Deramores Caterpillar Draught Excluder Knitting Pattern

Deramores Caterpillar Draught Excluder: Beginner Knitting Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Deramores Caterpillar Draught Excluder is a charming homeware accessory designed to block drafts while adding playful décor to any room. This knitted caterpillar measures 75cm in length and features a segmented body construction typical of draught excluders. The finished piece is stuffed with toy filling to create a firm, functional barrier for doors and windows, while the colorful yarn selection and safety eyes give it a whimsical, child-friendly appearance.

Techniques Used

This beginner-level knitting project employs fundamental flat knitting techniques throughout. All pieces are knitted flat using back-and-forth motions on straight needles rather than in the round, making this an ideal introduction to basic knitting construction. The pattern incorporates essential shaping techniques including increases (knit into the front and back of a stitch) and decreases (knit two stitches together), which are used to create the caterpillar's segmented body shape. Assembly requires sewing knitted pieces together using a darning needle, introducing basic finishing skills suitable for beginners.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch – The primary stitch throughout the pattern, created by knitting right-side rows and purling wrong-side rows. This classic stitch produces a smooth, flat fabric ideal for a stuffed toy.
• Knit Stitch (K) – Used on right-side rows and in various shaping sequences
• Purl Stitch (P) – Used on wrong-side rows to create stockinette stitch
• Knit Two Together (K2tog) – A decrease technique for shaping the caterpillar segments
• Knit into Front and Back (Kb) – An increase technique for expanding stitches where needed

Materials and Tools

This pattern uses Deramores Studio DK Yarn, a medium-weight yarn perfect for beginners. Eight coordinating 100g balls create the caterpillar's colorful segments: Green Tea, Paprika, Gingerbread, Blue Haze, Storm Cloud, Merlot, Shiraz, and Butterscotch. The total yardage from these eight colors allows for the complete 75cm draught excluder.

Needles: A pair of 3.75mm (US 5) straight knitting needles are required for this project. The pattern specifies a tension of approximately 22 stitches and 28 rows per 10cm square in stockinette stitch on 3.75mm needles, ensuring proper sizing and structure.

Additional Supplies: Completion requires a 250g bag of toy filling for stuffing, a darning or tapestry needle for seaming pieces together, and 2 x 9mm safety eyes to bring the caterpillar to life. These finishing touches are essential for creating a safe, finished homeware piece.

Designer Information

This pattern was created by Amanda Berry, a Berkshire-based designer specializing in knitted toys and stuffed animals. A London College of Fashion graduate with First Class Honours (2014), Berry has built a full-time career around her passion for knitting. Her work has been featured in publications including Let's Knit and Let's Get Crafting, and she has contributed designs to charitable initiatives including the Somerset Wildlife Trust's Knit for Nature program and Canopy Arts Woollen Woods exhibitions.