Knitting & Crochet

Knitting pattern: How to knit an English bulldog

Knitting pattern: How to knit an English bulldog

Image excerpted from Knit Your Own Dog by Sally Muir & Joanna Osborne.

Knitting & Crochet

Knitting pattern: How to knit an English bulldog

Check out this free knitting pattern for an English bulldog from the book, Knit Your Own Dog . This pup will be a great addition to your family, and he doesn't need to be walked!

Loyal, friendly, and particularly fond of children, the English bulldog is an instantly recognizable breed that is not as miserable as the face implies. Although prone to drooling and snoring, the English bulldog has a devoted following. It has become a mascot for England and is closely associated with Winston Churchill, who never owned one but did rather resemble one.

Originally bred for bullbaiting, the bulldog is mentioned in Shakespeare’s Henry VI. Famous Bulldogs are Spike in Tom and Jerry and Bulldog Drummond, the popular and hair-raisingly non-PC detective of the 1920s.

The stuffing is crucial; don’t over-stuff your bulldog as he needs to be slightly wrinkly.

See a larger image of the finished craft here.

Measurements
Length: 7in (18cm)
Height to top of head: 41⁄2in (11cm)



Materials

  • Pair of US 2 (23⁄4mm) knitting needles
  • 1-1/8 OZ (30g) of Rowan Cashsoft 4ply in Cream 443 (cr)
  • Small amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Mocha 417 (mo) for collar
  • Tiny amounts of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 and in Snow 412 for nose and eyes

 

Directions

Front leg
(make 2 the same)
With cr, cast on 16 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: K5, k2tog 3 times, k5. (13 sts)
Row 4: P2tog, p2, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p2, p2tog. (9 sts)
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Inc, k7, inc. (11 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Inc, k9, inc. (13 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Inc, k11, inc. (15 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Inc, k13, inc. (17 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K2tog, k4, inc, k3, inc, k4, k2tog. (17 sts)
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: K2tog, k3, inc, k5, inc, k3, k2tog. (17 sts)
Row 18: Purl. Bind off.

Back leg
(make 2 the same)
With cr, cast on 16 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: K5, k2tog 3 times, k5. (13 sts)
Row 4: P2tog, p2, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p2, p2tog. (9 sts)
Work 2 rows st st.
Row 7: Inc, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, inc. (9 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Inc, k7, inc. (11 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Inc, k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2, inc. (11 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Inc, k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2, inc. (11 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K4, inc, k1, inc, k4. (13 sts)
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: K5, inc, k1, inc, k5. (15 sts)
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: K6, inc, k1, inc, k6. (17 sts)
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: Inc, k15, inc. (19 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: Inc, k17, inc. (21 sts)
Row 24: Purl.
Row 25: Inc, k19, inc. (23 sts)
Bind off.

Right side of body
With cr, cast on 16 sts.
Row 1: K16, cast on 4 sts. (20 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K20, cast on 3 sts. (23 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k22, cast on 3 sts. (27 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K27, cast on 6 sts. (33 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Inc, k32, cast on 6 sts. (40 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Work 4 rows st st.
Row 15: Inc, k to end. (41 sts)
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: K to last 2 sts, k2tog. (40 sts)
Row 18: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 3 times more. (37 sts)
Row 25: Knit.
Row 26: Bind off 16 sts, p to end. (21 sts)
Row 27: K19, k2tog. (20 sts)
Bind off.

Left side of body
With cr, cast on 16 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: P16, cast on 4 sts. (20 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: P20, cast on 3 sts. (23 sts)
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Inc, p22, cast on 3 sts. (27 sts)
Row 7: Knit.
Row 8: P27, cast on 6 sts. (33 sts)
Row 9: Knit.
Row 10: Inc, p32, cast on 6 sts. (40 sts)
Row 11: Knit.
Work 4 rows st st.
Row 16: Inc, p39. (41 sts)
Row 17: Knit.
Row 18: P to last 2 sts, p2tog. (40 sts)
Row 19: Knit.
Rep last 2 rows 3 times more. (37 sts)
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: Bind off 16 sts, k to end. (21 sts)
Row 28: P19, p2tog. (20 sts)
Bind off.

Head
Using mattress stitch, sew up back seam. Starting 3⁄4in (2cm) from edge, pick up and knit 20 sts from Right Side of Body and 20 sts from Left Side of Body. (40 sts)

Next row: Purl.
Next row: K30, pult (pick up loop below next st on left needle by inserting tip of right needle from back through loop—this stops a hole forming when turning work—then turn, leaving rem 10 sts on left needle unworked).
Next row: Working back of neck on center 20 sts only, p2tog (first st of p2tog is loop picked up at end of last row), p19, pult.
Next row: K2tog, k19, pult.
Next row: P2tog, p19, pult.
Next row: K2tog, k to end of row.
Next row: Purl. Bind off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows. (32 sts) Head is worked in 3 sections from here Right section Next row: K11, turn, working on these 11 sts only (leave rem 21 sts on needle).
Next row: Purl. Working st st, inc on outside edge of every row until you have 24 sts, ending with a k row. Work 4 rows st st straight (even). Cont in st st, work 2tog on outside edge of every row until you have 16 sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Bind off 10 sts, k to end. (6 sts) Bind off. Center section Rejoin yarn and working on center 10 sts and beg with a k row, work 10 rows st st.
Next row: K2tog, k6, k2tog. (8 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog twice. (2 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog and fasten off. Left section

Rejoin yarn and work on final 11 sts. Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st. Cont in st st, inc on outside edge of every row until you have 24 sts, ending with a k row. Work 4 rows st st straight (even). Cont in st st, work 2tog on outside edge of every row until you have 16 sts. Bind off 10 sts, p to end. (6 sts)
Bind off.
 

Tummy

With cr, cast on 1 st.
Row 1: Inc. (2 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Inc into both sts. (4 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Inc, k6, inc. (10 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Inc, k8, inc. (12 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Inc, k10, inc. (14 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: Inc, k12, inc. (16 sts)
Cont in st st to fit all along tummy to bottom of chest (approx 60 rows), ending with a p row.
Next row: K2tog, k12, k2tog. (14 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog, k10, k2tog. (12 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog, k8, k2tog. (10 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog, k6, k2tog. (8 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2tog twice. (2 sts)
Next row: P2tog and fasten off.

Tail
With cr, cast on 7 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 8 rows st st.
Bind off.

Ear
(make 2 the same)
With cr, cast on 9 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 5 rows st st.
Row 6: K2tog, k5, k2tog. (7 sts)
Row 7: P2tog, p3, p2tog. (5 sts)
Row 8: K2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Row 9: P2tog, p1. (2 sts)
Row 10: K2tog and fasten off.

Nose
With bl, cast on 4 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: P2tog twice. (2 sts)
Row 3: K2tog and fasten off.

Eyes
With bl, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Bind off.

Collar
With mo, cast on 42 sts.
Knit 2 rows.
Bind off.

To finish
Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and bound off rows for sewing up. Using mattress or whip stitch, sew up legs starting at paw. Stuff each leg.

Using mattress or whip stitch, sew cast on row of tummy to base of back and sew bound off row under chin. Ease and sew tummy to fit body. Leave a 1in (2.5cm) gap between front and back legs on one side. Turn right side out, stuff then sew up gap with mattress stitch.

Sew up seams on top of head, sew sides of head together. Sew cheeks to neck, and under chin. Stuff head quite loosely. Sew on ears and tail (folded in half with purl side as RS) as shown in photograph. If you want to make the body more wrinkly, you can thread the end of yarn used to sew on the tail through the body and catch it to the head to concertina the body.

Fold nose back on itself as in photograph and sew tip of nose to center of middle head section with whip stitch. Sew chin up under nose for extra jowl effect. Using black yarn, sew on eyes. Embroider a white stitch close to bottom edge. Sew ends of collar together and slide over head onto neck.

Tips:
Legs

Sew on the legs along the seam where the tummy meets the body.

Body
Squash the body lengthways between your hands to give your Bulldog the concertina look.

Head
Try not to be alarmed by the look of the head before folding the nose. You will need to mould the stuffing carefully to get the Bulldog look.

 



BUY THIS BOOK

Excerpted from Knit Your Own Dog, copyright 2011 by Sally Muir & Joanna Osborne, $17.95. Used by permission of Thomas Allen & Son.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.

 

 

 

Comments

Share X
Knitting & Crochet

Knitting pattern: How to knit an English bulldog

Login