This little brooch is a celebration of the loveliness of red squirrels, officially one of Scotland’s favourite animals (National Trust for Scotland 2020) and definitely one of mine. The tiniest beasties are often the fiddliest to make but this little squirrel is surprisingly straightforward. You knit the squirrel in one piece, from tail tip to nose, and then wet felt it down to a neat miniature of itself. I like knitting animals in gently heathered Shetland yarn, as it makes natural looking fur with a soft, fuzzy bloom.

The squirrel is knitted as a length of I-cord.

SIZE

Finished Length 8.2 cm / 3.25 in

YARN

Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift, jumper (4 ply/fingering) weight, 100% Shetland wool, 105 m / 115 yds per 25g ball.

1 ball

Sample 1: Paprika (261)
Sample 2: Burnt Umber (1190)

OR in 4 ply yarn that knits to the specified gauge and is wet feltable, i.e. 100% wool and not superwash treated.

APPROXIMATE YARDAGE REQUIRED

9 m / 10 yds

TECHNIQUES

I-cord, wet felting, simple short rows.