The Owl and the Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussycat Knitted Dolls and Storage Bag

Project Overview

The Owl and the Pussycat is a beginner-friendly knitting pattern designed by Ann Franklin that creates a pair of charming knitted dolls inspired by the classic poem. This downloadable PDF pattern includes instructions for crafting two small stuffed toys—an owl and a pussycat—each standing approximately 16 centimeters in height, along with a coordinating pea green boat that doubles as a functional storage bag.

What You Will Make

• Two knitted dolls: an owl character and a pussycat character
• A pea green boat designed as a storage bag with felt lining
• Finished dolls measure about 16 cm in height

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners, making it an excellent introduction to toy construction. The primary stitches used are:

• Garter stitch—the simplest knit stitch, created by knitting every row, providing a textured, reversible fabric
• Stocking stitch—alternating knit and purl rows to create a smooth, classic knitted appearance on the right side
• Short row shaping—a technique that adds dimension and contour to specific areas of the dolls without casting off, allowing for sculptural details

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for DK weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn ideal for creating toys with good stitch definition. The original design was knitted using Hayfield Bonus DK, a 100% acrylic yarn available in 100g balls with 280 meters of yardage. However, any DK weight yarn may be substituted based on availability. The pattern specifies a minimum of 40 grams of DK yarn in Colour A (Mid Brown) for the dolls themselves, with additional yardage needed for the pea green boat storage bag.

Needles and Tension

Two needle sizes are required for this project:

• 3.25mm needles for the Owl and Pussycat dolls, worked to a tension of 26 stitches and 36 rows over 10 square centimeters
• 4mm needles for the pea green boat bag, worked to a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows over 10 square centimeters

The pattern notes that tension is not critical to the success of this project, provided stitches are worked closely enough together to prevent stuffing from showing through the finished toys.

Additional Materials

Beyond yarn and needles, the pea green boat storage bag requires felt for lining, adding both functionality and a professional finish to the accessory piece.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner pattern, The Owl and the Pussycat is accessible to knitters new to toy making. The use of basic stitches and forgiving tension requirements makes this an ideal starter project for learning toy construction fundamentals.