Unini the Magic Unicorn by Anna Dunkelbunt

Unini the Magic Unicorn

Knitting
November 2017
DK (11 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette, after spray blocking
US 4 - 3.5 mm
208 - 219 yards (190 - 200 m)
one size
English
This pattern is available for Fr.7.00 CHF buy it now

This knitting pattern creates a unicorn stuffy with shapes and proportions of a cute little pony. Choose a soft yarn in gentle colors to create a magical little friend for children or adults who like to dream.

Yarn
dunkelgrün organic merino dk or other soft DK weight yarn, approx. 240m / 262 yards per 100g.
For the body and legs:
color A (yellow): 15 g / 36 m (39 yds).
color B (light blue): 50 g / 120 m (131 yds).
color C (grey): 12 g / 29 m (32 yds).
For the horn:
color D (orange): ≈ 2 g / 5 m (5.5 yds).
For the mane and tail:
Small bits of leftovers in rainbow colors or any color palette that makes you dream.
Yarn Kits are available in my etsy shop

Finishing and Decoration

Stuffing

  • Polyester toy filling (50 g /1.8 oz), wool flocks (200 g / 7 oz), or any other soft stuffing material of your choice.
  • 4-8 teaspoons of risotto rice, lentils, barley or any other round grain for the feet. Try to avoid pointy grains like basmati rice, since these might be able to escape through the spaces in the knit fabric.

Eyes
A pair of toy eyes of your choice. Make sure to use safety eyes if making this toy for a small child. Alternatively, you can create eyes by embroidery (instructions not included in this pattern). The eyes of the prototype are 12 mm / ½’’ in diameter.

Size
Unicorn will measure approx. 25 cm / 10’’ from nose to tail.
For a smaller unicorn, use fingering or sport weight yarn - for a bigger unicorn, go for aran, bulky or super bulky yarn, together with a matching needle size.

Gauge & Needles
24 sts × 34 R = 10 × 10 cm
(4 × 4’’) in stockinette stitch using 3.5 mm (US 4) needles, after spray blocking.

Note: It is not crucial to achieve the exact gauge, since you are not creating a garment that needs to fit. It is much more important that you choose a needle size with which you can achieve a dense fabric from your chosen yarn. Otherwise stuffing might show through. Swatch to check the density of your fabric. Differences in gauge will lead to differences in the size of your finished unicorn.
You will need a circular needle (80 cm / 32’’) in your chosen needle size. The pattern is written for magic loop knitting in the round. Advanced knitters might also find their way through using DPNs.

Notions

  • 2 tapestry needles - one pointy (for weaving in ends) and one blunt (for seaming).
  • crochet hook (smaller than the knitting needle used)
  • 4 removable stitch markers
  • sewing pins for the assembly optional:
  • stitch markers to keep track
  • row counter

Techniques
Not explained in pattern (links to video tutorials provided):
Knit, purl, working in the round using magic loop, directional increases and decreases, Judy’s Magic Cast On, German short rows.

Instructions included for:
Seaming and attaching hair with a crochet hook (with video tutorials).

Construction
The body of the unicorn is knit in one piece from the nose to the bum and shaped with increases, decreases and short rows. Legs, ears and the horn are knit separately and sewn to the main body. Finally, the tail, mane and eyes are attached using a crochet hook.