Deramores West Highland Terrier Toy Knitting Pattern

Deramores West Highland Terrier Knitted Toy

What is Being Made

This is an intermediate-level knitting pattern for a stuffed West Highland Terrier toy designed by Amanda Berry. The finished toy measures approximately 20cm tall and 19cm long, making it a decorative soft toy suitable for display or as a handmade gift. The pattern includes detailed instructions for constructing a recognizable terrier figure with characteristic features including safety eyes, a safety nose, and tartan ribbon detailing.

Techniques Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting construction techniques appropriate for toy-making. Mattress stitch is used throughout for seaming pieces together, creating invisible, professional-looking joins that are essential for toy construction. The design utilizes stockinette stitch as the primary fabric base, which creates a smooth, finished appearance suitable for a toy's surface. Shaping is achieved through strategic increases and decreases worked into the knitted fabric itself, allowing the toy to develop its three-dimensional form as it is constructed piece by piece.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates essential knitting stitches including:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches as foundational techniques
• Knit into front and back (Kfb) for increasing stitches and building volume
• Purl into front and back (Pfb) for increases on wrong-side rows
• Knit 2 together (K2tog) and Purl 2 together (P2tog) for decreasing stitches
• Slip, slip, knit (Ssk) for left-leaning decreases
• Stockinette stitch as the primary fabric texture
• Reverse stockinette stitch for textural variation

Materials and Specifications

The pattern requires Deramores Studio DK yarn in the Frost colorway, with one 100g ball providing sufficient yardage for the complete toy. Knitting is worked on 3mm straight knitting needles, with a tension of 26 stitches and 32 rows measured over 10cm x 10cm in stockinette stitch using these needles. This tension specification ensures the toy will be appropriately sized and fabric density will be suitable for holding stuffing securely.

Additional materials include toy filling (approximately 150g), a tapestry or yarn needle for seaming and finishing, two 10mm toy safety eyes with plastic washers, and one 18mm toy safety nose. The pattern specifies using white felt fabric to back the washers of the eyes and nose, preventing the plastic components from poking through the knitted fabric. Approximately 45cm of tartan ribbon is included for decorative detailing, adding visual interest and a finished appearance to the completed toy.

Design Credit

This pattern was created by Amanda Berry, a knitwear designer based in Berkshire, England, who specializes in knitted toys. Her designs have been published in magazines and created for charitable organizations. The pattern is published by Deramores and available through their website.