In a sandy-coloured uniform to camouflage him in the grasslands, and with binoculars to watch out for poachers, this African park ranger is well-equipped to protect the animals under his care. He also has a knitted wide-brimmed hat to protect his face from the baking sun, and a little knitted satchel, to carry his lunch for a long day out in the bush!

This is a variation of the basic person pattern in the book Kath Dalmeny’s World of Knitted Toys. The pattern calls for:

• 50 g DK in dark brown (skin)
• 70 g DK in sandy brown (jacket, hat, pants)
• 20 g DK in dark grey (feet/boots)
• scraps of DK in mid brown (for satchel)

A pattern for the knitted zebra shown in the picture is also included in the book, as well as other safari animals - a family of lions, a rhinoceros, elephant and warthog. A full contents list for the book is shown below.

The pattern also calls for a pair of 10 mm (3/8 inch) safety eyes, but the eyes can also be worked as stitches.

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