Big Pink Pig | Purl SohoI know that in person pigs can be… well, a bit much. But in theory, pigs are just amusing. Their pot bellies and stubby snouts, their floppy ears and rosy hue, their lollygagging in the mud and snorting in the dirt, it’s all totally lovable!

Big Pink Pig | Purl SohoBig Cuddly Bunny, but this guy has it all. He’s goofy and mischievous with a deep well of knowingness.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Knit up in Blue Sky’s extra cuddly Bulky, the Big Pink Pig comes together in no time, all ready for hugs and snuggles! – Whitney

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoBigPinkPig. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

  • 5 skeins of Blue Sky’s Bulky, 50% Alpaca and 50% Wool. This color is Blossom. Each skein is 45 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 225 yards required.
  • (Another option: 2 skeins of Cascade’s Magnum, 100% Wool in the color Cotton Candy.)
  • A 20-inch, US 15 (10 mm) circular needles
  • A set of US 15 double pointed needles
  • 2 bags of stuffing
  • 2 buttons (for the eyes), 1 1/4 inches in diameter. I used Riche’s Medium Felt Buttons, color Grey (Or try Ecru, Brown, Pink or Olive!). Other good alternatives would be Dill’s Marbelized Buttons or Large Ridged Buttons.
  • Scrap yarn (for the nostrils). I used Blue Sky’s Bulky, color Grey Wolf.
  • Scrap yarn (to sew on buttons). I used Koigu’s KPM Needlepoint Yarn, color #2405.
  • A jumbo stitch marker and a jumbo removable stitch marker (both optional)

Gauge

10 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Size

15 inches from ground to top of head

38 inches in circumference

PATTERN

Bottom

With the double pointed needles, cast on 8 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place a stitch marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist your stitches.

Round 1: Knit into the front and back (kfb) 8 times. (16 stitches)

Round 2: Purl.

Round 3: *P1, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)

Round 4: Purl.

Round 5: *P2, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (32 stitches)

Round 6: Purl.

Round 7: *P3, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (40 stitches)

Round 8: Purl.

Round 9: *P4, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)

Round 10: Purl.

Round 11: *P5, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (56 stitches)

Switching to the circular needle…

Round 12: Purl.

Round 13: *P13, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (60 stitches)

Purl 6 rounds.

Body

Knit 28 rounds.

Next Round: K12, place a removable stitch marker (or a piece of scrap yarn) on the 12th stitch, knit to end of round.

Knit 8 more rounds.

Next Round: *K8, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (54 stitches)

Knit 2 rounds.

Next Round: *K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)

Knit 2 rounds.

Next Round: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (42 stitches)

Knit 2 rounds.

Next Round: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (36 stitches)

Knit 2 rounds.

Turn the piece inside out and weave in the ends. Then turn it right side out and fill the pig with a bag of stuffing.

Left Ear

Remove the stitch marker, and slip the last 5 stitches you knit onto a double pointed needle.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

With a second double pointed needle, knit the next 5 stitches.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Rearrange these 10 stitches onto three double pointed needles (3 stitches on two and 4 stitches on the third).

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Join for working in the round.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Round 1: *K1, kfb, repeat from * to end of round. (15 stitches)

Round 2-5: Knit.

Round 6: *K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (12 stitches)

Rounds 7 and 8: Knit.

Round 9: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (9 stitches)

Round 10: Knit.

Round 11: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (6 stitches)

Round 12: Knit.

Round 13: *K2tog, repat from * to end of round. (3 stitches)

Cut yarn and sew it through the remaining 3 stitches.

Right Ear

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Orient your pig so that the ear you just made is on the right (as in the above picture). Use the back circular needle to slip 8 stitches from the front needle.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Slip the next 10 stitches (from the needle with 18 stitches) onto three double pointed needles (3 stitches on two and 4 stitches on the third).

With right side facing you, join new yarn and *K1, kfb, repeat from * to end of row. (15 stitches)

Now join for working in the round and work as for Left Ear, starting with Round 2.

Closing

Finish stuffing your pig, making it firm and plump. I didn’t stuff the ears, but I did make sure to have enough left over for the snout!

Slide 8 stitches to one end of the circular needle and the other 8 to the other end.

Cut a piece of the Main Yarn about 24 inches long. Thread it onto a tapestry needle and graft the two sides of the pig’s head together using the Kitchener Stitch.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

As you weave in the tails, sew closed the holes at the base of the ears.

Snout

Starting with the stitch marked by the removable marker and using double pointed needles, you’re going to pick up 18 stitches in a circle. The marked stitch is the bottom right corner of the circle.

I found it helpful to first work out the circle in duplicate stitch with some scrap yarn. My circle is 8 stitches wide and 10 stitches high. Here it is:

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

To start, pick up and knit the ladder of the marked stitch.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Continue to pick the ladders of each stitch that forms your circle, removing the scrap yarn as you go. Add a new needle every 6 stitches and make sure to spin your pig so that what will be the right side of the snout is always facing you.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Now join for working in the round and remove the stitch marker.

Knit 3 rounds.

Purl 1 round.

Next Round: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (12 stitches)

Knit 1 round.

Stuff the snout.

Next Round: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (6 stitches)

Next Round: Repeat last round. (3 stitches)

Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining 3 stitches.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Use scrap yarn to sew two nostrils into place.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Tail

Cast 6 stitches loosely onto the circular needle.

Row 1: Knit into the front, back and then the front again of each stitch. (18 stitches)

Bind off in purl.

Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Use the ends to sew the tail onto the back of your pig.

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho

Eyes

With a piece of dark scrap yarn, attach two buttons for the pig’s eyes.

Weave in any ends and you’re done!

Big Pink Pig | Purl Soho