Squooshy Moose provides a little bit of squishable, spherical whimsy wherever he goes.

When worked in worsted-weight yarn, Squooshy Moose stands about 12 inches (30 cm) tall with a body circumference of about 19 inches (48 cm). Choose a finer yarn and smaller needles for a smaller toy.

Sample is shown using three shades of Berroco Ultra Alpaca:
~100g / 215 yards in Buckwheat for the main body
~20g / 45 yards in Pitch Black for the hooves and details
~15g / 35 yards in Steel Cut Oats for the Antlers

This pattern is worked largely in the round and assumes an ability to comfortably work with small-circumference knitting and can be worked using Magic Loop, 2 circular needles, or double pointed needles. However, the 19-inch circumference may be awkward to accommodate on some sets of double pointed needles.

A unique bind-off that combines a picot bind-off with a three-needle bind off is used to create the points on the antlers. A photo-tutorial of this bind-off is provided.

This is a technique-heavy toy well-suited to intermediate and advanced knitters.

In addition to small-circumference knitting, techniques used include:

• Disappearing loop cast on (see second download for photo tutorial)
• Judy’s magic cast on
• Kitchener stitch
• Picking up and knitting stitches
• Picot three-needle bind off (photo tutorial provided)
• Yarn over short rows
• Seaming/sewing

Stitches used:

• Knit
• Purl
• Kfb (knit through front and back loops)
• K2tog (knit two together)
• K3tog (knit three together)
• P2tog (purl 2 together)
• Ssk (modified slip, slip, knit)
• Ssp (slip, slip, purl)
• Yo (yarn over)