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Friday, December 9, 2011

Koala


I like to shop at second-hand stores for small balls of yarn. You can find interesting colors and I never need a big ball so it works fine to buy them as leftovers. The other day I found two unopened packages of Koala safety noses at my local second-hand store. Now, I might make one Koala but I can't see myself making six. I bought both packages anyway because they were only fifty cents.

Now if you really want to make him and you don't have a nose you can comment on here and I will try to scrounge up enough money to send you one. After I find homes for my leftover five noses though, you'll have to find a supplier somewhere else (and no I don't know who that is).

Here is a picture of the leftover noses and my brush. I used my brush to make the koala fluffy. Planet June uses this technique here and describes it really much better than I could. She used a pet brush but my hairbrush worked just fine.


And here is my koala from a few different angles.



Right now my koala is climbing my plant. I decided to tie him on a stem and leave him there just for fun. He would be adorable hung in a backyard tree; though I don't know how long he'd last out in the elements.


Here is the koala pattern:

Use an f hook throughout

Head and body combined:
With grey yarn
sc5 in a circle
Rnd 1: 2sc in each sc around (10)
Rnd 2: *sc1, 2sc in next st* repeat around (15)
Rnd 3: *2sc in next st, sc2* repeat around (20)
Rnd 4: *sc3, 2sc in next st* repeat around (25)
Rnd 5: *2sc in next st, sc4* repeat around (30)
Rnd 6: *sc5, 2sc in next st* repeat around (35)
Rnd 7-11: sc around (35)
Rnd 12: *decrease, sc5* repeat around (30)
Rnd 13: *decrease, sc4* repeat around (25)
Rnd 14: *decrease, sc3* repeat around (20)
Rnd 15: *decrease, sc2* repeat around (15)
Cut two round circles out of felt and make holes in the center of them for the safety eyes. Put on eyes and nose and stuff head.
Rnd 16-18: sc around (15)
Rnd 19: sc twice in each st around (30)
Rnd 20: *sc1, 2sc in next st* repeat around (45)
Rnd 21-27: sc around (45)
Rnd 28: *decrease, sc1* repeat around (30)
Rnd 29: decrease around (15)
Stuff and then decrease until you have only 5 stitches left and seal up hole.

On rounds 28 till the end I recommend you stitch very tight to prevent holes in your work and use Planet June's technique here to make invisible decrease stitches.

Arms (make 2)
Start with black
sc5 in a circle
Rnd 1: 2sc in each st around (10)
Rnd 2: sc around (10)
Switch to grey
Rnd 3-9: sc around (10)

Legs (make 2)
Start with black
sc5 in a circle
Rnd 1: 2sc in each st around (10)
Rnd 2: *sc1, 2sc in next st* repeat around (15)
Rnd 3: *sc2, 2sc in next st* repeat around (20)
Rnd 4: sc around (20)
Rnd 5: *decrease, sc1* repeat 5 times, decrease (13)
Switch to grey
Rnd 6-12: sc around (13)

Ears (make two grey and two white)
sc5 in a circle
Rnd 1: 2sc in each st around (10)
Rnd 2: *sc1, 2sc in next st* repeat around (15)
Rnd 3: *sc2, 2sc in next st* repeat around (20)
Rnd 4: *sc3, 2sc in next st* repeat around (25)
Leave a tail to sew to two halves together

Stomach
Make with white
ch10, turn starting in 2nd ch from hook sc9, ch1, turn, sc9, ch1, turn, sc9, ch1, turn, sc9

Chin
Make with white
ch5, turn starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc4, ch1, turn, sc4

I fluffed up all of the pieces before joining them together and then fluffed them a little more after they were all together. Remember to vary where you decrease and increase in the round for the best look (for ease of writing I put them all in the same place but it does look much better if you don't always start and end the same with the decreases/increases or you get lines).

20 comments:

  1. wooooo...sooo cute...i love your koala.Did you name it anything?I love to name my amigurumies,its kind of gave them a different personality altogether.Thanks for the pattern.

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  2. I just love him! I always wanted to go to Australia and see the real ones. I'll have to settle for this one for now, which isn't too shabby. Thanks for sharing the pattern and happy new year!

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  3. hay...my name is galuh from indonesia
    i like your koala, so cute.
    I think we have the same hobby, so would you like to follow me on my blog (www.deluniq.blogspot.com)
    thank you

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  4. Love your Koala, want to make one too! What size nose did you use? I've found some online but want to make sure i get the size right!
    Thanks.

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  5. Rachel: The package says 22x33mm. I hope that helps. If you don't live enormously far away from Idaho (USA) I could send you one. I still have a couple. Send me an e-mail at melorism@gmail.com if you'd like one.

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  6. Thanks Rachel! Unfortunately i live in Scotland, but i've found some online so now i know the size i can order. Thanks for your help and for sharing your lovely pattern!

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  7. So very sweet Koala! Thank you.

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  8. I would love to make him for one of my sons . have been looking in craft store for noses but can't seem to find any. Where onine would you recommend? Thank you so much for your patterns. I have already made several of your adorable fishes for my boys to help them learn their colors.

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    Replies
    1. I still have a few noses. E-mail me your address and I will send you one. My e-mail is on the side of the blog.

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  10. Thank you for sharing love this gonna make for my son's kindergarten teacher but I think I'll crochet the nose they don't have big noses in the stores around me :/

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  11. Maravillosos sus koalas...gracias por compartir tantas bellezas
    Una amiga desde Buenos Aires Argentina
    Isabel

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  12. I don't suppose you have a nose left? (Gosh, that sounds weird!). I'm in Nevada and my 9 yr old is in love w/ koalas.

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    Replies
    1. Vickie, I do. Email your information and I'll send it your way. melorism@gmail.com

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  13. I am just assuming that for the body you repeated the ball shape for the head. It does not say (make two) but the photo shows it with two peices. I have the head ready to close and am waiting on my eyes and nose from eBay. I guess I will close it up for the body instead.

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    Replies
    1. The head and body are combined so it is one piece. I have the eyes and nose added at round 15 before you start on the rounds for the neck and then on to the body. It would probably work with two round balls though joined together. I hope that helps.

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  15. I see that now, thank you !!! The one I am working on now is looking much better, I love this pattern and am using white fun fur for the ears!!! Awsome koala!

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  16. I live in Denmark can I find the nose on eBay ?
    It is sooo cute 😍

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  17. I'm sure after all this time you've probably run out of noses, but oh my this little guy is adorable and my husband LOVES koalas, so I'm gonna have to find another nose and make one for Christmas!

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