R1with soft pink: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×6(30)
R62 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(36)
R736 sc(36)
R83 sc, (inc, 5 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(42)
R9–1242 sc(42)
R13(5 sc, dec) ×6(36)
R1436 sc(36)
R15(4 sc, dec) ×6(30)
R162 sc, (dec, 3 sc) ×5, dec, 1 sc(24)
R17(2 sc, dec) ×6(18)
R18(1 sc, dec) ×6(12)
R19dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 4.3 cm at the widest, 3.6 cm long; 19 rounds.
→ Insert the safety eyes now (positions: see “Face”) and fix the backs. Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with raspberry: 4 sc in MR(4)
R2inc ×3, 1 sc(7)
R3–47 sc(7)
R55 sc, dec(6)
R66 sc(6)
R7dec ×3(3)
Of these: top — 2 (left and right); mid — 2 (left and right); low — 2 (left and right). Size before assembly: about 0.7 cm at the widest, 1.8 cm long; 7 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (lightly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Press the piece flat to about 4 mm thick (oval cross-section). Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 3 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside. Bend ≈ 35° around round 4. After stuffing, bend the piece so the inner side of the bend faces up on the finished toy (on the piece: in round 4, 1.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ). It is a slight bend: tilt the piece as you sew it on; optionally tack the inner side with 1–2 stitches drawing rounds 4 and 5 together.

R1with soft pink: 5 sc in MR(5)
R2inc ×2, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc(8)
R38 sc(8)
Size before assembly: about 0.8 cm at the widest, 0.7 cm long; 3 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly only and press it flat to about 4 mm thick.

R1with soft pink: 5 sc in MR(5)
R2inc ×2, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc(8)
R3–48 sc(8)
R5dec ×2, 1 sc, dec, 1 sc(5)
Size before assembly: about 0.8 cm at the widest, 1.3 cm long; 5 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (lightly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Press the piece flat to about 4 mm thick (oval cross-section). Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 5 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with snow white: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2(inc ×2, 1 sc) ×2(10)
R3(1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc) ×2(14)
R4–514 sc(14)
R6(1 sc, dec, 1 sc, dec, 1 sc) ×2(10)
R7(dec ×2, 1 sc) ×2(6)
Size before assembly: about 1.4 cm at the widest, 1.7 cm long; 7 rounds.
→ Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with soft gold: ch 16 and join into a ring with a sl st in the first ch (do not twist); 16 sc, one in each ch of the ring(16)
R216 sc(16)
Size before assembly: about 1.5 cm at the widest (lies flat); 2 rounds. Each piece is two circles (front and back): make 2 circles — 1 as below and 1 plain in soft gold (same rounds, no colour changes).
Fasten off. Hold a front and a plain circle wrong sides together and sc around through both layers: 16 sc. Do not stuff. Leave a long tail (~30 cm) for sewing.

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 6 mm (on the head-body ball): between rounds 11 and 12, 8 st apart (count along round 11: about 4.2 st each side of the centre front line).
Embroidery in plum thread (on the head-body ball), straight stitches through: (between rounds 11 and 12, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 11, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 11, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 11, on the centre front line ) → (in round 11, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 11, 1 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 11 and 12, 2 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).

Axolotl in a Santa Hat Ornament

What you'll need