How to Knit A Duck – Free Duck Knitting Pattern

I always love finding new knitters and crafters for you. There are so many talented fabulous and generous creators out there! And it is so much fun to be able to share their work with you and inspire you to have a go at a new knitting pattern. Today, I welcome Kaz Kew for the “first time” to Red Ted Art, with her wonderful Free Duck Knitting Pattern. It is an adorable little knitting pattern that is versatile – and would also work well as a little Rubber Duck Knitting Pattern!!

Here as a Rubber Duck Knitting Pattern:

Or add the cute little wings dor that special Duck Knitting Pattern finish:

Here as Ducky Knitting Pattern for Spring

Isn’t this the cutest little ducky pattern?

About Kaz Kew

Kaz is a wonderful passionate knitter that I “met” in the Random Acts of Kinding Knitting & Crochet group. A lovely group of (mainly) knitters and (some) crocheters, who love to make things for the general public to find. Isn’t that lovely? Kaz is also active on her own Kaz Kew Blog!

Kaz loves knitting and loves to inspire others to have a go! And today, she very generously let’s me share her Duck Knitting Pattern, with you, lovely Red Ted Art readers! Hurray!

Should you have a go at making this little duck, please DO share any of your photos, we would love to see them!

Material/equipment

Wool/ Yarn

• 50g Chunky /chenille/ faux fur /flutterby type yarn in yellow for Body/head wings (if you are uncertain – use any yarn that requires UK 4mm needles)
• DK 10g orange for beak
• DK Oddment Black for eyes

Needles

• 4mm needles for main piece and wings
• 3mm needles  for beak

Knitting Abbreviations used in this pattern

• k – Knit
• p – Purl
• k2t – Knit 2 together
• p2t – Purl 2 together
• inc – increase (Knit into front and Back(KFB), or your preferred method)
• st – stitches
• ss – stocking stitch
• (–) x? – repeat instruction inside bracket the number of time stated {e,g x2 = twice}
• W+T – wrap and turn, after knitting required number of stitches move yarn to opposite side of work and turn, to work on next row.

Duck Knitting Pattern

Main Piece (Body and Head) starting at the base  

With yellow (chunky) and 4mm needles,

1. Cast on 6st
2. inc in all st 12st
3. p 1 row
4. (inc)x2, k2, (inc)x4, k2, (inc)x2 [20st]
5. p 1 row
6. (inc, k1)x2, k2, (inc,k1)x4, k2,(inc, k1)x2 [28st]
7. p 1 row
8. (inc, k2)x2, k2, (inc,k2)x4, k2,(inc, k2)x2 [36st]
9. p 1 row
10. k12,inc,k2,inc,k4, inc, k2, inc,, k12 [40st]
11. k10 rows 

Lifting the tail. Continuing on the main piece, working short rows, one side at a time.

1. p8, W+T kto end
2. p6, W+T K to end
3. p4, W+T K to end
4. p2, W+T K to end

This completes the first side of short rows.

Cast off 10st, p5, (p2t)x4 p16 [26st]

It should look like this:

Now continue to lift tail on the opposite side.

5. k8, W+T p to end
6. k6, W+T p to end
7. k4, W+T p to end
8. k2, W+T p to end

This completes the lift on both sides.

Cast of 10st, k2t, k11, k2t [14st]

It should now look similar to this:

Head continuing with the  14st

1. p5, (p2t) x2, p5 [12st]
2. (k1 k2t) x4   [8st] 
3. p1 row
4. (inc) x3, k2, (inc) x3 [14st]
5. p1 row
6. (inc) x5, k4, (inc) x5 [24st]
7. ss 5 rows start with p
8. (k2, k2t)x6 [18st]
9. p1 row
10. (k1, k2t)x6 [12st]
11. p1 row
12. k2t x 6   [6st]

Cut yarn leaving a long end to sew seam.
With large eyed needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and bind off.
Sew from bind off stitches to neck and firmly stuff.

Shaping of your Knitted Ducky Body – Makers tip

I find when I stuff round objects (like the head) it is always best to form a ring with forefinger and thumb and place my work inside my hand to stuff.

This way the neck does not stretch out of shape.
You will find the piece will naturally fold in half.

Continue to sew around stopping to allow enough room so that you can stuff.
Make sure the corner of the tail has been stuffed. 
When you are happy with the shape sew up remaining opening.

It should be this shape (minus the beak, this comes next):

You could at this point “stop” and simply add some eyes.. at this point you would have more of a knitted rubber duck. But adding the wings, does give it extra cuteness!

Wings in main colour on 4mm needles

Cast on 12st

1. Purl 1 row [12st]
2. k1row [12st]
3. p2t, p8, p2t [10st]
4. k2t, k6, k2t [8st]
5. p 1 row [8st]
6. k2t, k4, k2t [6st]
7. p1 row
8. k2t, k2, k2t [4st]
9. p1p2t p1 [3st]
10. Cast off 

PLACEMENT I placed mine with long edge at top of body almost level with back seam and starting in line with neck.

Beak in DK orange or mustard

1. Cast on 16
2. k3, k2t, k6 k2t, k3 [14st]
3. p 1 row
4. k3 k2t, k4, k2t, k3 [12st]
5. p2, p2t, k4, p2t, p2 [10st]
6. K2, k2t, k2, k2t, k2 [8st]
7. p 1 row
8. Cast off

It should look like this. Sew row ends together:

Holding cast OFF edge in one hand place your finger inside cast ON end this will form a triangular shape for the beak.
Sew to front of head, when in place, the row end seam should be at centre bottom.

Stuff slightly and close cast off edge.

Eyes are sewn in black dk, oversewn 3 times, I like mine quite close and level with either side of the beak.

And here you have your Knitted Duck Project finished! I hope you have enjoyed this knitting project!

Why not check out some more fabulous Easter Knitting Projects here: