thread. The gaps between the knitted stitches can be used for buttonholes. Weave in all loose ends.
Step 11
breeches (MAKE 1) Cast on 11 sts in D. Knit 4 rows. Break D and join in E. Row 4: [Inc pwise] to end. (22 sts) Work 12 rows in st st beg with a k row. Break yarn. Cast on another 11 sts in D on empty needle. Rep from * to * but do not break yarn. Now work across all 44 sts. Work 10 rows in st st beg with a k row. Next row: K3, [k2tog, k3] twice, [ssk, k3] twice, k1, [k2tog, k3] twice, [ssk, k3] twice. (36 sts) Next row: [K1, p1] to end. Rep last row 3 times more. Bind (cast) off keeping to the k1, p1 patt.
Step 12
TO MAKE UP BREECHES:
Sew inside leg and back seams. Weave in all loose ends.
Excerpted with permission from Knit Your Own Dolls: Over 35 patterns for dolls and their outfits, accessories, and pets.
