I knitted this (not so) little piggy as a birthday present for my daughter's best friend. I used size 10 circular knitting needles, about a skein and a half of Bernat baby blanket yarn (in baby pink), some scraps of Bernat blanket (black) for detailing, and a whole bunch of fiberfill to stuff it. It's about 2 ft in diameter, and a little over a foot tall. My daughter dictated the ear and tail placement, and the eye design. The final result is very squishy and snuggly, and the recipient is delighted with it!
For the Body:
Cast on 8 stitches
Increasing
Row 1: Kfb all stitches (16), and join in the round using magic loop.
Row 2 & all even rows: Knit
Row 3: K1, Kfb, repeat to end (24)
Row 5: K2, Kfb, repeat to end (32)
Row 1: Kfb all stitches (16), and join in the round using magic loop.
Row 2 & all even rows: Knit
Row 3: K1, Kfb, repeat to end (24)
Row 5: K2, Kfb, repeat to end (32)
Row 7: K3, Kfb, repeat to end (40)
Row 9: K4, Kfb, repeat to end (48)
Continue increasing on odd rows and knitting even rows through *Row 47: K23, Kfb, repeat to end (200 stitches)
**Rows 48-58: Knit all
Decreasing
Row 59: K2tg, K23, repeat to end (192)
Row 60 & all even rows: Knit
Row 61: K2tg, K22, repeat to end (184)
Row 63: K2tg, K21, repeat to end (176)
Row 65: K2tg, K20, repeat to end (168)
Row 67: K2tg, K19, repeat to end (160)
***Continue decreasing on odd rows and knitting even rows through Row 105: K2tg, repeat to end (8).
Break your yarn, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight and secure. Weave end into body.
For the Tail:
Cast on 15 stitches.
Kfbf all stitches (45)
Bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing onto the body.
For the Nose:
Cast on 6 stitches
Row 1: Kfb all (12)
Rows 2, 4, 6: Knit
Row 3: K1, Kfb, repeat (18)
Row 5: K2, Kfb, repeat (24)
Row 7: K3, Kfb, repeat (30)
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Purl
Rows 11-15: Knit
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing onto the body. Use scraps of black yarn to sew nostrils. ****Stuff and sew onto body.
For the Ears:
Cast on 6 stitches, leaving a long tail for sewing onto the body.
Row 1 & all odd rows: Purl
Row 2: Knit
Row 4: Kfb, K4, Kfb (8)
Row 6: Kfb, K6, Kfb (10)
Row 8: Knit
Row 10: K2tg, K6, K2tg (8)
Row 12: K2tg, K4, K2tg (6)
Row 14: K2tg, K2, K2tg (4)
Row 16: K2tg twice (2)
Row 18: K2tg, tie off, weave in end
Repeat all 18 rows for 2nd ear. ****Sew ears onto the body.
For the Eyes:
Use scrap black yarn to sew/embroider eyes in the style of your choice. We had a long debate between the (chosen) happy closed eyes, and straight sleepy closed eyes. You could also use doll (safety) eyes, but those should be secured before the body is completed.
*Depending on the size you want, add or decrease number of increasing rows.
**If you want your piggy to be more spherical you can increase the number of knit rows in the middle.
***I did my filling around row 90. Depending on the material you choose you may want to begin the process earlier or later.
****I used bobby pins to place the pieces onto the body. This let me play with the placement until my daughter was happy with where everything went.
