An Original Aussie Jean's Knitting Pattern
Free Rufus the Leprechaun doll - For experienced knitters only
Materials:
In 8ply/DK/(USA - WW/4ply) Courtelle Emerald green, flesh, white, yellow, red, black and rust for beard.
No.11 (3mm)(USA2) knitting needles; toy stuffing.
Tension
& Size:
Worked at a tension of 26 stitches and 36 rows to 10 x 10cm
over stocking stitch, using No.11(3mm) needles throughout. Height: From base to
top of hat 17.5cms (6.5/8") not including legs.
Head: 17cms (6.5/8") around centre;
Waist: 21cms (8.1/4") around centre
Abbreviations:
K, knit; p, purl; st(sts), stitch,
stitches; sl, slip; tog, together; inc, increase (by working twice into same
st); dec, decrease (by taking 2 sts tog); ss, stocking stitch (k on right side
and p on wrong side); psso, pass slipped stitch over; skpo, (slip1, knit1, pass slipped
stitch over); NR: Next Row; Cast off: bind off; Coloured marker: Use a small length of
yarn that is a different coloure to the yarn you are using at the moment.
PLEASE NOTE: All seams are sewn in backstitch and doll should be stuffed firmly
unless stated otherwise.
BODY: (make 1 piece)
Starting at base edge and using green yarn, cast on 40sts. Placing a coloured marker in
18th and 23rd sts in the first row, ss8 rows. Break off green and join in black yarn
and ss3 rows. Break off black and join in green yarn and ss11 rows.
Shape for shoulders: K4, (k2tog) six times, k8, (k2tog) six times, k4 (28sts).
NR: P4, (p2tog) three times, p8, (p2tog) three times, P4 (22sts).
Ss2 rows. Cast off all sts.
HEAD: (make 1 piece)
Using flesh yarn and starting at neck edge, cast on 22sts and ss2 rows.
NR: K2, inc, in each st to last two sts, k2 (40sts).
Ss17 rows.
Shape for top of head:
1st dec, row: (K3, k2tog) to end of row (32sts). Purl every alternate row.
2nd dec, row: (K2, k2tog) to end of row (24sts).
3rd dec, row: (K1, k2tog) to end of row (16sts).
4th dec, row: (K2tog) to end of row (8sts). Leaving a long end, break off yarn
and thread through sts and put aside.
BASE: (make 1 piece)
Using green yarn, cast on 18sts and ss12 rows. Cast off all sts.
ARMS: (make 2 pieces)
Using green yarn and starting at top of sleeve cast on 12sts and ss7 rows.
NR: Inc, one st each end of row (14sts). Ss8 rows.
NR: Knit four rows.
Break off green and join in flesh yarn and ss4 rows.
NR: K1, (k1, k2tog) to last st, k1 (10sts). NR: P.
NR: K2tog, to end of row (5sts). Break off yarn and thread through sts and put aside.
LEGS: (make 2 pieces)
Using black yarn and starting at the foot, cast on 12sts and purl one row.
NR: K1, (inc) in next 10sts, k1 (22sts).
Starting with a purl row, ss7 rows.
NR: K5, (k2tog) six times, K5 (16sts). NR: P.
NR: K5, (k2tog) three times, K5 (13sts).
Break off black and join in white yarn and starting with a purl row, ss6 rows. NR: (k1, p1)
to end of row. Break off white and join in green yarn and ss22 rows.
Cast off all sts.
HAT: (make 1 piece)
Using green yarn, cast on 42sts and purl one row.
NR: (k2,inc) to end of row (56sts). Ss5 rows. Placing a coloured marker both ends of
next row, ss6 rows.
NR: (k2, k2tog) to end of row (42sts). NR: P.
Break off green and join in black yarn and ss3 rows. Break off black and join in green
yarn and ss3 rows.
1st dec row: (k5,k2tog) to end of row (36sts). NR: Ss3 rows.
2nd dec row: (k4,k2tog) to end of row (30sts).
NR: P.
NR: P, to form ridge at top of hat.
NR: P.
3rd dec row: (k3,k2tog) to end of row (24sts). NR: P.
4th dec row: (k2,k2tog) to end of row (18sts). NR: P.
5th dec row: (k1,k2tog) to end of row (12sts).
Leaving a long end, break off yarn and thread through sts, and set piece aside.
COLLAR: (make 1 piece)
Using green yarn, cast on 24sts and knit 2 rows. NR: (k1, inc) to end of row (36sts).
Knit 5 rows and cast off all sts loosely.
BOWTIE: (make 1 piece)
Using yellow yarn, cast on 5sts and knit 16 rows. Cast off all sts.
BEARD: (make 1 piece)
Using rust yarn, cast on 26sts and cast off all sts. With a long length of rust yarn, work
a small loop through each cast off st. (see photo 2 for placement)
MAKING UP:
Legs: Sew row ends together. Fold foot seam in half (side seam at heel of
foot) and sew seam. Turn leg to right
side. Stuff shoe firmly, stuff sock lightly and leave rest of leg empty.
Body: Sew row ends together. Turn so that right side of work is facing you.
Pin the legs to base either side of markers, leaving a 4st gap in the middle and the
front of legs
facing the body.
Shoes should be facing the neck line with the back seam of legs now facing outwards.
(See photo 3) Pin cast on edge
of base to legs with one st overhanging each side of legs. Turn body and legs to wrong side and
continue
to pin base to cast on edge of body. Sew base to body. Turn body right side out and stuff
firmly (see measurements for correct waist size).
Head: Pull up sts tightly and sew row ends together.
Stuff head (see measurements for correct size)
and attach to body at neck opening.
Arms: Pull stitches up tightly and sew side seams together. Stuff hands and
2cms(1") of arm, leaving the rest of arm empty. Fold arm so that side seam is in the centre
and facing body. Sew arm to body on first row of shoulder
decreasings through the first cast on row of arm.
Collar: Sew collar to neck through cast on sts, leaving a gap of two stitches at the centre and
front of neck.
Bow Tie: Sew in yarn ends. Gather the centre of bow tie with a couple of sts,
and attach to the gap in the centre of collar.
Facial features: (See photo 1 for placement).
Eyes: Leaving a gap of 3sts between eyes and using black yarn work a chain stitch
in one st and work a second chain stitch
around the first st. Nose: Using
red yarn, work the same
as eyes. Beard: Pin and sew beard to face through the cast on row.
Hat: Sew row ends together. Fold work over at the row with the coloured
markers and oversew
the cast on edge to wrong side of work to form brim.
Buckles: Using yellow yarn and working small chain sts, embroider buckles
on hat band, belt and tops of shoes (see photo 1 for placement).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This pattern is Copyright © Jean Woods 2002, all rights reserved. This
pattern may be printed for your personal use only and not copied or resold
without the permission of the author. This copyright notice must be kept intact.