purlJam

# Izzy Doll Farm Animals — Little Lamb & Piglet
### An easy pair of knitted amigurumi soft toys

These two cuddly farm friends are worked in the round in simple stockinette stitch, with all features embroidered for safety — perfect for gifting to little ones. The lamb and piglet share the same easy body pattern, with only the colour and a few small details changed.

---

## Skill Level
**Easy** — you need to know how to work in the round (DPNs or Magic Loop), knit, purl, k2tog, and mattress stitch. No safety eyes required.

## Finished Measurements
- Height (seated, including ears): approx. **13 cm (5 in)**
- Body circumference: approx. **11 cm (4¼ in)**

## Materials

### Yarn (worsted / aran weight)
**Little Lamb:**
- Cream (MC): approx. 40 g
- Small amounts of pale pink and dark brown/black for embroidery

**Piglet:**
- Pale pink (MC): approx. 40 g
- Small amounts of deep pink and dark brown/black for embroidery

### Needles & Notions
- 3.5 mm (UK 9–10 / US 4) DPNs or one long circular for Magic Loop
  *(This is 1–2 sizes smaller than the label's usual 4.5–5 mm recommendation, to create a tight fabric that won't show the stuffing.)*
- Tapestry needle
- Polyester fibrefill stuffing: approx. **30 g per animal**
- Stitch marker

## Tension (Gauge)
22 sts and 30 rows = 10 cm (4 in) over stockinette stitch on 3.5 mm needles, worked in the round.

**Tension note:** For toys, a *tight, even fabric* matters far more than an exact stitch count. Your fabric should feel firm and dense so the stuffing cannot peek through. If your fabric feels loose, drop down a needle size.

## Abbreviations (UK)
- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **k2tog** – knit two together (decrease)
- **kfb** – knit into front and back of stitch (increase)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **rnd** – round
- **MC** – main colour
- **rem** – remaining

---

# THE BODY-HEAD (make 1 per animal — identical for both)

Worked as a single tube from the base up, decreasing at the top for the head.

Using MC, cast on **24 sts**. Divide across DPNs (or Magic Loop) and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker at start of round.

**Rnds 1–20:** k all sts. *(24 sts)*
*(Check: 20 rnds ÷ 30 rnds per 10 cm ≈ 6.7 cm of straight tube — this forms the body and lower head.)*

Begin stuffing now and add more as you go so the tube keeps its shape.

**Rnd 21 (dec):** *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end. → **18 sts**
*(24 ÷ 4 = 6 decreases; 24 − 6 = 18 ✓)*

**Rnd 22:** k all sts. *(18 sts)*

**Rnd 23 (dec):** *k1, k2tog; rep from * to end. → **12 sts**
*(18 ÷ 3 = 6 decreases; 18 − 6 = 12 ✓)*

**Rnd 24:** k all sts. *(12 sts)*

Finish stuffing firmly.

**Rnd 25 (dec):** *k2tog; rep from * to end. → **6 sts**
*(12 ÷ 2 = 6 decreases; 12 − 6 = 6 ✓)*

Cut yarn leaving a 20 cm tail. Thread through the rem 6 sts, pull tight to close, and secure on the inside.

---

# EARS

## Little Lamb Ears (make 2 in MC)
Cast on **6 sts**, divide to work in the round.
- **Rnds 1–4:** k all sts. *(6 sts)*
- **Rnd 5 (dec):** k2tog, k2, k2tog. → **4 sts**
Cut yarn, thread through rem 4 sts, pull tight. Leave a tail for seaming. Do **not** stuff — flatten gently.

## Piglet Ears (make 2 in MC)
Worked flat as small triangles for a pointier look.
Cast on **6 sts**.
- **Row 1 (RS):** k across. *(6 sts)*
- **Row 2:** p across.
- **Row 3 (dec):** k1, k2tog, k2tog, k1. → **4 sts**
- **Row 4:** p across.
- **Row 5 (dec):** k1, k2tog, k1. → **3 sts**
Cast off. Leave a tail for seaming.

---

# LEGS (make 4 per animal, in MC — same for both)

Cast on **8 sts**, divide to work in the round.
- **Rnds 1–5:** k all sts. *(8 sts)*
- **Rnd 6 (dec):** *k2tog; rep from * to end. → **4 sts**
Stuff lightly. Cut yarn, thread through rem 4 sts, pull tight. Leave a tail for seaming.

---

# TAILS & SNOUTS

## Lamb Tail (make 1 in MC)
Cast on **5 sts**, k 4 rnds, then thread yarn through and close. Leave a tail. Stuff very lightly.

## Piglet Tail (curly)
Cut a 20 cm length of MC yarn. Fold and twist it tightly on itself until it curls, then knot the end. This becomes the curly tail — attach at finishing.

## Piglet Snout (make 1 in deep pink)
Cast on **9 sts**, divide to work in the round.
- **Rnds 1–2:** k all sts. *(9 sts)*
- **Rnd 3 (dec):** k1, *k2tog; rep from * to last st... simplified: k2tog three times, k3. → **6 sts**
*(9 − 3 = 6 ✓)*
Do not close fully — leave open. Leave a tail for seaming. Stuff lightly before attaching.

---

# FINISHING & ASSEMBLY

**Assembly order matters — follow these steps for a neat, balanced toy.**

1. **Weave in the cast-on tail** at the base of the body and use it to close and firm up the bottom of the body-head tube.

2. **Attach the legs symmetrically.** Position two legs at the front-lower body and two at the back-lower body, evenly spaced. Sew on with mattress stitch using the leg tails so the toy sits/stands neatly. Check symmetry before securing.

3. **Attach the ears** near the top of the head, one on each side, evenly spaced. Lamb ears sit flat and slightly forward; piglet ears sit upright and pointed.

4. **Attach the tail** at centre-back of the body. For the piglet, sew on the curly twisted-yarn tail.

5. **Piglet only — attach the snout** centred on the front of the head, stuffing lightly as you sew for a rounded look.

6. **Embroider the features** (no safety eyes — this keeps the toy safe for babies and toddlers):
   - **Eyes:** two small satin-stitch or French-knot dots in dark brown/black, spaced about 1.5 cm apart.
   - **Lamb nose/mouth:** a small pale pink inverted "Y" in straight stitch.
   - **Piglet nostrils:** two tiny dots on the snout in dark brown.

7. **Weave in all remaining ends securely inside the body**, pulling gently and burying tails so nothing can be picked loose by small hands.

---

## Care
Hand wash gently in cool water with mild detergent and dry flat. Do not tumble dry.

## Designer's Notes
- The body-head is one seamless tube, so there are no fiddly head-to-body seams — ideal for confident beginners.
- Stuff firmly and evenly; under-stuffing causes the stockinette to sag and show gaps.
- Make the pair in coordinating farm colours, or reuse the base body to invent a cow (add spots and small horns), a sheep dog, or a chick (round yellow body, no ears).

**Total stuffing estimate:** approx. 30 g per animal (60 g for the pair).