Ruth is on sale for 30% through Monday, June 19th.

This hippo was inspired by the hand dyed yarn from Gnome River Yarns. Soft and squishy, this yarn makes a beautiful toy!

https://www.yarngardenmichigan.com/shop/Gnome-River-Yarns...

Ruth is knit in the round from the bottom up. The arms are knit first and then set aside to be attached later. Next each leg is knit and then joined together to work the body. The arms are then joined before knitting the shoulders, neck and head. Stitches for the muzzle are provisionally worked with waste yarn which is later removed. The live stitches are then picked up and worked in the round to form the muzzle. The ears are knit separately and sewn on and the the tail is worked as an i-cord. The sample hippo has embroidered eyes.

Ruth’s sweater is knit flat from the top down. Stitches are placed on holders for the sleeves which are knit in the round after the body is complete. The pockets are optional, but they are super cute! 

The Pocket Bird body and head are knit in the round and the wings are knit flat.

Yarn
For Ruth - Clever Gnome from Gnome River Yarns, DK weight, 241 yds/224 m. Ruth used about 60 yds/64 m.
For Ruth’s sweater - Gnomelet from Gnome River Yarns, fingering weight, 92 yds/84 m. Ruth’s sweater used about 40 yds/37 m.
For Pocket Bird - 2 yds/2 m fingering weight yarn

Needles
For Ruth - US size 2 (2.75 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge below. You’ll need two sets of double pointed needles (ten total). One set is used for holding stitches and one is used for knitting.
For Ruth’s sweater - US size 2 (2.75 mm) 24” circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge below. You will also need three double pointed needles in the same size for the pockets.
For Pocket Bird - US size 2 (2.75 mm) set of doubled pointed needles.

Hippo Gauge - 7 sts by 9 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly stuffed.
Sweater Gauge - 7 sts by 10 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly blocked.
Finished size - 6.25”/16 cm tall.

Miscellaneous - darning needle for weaving in ends; about 1/2 oz/14 g of wool stuffing (or stuffing of your choice); two 6”/15 cm scraps of yarn to hold stitches for the muzzle and sweater vest pockets; scrap of black fingering weight yarn or embroidery floss for eyes and yellow or orange for the beak and feet on the Pocket Bird.