Knitting pattern: How to knit an English bulldog

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

Abbreviations
See page 172.

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.

See a more detailed image of the back legs here.

Page 1 of 3 - Find out how to knit the bulldog's body on page 2

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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.