Introducing …. my very own toy Gromit! I stayed up (too) late Friday night to finish, even though I had an agility trial the next day (which means rising at ungodly early in order to drive two hours to the trial, arriving there by 7 AM). The satisfaction of leaving this sweet little toy dog completed instead of in parts was well worth the delayed bedtime.
Pattern: Border Collie
Designer: Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir
Available: in Knit Your Own Dog (available for $8.49 on Amazon)
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette (leftover Cream, Merlot Heather (I think), plus tiny scraps of Semolina, Edamame, and Ash)
As I mentioned in my review of Knit Your Own Dog, the pattern is made up of a billion tiny pieces, all worked flat. After I seamed and stuffed the first leg, I thought it would be fun to show the bits that go into a toy Border Collie. Right next to the penny is the left rear leg. Above the leg, you can the top of the head. The rest is just a big muddle!
In this photo, the legs and body are all seamed and stuffed. I used pipe cleaners chenille stems to provide structure for the legs. (I learned from making some cool amigurumi last year that this is absolutely necessary.) The ears are still waiting to be sewn on, and the original tail is looking awfully big … I ended up chucking it and making a smaller version than called for in the pattern, to better match my dog. I’m very impressed with how the designers achieved a very dog-like shape. Often knit toys approximate real shapes with blobby shapes and imagination — but this one looks like the real thing!
For the eyes I pulled apart two strands of Edamame and Semolina, and re-plied some of each into a single strand of greeny-gold yarn to match Gromit’s eye color. Simple French knots make surprisingly convincing eyes. I embroidered the nose with satin stitch … I’m still not 100% satisfied, but I have decided to call it done after cutting out the stitches once or twice and starting over. The collar is made out of Ash — again, to match the real Gromit’s awesome collar (a D Dogs Designs original).
Remily Knits 
Hi!
Gromit looks amazing and I am so jealous! I have the same book and am working on the Scottie dog. I cannot for the life of me figure out the “pult” stitch. Could you help me? I’m pretty sure all the dogs had this stitch in them.
Thanks!
Emily, 19
I can try … which part of the stitch description are you having trouble with? Have you ever done Cat Bordhi’s left and right lifted increases? (She has some terminology that will help me explain the PULT to you.)
Have knitted all the parts for English Bulldog, but am having trouble putting it all together especially the head. A chart or more detailed instructions on how to put it all
together would make for a better finished product.
Interesting … I didn’t have any trouble sorting out the Border Collie for making up. Maybe the Bulldog is more complex!
Love it. Great work. I stumbled upon your page while searching for Border Collie knitting pattern. I then proceeded to spend two hours reading about your beautiful dogs.
Awww, thank you! I have been totally delinquent re: posting in the Social Puppy, but I am glad you enjoyed what is there :). Clewe is now 10 months old, and wicked smart (and wicked ridiculous).