Knitting & Crochet
How to knit a Labrador retriever
Image excerpted from Knit Your Own Dog by Sally Muir & Joanna Osborne
Knitting & Crochet
How to knit a Labrador retriever
Check out this free knitting pattern for a very cute Labrador retriever from the book, Knit Your Own Dog. Labrador retrievers are one of the most family-friendly dogs, so he will be a great addition to your home.
The Labrador retriever is the world’s most popular dog, loved for their mellow and friendly temperament. They are gentle with children, so gentle that the Labrador can carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it. A really useful dog, Labradors are often used for guiding the blind and for retrieving game. Vladimir Putin has a black Labrador called Koni. Buddy, the Clinton’s chocolate Labrador, was tragically run over before he had time to write his White House memoirs.
You can see a larger photo of the finished craft here.
Labrador
One of the simpler dogs to knit, ours is chocolate but you can choose your own color. For a Golden Labrador you could use Rowan Cashsoft 4ply in Savannah 439.
Measurements
Length: 6in (15cm)
Height to top of head: 5in (13cm)
Materials
- Pair of US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles
- 2 spare US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles
- Pair of US 2 (2-3/4mm) double-pointed knitting needles
- 1-1/8oz (30g) of Rowan Cashsoft 4ply in Bark 432 (ba)
- Small amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Framboise 456 (fr) for collar
- Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 for nose and eyes
- Pipecleaners for legs
Back leg (make 2 the same)
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and ba, cast on 9 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, inc. (9 sts)
Work 11 rows st st.
Row 15: K2tog, inc into next 2 sts, k1, inc into next 2 sts, k2tog. (11 sts)
Row 16 and every alt row: Purl.
Row 17: K2tog, inc, k1, inc, k1, inc, k1, inc, k2tog. (13 sts)
Row 19: K5, inc, k1, inc, k5. (15 sts)
Row 21: K6, inc, k1, inc, k6. (17 sts)
Row 23: K7, inc, k1, inc, k7. (19 sts)
Row 25: K8, inc, k1, inc, k8. (21 sts)
Row 27: K9, inc, k1, inc, k9. (23 sts)
Row 29: K10, inc, k1, inc, k10. (25 sts)
Row 31: Knit.
Bind off.
Front leg (make 2 the same)
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and ba, cast on 9 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, inc. (9 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows once more.
Work 2 rows st st.
Row 9: Inc, k7, inc. (11 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 17: Inc, k9, inc. (13 sts) Work 9 rows st st.
Row 27: Inc, k11, inc. (15 sts) Work 3 rows st st.
Bind off.
Right side of body
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and ba, cast on 8 sts.
Row 1: K8, cast on 8 sts. (16 sts)
Row 2: P15, inc. (17 sts)
Row 3: K17, cast on 5 sts. (22 sts)
Row 4: P21, inc. (23 sts)
Row 5: K23, cast on 11 sts. (34 sts)
Row 6: P33, inc. (35 sts)
Row 7: K35.
Row 8: P34, inc. (36 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 16: P2tog, p34. (35 sts)
Row 17: K33, k2tog. (34 sts)
Row 18: P2tog, p32. (33 sts)
Row 19: K31, k2tog. (32 sts)
Row 20: Bind off 5 sts, p to end. (27 sts)
Row 21: K11 (hold 11 sts on spare needle for right neck), bind off rem 16 sts.
Left side of body
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and ba, cast on 8 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: P8, cast on 8 sts. (16 sts)
Row 3: K15, inc. (17 sts)
Row 4: P17, cast on 5 sts. (22 sts)
Row 5: K21, inc. (23 sts)
Row 6: P23, cast on 11 sts. (34 sts)
Row 7: K33, inc. (35 sts)
Row 8: P35.
Row 9: K34, inc. (36 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Row 17: K2tog, k34. (35 sts)
Row 18: P33, p2tog. (34 sts)
Row 19: K2tog, k32. (33 sts)
Row 20: P31, p2tog. (32 sts)
Row 21: Bind off 5 sts, k to end. (27 sts)
Row 22: P11, (hold 11 sts on spare needle for left neck), bind off rem 16 sts.
Neck and head
Row 1: With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and ba, and with RS facing k11 from spare needle of Right Side of Body then k11 from spare needle of Left Side of Body. (22 sts) Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Inc, k20, inc. (24 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k22, inc. (26 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K20, 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 6 sts on left needle unworked).
Row 8: Working top of head on center 14 sts only, p2tog (first st of p2tog is loop picked up at end of last row), p13, pult.
Row 9: K2tog, k13, pult.
Row 10: P2tog, p13, pult.
Row 11: K2tog, k13, pult.
Row 12: P2tog, p13, pult.
Row 13: K2tog, k to end. (26 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K20, pult.
Row 16: Working top of head on these 14 sts only, p2tog (first st of p2tog is loop picked up at end of last row), p13, pult.
Row 17: K2tog, k13, pult.
Row 18: P2tog, p13, pult.
Row 19: K2tog, k to end. (26 sts)
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: [K1, k2tog] 8 times, k2. (18 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K6, [k2tog] 3 times, k6. (15 sts)
Row 24: Purl.
Row 25: K2tog, k11, k2tog. (13 sts)
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: Bind off 4 sts, k to end. (9 sts)
Row 28: Bind off 4 sts, p to end. (5 sts) Bind off.
Tummy
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and ba, cast on 1 st.
Row 1: Inc. (2 sts)
Row 2: Inc into both sts. (4 sts)
Row 3: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Row 4: Inc, p4, inc. (8 sts)
Row 5: Inc, k6, inc. (10 sts) Work 59 rows st st, until knitting reaches halfway up chest, ending with a p row.
Next row: K2tog, k6, k2tog. (8 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Next row: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Next row: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Work 7 rows st st.
Next row: K2tog twice. (2 sts)
Next row: P2tog and fasten off.
Tail
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) double-pointed knitting needles and ba, cast on 6 sts.
Work in i-cord as folls:
Knit 10 rows.
Next row: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Knit 5 rows.
Next row: K2tog twice. (2 sts)
Knit 1 row.
Next row: K2tog and fasten off.
Ear (make 2 the same)
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and ba, cast on 7 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 6 rows st st.
Row 7: K2tog, k3, k2tog. (5 sts)
Row 8: P2tog, p1, p2tog. (3 sts)
Row 9: K2tog, k1. (2 sts)
Row 10: P2tog and fasten off.
Collar
With US 2 (2-3/4mm) knitting needles and fr, cast on 26 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. Turn right side out, stuff each leg, using pipecleaners for rigidity if necessary. Sew along top of leg, leaving an end to sew leg to body.
Using mattress or whip stitch, sew down center back. Sew cast on row of tummy to V at 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. Using whip stitch, sew legs to body as shown in photograph, with back legs at an angle.
Sew up two sides of head, sew on ears, and catch down the tips with one stitch. Sew on tail as shown in photograph. Using black yarn, embroider the nose using satin stitch and make two French knots for eyes.
Sew ends of collar together and slide over head onto neck.
If legs are floppy, about 3/4in (2cm) down from top edge of leg, sew through leg, body, and opposite leg to make dog more stable.
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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.
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