Big Pink Pig
I 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 Cuddly Bunny, but this guy has it all. He’s goofy and mischievous with a deep well of knowingness.
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
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

- 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)
Shop our wonderful collection of super bulky-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!
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.

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

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

Join for working in the round.

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

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.

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.

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:

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

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.

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.

Use scrap yarn to sew two nostrils into place.

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.

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

Eyes
With a piece of dark scrap yarn, attach two buttons for the pig’s eyes.
Weave in any ends and you’re done!

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Can I knit this without using DPN's. I have never used them before and really don't want to attempt using DPN'S.
Thanks,
Nola
Hi Nola,
You'd have a pretty hard time getting around using double pointed needles for this one. We have a great tutorial if you want to give it a try: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/double-pointed-needles-tutoria/2008/7/25/double-pointed-needles.html Learning how to use double pointed needles will open a world of knitting for you. Go for it!
Thanks for your question!
Whitney
I am planning on making this, but I can't find 20" circular needles! where could I find them? I followed the link given, but I didn't see them.
Thank you,
Evie
Hi Evie,
The US #15, 20-inch circular needles are Skacel's Addi Turbos, and you can find them right here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8-Skacel-Addi-Turbo-Circular-Needles .
Thanks for asking!
Ohhh, cutest pig ever! Love your site…!
This would make a great hat for a baby! Do you have directions to convert this to a hat? Thanks, Kathy
Hi Kathy-
We don't have a hat pattern based on this project but thanks for getting in touch!
To see all of our hat patterns you can go here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/hats-knitting/
Thank you!
Molly
I'm much more comfortable using DPN's. Could I possibly use the same size DPN's for the entire pig?
Hi Emmy,
Sure, you can try! You may have to put the stitches on four needles and knit with the fifth in order to have enough room for all the stitches, but other than that, you should be just fine!
Thanks for asking and good luck!
Whitney
I didn't know where else to post this, so I hope you can get back to me!
I love these stuffed animals that you have created (I just made the octopus for a baby shower and it was a huge hit!). Do you have any plans for creating other animals? I was thinking an elephant similar to this pig or the owl would be adorable, but I have no clue how to create a pattern.
Thanks!
Hi Valerie,
What a sweet idea! We don't have any plans for more big stuffed animals at the moment, but we're always open to ideas, and a big cuddly elephant sounds awesome!
If you feel like casting on asap, there is a really cute stuffed elephant in the book Last Minute Knitted Gifts (https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/635-Stewart-Tabori-Chang-Last-Minute-Knitted-Gifts ), which was written by our own Joelle Hoverson.
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and idea. I've filed it under Great Future Projects!
Whitney
Hi, just want to know if there can be an alternative for the eyes instead of buttons. Is safety eyes gonna work, and if yes what would be the size best 12mm or 10 mm?
If it won’t work what are alternative for the eyes thank you so much
Hi Cathy,
Thank you for the comment! The buttons we used for the eyes are about 2 cm so I would go with the larger ones. They will still be a little smaller but I think it would still be super cute!
Feel free to write us back if you have anymore questions!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
I found an equivalent of 2cm which is 20mm I found a 20mm eyes and 18mm whah would be better? I can’t put a picture here as sample maybe you can check it or see it on the bey thank you!!
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for the response! I would use the 20mm eyes if you want them to be the same proportion as our buttons. The difference between the 18mm and 20mm is very small that I don’t think it would be a significant difference if one is more accessible.
I hope this clarifies things!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
I knit this pattern up a few weeks ago and I had to tell you how easy it was to follow. Thank you so much for giving out this pattern for free! I made him up in a hot pink wool yarn, and embroidered a pair of eyes on since he’s going to be a Christmas gift for a baby. Keep up the good work PurlSoho!
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your kind words! We are delighted that you enjoyed making the Big Pink Pig, he’s a shop favorite! Again, thank you for writing in!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
How many yards of pink yarn do you need for the pig?
Hi Paolina,
Thanks for reaching out! You will need 225 yards of bulky weight yarn for this pig.
Happy knitting!
Julianna