Miniature Knitted Tortoise

A tiny stuffed tortoise worked in the round in stockinette stitch. The shell is a simple dome seamed to a matching belly; the head, four legs, and tail are made separately and sewn on. Designed for beginners who are comfortable knitting in the round on double-pointed needles or Magic Loop.

Skill level: Beginner (knitting in the round, kfb, k2tog, seaming)

Finished size: Approximately 3½" (9 cm) long from nose to tail, 2¼" (5.5 cm) wide, and 1¾" (4.5 cm) tall, using the yarn and needles given. Size will vary with gauge and stuffing.

Materials

• Worsted-weight yarn
  • Color A (shell): about 20 yd / 18 m (olive, brown, or tortoise-shell heather)
  • Color B (body, head, legs, tail): about 30 yd / 27 m (tan, cream, or yellow-green)
  • Scraps of black or dark brown for embroidered features (if not using safety eyes)
• Needles: US 5 / 3.75 mm double-pointed needles (set of 4 or 5), or a 24–32" (60–80 cm) circular needle for Magic Loop. Use a needle 1–2 sizes smaller than the yarn label recommends so the fabric is tight.
• Stitch marker
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing, about ¼–½ oz (7–14 g) — a small handful
• 6 mm safety eyes (1 pair), or embroidery floss for eyes
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Safety note: Safety eyes are a choking hazard. Do not use them on toys for children under 3 years; embroider the features instead.

Gauge

6 stitches and 8 rounds = 1" (2.5 cm) in stockinette stitch in the round, after a firm fabric is achieved.

Gauge note: A tight, even fabric that does not show stuffing matters more than matching this number exactly. If you see gaps between stitches, go down a needle size.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO — bind off
• CO — cast on
• k — knit
• k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
• kfb — knit into the front and then the back of the same stitch (1 stitch increased)
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• St st — stockinette stitch (knit every round when working in the round)
• rep — repeat

Pattern Notes

• All pieces are worked in the round in stockinette stitch (knit every round).
• Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a marker for the beginning of the round.
• Small cast-on holes (CO 6) can be pulled closed later with the yarn tail — cinch them tight before weaving in.
• Magic Loop is often easier than DPNs on the smallest pieces (head, legs, tail).
• Stuff as directed, firmly enough that the shell holds a dome and the head is round, but not so hard that stitches stretch open.
• Leave a 12" (30 cm) tail on each piece for seaming unless otherwise noted.

Shell (Color A)

CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for beginning of rnd.

Rnd 1: Kfb around. (6 increases → 6 + 6 = 12 sts ✓)

Rnd 2: *K1, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 12 + 6 = 18 sts ✓)

Rnd 3: *K2, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 18 + 6 = 24 sts ✓)

Rnd 4: *K3, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 24 + 6 = 30 sts ✓)

Rnd 5: *K4, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 30 + 6 = 36 sts ✓)

Rnds 6–10: Knit around. (5 rnds even; 36 sts)

Rnd 11: *K4, k2tog; rep from * around. (6 decreases → 36 − 6 = 30 sts ✓)

BO all 30 sts knitwise. Fasten off, leaving a 12" (30 cm) tail for seaming. Cinch the CO hole closed with the starting tail and weave that tail to the inside.

Belly (Color B)

CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for beginning of rnd.

Rnd 1: Kfb around. (6 increases → 6 + 6 = 12 sts ✓)

Rnd 2: *K1, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 12 + 6 = 18 sts ✓)

Rnd 3: *K2, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 18 + 6 = 24 sts ✓)

Rnd 4: *K3, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 24 + 6 = 30 sts ✓)

Rnds 5–6: Knit around. (2 rnds even; 30 sts)

BO all 30 sts knitwise. Fasten off, leaving a 12" (30 cm) tail for seaming. Cinch the CO hole closed. The belly rim is 30 sts to match the shell rim.

Head (Color B)

CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for beginning of rnd.

Rnd 1: Kfb around. (6 increases → 6 + 6 = 12 sts ✓)

Rnd 2: *K1, kfb; rep from * around. (6 increases → 12 + 6 = 18 sts ✓)

Rnds 3–7: Knit around. (5 rnds even; 18 sts)

Place eyes now (before decreasing): Insert 6 mm safety eyes between Rnds 4 and 5, about 4 sts apart, centered on what will be the face. Secure the washers on the inside. (If embroidering eyes instead, skip this step and stitch them after the head is closed.)

Rnd 8: *K1, k2tog; rep from * around. (6 decreases → 18 − 6 = 12 sts ✓)

Stuff the head firmly.

Rnd 9: K2tog around. (6 decreases → 12 − 6 = 6 sts ✓)

Cut yarn, leaving a 12" (30 cm) tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 6 sts, pull tight to close, and weave the end to the inside. Cinch the CO hole closed. The head is a small ball, about 1" (2.5 cm) across.

Legs (make 4, Color B)

CO 8 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for beginning of rnd.

Rnds 1–5: Knit around. (8 sts)

Stuff the leg lightly — just enough to fill it; tortoise legs are short and stubby.

Rnd 6: K2tog around. (4 decreases → 8 − 4 = 4 sts ✓)

Cut yarn, leaving an 8" (20 cm) tail. Thread through the remaining 4 sts, pull tight to close, and weave to the inside. Cinch the CO hole closed. Each leg is a small cylinder, about ⅝" (1.5 cm) long.

Tail (Color B)

Work a 4-stitch i-cord:

CO 4 sts onto one DPN.

Row 1: Knit 4. Do not turn. Slide the sts back to the right end of the needle.

Rows 2–6: Rep Row 1. (6 rows of i-cord)

BO all 4 sts. Fasten off, leaving an 8" (20 cm) tail for sewing. The tail is about ¾" (2 cm) long.

Finishing

1. Join shell to belly. With wrong sides together (right side of the shell facing out, right side of the belly facing out), align the 30-st bound-off rims. Using Color A and mattress stitch, sew about three-quarters of the way around. Stuff the body firmly through the gap so the shell is a smooth dome and the belly is gently rounded. Finish seaming and close the gap. Weave ends to the inside.

2. Attach the head. Pin the head to the front of the body, sitting in the seam between shell and belly so it peeks out from under the shell. The eyes should face forward. Sew in place with Color B and mattress stitch (or whipstitch), going around the base of the head twice for security. Weave the end inside the body.

3. Attach the legs. Pin all four legs to the belly, two at the front and two at the back, spaced symmetrically and set slightly in from the shell edge so they show. Front legs sit just behind the head; back legs sit near the rear of the belly. Check that the tortoise sits level. Sew each leg in place with Color B. Weave ends inside.

4. Attach the tail. Sew the CO end of the tail to the back of the body, in the shell/belly seam, centered between the back legs. Weave the end inside.

5. Features. If you did not use safety eyes, embroider two small eyes in black or dark brown on the head (French knots or tiny satin stitches), about 4 sts apart. Optionally embroider a short straight-stitch mouth.

Optional shell scutes: With Color B or a darker scrap, embroider a few large hexagons or irregular patches on the shell in backstitch or running stitch to suggest tortoise scutes. Keep stitches shallow so they do not pull the stuffing.

6. Weave in remaining ends securely on the inside of the body. Trim. Give the tortoise a gentle squeeze to settle the stuffing.

Schematic (approximate)

         Head ~1"
            ○
         _______
        /       \     Shell dome ~1.9" across, ~1.4" tall
       |  shell  |
        \_______/     Belly seamed at 30-st rim
       / |  |  | \
      leg leg  tail

Finished tortoise sits about 3½" (9 cm) long and 1¾" (4.5 cm) tall.

Enjoy your miniature tortoise.