The name “orangutan” means “man” (orang) “of the jungle” (utan), and the faces and personalities of these huge furry apes is so like humans that zoo-keepers and conservationists often grow to make friends with individuals.

This big cuddly knitted orangutan has floppy limbs so it can hang from branches or be picked up by a human friend. To capture the thoughtful and intelligent look of a real orangutan’s face, there are extra features to be knitted such as nostril ridges and eyebrows, to give your orang utan its very own character.

Adapt for a gorilla
Simply by using black yarn for the main pieces, and dark grey for the face, ears, hands and feet, you can use the orang utan pattern to make a cuddly gorilla.

The pattern for the gorilla and orang utan is from the book Kath Dalmeny’s World of Knitted Toys, and the full list of over 50 projects is shown below.

Materials
The orang utan pattern requires 120 g DK ginger mohair (or other smooth yarn such as DK); 40g DK in brown for the face, ears and hands; and scraps of DK in black for the nostrils and mouth.

The pattern recommends substituting non-mohair yarn if you find fluffy yarn difficult to work with or are knitting for an infant.

The pattern also suggests using 14mm (1/2 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