Christmas Tom Kitten choc orange cover / toy

Christmas Tom Kitten Chocolate Orange Cover or 15cm Toy

What is Being Made

This is a knitted Christmas-themed toy or decorative cover designed by Andrew Lucas, featuring a charming Tom Kitten character. The finished piece measures approximately 15 centimeters and can be used either as a chocolate orange cover or as a standalone stuffed toy. This beginner-friendly knitting project combines colorful sections to create a festive holiday decoration with classic storybook character appeal.

Knitting Techniques Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners, making it an accessible introduction to toy construction. Key techniques include:

• Casting on and binding off: The pattern uses standard cast-on methods and a bind and tie (B and T) technique, which involves threading the yarn end through a tapestry needle and passing it through live stitches on the knitting needle, then drawing up and securing the stitches
• Increases and decreases: The design incorporates increases (inc) worked by knitting into the back of loops between stitches to add width, and decreases using k2tog (knit two stitches together) and skpo (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) to shape the toy
• Color changes: The pattern involves switching between multiple yarn colors to create distinct sections, building the toy's character features and clothing through strategic color placement
• Stuffing integration: The toy is designed to be stuffed with fiberfill, creating a three-dimensional plush form

Stitches Used

This pattern focuses on essential knitting stitches that form the foundation of toy making:

• Stocking stitch (st st): The primary stitch used throughout most of the pattern, created by alternating knit rows and purl rows. This produces a smooth, flat fabric with a characteristic V-pattern on the right side, ideal for creating neat toy surfaces
• Garter stitch (gs): Created by knitting every row, this stitch appears in sections where a textured, ridged finish is desired
• Basic knit and purl: The fundamental stitches that form the basis of all knitting, used individually and in combination throughout the pattern
• Decrease stitches: K2tog and skpo are used to shape the toy and reduce stitch counts as needed
• Make one increase (m1): Created by knitting into the back of the loop between two stitches, this increase method adds single stitches seamlessly

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for 3.25mm knitting needles, which are sized appropriately for the double knitting weight yarn specified. The project uses oddments of double knitting wool in a vibrant palette of ten colors: red, black, brown, white, beige, pink, emerald green, green, yellow, and blue. Using oddments (leftover yarn scraps) makes this an economical project, perfect for stash busting. A small amount of polyester stuffing is required to fill the toy and create its three-dimensional form. A tapestry needle is also needed for binding off and sewing seams.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to toy construction. The techniques required—basic increases, decreases, color changes, and simple shaping—are fundamental skills that beginners can master with practice. The project's manageable size and straightforward construction make it ideal for building confidence in knitting fundamentals.