When a small piece of grit or sand gets inside a pearl oyster, the shellfish lets out a substance in an attempt to clean itself. But if the grit stays, more and more of the substance is released until finally it hardens and becomes a lustrous pearl. This is the prize that this cheerful knitted pearl fisherman is seeking as he dives into tropical waters.

This is a variation of the basic person pattern in the book Kath Dalmeny’s World of Knitted Toys, which contains patterns for over 50 toys, as listed below. The pearl fisherman pattern calls for:

• 50 g DK in skin color
• 20 g DK in black (for hair)
• 20 g DK in yellow (for sarong)
• and scraps of dark brown, purple, red, and pink

The pattern calls for embroidering on the sarong with simple ‘lazy daisy’ flower stitches, but also suggests using a variegated yarn if you do not want to embroider.

The pattern also uses a pair of 10 mm (3/8 inch) safety eyes, but felt or stitches worked in black yarn would also be appropriate.

The finished doll will be approximately 11 1/2 inches tall.

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