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Time: 3h00

Farmyard Knits
Tall and haughty and very fond of swishing his long tail, this horse is a little too smart to drag a plow around in the fashion of his ancestors. He’d much prefer to prance about in a field and boss the other animals around! He’s knitted here in a traditional, soft brown woolen yarn, but you could also try pale gray or caramel to transform him into a different breed.

Posted by Andrews McMeel • Published 10th January 2014 • See Andrews McMeel's 48 projects »

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Horses

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Kristy B. favorited Horse 06 Jul 13:28
Brigit commented on Horse 23 Nov 17:48
Brigit favorited Horse 23 Nov 17:48
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Step 1
Body and Head
Make 1
◊ Using size U.S. 2/3 (3 mm) needles, cast on 16 sts in soft brown.
◊ Next row: [Inc1] twice, K to end. (18 sts)
◊ Next row: P.
◊ Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. (24 sts)
◊ Work 12 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
◊ Next row: [K2tog] twice, K to end. (22 sts)
◊ Next row: P.
◊ Mark beg and end of last row with a small safety pin or piece of yarn. These mark the neck and rear end of the top of the horse’s back.
◊ Next row: [Inc1] twice, K to end. (24 sts)
◊ Work 13 rows in st st, beg with a P row.
◊ Next row: [Ssk] twice, K to end. (22 sts)
◊ Next row: P.
◊ Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. (16 sts)
◊ Bind off.
◊ With the RS of your work facing you, pick up and K 22 sts from the outer corner of the straight edge (across the row ends) to the central safety pin or yarn marker. Turn work, cast on 46 sts. (68 sts)
◊ Next row: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, p2tog. (66 sts)
◊ Next row: K.
◊ Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. (60 sts)
◊ Next row: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, p2tog. (58 sts)
◊ Next row: Bind off 20 sts kwise, K to end. (38 sts)
◊ Next row: Bind off 20 sts pwise, P to end. (18 sts)
◊ Work 5 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
◊ Next row: K.
◊ Work 4 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
◊ Next row: [K2tog] 4 times, K2, [ssk] 4 times. (10 sts)
◊ Next row: [P2tog] 5 times. (5 sts)
◊ Break yarn, thread it through rem sts, and secure.
Step 2
Back Legs
Make 2
◊ Using size U.S. 2/3 (3 mm) needles, cast on 8 sts in black.
◊ K 4 rows.
◊ Break black yarn and join soft brown yarn.
◊ Work 14 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
◊ Next row: K2, M1, K4, M1, K2. (10 sts)
◊ Next row: K2, M1, K to last 2 sts, M1, K2. (12 sts)
◊ Next row: P.
◊ Rep last 2 rows 3 more times. (18 sts)
◊ Work 4 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
◊ Next row: K1, k2tog, K12, ssk, K1. (16 sts)
◊ Next row: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, p2tog. (14 sts)
◊ Bind off.
Step 3
Front Legs
Make 2
◊ Using size U.S. 2/3 (3 mm) needles, cast on 8 sts in black.
◊ K 4 rows.
◊ Break black yarn and join soft brown yarn.
◊ Work 14 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
◊ Next row: K1, M1, K6, M1, K1. (10 sts)
◊ Work 5 rows in st st, beg with a P row.
◊ Next row: K1, M1, K8, M1, K1. (12 sts)
◊ Work 3 rows in st st, beg with a P row.
◊ Next row: K1, k2tog, K6, ssk, K1. (10 sts)
◊ Next row: P2tog, P6, p2tog. (8 sts)
◊ Bind off.
Step 4
Ears
Make 2
◊ Using size U.S. 2 (2.75 mm) needles, cast on 5 sts in soft brown.
◊ K 4 rows.
◊ Next row: K2tog, K3. (4 sts)
◊ Next row: K2tog, ssk. (2 sts)
◊ Next row: K2tog. (1 st)
◊ Break yarn and pull it through rem st.
Step 5
Making Up
Fold the head and body piece so that the head part is RS together and whipstitch the seam along the lower edge of the head. Turn the piece RS out and sew along the front of the neck, using mattress stitch. Using mattress stitch, join the unattached side of the lower neck to the unattached side of the body. Join the seam at the back of the neck and the back end of the horse, using mattress stitch. Stuff the body and head, then close the gap along the lower edge, using mattress stitch.

Fold the front leg pieces lengthwise, WS together. Whipstitch the lower and side seams of the hooves, then join the long seams using mattress stitch, leaving the top edge open for stuffing. Stuff and whipstitch in place. Fold the back leg pieces lengthwise, RS together. Whipstitch the seam on the top part of the legs, leaving the top edge open for stuffing. Turn RS out and sew the lower part of the seam, using mattress stitch. Whipstitch the lower and side seams of the hooves. Stuff and whipstitch in place.

Using black yarn, make a row of chain stitch around the top of each hoof.

For the eyes, make two French knots, using black yarn. Using white yarn, make two circles of chain stitch around each French knot. Using beige yarn, make two French knots for the nostrils. Using white yarn, make a row of chain stitch for the teeth. Using pale pink yarn, make two straight stitches above the teeth for the mouth. Whipstitch the ears in position.

For the mane and forelock, cut thirty 3-inch (8-cm) lengths of dark brown yarn. Working with two strands at a time, using matching yarn, backstitch the center of the strands along the back of the neck and up to the forehead. Dampen the yarn and separate the strands to give it a more natural look. Trim.

For the tail, cut ten 10-inch (25-cm) lengths of dark brown yarn and gather them together into a bunch. Secure the center of the bunch in position at the end of the horse, using a separate piece of yarn. Wrap the yarn a few times around the bottom of the bunch. To give the tail a tousled look, dampen it and separate some of the strands. Trim.