Knitting patterns – toys

The UK is well known as a nation of animal lovers and this affection is reflected throughout the V&A collections – including our knitted objects. We've scoured desert plains, icy glaciers, tundra and jungles to help you create your own menagerie with these vintage knitting patterns.

Clara Camel

Photograph of a camel knitted toy — Photograph of Clara Camel knitted toy. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

You'd never get the hump with this happy dromedary in your collection! A simpler knit than her two-humped Bactrian cousin, desert-dwelling Clara is known for her wool coat in the wild and could probably tell a yarn or two about her lengthy travels too.

Suggested yarn: One ounce of fawn 4-ply fingering or equivalent yarn
Needle size: A pair of No. 10 knitting pins, a course steel or fine bone crochet hook.
Additional materials: Stuffing (use materials unsuitable for salvage), 2 beads, short lengths of coloured silk, a little dark brown or black wool.

Download Clara Camel knitting pattern

PDF (538 kb)

Download Clara Camel knitting pattern (Plain text)

PDF (40.2 kb)

Percy Penguin

Photograph of a penguin knitted toy — Photograph of Percy Penguin knitted toy. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

P-p-p-pick this pattern if penguins are your thing. Percy could definitely do with a knitted coat to keep him cosy in Antarctica. This cute knit looks like he's holding his wings out for a warm hug.

Suggested yarn: 1 ounce Copley's 4-ply 'Excelsior' fingering, Black. 1 ounce Copley's 4-ply 'Excelsior' fingering, White.
Needle size: 1 pair No. 10 needles
Additional materials: 2 small pieces of yellow and black felt. Quantity of Kapoc or cotton wool.
Tension: 7½ stitches to 1 inch.

Knitting patterns – toys

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