Sweater hem → body. Put the sweater hem around the body: the chain ring (54 st) lies along round 9 of the body, the rounds spreading down; sew the ring to the body all round and let the rest lie free on it.

Head onto the body. Stuff the body firmly. Hold the head's closing point (last round) at the centre of the body's opening (R19) and sew the edge of the opening all round to the head: the seam runs along round 21 of the head (all the way round). Top up the neck with stuffing before closing the seam so the head does not wobble. Press it into the base by about 12 mm.

Sweater collar → body. Put the sweater collar around the body: the chain ring (48 st) lies along round 18 of the body, the rounds spreading up; sew the ring to the body all round and let the rest lie free on it.

Muzzle → head. Centre: in round 19, on the centre front line. Sew around the opening (18 st); the seam covers rounds 16–21 of the head, about 7 st wide. It points forward.

Ear → head (make 2). Centre: between rounds 6 and 7, 7.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Sew around the opening (30 st); the seam covers rounds 1–14 of the head, about 14 st wide. Keep the spoon hollow side forward; the opening lies in a curve following the head, both layers sewn down. It points up and outward.

Cheek → head (make 2). Centre: between rounds 18 and 19, 8 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Sew it flat all round its edge; it covers rounds 17–20 of the head, about 3 st wide.

Front leg with sleeve → body (make 2). Centre: in round 14, 5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Sew around the opening (9 st); the seam covers round 14 of the body, about 3 st wide. It points down.

Hind foot → body (make 2). Centre: in round 5, 7 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left (the one on the toy's left is described; sew the other as its mirror image). Sew around the opening (15 st); the seam covers rounds 3–8 of the body, about 6 st wide. It points outward and forward.

Tail → body. Centre: in round 5, on the centre back line. Sew around the opening (9 st); the seam covers round 5 of the body, about 3 st wide. It points backward.

Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.

Safety eyes with a printed glint 16 mm (on the head): between rounds 16 and 17, 10 st apart (count along round 16: about 5.2 st each side of the centre front line).
Safety nose, oval, 9×6.5 mm (on the muzzle): in round 1, on the centre top line. Colour nose #1c1a1a.
Embroidery in nose thread (on the muzzle), straight stitches through: (in round 1, on the centre bottom line ) → (in round 2, on the centre bottom line ).
Embroidery in nose thread (on the muzzle) (2, symmetric: the toy's left side is described, the right is its mirror image), straight stitches through: (in round 2, on the centre bottom line ) → (between rounds 2 and 3, 1 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 2, 2 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ).

Chihuahua in a Sweater

What you'll need