Valley Yarns Valley Friends Knitting Pattern

Valley Friends by Sara Delaney

Product Overview

Valley Friends is a downloadable knitting and crochet pattern designed by Sara Delaney that allows crafters to create soft, stuffed animal companions. The pattern offers instructions for three distinct characters—bunny, fox, and panda—with options to work each design in either knit or crochet. Crafters are also encouraged to use their imagination to design additional friends beyond the three featured designs.

What Is Being Made

Valley Friends are small, three-dimensional stuffed animals designed as playmates and companions. The finished knit versions measure approximately 8 inches wide by 7.5 inches high, while the crocheted versions are slightly larger at 9 inches wide by 8 inches high. Each friend is constructed with a body, corner tabs for dimensional shaping, and facial features created using plastic safety eyes, felt scraps, and embroidery floss.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The knit version of Valley Friends employs working in the round as its primary construction method, using circular needles and double-pointed needles to create seamless fabric. The body is cast on and worked continuously in the round for 50 rounds using Stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, dense fabric ideal for stuffed animals. The pattern incorporates seaming techniques to close the top and bottom edges of the body after binding off. Corner tabs are constructed by picking up stitches along the edges, adding three-dimensional shaping to the finished toy.

Crochet Techniques and Stitches

The crochet version uses working in the round with single crochet as the primary stitch, creating a similarly dense and durable fabric. The body begins with a chain foundation and is worked in continuous rounds of single crochet. Like the knit version, the crocheted design incorporates seaming to close the top and bottom edges after fastening off. The pattern maintains the same three-dimensional structure through corner tabs worked in a similar manner to the knit version.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Valley Friends is crafted using Valley Yarns Haydenville, a blend of 60% Superwash Merino Wool and 40% Acrylic Microfiber. Each skein weighs 100 grams and provides 220 yards of yarn. The pattern requires approximately 160 yards for a knit friend and approximately 300 yards for a crocheted friend. Haydenville is available in multiple colors suitable for creating different character designs, including #28 Silver, #03 Black, #16 Spice, and #02 Natural.

Needles and Hooks

The knit version requires US size 6 (4.00mm) circular needles in 16-inch length and double-pointed needles of the same size. The crochet version uses a US size G/6 (4.00mm) crochet hook. Both versions allow for needle or hook size adjustment to achieve proper gauge.

Gauge and Fabric Density

For the knit version, the target gauge is 22 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette stitch worked in the round. For the crochet version, the gauge is 18 stitches and 22 rows over 4 inches in single crochet worked in the round. While exact gauge is noted as not critical, the pattern emphasizes the importance of achieving a fairly dense fabric to ensure the stuffed animals hold their shape properly and prevent stuffing from showing through. Crafters who tend to work loosely are advised to use a smaller needle or hook size.

Additional Materials and Embellishments

Beyond yarn and needles or hooks, Valley Friends requires several additional materials for completion:

• Plastic safety eyes measuring 9mm (note: safety eyes are not recommended for children under 3 years of age)
• Scraps of felt for facial features and details
• Embroidery floss for stitching details and facial expressions
• Fiberfill or preferred stuffing material (optional—the pattern samples shown contain no stuffing, allowing crafters to customize the firmness of their finished friends)

Difficulty Level

Valley Friends is rated as advanced beginner, making it suitable for knitters and crocheters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to tackle more complex construction techniques. The pattern requires competency with working in the round, understanding gauge, and executing seaming techniques, making it an ideal next-step project for those transitioning from simple flat