Thursday 10 April 2008

Zero the Ghostly Dog

Free Zero Dog Toy Knitting Pattern by Raynor Gellatly.
Here is a little free pattern I've created for any knitting fan of Tim Burtons cult film 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', it's Zero the ghostly dog Jack Skellingtons faithful little pooch.

Materials
*DK/worsted weight/4ply yarn, 1 ball white & small amount of black, orange and red for detail.
*3.25mm needles (UK size 10, US size 3)
*Toy stuffing
*Yarn needle
Suggested yarn : Bernat Glow in the dark worm white (available here)
Yarn weight and needle size are open to your own interpretation, basically increase/decrease the sizes for a bigger or smaller Zero.
Gauge also isn't important but for the head and ears make sure the stitches are tight enough so the stuffing doesnt show through.


Body
CO 1
1. Kfb (2sts)
2. Purl
3. Kfb (4sts)
4. purl
5. kfb, k2, kfb (6sts)
6. purl
7. Kfb, k4, kfb (8sts)
8. Purl
9. Kfb, k6, kfb (10sts)
10. Purl
11. Kfb, k8, kfb (12sts)
12. Purl
13. Kfb,k10, kfb (14sts)
14. Purl
15. Kfb, k12, Kfb (16sts)
Break off yarn and leave stitches on a spare needle/stitch holder
Repeat steps 1-15
Take stitches from the spare needle and join them onto your working needles (making sure the stockinette stitch is on the same side for both pieces)

16. Knit across all stitches (32sts)
17. St-st for 6 rows
18. K2tog, knit until last 2 st, k2tog (30sts)
19. Purl
20. Repeat rows 18-19 until 10 sts remain
21. *K2tog * repeat 5 times (5sts)
22. Purl
23. Knit
24. Purl
25. K2tog, k1, k2tog (3sts)
26. Purl
27. Knit
28. Purl
29. K2tog,k1 (2sts)
30. Purl
31. Knit
32. Purl
33. Knit
34. Purl
35. K2tog (1st)
36. Purl
37. Knit
38. Purl

Break off yarn and weave the end into the rest of the body.


Head
CO2
1. Kfb all stitches (4sts)
2. purl
3. kfb all stitches (8 sts)
4. Purl
5. St-st for 18 rows
6. *K2, kfb* repeat 2 times, k2(10sts)
7. Purl
8. *K2, Kfb*repeat 3 times, K1 (13sts)
9. Purl
10. *K3,kfb* repeat 3 times, k1 (16sts)
11. Purl
12. *k1,kfb* repeat 8 times (24sts)
13. Purl
14. *k4, kfb* repeat 4 times, k4 (28sts)
15. Purl
16. Knit
17. Purl
18. *K4, k2tog* repeat 4 times, k4 (24sts)
19. Purl
20. *k2,k2tog* repeat 6 times (18sts)
21. Purl
22. *K1,K2tog* repeat 6 times (12sts)
23. Purl
24. *k2tog* repeat 6 times (6sts)
25. Purl

Cut a tail of yarn approx 6” and use a needle to pull through the remaining stitches and pull tightly. Use the yarn tail to start joining all row ends using mattress stitch until half way down the head. Stuff the ball of the head and then continue to mattress stitch the row ends right up to the cast on stitches and then stuff the rest of the head/nose. Pull the yarn through the 2 co stitches, fasten off and then weave in the ends.

Ears ( make 2)
Cast on 6 sts

St-st for 19 rows

20. *k2tog* 3 times (3sts)
21. purl
22. knit
23. purl

Cut a tail in the yarn approx 5” long and use a yarn needle to pull through the remaining stitches. Use the remaining yarn tail to join the row ends up until the cast on stitches, and then sew onto the head.

NoseCO 2
1. kfb all stitches (4sts)
2. knit
3. kfb, k2, kfb (6sts)
4 .knit
5. k2tog, k2, k2tog (4sts)
6. knit
7. *k2tog* times 2 (2st)

Cut the yarn and pull through the remainign stitches. Join the row end together.
Make the nose into a ball shape and oversew the edges, so you are left with a little orange ball.
Sew the nose onto the long end tip of the head. and weave in any ends.


Finishing
Use black yarn to ‘embroider’ two eyes and a smile onto the head.
Sew the head onto the body weaving in any loose ends.
Iadded his red collar by wrapping a red piece of yarn around his neck a few times then tieing off, weaving in any loose ends.

Now you have your very own knitted Zero, and remember a ghost dog is life not just for halloween.

For a fantastic free Jack Skellington pattern please visit Meanderings blog by clicking here.
♥ Raynor



7 comments:

Sisterly Knits said...

Awww...the sight of zero almost made me cry. :) I'm a huge fan. How cute. I'll have to make myself one.

MonkeyGurrrrrl said...

Awwww, heck. Now I HAVE to make that - to go with the Skellington mask I made my friend last year (pattern from Knitty). Thanks a LOT.

Actually, really, thanks a lot. It's a dang cute pattern and I have probably enough white yarn left over....

Darkkiss said...

aww hes so cute, so gonna knit one.

TinnyandLionfro said...

This is amazing i just have one question, am i missing something, or are there no directions for assembling the body?
Thanks and once again
IT IS AMAZING

Unknown said...

hey Tinny, the body is just left as a flat piece to give him a 'floaty' look. Its only his head and ears which are stuffed so no seamign for the body only waeving in the ends, hope that helps.
Raynor

S2K said...

This was super quick and fun - I knit it in the car on a long car ride. I just wish I had brought some fluffy stuff to fill it with!

Instead of knitting flat, I made the ears as i-cord. They turned out great!

Gerbil Knitting said...

How big is the stuffie? It is so cute!