Making a twiddlemuff - University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Materials

This muff pattern is perfect for using up left-over and odd balls of wool. Different textures of wool are also good for stimulation.

needles: 6.5 mm straight needles or 8 mm circular
beads, zips, ribbons – anything that can be twiddled but which will not break

Directions

Cuff

cast on 40 stitches using 2 strands of double knitting wool (you can also use one strand of chunky wool instead)
work in stocking stitch (knit a line, pearl a line) for 11 inches (28 cm).
Muff body

continue with stocking stitch and use up any oddments of different-textured wool – e.g. chunky, mohair, snuggly, ribbon, chenille
knit until work measures 23 inches (58.5 cm)
cast off.

Decoration and finishing

decorate the muff body with beads, flowers, zips, loops etc. Make sure all embellishments are sewn fast and cannot be pulled off easily
neatly join sides together with pearl side facing you
turn inside out
push the cuff up inside the muff body
neatly sew together the two ends.

Well done and thank you for your support!

Knit a pet twiddlemuff using chunky fluffy wool

Wool used Robin fleece chunky, and Wendy Eider chunky

Needles 5 1/2 mm

Tube or body for all pets

cast on 45 stitches
work in garter stitch throughout
for the inside of the tube work 11 inches
for the outside continue until your work measures 23 inches
you can use odd bits of wool for the inside, and use the colour you wish the pet to be on the outside section
cast off
sew the two long sides together to make a long tube, then push one half up into the outside half (it’s now double thickness)
sew the open ends together

Tail for dog

cast on 16 stitches and knit 5 rows
cast off 1 stitch at each end of next row and every other row until only 2 stitches remain
cast off then fold in half, and sew the 2 sides together and stuff
place at the end of the tweedlemuff and sew on to the top part of the tube to create a tail at the end of the tube

Tail for cat

make the same as above just make it longer than before you start decreasing and perhaps change to another colour before the end to match the colour for the cat’s face

Cat head

using the main colour and UK8, US6 needles cast on 16 stitches
1st row knit one row (18 stitches)
next row K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1 (20 stitches)
repeat last two rows once more (24 stitches)
next row K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1,K1 (26 stitches)
work 13 rows in garter stitch
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (24 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (22 stitches)
next row Repeat last two rows once more (18 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (16 stitches)
next row K1 row
repeat from * to * (26 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (24 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (22 stitches)
repeat last 2 rows once more (18 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (16 stitches)
cast off

Cat face

using a contrast colour (same as tail tip) and same needles
cast on 18 stitches
next row K1, M1, K7, M1, K2, M1, K7, M1, K1 (22 stitches)
next row Purl 1 row
next row K1, K2 together, K7, M1, K2, M1, K7, K2 together, K1 (22 stitches)
next row Purl 1 row
next row Repeat last two rows four times
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (20 stitches)
next row Purl 1 row
next row K1, K2 together, K4, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K4, K2 together, K1 (16 stitches)
next row Purl 1 row
next row K1, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K1 (12 stitches)
next row Purl 1 row
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (10 stitches)
next row Purl 1 row
repeat last two rows three times (4 stitches)
next row K2 together, K2 together (2 stitches)
Cast off

Cat ears – make 2!

The ears are worked in garter stitch and same needles, using main colour

cast on 12 stitches and K2 rows
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (10 stitches)
knit 2 rows
repeat last three rows three more times (4 stitches)
next row K2 together, K2 together (2 stitches)
next row K2 together (1 stitch)
thread yarn through remaining stitch to cast off
embroider the nose and use buttons for the eyes

Make up head

sew side seams of the head and stuff lightly with toy stuffing
sew the face to the front of the head, stuff lightly to give definition as you go, attach eyes to the face securely, and now add more stuffing to the head to fill out.
Embroider the nose in place with black wool and add mouth and whiskers.
sew ears to the top of the head.
Sew head to the front of the body/tube

Dog head

UK7 needles

cast on 14 stitches using mainly furry wool
first row Purl (14 stitches)
next row K1, M1, knit to last 2 stitches, M1, K1 (16 stitches)
next row P1, M1, purl to last 2 stitches, M1, P1 (18 stitches)
repeat last 2 rows twice more
next row K1, M1, knit to last 2 stitches, M1, K1 (28 stitches)
next row Purl row (28 stitches)
repeat last 2 rows twice more (32 stitches)
next row K15, M1, K2, M1, K15 (34 stitches)
next row P16, M1, P2, M1, P16 (36 stitches)
next row K17, M1, K2, M1, K17 (38 stitches)
next row P18, M1, P2, M1, P18 (40 stitches)
next row K19, M1, K2, M1, K19 (42 stitches)
next row P20, M1, P2, M1, P20 (44 stitches)
next row K21, M1, K2, M1, K21 (46 stitches)
purl one row
next row K22, M1, K2, M1, K22 (48 stitches)
work 9 rows in stocking stitch
next row K1, K2 together, K18, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K18, K2
together, K1 (44 stitches)
next row Purl one row
next row K1, K2 together, K16, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K16, K2
together, K1 (40 stitches)
purl one row
next row K1, K2 together, K14, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K14, K2
together, K1 (36 stitches)
next row P1, P2 together, P12, P2 together, P2, P2 together, P12, P2
together, P1 (32 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, K10, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K10, K2
together, K1 (28 stitches)
next row P1, P2 together, P8, P2 together, P2, P2 together, P8, P2
together, P1 (24 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, K6, K2 together, K2, K2 together, K6, K2
together, K1 (20 stitches)
next row P1, P2 together, P4, P2 together, P2, P2 together, P4, P2
together, P1 (16 stitches)
cast off and sew together and stuff

Dog ears – make 2!

cast on 11 stitches using main wool colour and 4.5mm, Uk7 knitting needles
start with a knit row and work 6 rows in stocking stitch
next row K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1 (13 stitches)
three rows in stocking stitch
next row K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1 (15 stitches)
work 9 rows in stocking stitch
next row K1, K2 together, K1 to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (13 stitches)
purl one row
repeat last 2 rows twice more (9 stitches)
cast off

Dog ear linings – make 2!

I didn’t do linings when using furry wool. Use a different colour shade for the lining

cast on 9 stitches using UK7 needles
start with a knit row and complete 4 rows
next row K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1 (11 stitches)
work 3 rows in stocking stitch
next row K1, M1, knit to last stitch, M1, K1 (13 stitches)
work 7 rows
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (11 stitches)
next row P1, P2 together, Purl to last 3 stitches, P2 together, P1 (9 stitches)
next row K1, K2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 together, K1 (7 stitches)
Cast off

Make up head

sew black buttons on the face for the eyes
sew the head together and stuff. Embroider the nose in place
sew the ears together, pin in place first to check position
embroider the mouth under the nose using straight stitches
firmly sew the head to the body

How to make a tiny twiddle

For fiddlers, twiddlers and anyone who needs a special friend. A Tiny Twiddle can be made in an evening and loved forever.

Equipment

• 4mm knitting needles
• Small amount of DK yarn
• Black yarn for eyes and nose
• Sewing needle

Instructions

Head and Body

• cast on 12 stitches
• knit 12 rows
• knit 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, bring yarn forward, knit to last 5 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, bring yarn forward and knit to end of row (making simple buttonholes)
• knit 1 row (to finish buttonhole structures)
• knit 12 rows- legs next

Legs

• working on first 6 stitches only, slip remaining 6 stitches onto a stitch holder
• knit 6 rows
• increase into every other stitch (9 stitches)
• knit 5 rows
• to finish legs break yarn and sew through loops to make feet
• repeat with remaining 6 stitches to make other leg

Arms

• cast on 24 stitches
• knit 6 rows
• cast off

Image of knitting example of tiny twiddle

To make up

• sew arms along long seam using whip stitch and put to one side
• sew legs up to body (as shown in bottom leg above – this one piece makes the head, body and legs)
• sew body (seam is at back) up to buttonholes
• thread arms through the buttonholes and sew ends together
• secure arms in place by stitching an arm onto each buttonhole
• lightly stuff body (a plump tummy looks fab!) – leave legs unstuffed
• continue sewing up to top of head and stuff lightly
• sew along top of head, making ears by sewing triangles in corners