The unique pattern of each zebra may help them find each other amongst a huge herd. Or perhaps the stripes help the zebra to escape from being eaten, by dazzling and confusing the big cats that stalk them. Some scientists, thinking that zebras might be attracted to anything striped, tested this theory by standing out in the plains holding boards painted with black and white stripes. Sure enough, zebras soon trotted over to take a look and join the strange new herd!

The zebra’s stripes are easy and very satisfying to reproduce in knitting - simply by changing colour ever four rows.

Materials
The pattern requirs 50g DK in black, 50g DK in white, and scraps of DK in grey and dark brown.

The pattern also suggests using 10mm (3/8 inch) toy safety eyes, but felt eyes or black stitches would also be appropriate.

Adapt the pattern for a horse
The same pattern is used to make a horse, omitting the striping for the zebra.