Free Pattern – Some Easter Peeps

i've got all my ducks in a row....

Just in time for filling baskets I share with you my duckling pattern. They look really cute in pale blue & pink too. If you make one I’d love to see it!

Duckling

Supplies:

  • Yarn – 1 skein worsted weight yarn in pale yellow (I use Baby Teri yellow), small amount of orange worsted weight yarn, small amount of black yarn
  • Needles – four double pointed size 5
  • Tapestry needle for finishing
  • Stuffing

Gauge: Not important with this at all but you want a tight knit so the stuffing doesn’t show.

Abbreviations:

  • k – knit
  • kfb – knit front and back – knit a stitch, leaving stitch on left needle; knit into the back loop of this stitch.
  • ssk – slip slip knit – slip one stitch, then slip the next. Insert left needle into the front loops of the slipped stitches and knit them together from this position
  • k2tog – knit 2 together – knit two stitches together

Body:

Cast on 6 stitches.
Divide them between 3 needles.
Join being careful not to twist

Row 1: kfb all stitches (12 stitches)
Row 2: k
Row 3: kfb all stitches (24 stitches)
Row 4: k
Row 5: kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k6 (30 stitches)
Row 6: k
Row 7: kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k6, kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k6 (36 stitches)
Row 8: k
Row 9: kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k8, kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k6 (42 stitches)
Row 10: k
Row 11: kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k10, kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k6 (48 stitches)
Row 12, 13, 14, 15: k

At this point you may want to bring your tail from the beginning through the center & tie a small knot on the inside.

Row 16: ssk, k5, ssk, k5, ssk, k10, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k6 (42 stitches)
Row 17: k
Row 18: ssk, k4, ssk, k4, ssk, k8, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k6 (36 stitches)
Row 19: k
Row 20: ssk, k3, ssk, k3, ssk, k6, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k6 (30 stitches)
Row 21: k
Row 22: ssk, k2, ssk, k2, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k6 (24 stitches)
Rows 23-30: k

At this point stuff the body of your duck.

Row 31: ssk, k1, ssk, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k6 (18 stitches)
Row 32:k

At this point use the black yarn to make French knots for the eyes.
Row 33: ssk, ssk. Ssk, k2tog, k2tog, k2tog, k6 (12 stitches)

Break yarn & thread it through all the stitches on the needle. Finish stuffing duck to the top of the head. Pull yarn tight. Make a small knot in the yarn near the top of the head & tuck tail into the body of the duck.

Wings: (make 2)

Cast on 2 stitches leaving a long tail to sew wing on
Row 1: kfb all stitches (4 stitches)
Row 2: k
Row 3: k1, kfb2, k1 (6 stitches)
Row 4: k
Row 5: k1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1 (8 stitches)
Row 6, 7, 8: k
Row 9: bind off

Using tail sew the wings on to each side of the duckling. Sew just behind the decrease lines on either side of the duckling’s chest.

Beak:

Cast on 8 stitches. Divide evenly between three needles
Row 1: k
Row2: k
Row 3: ssk, k2, k2tog, k2 (6 stitches)
Break yarn leaving a 6 inch tail. Thread the tail through the stitches on the needle & pull tight. Bring tail inside the beak & tie a small knot. You can put a little stuffing in the beak if you like. Sew beak on the ducklings face.

(c) Kathy Lewinski 2006
Please do not sell my pattern, claim it as your own or teach it in a store without contacting me.
You may link to it from your blog or site.

Some pattern additions provided by Jen

Jen's peep & rabbit

How to turn a duckling into a bunny

Bunny Muzzle:

With a color that contrasts with the body color, CO 6 stitches. Divide among three dpns.

Row 1: kfb all stitches (12 stitches)
Row 2: k
Row 3: kfb, k1, repeat to end (18 stitches)
Row 4: k
Row 5: ssk, k1, repeat to end (12 stitches)
Row 6: k
Row 7 ssk all stitches (6 stitches)

Break yarn leaving a 6 inch tail. Thread the tail through the stitches on the needle and pull tight. Flatten the muzzle into a puffy circle, and bring the tail through the center to the back and tie a small knot.

With pink yarn, stitch a small “v” for a nose. Sew the muzzle onto the bunny’s face.

Bunny Tail:

Knit as for the muzzle, except before drawing the final stitches tight, stuff the piece lightly. Draw the yarn tight, tie a small knot, then stitch through the puff. Sew the tail onto the bunny’s back end.

Bunny Ears (Make 2):

With same color yarn as body, CO 10 stitches.

Row 1: k5, wrap the next stitch (yarn forward, slip next stitch purlwise, yarn back, slip stitch back to left hand needle). Turn your work.
Row 2: k to end of row
Row 3: k all stitches
Row 4: bind off.

Stitch the ears to either side of the top of the bunny’s head. You’ll find the knitting naturally curves in one direction or the other. You can point the ears in different directions, or both the same way, or whatever gives your bunny the personality and individuality you like.

She also suggests a way to make a comb for the chicks head…

Chick Comb:

With same yarn as for beak (a smooth worsted weight), CO 2 stitches

Row 1: k1, kfb (3 stitches)
Row 2: ssk, k1 (2 stitches)
Rows 3, 5, 7: Repeat Row 1
Rows 4, 6: Repeat Row 2
Row 8: bind off

You now have a small, narrow strip of garter stitch, with tiny points on one edge. Sew this on top of the chick’s head, running from front to back, with the points facing up.

 

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© 2005 – 2011 Kathy Lewinski & Susan Cornish
17 years ago by in Easter , Holiday , Knitting , Knitting Projects , Needlecraft , Projects | You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
87 Comments to Free Pattern – Some Easter Peeps
    • Jamie C.
    • Those are ADORABLE!! I think that each member of my family may have to have one of those in their easter baskets this year! Thanks for the pattern!

    • Erica
    • VERY cute! The Things squee’d with glee when they saw them. I think they’d make cute baby gifts, too (esp. since I have SO MANY baby gifts to make).

      So, are they going in the store window, along with Matthew’s Mr. Bunny? I’m assuming you’re NOT using the “snatchel” he turned into a purse…

    • Tiffany
    • These are so sweet! Thanks for sharing!

      I wonder if these peeps would expand and pop all over my microwave like those “other” easter peeps do — oy, the mess, but oh, what fun.

      • Phy
      • I really like Homespun myslef. I almost use it exclusively for afghans or scarves. I agree about the rhythm. I practice a stitch on inexpensive bulky yarn before I get into a skein of Homespun.

    • Bonnie
    • Your design is so adorable I had to cast on as soon as I saw it! I do have a question about the pattern:

      After row 22 there are 24 stitches. Are you supposed to knit 8 rows after that, or just 2? The pattern says Rows 23-30: k, but the next line starts at row 25.

    • Catherine
    • So cute, I just love ’em. I’m going to try it with Plush, but could you post or contact me with more info on the Baby Teri yarn? Who makes it? Available online? Thanks for the great pattern!

    • KnitNana
    • I love these !!!
      Will have to make some, but I don’t think they’ll get done THIS year 🙁
      But I know 3 darling little guys who’d love them in the mail from nana…THANK YOU!
      (((Hugs)))

    • Tricia
    • Beautiful! Gotta start on these as soon as my cloth is done.
      Have a question on the wings…on row three it says kfb2…does that mean do kfb, kfb or am I suppose to do kfb on two sts together? Thanks for sharing your pattern. ~Tricia

    • kat
    • Tricia – it mean kfb, kfb thus creating 2 stitches so at the end of the row you have 6. I guess it could be written, k1, kfb, kfb, k1 (6 stitches)

    • Deepa
    • Such a fabulous pattern, Kat! Thank you for sharing. I’m thinking of doing my baby’s bathroom with a ducky theme and these will be great.

    • Jen
    • Great pattern! I started making them for mini Easter baskets for my knitting circle, using Plymouth’s Oh My! yarn (with a scrap of Lamb’s Pride for the beak). After making one just as called for in the pattern, I began thinking of variations using different add-on parts on the same body base. I’ve now made a bunny as well, and am working on a baby chicken.

      My process has ground to a halt due to a minor hand injury, but I’ll be glad to share the patterns for the mods, including bunny ears, tail, etc. I can’t post them to my own blog until after Easter, because some of the recipients read there!

      E-mail me at fiber(AT)folkcatart(DOT)com if you’re interested. I figure folks might like to have my variations in time to knit them for Easter!

    • Aim
    • These are so cute. Thanks for the great pattern. Wish I’d found it in time for Easter, but there’s always next year!!! Hey, I adapted the pattern for a penguin, feel free to link to my blog, or copy and post the instructions here for another edition of your cute pattern!
      Aim, at my site bumpydoink.blogspot.com

    • jenistar
    • This is the first thing I’ve been interested in knitting since before Christmas–thanks for breaking my slump! I can’t wait to fill some Easter baskets!

    • Pookie
    • Thanks so much for the pattern! These are totally adorable and I just finished knitting one for my grandmother for Easter! Thanks again!

    • Anonymous
    • Just darling! Made one ON EASTER! First attempt with DP needles and, thanks to your meticulous instructions, I have a darling ducky of my own! Thanks for sharing your talents so generously. Do us all a favor: Write a book! PLEASE!!!!

    • Anonymous
    • Thank you so much I can’t wait to make these little guys. I think I will make one to send to Ethiopia for my soon to be adopted 2 yr old sister.

    • Susan Ripley
    • I love these! Would you consider giving reprint rights to knitting pattern-a-day calendar? You keep all ownership, you just give us permission to print the directions and a photo. And on the sheet, we provide your name and a URL to your blog, website or charity of choice. You can learn more at http://www.knittingpatternaday.com or email me if you have any questions!

    • Anonymous
    • Love these creatures! Thanks for the pattern.

      What kinds of yarn (type and brand) would make for furry-looking creatures?

      Dear Kat, what yarn did you use for the duckling and bunny in the picture you posted in your blog?

    • gardengirl611
    • These are adorable! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern. I'm glad I found them early enough to get them done for my niece & nephew for Easter this year. Yay! Thanks again

    • kitschystitch
    • I saw someone’s finished peep today, and it was SO darling that I had to cast on not an hour later. I want to thank you for the great pattern! “Thanks!!!!!” Great design!

      Allison

    • Fruit Business
    • They are so beautiful! I have a daughter who is almost 2yo who is obsessed with ducks (we have 4 as pets). So I'd love to make some of these as ducks and give them to her for her upcoming bday.

    • Teresa
    • I would love if I could use these for a easter class at my yarn shop. We do not charge for our classes and of course would not charge for your pattern. Would that be ok?

    • kat
    • Teresa – Please leave your email address or contact me through the Write Kat link in the right column so I can contact you directly. Thanks.

    • Ella
    • perfect for the pink yarn that i magically found at the grocery store as i was thinking about knitting a bunny! please check out my blog at stisandstringknit.blogspot.com

    • alpacapatty
    • Thanks for the duck pattern. I’m planning a baby shower for my daughter in March. She has a lt. pink, lt. green and monkey theme. So some ducks would be cute also.

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    • Kathy
    • These are soooo cute, just wish I could get the hang of using double pointed needles. If only it could be done on two needles or short circulars.

      • Kat
      • You could technically knit them on two needles & then seam it up at the end, especially if you were using a fuzzy yarn that would hide the seaming. The shortest circular I’ve used is an 8″ which is still too big for these little ducklings.

    • Barb
    • I’m normally pretty good at figuring out abreviations but this one has me puzzled. What is kfb and how is it worked?

    • SueB
    • Thank you so much for this super cute duckling pattern. It makes me so happy to know that not only am I giving my family something hand made from my heart but I did not have to spend money we don’t have to do so. Bless your heart and if you celebrate Happy Easter to you and your family.

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      • Kat
      • You use DPNs because you are knitting in the round. Straight needles would require this to be a flat pattern that was seamed up at the end. With this pattern you basically knit the bottom, work up the sides, shape the head, stuff and then close up the top, no seaming at all.

      • Kat
      • The eyes go towards the top (you are knitting up to the top of the head). The front it the middle of your round, the section that increased up to k10 and them back down to k2.

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      • Kat
      • I’ve been slowly turning my old patterns into pdfs, but haven’t gotten to this one yet. You can just print the page directly.

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