Since I have a real liking for nature’s most peculiar, weird, mysterious or misunderstood underdogs I decided to design some of them for anyone who wants to get to know these natural weirdo’s a little better!

Although the cute and cuddlesome koala looks like a wooly teddy bear, it isn’t a member of the bear family at all. The koala is closely related to the wombat and kangaroo: they are all marsupials, found only in Australia.
A koala is a very picky eater, its’ diet consists solely of eucalyptus leaves, and then only the juiciest and tastiest!
So, after knitting your koala, don’t forget to also make a eucalyptus twig, that way your koala won’t go hungry!

This 13 cm koala was knitted on 2.25 mm double pointed needles (UK 13, US 1) in Scheepjes Mohair Rhythm (685) dark grey and a Lana Grossa Cool Wool Baby (241) light grey base yarn, Lana Grossa Ragazza Voi (07) white and Rowan Chenille (763). The eucalyptus twig was knitted in Lana Grossa Fine Degradé (02) yellow green/pale green and Scheepjes Riverwashed (954) Congo. Pipe cleaners were used for the limbs and twig.
It is an easy to medium project, that requires some in the round and i-cord knitting, intarsia work, transferring and picking up of stitches and short rows. The fringe on the ears is created through loop stitches, which are explained in the pattern.

Enjoy!