Seals are intelligent and inquisitive creatures that will often show a great deal of interest in what’s going on in boats and on shore. With their wide-set eyes and huge smiling mouths, they can look uncannily like people bathing, so it’s not surprising that many cultures have folk stories about seals coming onto land and joining in with human activities.

Knitted in soft mohair, these friendly little seals have just the same great big eyes, irresistible smiles and inquisitive natures as the real thing. They are very simple toys to make with just four separate pieces - all knitted in the same yarn. If you don’t like working in fluffy mohair, smooth DK yarn works well too.

The pattern for the seals (and for a sea lion and a walrus) re from the book Kath Dalmeny’s World of Knitted Toys, and the full list of over 50 projects is shown below.

Materials
The seal pattern requires 50g DK in white (or grey) mohair and scraps of DK in black for the nose and mouth.

The pattern recommends substituting non-mohair yarn if you find fluffy yarn difficult to work with or are knitting for an infant.

The pattern also suggests using 16mm (5/8 inch) black toy safety eyes, but felt eyes or black stitches would also be appropriate.

KATH DALMENY’S WORLD OF KNITTED TOYS patterns list

The book contains over 50 patterns for making adorable knitted toys – people and animals from all over the world. Each chapter covers a different habitat, the animals that make their homes there, and one of the people who live there, with accessories to represent their lives or work. The knitting patterns are listed under three categories – Easy; Straightforward; and Challenging, to help knitters choose the project that is right for you. The projects are as follows:

BASIC PERSON PATTERN
(which is then adapted for the people patterns below)

IN THE JUNGLE

• South American Indian
• Spider monkey – mother and baby
• Snake
• Tiger cub
• Gorilla
• Orang utan
• Parrot
• Banana

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

• Australian sheep farmer (complete with corks hanging from his hat!)
• Merino sheep
• Koala bear
• Duck-billed platypus
• Wombat
• Kangaroo and Joey

DOWN ON THE FARM

• Farmer
• Highland bull
• Pigs and piglets
• Cat
• Mallard duck
• Chicken, cockerel and chicks

THE DEEP BLUE SEA

• Pearl fisherman
• Dolphin
• Shark
• Killer whale
• Turtle
• Octopus
• Clownfish

FOREST FRIENDS

• Canadian Mountie
• Horse
• Grizzly bear
• Beaver
• Raccoon
• Chipmunk
• Moose

ON SAFARI

• African Park Ranger
• Zebra
• Lion family – lion, lioness and lion cub
• Rhinoceros
• Elephant
• Warthog

THE SNOWY REGIONS

• Eskimo
• Husky dog
• Fish
• Penguins – Emperor penguins and Adelie penguins – parents and chicks
• Seal
• Walrus
• Polar bear

PATTERN VARIATIONS

• Sea lion
• Panda bear