Koala Knitting Pattern from Knitted Forest Friends

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We have a lovely little taster project from the adorable knitting book – Knitted Forest Friends by Sarah Keen. The book is part of a series of adorable knitted animal friends, which also includes Knitted Safari Friends and Knitted Farm Friends.. so if you enjoy today’s taster knitting pattern, this cutest of cute Free Koala Knitting Pattern, then do check out all the lovely titles by Sarah Keen! SOOOO cute! You will have so much fun making this Koala Stuffie!

Koala Knitting Pattern

Please note: this project has been reproduced with permission from the publisher and is not allowed to be republished in any way, without their consent. It is for personal use only.

Also note: affiliate links have been added to this post – should you choose to purchase via these, I will earn a small commission that goes towards the upkeep of this site!

Knitted Forest Friends by Sarah Keen

Knitted Forest Friends knitting book by Sarah Keen

If you love to knit and love to knit “cute things”, than this set of books by Sarah Keen are a real must for you to check out! Today, I got to take a peak at the wonderful Knitted Forest Friends, packed with adorable creatures from forests all over the world. Whether you love a there deers and woodpeckers of Europe of the Kiwi and Koalas from Australia, this book, is packed with 20 adorable knitted friends that are irresistible to make! The only problem? Once you have made one, you will wan to make them all…

Knitted Forest Friends by Sarah Keen, GMC Publications, RRP £16.99, available online and from all good bookshops.

And to entice you along the way, I have a special offer code for you for a further 20% off.

You can buy Knitted Forest Friends from Gifts to Me for only £13.50 (+P&P)! Usual RRP £16.99

Visit giftstome.co.uk and use the offer code R6086

Offer ends 18th August 2026

Supplies to make your little Koala:

Tension

26 sts x 34 rows measure 4in (10cm) square over st-st using 3.25mm needles and DK yarn before stuffing. 

Finished Koala Size

Koala stands 7½in (19cm) tall 

Knitting Abbreviations used

  • K – knit
  • M – make 1 (increase) – Make a stitch by picking up the horizontal loop between the needles and placing it onto the left-hand needle. Now knit into the back of it to twist it on a knit row, or purl into the back of it on a purl row.
  • Kfb – increase – Make a stitch on a knit row by knitting into the front then back of the next stitch. To do this, simply knit into the next stitch but do not slip it off. Take the point of the right-hand needle around and knit again into the back of the stitch before removing the loop from the left-hand needle. You now have made two stitches out of one.
  • St-st – Stocking Stitch – knitting on the right side and
  • purling on the wrong side
  • g-st – Garter stitch knitting every row
  • K2tog – Knit 2 together
  • K3tog – Knit 3 together
  • Sts – stitches

How to Knit a Koala Doll

by Sarah Keen

how to knit a koala
how to knit a kola doll
koala knitting pattern

Koala Body 

Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 36 sts. 

Row 1: Purl. 
Row 2: K1, (k8, m1, k1, m1, k8) twice, k1 (40 sts). 
Rows 3 to 9: Work 7 rows in st-st. 
Rows 10 and 11: Work 2 rows in g-st to mark waist. 

Join on yarn B and second ball of yarn A and work in intarsia, twisting yarn when changing colours to avoid a hole. 

Row 12: Yarn A-k14, yarn B-k12, yarn A (second ball)-k14. 
Row 13: Yarn A-p14, yarn B-p12, yarn A-p14. 
Rows 14 to 17: Rep rows 12 and 13, twice more. 
Row 18: Yarn A-k15, yarn B-k10, yarn A-k15. 
Row 19: Yarn A-p15, yarn B-p10, yarn A-p15. 
Row 20: Yarn A-k9, k3tog, k4, yarn B-k8, Yarn A-k4, k3tog, k9 (36 sts). 
Row 21: Yarn A-p14, yarn B-p8, yarn A-p14. 
Row 22: Yarn A-k8, k3tog, k4, yarn B-k6, Yarn A-k4, k3tog, k8 (32 sts). 
Row 23: Yarn A-p14, yarn B-p4, yarn A-p14. 

Cont in yarn A and dec: 

Row 24: K1, (k6, k3tog, k6) twice, k1 (28 sts). 
Row 25: Purl. 

Cast off. 

Koala’s HEAD 

Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 28 sts. 

Row 1: Purl. 
Row 2: K3, (m1, k1) 10 times, k3, (m1, k1) 10 times, k2 (48 sts). 
Rows 3 to 19: Work 17 rows in st-st.
Row 20: K4, (k2tog, k1) 6 times, k5, (k2tog, k1) 6 times, k3   (36 sts). 
Row 21: Purl. 
Row 22: K4, (k2tog) 6 times, k4, (k2tog) 6 times, k4 (24 sts). 
Row 23: Purl. 

Cast off. 

FEET AND LEGS (make 2) 

Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 15 sts. 

Row 1: Purl. 
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (30 sts). 
Rows 3 to 9: Work 7 rows in st-st. 
Row 10: K7, (k2tog) 8 times, k7 (22 sts). 
Row 11: Purl. 
Row 12: K5, (k2tog) 6 times, k5 (16 sts). 
Rows 13 to 19: Work 7 rows in st-st. 

Cast off. 

Paws AND FOREARMS (make 2) 

Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 8 sts. 

Paws AND FOREARMS (make 2) 

Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 8 sts. 

Row 1 and foll alt row: Purl. 
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (16 sts). 
Row 3: Purl
Row 4: (Kfb, k3) to end (20 sts). 
Rows 5 to 9: Work 5 rows in st-st. 
Row 10: (K2tog, k2) to end  (15 sts). 
Rows 11 to 23: Work 13 rows in st-st. 
Row 24: (K2tog, k1) to end (10 sts). 

Break yarn, thread through sts on needle and leave loose. 

TROUSERS (make 2 pieces) 

First leg 

Using the long tail method and yarn C, cast on 12 sts and beg in g-st. 

Rows 1 and 2: Work 2 rows in g-st. 
Rows 3 and 4: K 1 row then p 1 row. 

Break yarn and set aside. 

Second leg 

Work as for first leg but do not break yarn. 

Join legs 

Row 5: Beg with second leg and k10, k2tog, turn, using the knitting-on method cast on 5 sts, turn, then with the same yarn continue across first leg and k2tog, k to end (27 sts). 
Row 6 and foll 2 alt rows: Purl. 
Row 7: K2, m1, k23, m1, k2 (29 sts). 
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K12, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k12 (27 sts). 
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K10, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k10 (25 sts). 
Rows 12 to 16: Work 5 rows   in st-st. 
Rows 17 to 19: Work 3 rows in g-st, ending with a RS row. 

Cast off in g-st. 

BRACES (make 2) 

Using the long tail method and yarn D, cast on 32 sts. 

Row 1: Knit. 

Cast off kwise. 

NOSE 

Using the long tail method and yarn E, cast on 5 sts and work in g-st. 

Row 1: Kfb, k3, kfb (7 sts). 
Rows 2 to 11: Work 10 rows in g-st. 
Row 12: K2tog, k3, k2tog (5 sts). 
Row 13: K2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts). 

Cast off. 

EARS (make 4 pieces) 

Using the long tail method and yarn B, cast on 24 sts. 

Row 1: Purl. 
Row 2: k5, (k2tog, k4) 3 times, k1 (21 sts). 
Row 3: Change to yarn A and p 1 row. 
Row 4: K2, (k2tog, k3) 3 times, k2tog, k2 (17 sts). 
Row 5 and foll alt row: Purl. 
Row 6: K2tog, (k1, k2tog) to end (11 sts). 
Row 7: Purl.
Row 8: K2tog, (k1, k2tog) to end (7 sts). 

Break yarn and thread through sts on needle, pull tight and secure by threading yarn a second time through sts. 

Making up 

how to knit a koala

Note: Sew up all row-end seams on right side using mattress stitch one stitch in from the edge, unless otherwise stated; a one-stitch seam allowance has been allowed for this. 

Body 

Sew up side edges of body and with this seam at centre back, oversew cast-on stitches. Stuff body leaving neck open. 

Head 

Sew up side edges of head and with this seam at centre back, sew across cast-off stitches. Stuff, then pin and sew head to body by making a horizontal stitch over one stitch from head, then a horizontal stitch over one stitch from body and do this alternately all the way round. 

Feet and legs 

Fold cast-on stitches of feet in half and oversew. Sew up side edges of legs and stuff feet and legs. Pin legs to body leaving a ¾in (2cm) gap at crotch and sew in place. 

Paws and forearms 

Gather round cast-on stitches of forearms, pull tight and secure. Sew up side edges of forearms and stuff. Pull stitches on a thread tight and secure. Sew forearms to Koala at each side. 

Trousers, braces and buttons 

Place two pieces of trousers together matching all edges and sew up inside leg seams and across crotch. Sew up side seams and place trousers on Koala. Sew cast-off stitches of waist of trousers to row above waist of Koala using backstitch. Sew ends of braces to top edge of trousers at front, take straps over shoulders, cross over and sew to back of trousers. Add two buttons to front of trousers. 

Nose 

Place nose on head and pin and sew nose to head using backstitch around outside edge leaving a gap. Stuff with a little stuffing using tweezers or tip of scissors, then sew up gap. 

Ears 

Place two sides of each ear together, right sides outside and oversew around cast-on stitches. Position ears and pin and sew ears to head. 

Features 

Mark position of eyes with two pins and embroider eyes in black making a vertical chain stitch for each eye, then a second chain stitch on top of first. Embroider eyebrows in black using straight stitches (see page 155 for how to begin and fasten off invisibly for the embroidery). 

cute knitted animal friends

If you enjoyed making this wonderful Koala, why not check out the rest of his knitted friends? Knitted Forest Friends by Sarah Keen, GMC Publications, RRP £16.99, available online and from all good bookshops.

Knitted Forest Friends knitting book