purlJam

<pattern>

# Smiling Quokka Knitting Pattern

**A realistic quokka with signature open smile**

## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight yarn (#4 Medium)
- Main Color (MC): Light brown or tan, approximately 200 yards
- Contrast Color 1 (CC1): Dark brown, approximately 15 yards (nose, details)
- Contrast Color 2 (CC2): Pink, approximately 20 yards (mouth interior)
- Contrast Color 3 (CC3): White, approximately 10 yards (optional, for teeth/mouth detail)

**Needles**: 
- US 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or one long circular needle for Magic Loop
- Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge

**Notions**:
- Safety eyes, 9 mm (2)
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Pins (for assembly)

**Safety Note**: Safety eyes contain small parts. If making for a child under 3, embroider eyes instead.

## GAUGE

18 sts × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, worked in the round

Gauge is not critical for this project, but will affect finished size.

## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Approximately 8-9" (20-23 cm) tall when seated

## ABBREVIATIONS

- k: knit
- p: purl
- kfb: knit into front and back of stitch (1 stitch increased)
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
- ssk: slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rnd(s): round(s)
- MC: Main Color
- CC1: Contrast Color 1 (dark brown)
- CC2: Contrast Color 2 (pink)
- CC3: Contrast Color 3 (white)

## NOTES

- All pieces are worked in the round in stockinette stitch (knit every round) unless otherwise specified.
- Stuff pieces firmly as you go, before closing openings.
- Use stitch markers to mark beginning of rounds.
- The mouth interior piece is worked flat and sewn in to create the open mouth effect.
- Leave long tails (12-15") when casting on and binding off for seaming.

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### HEAD

The head is worked from the top down, with shaping for the snout.

**Cast on**: Using MC, cast on 6 sts. Divide evenly on DPNs or prepare for Magic Loop. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beginning of round.

**Rnd 1**: Kfb in each st around. (12 sts)

**Rnd 2**: Knit.

**Rnd 3**: *K1, kfb; repeat from * around. (18 sts)

**Rnd 4**: Knit.

**Rnd 5**: *K2, kfb; repeat from * around. (24 sts)

**Rnd 6**: Knit.

**Rnd 7**: *K3, kfb; repeat from * around. (30 sts)

**Rnds 8-16**: Knit (9 rounds even). [Count verification: 30 sts maintained]

**Insert safety eyes**: Between Rnds 13 and 14, approximately 8 sts apart. Mark positions before inserting.

**Begin snout shaping**:

**Rnd 17**: K15, place marker (PM), k15. (30 sts total)

**Rnd 18**: Knit to marker, kfb, k4, kfb, knit to end. (32 sts)

**Rnd 19**: Knit.

**Rnd 20**: Knit to marker, kfb, k6, kfb, knit to end. (34 sts)

**Rnds 21-23**: Knit (3 rounds even).

**Create mouth opening**: The next rounds create the opening for the mouth.

**Rnd 24**: K17, bind off 6 sts, k11 (including st on right needle after bind off). You will now have a gap. (28 sts active)

**Rnd 25**: K17, turn work. You will now work back and forth for 3 rows to deepen the mouth opening.

**Row 26 (WS)**: P11, turn.

**Row 27 (RS)**: K11, turn.

**Row 28 (WS)**: P11. Do not turn.

**Resume working in the round**:

**Rnd 29**: K17, cast on 6 sts over the gap using backward loop method, knit to end. (34 sts) [Math check: 17 + 11 + 6 cast on = 34 ✓]

**Rnds 30-31**: Knit (2 rounds even).

**Shape lower head/chin**:

**Rnd 32**: *K15, k2tog; repeat from * around. (32 sts)

**Rnd 33**: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * around. (28 sts)

**Rnd 34**: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * around. (24 sts)

**Rnd 35**: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sts)

**Stuff head firmly**, shaping as you work. Make sure the snout is well-defined and stuffed.

**Rnd 36**: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sts)

**Rnd 37**: *K2tog; repeat from * around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving 8" tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Weave in end.

### MOUTH INTERIOR PIECE

This piece is worked flat and sewn into the mouth opening to create the open-mouth effect.

**Cast on**: Using CC2 (pink), cast on 8 sts.

**Rows 1-6**: Work in stockinette stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows).

**Row 7 (RS)**: Ssk, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)

**Row 8**: Purl.

**Row 9**: Ssk, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)

**Row 10**: Purl.

**Bind off**. Leave long tails for sewing.

**Optional teeth detail**: Using CC3 (white), embroider 2-3 small straight stitches along the top edge of the pink piece before attaching.

### BODY

Worked from bottom up.

**Cast on**: Using MC, cast on 8 sts. Divide evenly on DPNs or prepare for Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

**Rnd 1**: Kfb in each st around. (16 sts)

**Rnd 2**: Knit.

**Rnd 3**: *K1, kfb; repeat from * around. (24 sts)

**Rnd 4**: Knit.

**Rnd 5**: *K3, kfb; repeat from * around. (30 sts)

**Rnd 6**: Knit.

**Rnd 7**: *K4, kfb; repeat from * around. (36 sts)

**Rnds 8-20**: Knit (13 rounds even). [Count verification: 36 sts maintained]

**Shape top of body**:

**Rnd 21**: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * around. (30 sts)

**Rnd 22**: Knit.

**Rnd 23**: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * around. (24 sts)

**Rnd 24**: Knit.

**Rnd 25**: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around. (18 sts)

**Stuff body firmly**.

**Rnd 26**: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sts)

**Rnd 27**: *K2tog; repeat from * around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving 15" tail for attaching head. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Do not weave in tail yet.

### ARMS (Make 2)

**Cast on**: Using MC, cast on 5 sts. Divide on DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

**Rnd 1**: Kfb in each st around. (10 sts)

**Rnds 2-3**: Knit.

**Rnd 4**: *K3, kfb, k1; repeat from * around. (12 sts)

**Rnds 5-12**: Knit (8 rounds even). [Count verification: 12 sts maintained]

**Rnd 13**: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around. (9 sts)

**Stuff arm lightly** (arms should be slightly floppy, not rigid).

**Rnd 14**: Knit.

**Rnd 15**: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving 12" tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Leave tail for attaching.

### LEGS (Make 2)

**Cast on**: Using MC, cast on 7 sts. Divide on DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

**Rnd 1**: Kfb in each st around. (14 sts)

**Rnds 2-3**: Knit.

**Rnd 4**: *K5, kfb, k1; repeat from * around. (16 sts)

**Rnds 5-14**: Knit (10 rounds even). [Count verification: 16 sts maintained]

**Rnd 15**: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sts)

**Stuff leg firmly**.

**Rnd 16**: Knit.

**Rnd 17**: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around. (8 sts)

**Rnd 18**: *K2tog; repeat from * around. (4 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving 12" tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Leave tail for attaching.

### EARS (Make 2)

**Cast on**: Using MC, cast on 6 sts. Divide on DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

**Rnds 1-4**: Knit (4 rounds even).

**Rnd 5**: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around. (4 sts)

**Rnd 6**: *K2tog; repeat from * around. (2 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving 10" tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Leave tail for attaching. **Do not stuff ears.**

Flatten ears slightly before attaching.

### TAIL

**Cast on**: Using MC, cast on 6 sts. Divide on DPNs or use Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.

**Rnds 1-6**: Knit (6 rounds even).

**Rnd 7**: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around. (4 sts)

**Stuff tail lightly**.

**Rnd 8**: *K2tog; repeat from * around. (2 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving 10" tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Leave tail for attaching.

### NOSE

Using CC1 (dark brown), embroider a small triangular nose at the tip of the snout, centered above the mouth opening. Use satin stitch to create a solid triangle approximately 0.5" tall.

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## ASSEMBLY

**Pin pieces before sewing** to ensure proper placement and proportion.

1. **Attach mouth interior piece**: Pin the pink mouth piece inside the mouth opening on the head, with the wider edge at the top. Using the long tails and MC yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, sew the edges of the pink piece to the inside edges of the mouth opening using whip stitch. The pink should be slightly recessed to create depth.

2. **Attach head to body**: Position head on top of body opening. The head should tilt slightly forward to show the mouth. Using the long tail from the body and mattress stitch or whip stitch, sew head securely to body all around.

3. **Attach legs**: Position legs at the bottom sides of the body, angled slightly forward so the quokka is in a seated position. Legs should be attached to the lower third of the body. Sew securely using mattress stitch.

4. **Attach arms**: Position arms on the upper sides of the body, approximately 2-3 rounds down from where the head attaches. Sew securely.

5. **Attach ears**: Position ears on top of head, slightly to the sides, beginning approximately Rnd 8-10 from the top of the head. Space approximately 10-12 sts apart. Flatten ears slightly and sew the cast-on edge to the head using whip stitch.

6. **Attach tail**: Position tail at the center back of the body, at the bottom. Sew securely.

7. **Add facial details**: 
   - Embroider nose with CC1 as described above.
   - Optional: Add a small line from the bottom of the nose down to the top