George the Giraffe

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: One; 14” tall (not including ears or legs); 14 ¼” body circumference

Gauge: 18 sts and 23 rows = 4” [10 cm] in patt after stuffing

Materials

Yarn:

 Universal Yarn Uptown DK (100% anti-pilling acrylic; 273 yards [250 meters]/100 grams): #130 Donahue (MC, 1 ball), #114 Sea (CC1, 1 ball), #141 Bright Yellow (CC2, 1 ball), #103 Blush (CC3, 1 ball), #111 Lime (CC4, 1 ball)

Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) set of dpns

Notions: Markers, tapestry needle, polyester stuffing, two 1/4” buttons, small amount of dk weight black yarn for nostrils and mouth, US Size D-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook (for attaching fringe for mane)

Pattern Notes

This giraffe is worked in pieces and seamed.

The patterned portions of the toy are knit using the fair-isle method of knitting. Hold one strand of each color throughout each round of these sections.

Pattern

Body

With MC, CO 6 sts. Divide evenly among dpns and join to work in the rnd.

Increase Section

Work Rnds 1-16 of Body chart. Patt will be repeated 4 times across each rnd. (64 sts)

Rep Rnds 16-22, 5 times.

Decrease Section

Work Rnds 24-43 of Body chart. (32 sts rem)

Rep Rnds 44-49 of Body chart, 2 times.

BO all sts.

Arms (Make Two)

With MC, CO 16 sts. Divide evenly among dpns and join to work in the rnd.

Rep Rnds 1-6 of Dots patt, 4 times.

With MC, knit 1 rnd.

Inc Rnd: *K2, m1; rep from * to end. (24 sts)

Work Rnds 1-5 of Lower Limb chart.

With CC1, purl 1 rnd.

Break all colors except CC2.

Shape Foot

Knit 1 rnd.

Rnd 1: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. (18 sts rem)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. (12 sts rem)
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (6 sts rem)

Break yarn leaving 8” tail. Pass tail through rem live sts, pull taut, fasten off.

Stuff Arms.

Legs (Make Two)

With MC, CO 16 sts. Divide evenly among dpns and join to work in the rnd.

Rep Rnds 1-6 of Dots patt, 6 times.

With MC, knit 1 rnd.

Inc Rnd: *K2, m1; rep from * to end. (24 sts)

Work Rnds 1-5 of Lower Limb chart.

With CC1, purl 1 rnd.

Break all colors except CC2.

Shape Foot

Knit 1 rnd.

Rnd 1: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. (18 sts rem)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. (12 sts rem)
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (6 sts rem)

Break yarn leaving 8” tail. Pass tail through rem live sts, pull taut, fasten off.

Stuff Legs.

Head

With MC, CO 6 sts. Divide evenly among dpns and join to work in the rnd.

Increase Section

Work Rnds 1-12 of Head chart. Patt will be repeated 6 times across each rnd. (48 sts)

Rep Rnds 13-18, 3 times.

Decrease Section

Work Rnds 19-37 of Head chart, stuffing on final few rnds. (6 sts rem)

Break yarn leaving 8” tail. Pass tail through rem live sts, pull taut, fasten off.

Inner Ear (Make Two)

With CC3, CO 13 sts.

Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-10: Continue in St st.
Row 11: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (11 sts rem)
Rows 12-14: Work in St st.
Row 15: Rep Row 11. (9 sts rem)
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: Rep Row 11. (7 sts rem)
Row 18: P1, ssp, p1, p2tog, p1. (5 sts rem)

BO rem sts.

Outer Ear (Make Two)

With MC, CO 13 sts.

Complete as for Inner Ear.

Full Ear

Hold an Inner Ear and Outer Ear piece with WS together. Sew pieces together around entire perimeter using mattress stitch.

Horns (Make Two)

With MC, CO 8 sts. Divide evenly among dpns and join to work in the rnd.

Knit 13 rnds.

Inc Rnd: *K2, m1; rep from * to end. (12 sts)

Switch to CC3.

Decrease Section

Rnds 1-2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (6 sts rem)
Rnd 4: Knit.

Break yarn leaving 6” tail. Pass tail through rem live sts, pull taut, fasten off.

Finishing

Pinch base of Ear together, sew to Head, using photos as a guide. Sew Head, Arms, and Legs to Body using photos as a guide. With black dk weight yarn, embroider nostrils and mouth using photos as a guide. Sew buttons to Head for eyes.

Mane

Cut approximately 120 4” pieces of CC4. Holding 2 strands tog as one, attach fringe beginning between horns down to just above Arms in two columns. Trim fringe to 1”.

Weave in rem ends.