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

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