Koalas are marsupials and so the mother carries her baby in a pouch during its early life. Soon the baby outgrows the pouch and has to cling on hard to its mother’s back as she makes her way through the trees in search of juicy eucalyptus leaves. But it’s a slow search, because koalas don’t move fast, and often stop to nap in the fork of a branch. In fact, koalas can sleep for up to 18 hours a day!

The patterns for both the mother and baby koala are from the book Kath Dalmeny’s World of Knitted Toys, and the full list of over 50 projects is shown below.

The pattern for this baby koala requires about 40g of DK (8 ply) in grey, with a scrap of DK dark brown yarn for the nose, and a scrap of yarn in black for the nostrils, mouth and claws. For extra-fuzzy ears, you can also mix in oddments of lighter coloured yarn or mohair. The baby koala is approximately 19 cm (7 1/2 inches).

The pattern also suggests using 10mm (3/8 inch) toy safety eyes, but felt eyes or black stitches would also be appropriate.

KATH DALMENY’S WORLD OF KNITTED TOYS patterns list

The book contains over 50 patterns for making adorable knitted toys – people and animals from all over the world. Each chapter covers a different habitat, the animals that make their homes there, and one of the people who live there, with accessories to represent their lives or work. The knitting patterns are listed under three categories – Easy; Straightforward; and Challenging, to help knitters choose the project that is right for you. The projects are as follows:

BASIC PERSON PATTERN
(which is then adapted for the people patterns below)

IN THE JUNGLE

• South American Indian
• Spider monkey – mother and baby
• Snake
• Tiger cub
• Gorilla
• Orang utan
• Parrot
• Banana

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

• Australian sheep farmer (complete with corks hanging from his hat!)
• Merino sheep
• Koala bear
• Duck-billed platypus
• Wombat
• Kangaroo and Joey

DOWN ON THE FARM

• Farmer
• Highland bull
• Pigs and piglets
• Cat
• Mallard duck
• Chicken, cockerel and chicks

THE DEEP BLUE SEA

• Pearl fisherman
• Dolphin
• Shark
• Killer whale
• Turtle
• Octopus
• Clownfish

FOREST FRIENDS

• Canadian Mountie
• Horse
• Grizzly bear
• Beaver
• Raccoon
• Chipmunk
• Moose

ON SAFARI

• African Park Ranger
• Zebra
• Lion family – lion, lioness and lion cub
• Rhinoceros
• Elephant
• Warthog

THE SNOWY REGIONS

• Eskimo
• Husky dog
• Fish
• Penguins – Emperor penguins and Adelie penguins – parents and chicks
• Seal
• Walrus
• Polar bear

PATTERN VARIATIONS

• Sea lion
• Panda bear