Knitting Tutorial: Black and White Puppy in Overalls – Free Knitting Pattern

This sweet knitted puppy is designed with a rounded black-and-white head, floppy black ears, shiny safety eyes, embroidered nose and smile, blue overalls, a striped short-sleeve shirt, tiny floral stitches, a red paw-print shoulder bag, matching blue hat, red sneakers, and two small knitted succulent pots. The finished toy has a soft seated shape, chubby paws, and garden-play details just like the image.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Finished Size

• Seated puppy height: about 9.5 in / 24 cm from bottom to top of head, not including flower.
• Head width: about 4.75 in / 12 cm across the cheeks.
• Body height: about 5 in / 13 cm from neck to seated base.
• Hat width: about 5.5 in / 14 cm across the brim.
• Red bag: about 2 in / 5 cm wide.
• Sneakers: about 2.75 in / 7 cm long each.
• Succulent pots: about 2 in / 5 cm tall each.

Skill Level

This pattern is written for an adventurous beginner to intermediate knitter. The puppy is built from simple shaped pieces, mostly in stockinette stitch, with small embroidery and sewing details added at the end. Work slowly, count often, and stuff each piece firmly but gently for the rounded toy shape.

Materials

• Yarn weight: DK/light worsted yarn for the puppy, clothes, hat, bag, shoes, and pots.
• White yarn: main face, muzzle, body paws, arms, feet, and shoe toes.
• Black yarn: face patch, ears, nose, paw embroidery, and mouth detail.
• Light blue yarn: overalls, hat, shirt cuffs, and collar.
• Cream yarn: shirt stripes and hat stripes.
• Red yarn: shoulder bag, bag strap, sneakers, cherries, and tiny berry details.
• Brown yarn: soil in plant pots.
• Terracotta yarn: larger plant pot.
• Beige yarn: smaller plant pot.
• Green yarns: two tones for succulent leaves and tiny bag vine detail.
• Yellow yarn: small flower on the head.
• Embroidery scraps: pink, yellow, green, red, and white for flowers, paw print, and sneaker laces.
• Needles: US 3 / 3.25 mm double-pointed needles or circular needles for small circumference knitting.
• Optional smaller needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm for firmer accessories.
• Safety eyes: two 9 mm glossy black safety eyes, or embroidered eyes if making for a young child.
• Buttons: two small tan buttons, about 8 to 10 mm wide.
• Stuffing: polyester fiberfill.
• Other tools: yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors, pins, row counter, and removable markers.

Gauge

Gauge is important for a firm plush toy. Work in stockinette stitch using the main yarn and US 3 / 3.25 mm needles. Aim for 24 stitches and 34 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm. The fabric should be dense enough that stuffing does not show through.

If your stitches are loose, go down one needle size. If your fabric feels stiff and difficult to shape, go up one needle size. Keep all toy pieces at the same gauge so the head, body, clothing, and accessories fit together neatly.

Abbreviations

• BO: bind off
• CO: cast on
• dec: decrease
• inc: increase
• k: knit
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
• kfb: knit into the front and back of the same stitch
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• rem: remaining
• rep: repeat
• rnd: round
• RS: right side
• ssk: slip, slip, knit
• st/sts: stitch/stitches
• WS: wrong side

Construction Notes

The puppy is knitted in separate pieces and sewn together. The head uses white as the main base, with black colorwork patches added while knitting or stitched over using duplicate stitch. The black ears are separate floppy pieces sewn low on both sides of the head.

The overalls are made as part of the body color shape, then decorated with straps, buttons, and tiny embroidered flowers. The shirt sleeves are striped in blue and cream. The red shoulder bag, hat, shoes, and succulent pots are separate removable-style accessories, although you may sew them in place for display.

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Color Placement Guide

• Face: white base with a large black patch over the puppy’s right eye and upper cheek.
• Left ear: black, floppy, hanging beside the white side of the head.
• Right ear: black, floppy, attached behind the black face patch.
• Muzzle: white, rounded, projecting forward from the lower face.
• Nose: black oval triangle shape centered on the muzzle.
• Shirt: cream and blue horizontal stripes on sleeves and upper chest.
• Overalls: medium blue, rounded belly, shorts legs, bib, straps, and collar edge.
• Bag: red square bag with white paw print and diagonal red strap.
• Hat: medium blue beanie with cream stripes, ribbed brim, and blue pom-pom.
• Shoes: red sneakers with white toe caps, white soles, white laces, and small cherry leaves.

Main Head

Work the head in the round from the top down. Use white yarn for the base. The black face patch is shaped over one side after the head is knitted using duplicate stitch, which gives better control for the curved patch seen in the image.

1. With white yarn, CO 8 sts. Divide over needles and join in the round. Rnd 1: knit all sts.
2. Rnd 2: kfb in each st around. You now have 16 sts.
3. Rnd 3: knit all sts.
4. Rnd 4: k1, kfb; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
5. Rnd 5: knit all sts.
6. Rnd 6: k2, kfb; rep around. You now have 32 sts.
7. Rnd 7: knit all sts.
8. Rnd 8: k3, kfb; rep around. You now have 40 sts.
9. Rnd 9: knit all sts.
10. Rnd 10: k4, kfb; rep around. You now have 48 sts.
11. Rnd 11: knit all sts.
12. Rnd 12: k5, kfb; rep around. You now have 56 sts.
13. Rnd 13: knit all sts.
14. Rnd 14: k6, kfb; rep around. You now have 64 sts.
15. Rnds 15 to 24: knit all sts for a smooth rounded forehead.
16. Rnd 25: k14, kfb, k4, kfb, k28, kfb, k4, kfb, k10. You now have 68 sts.
17. Rnds 26 to 31: knit all sts. This creates the widest cheek section.
18. Rnd 32: k6, k2tog; rep to last 4 sts, k4. You now have 60 sts.
19. Rnd 33: knit all sts.
20. Rnd 34: k5, k2tog; rep to last 4 sts, k4. You now have 52 sts.
21. Rnd 35: knit all sts.
22. Rnd 36: k4, k2tog; rep to last 4 sts, k4. You now have 44 sts.
23. Rnd 37: knit all sts.
24. Rnd 38: k3, k2tog; rep to last 4 sts, k4. You now have 36 sts.
25. Pause and place the safety eyes between Rnds 25 and 26, about 12 sts apart across the front. The black-patch eye should sit inside the future black patch.
26. Stuff the head firmly, shaping the cheeks wide and the lower face slightly narrower.
27. Rnd 39: k2, k2tog; rep around. You now have 27 sts.
28. Rnd 40: k1, k2tog; rep around. You now have 18 sts.
29. Rnd 41: k2tog around. You now have 9 sts.
30. Cut yarn, thread through rem sts, pull closed, and secure.

Black Face Patch

The black patch covers the puppy’s right eye from the top side of the forehead down into the cheek. It should look rounded and slightly irregular, not like a perfect circle. Use duplicate stitch over the white head after the head is stuffed.

1. Thread a yarn needle with black yarn. Begin above the right eye, about 5 rounds above the eye placement.
2. Duplicate stitch 5 sts across on the first row of the patch.
3. Next row below: duplicate stitch 7 sts, centering the increase over the eye.
4. Next row below: duplicate stitch 9 sts, extending 2 sts toward the center of the face.
5. Work 4 rows of 10 duplicate stitches, making sure the eye remains visible in the center of the black area.
6. Work the next row as 9 duplicate stitches.
7. Work the next row as 7 duplicate stitches.
8. Work the lowest cheek row as 5 duplicate stitches.
9. At the outer edge, add 3 extra black duplicate stitches in a staggered line to create the soft angled cheek edge seen in the image.
10. Weave black tails deeply into the head so no knots show on the surface.

Muzzle

The muzzle is white, oval, and sewn onto the lower front of the head. It sits below the eyes and creates the gentle puppy expression.

1. With white yarn, CO 8 sts and work flat.
2. Row 1: purl all sts.
3. Row 2: kfb, k6, kfb. You now have 10 sts.
4. Row 3: purl all sts.
5. Row 4: kfb, k8, kfb. You now have 12 sts.
6. Row 5: purl all sts.
7. Row 6: kfb, k10, kfb. You now have 14 sts.
8. Rows 7 to 13: work in stockinette stitch, purling WS rows and knitting RS rows.
9. Row 14: ssk, k10, k2tog. You now have 12 sts.
10. Row 15: purl all sts.
11. Row 16: ssk, k8, k2tog. You now have 10 sts.
12. Row 17: purl all sts.
13. Row 18: ssk, k6, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
14. BO all sts, leaving a long sewing tail.
15. Gather lightly around the edge, add a thin layer of stuffing, and sew to the lower face from Rnds 27 to 36 of the head.

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Nose and Mouth

The nose is a black rounded triangle placed at the top center of the muzzle. The mouth is a short vertical line with a gentle curved smile, matching the soft expression in the image.

1. Using black yarn, embroider a satin-stitch oval triangle over the upper center of the muzzle, about 6 sts wide and 5 rows tall.
2. Make the top edge slightly rounded and the lower point softly tapered.
3. From the lower center of the nose, stitch one vertical black line down 4 rows.
4. For the smile, stitch a shallow curve 5 sts wide, beginning at the bottom of the vertical line.
5. Add a second tiny curve to the opposite side if desired, but keep the expression simple and calm.

Floppy Ears

Make two black ears. Each ear is rounded at the bottom and narrower at the top. Sew them low on the sides of the head so they hang beside the cheeks.

1. With black yarn, CO 10 sts and work flat.
2. Row 1: purl all sts.
3. Row 2: kfb, k8, kfb. You now have 12 sts.
4. Row 3: purl all sts.
5. Row 4: kfb, k10, kfb. You now have 14 sts.
6. Rows 5 to 22: work in stockinette stitch.
7. Row 23: purl all sts.
8. Row 24: ssk, k10, k2tog. You now have 12 sts.
9. Row 25: purl all sts.
10. Row 26: ssk, k8, k2tog. You now have 10 sts.
11. Row 27: purl all sts.
12. Row 28: ssk, k6, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
13. Row 29: purl all sts.
14. Row 30: ssk, k4, k2tog. You now have 6 sts.
15. BO all sts, leaving a long tail.
16. Make a second ear the same way.
17. Sew the top edge of each ear to the head between Rnds 16 and 24. Angle each ear slightly backward so it flops downward naturally.

Body Base

The body is pear-shaped, with a rounded seated bottom, soft belly, and narrower neck. Work the lower section in blue for the overalls, then continue with the striped shirt upper body.

1. With blue yarn, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: knit all sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in each st around. You now have 24 sts.
4. Rnd 3: knit all sts.
5. Rnd 4: k1, kfb; rep around. You now have 36 sts.
6. Rnd 5: knit all sts.
7. Rnd 6: k2, kfb; rep around. You now have 48 sts.
8. Rnds 7 to 15: knit all sts in blue. This forms the rounded seated bottom and belly.
9. Rnd 16: k10, kfb, k26, kfb, k10. You now have 50 sts.
10. Rnds 17 to 22: knit all sts in blue.
11. Rnd 23: k8, k2tog; rep around. You now have 45 sts.
12. Rnd 24: knit all sts in blue.
13. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 25: knit all sts.
14. Change to blue yarn. Rnd 26: knit all sts.
15. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 27: knit all sts.
16. Change to blue yarn. Rnd 28: knit all sts.
17. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 29: knit all sts.
18. Change to blue yarn. Rnd 30: k7, k2tog; rep around. You now have 40 sts.
19. Rnd 31: knit all sts in blue.
20. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 32: knit all sts.
21. Change to blue yarn. Rnd 33: knit all sts.
22. Rnd 34: k6, k2tog; rep around. You now have 35 sts.
23. Rnd 35: knit all sts in blue.
24. Rnd 36: k5, k2tog; rep around. You now have 30 sts.
25. Stuff the body firmly, keeping the bottom flat enough to sit.
26. Rnd 37: k3, k2tog; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
27. BO all sts. Leave a long tail for sewing the head to the body.

Overall Bib Front

The blue bib is sewn over the striped chest. It rises from the belly to the neckline and is slightly tapered. The front has small embroidered flowers like the image.

1. With blue yarn, CO 14 sts and work flat.
2. Rows 1 to 2: knit all sts for garter stitch lower edge.
3. Row 3: knit all sts.
4. Row 4: purl all sts.
5. Row 5: ssk, k10, k2tog. You now have 12 sts.
6. Row 6: purl all sts.
7. Rows 7 to 12: work in stockinette stitch.
8. Row 13: ssk, k8, k2tog. You now have 10 sts.
9. Row 14: purl all sts.
10. Rows 15 to 18: work in stockinette stitch.
11. Rows 19 to 20: knit all sts for garter top edge.
12. BO all sts, leaving a sewing tail.
13. Sew the lower edge to the blue belly at Rnd 19 of the body and the top edge just below the neck.

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Overall Straps and Buttons

1. Make two straps. With blue yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Work 22 rows in garter stitch, knitting every row.
3. BO each strap, leaving long tails.
4. Sew one end of each strap to the top corners of the bib.
5. Bring each strap over the shoulder at a slight diagonal and sew to the back upper body.
6. Attach one small tan button to each front strap near the top of the bib.
7. For the narrow blue collar look, pick up 24 sts around the neck edge with blue yarn, knit 2 rounds, then BO loosely.

Short Overall Legs

The image shows blue shorts covering the upper thighs, with white puppy feet extending forward. Make two short blue leg cuffs and attach them to the lower body.

1. With blue yarn, CO 24 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1 to 3: k1, p1 rib around.
3. Rnds 4 to 9: knit all sts.
4. Rnd 10: k4, k2tog; rep around. You now have 20 sts.
5. BO all sts loosely.
6. Make a second cuff the same way.
7. Sew each cuff to the lower front of the body, angled forward and slightly outward.

White Feet

The puppy has oversized white oval feet with small black toe marks. They sit in front of the body and help the toy balance.

1. With white yarn, CO 10 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: knit all sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in each st around. You now have 20 sts.
4. Rnd 3: knit all sts.
5. Rnd 4: k4, kfb; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
6. Rnds 5 to 13: knit all sts.
7. Rnd 14: k4, k2tog; rep around. You now have 20 sts.
8. Rnd 15: knit all sts.
9. Rnd 16: k3, k2tog; rep around. You now have 16 sts.
10. Stuff the foot firmly, shaping it into a rounded oval.
11. Rnd 17: k2, k2tog; rep around. You now have 12 sts.
12. Rnd 18: k2tog around. You now have 6 sts.
13. Cut yarn, draw through rem sts, and close.
14. Make a second foot.
15. Using black yarn, embroider three toe lines on the top front of each foot. Each toe line should be 3 rows long and slightly curved.

Arms and Sleeves

The arms have striped short sleeves with white paws at the ends. Make two arms, starting at the paw and changing to the sleeve colors.

1. With white yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: knit all sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in each st around. You now have 16 sts.
4. Rnds 3 to 8: knit all sts.
5. Rnd 9: k2, k2tog; rep around. You now have 12 sts.
6. Stuff the paw lightly.
7. Change to blue yarn. Rnd 10: knit all sts.
8. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 11: knit all sts.
9. Change to blue yarn. Rnd 12: knit all sts.
10. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 13: knit all sts.
11. Change to blue yarn. Rnds 14 to 17: knit all sts.
12. Rnd 18: k2, k2tog; rep around. You now have 9 sts.
13. BO all sts, leaving a long sewing tail.
14. Make a second arm.
15. Use black yarn to embroider two small paw lines on each white paw.
16. Sew the arms to the sides of the upper body, just below the shoulder straps. Angle them downward so the paws rest near the belly.

Blue Hat with Cream Stripes

The hat is shown resting beside the puppy. It is a blue beanie with narrow cream stripes, a ribbed brim, and a fluffy blue pom-pom.

1. With blue yarn, CO 64 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1 to 8: k2, p2 rib around for the folded brim.
3. Rnds 9 to 11: knit all sts in blue.
4. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 12: knit all sts.
5. Change to blue yarn. Rnds 13 to 15: knit all sts.
6. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 16: knit all sts.
7. Change to blue yarn. Rnds 17 to 20: knit all sts.
8. Rnd 21: k6, k2tog; rep around. You now have 56 sts.
9. Rnd 22: knit all sts.
10. Change to cream yarn. Rnd 23: knit all sts.
11. Change to blue yarn. Rnd 24: knit all sts.
12. Rnd 25: k5, k2tog; rep around. You now have 48 sts.
13. Rnd 26: knit all sts.
14. Rnd 27: k4, k2tog; rep around. You now have 40 sts.
15. Rnd 28: knit all sts.
16. Rnd 29: k3, k2tog; rep around. You now have 32 sts.
17. Rnd 30: knit all sts.
18. Rnd 31: k2, k2tog; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
19. Rnd 32: k1, k2tog; rep around. You now have 16 sts.
20. Rnd 33: k2tog around. You now have 8 sts.
21. Cut yarn, thread through rem sts, pull closed, and weave in ends.
22. Make a blue pom-pom about 1.5 in / 4 cm wide and sew securely to the top.

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Yellow Flower for Head

The puppy has a small yellow flower placed near the top of the black patch, slightly off-center. Make one tiny knitted flower and sew it near the right top side of the head.

1. With yellow yarn, CO 25 sts.
2. Row 1: k1, BO 4 sts, k1, BO 4 sts, k1, BO 4 sts, k1, BO 4 sts, k1, BO 4 sts. This creates five small petal loops.
3. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.
4. Coil the petal strip into a flower shape and stitch through the center several times.
5. With a small green yarn strand, make one tiny straight stitch below the flower as a stem.
6. Sew the flower to the head above the black-patch eye, angled slightly toward the ear.

Red Shoulder Bag

The bag is bright red, square, and worn diagonally across the body. It has a white paw-print motif on the lower front. The strap goes from one shoulder to the opposite hip.

Bag Body

1. With red yarn, CO 18 sts and work flat.
2. Rows 1 to 2: knit all sts for a firm bottom edge.
3. Row 3: knit all sts.
4. Row 4: purl all sts.
5. Rows 5 to 22: continue in stockinette stitch.
6. Rows 23 to 24: knit all sts.
7. BO all sts.
8. Make a second matching red rectangle.
9. Place pieces together with wrong sides facing and sew the side and bottom edges. Leave the top open or sew it closed for a solid toy bag.

Bag Strap

1. With red yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Knit every row until the strap measures 12 in / 30 cm.
3. BO all sts.
4. Sew one end to the top left corner of the bag and the other end to the top right corner.
5. Place the strap diagonally over the puppy’s chest, from one shoulder down to the opposite hip.
6. Tack the strap in place at the shoulder and side seam if you want the bag to stay fixed.

Paw Print on Bag

1. With white yarn, embroider one large oval pad near the lower center of the bag. Make it 5 sts wide and 5 rows tall.
2. Above the pad, stitch four small oval toe prints. Each toe is 2 sts wide and 3 rows tall.
3. Keep the paw print centered, leaving a red border around the motif.

Blue Overall Flower Embroidery

The overalls have tiny garden-like embroidered flowers on the bib and shorts. Keep these small so they look delicate, not heavy.

1. On the front bib, embroider three tiny stems using green yarn. Each stem should be 3 to 4 rows tall.
2. Add one pink flower with three small straight stitches at the top of the first stem.
3. Add one yellow flower with four small stitches at the top of the second stem.
4. Add one white or pale purple flower with three stitches at the top of the third stem.
5. On one shorts leg, add a tiny red flower with a green stem near the lower outer side.
6. On the other shorts leg, add two small dots in pink and yellow to echo the garden theme.

Red Sneakers

The red sneakers sit beside the puppy in the image. They have white toe caps, white soles, white laces, and small cherry decorations. Knit two shoes the same way.

Shoe Sole

1. With white yarn, CO 8 sts and work flat.
2. Row 1: knit all sts.
3. Row 2: kfb, k6, kfb. You now have 10 sts.
4. Row 3: knit all sts.
5. Row 4: kfb, k8, kfb. You now have 12 sts.
6. Rows 5 to 18: knit all sts.
7. Row 19: ssk, k8, k2tog. You now have 10 sts.
8. Row 20: knit all sts.
9. Row 21: ssk, k6, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
10. BO all sts.

Shoe Upper

1. With red yarn, pick up and knit 36 sts evenly around the white sole.
2. Rnd 1: purl all sts to create a raised edge.
3. Rnds 2 to 4: knit all sts.
4. Place markers around the front 12 sts for the toe.
5. Rnd 5: knit to toe marker, k2tog 6 times across toe, knit rem sts. You now have 30 sts.
6. Rnd 6: knit all sts.
7. Change to white yarn for toe cap shaping across the front 8 sts only. Knit those 8 front sts in white and all other sts in red.
8. Rnd 7: knit 8 front toe sts in white, knit rem sts in red.
9. Rnd 8: k2tog 4 times across white toe, knit rem sts in red. You now have 26 sts.
10. Rnd 9: knit all sts in red.
11. Rnd 10: purl all sts in red for the shoe opening edge.
12. BO all sts loosely.
13. Make the second shoe the same way.

Shoelaces and Cherries

1. Using white yarn, stitch three diagonal lace bars on each red shoe, crossing from left to right over the top.
2. Add a straight white stitch down the center to suggest tied laces.
3. With red yarn, make two tiny berry knots on the outside of one shoe.
4. With green yarn, stitch two tiny leaves above the berries.
5. Repeat or mirror the cherry detail on the second shoe if desired.

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Small Beige Succulent Pot

The small pot in the image is beige with vertical ribbing, dark soil, and a green succulent. Knit the pot first, then add the soil disk and individual leaves.

Beige Pot

1. With beige yarn, CO 28 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1 to 8: k2, p2 rib around for the textured pot wall.
3. Rnd 9: knit all sts.
4. Rnd 10: k5, k2tog; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
5. Rnd 11: k4, k2tog; rep around. You now have 20 sts.
6. Rnd 12: k3, k2tog; rep around. You now have 16 sts.
7. Stuff very lightly or leave hollow.
8. Rnd 13: k2tog around. You now have 8 sts.
9. Cut yarn, draw through rem sts, and close the bottom.

Soil Disk

1. With brown yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: kfb in each st around. You now have 16 sts.
3. Rnd 2: k1, kfb; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
4. BO all sts.
5. Sew the brown disk inside the top of the beige pot.

Succulent Leaves

1. With pale green yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Row 1: knit all sts.
3. Row 2: kfb, k3, kfb. You now have 7 sts.
4. Rows 3 to 5: work in stockinette stitch.
5. Row 6: ssk, k3, k2tog. You now have 5 sts.
6. Row 7: purl all sts.
7. Row 8: ssk, k1, k2tog. You now have 3 sts.
8. BO all sts.
9. Make 10 leaves for the small succulent.
10. Sew 6 leaves around the outside of the soil disk and 4 leaves closer to the center.

Larger Terracotta Succulent Pot

The larger pot is terracotta brown with a ribbed edge and a fuller pale green succulent. Make it slightly wider than the beige pot.

Terracotta Pot

1. With terracotta yarn, CO 36 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1 to 4: k2, p2 rib around for the upper rim.
3. Rnds 5 to 10: knit all sts.
4. Rnd 11: k4, k2tog; rep around. You now have 30 sts.
5. Rnd 12: knit all sts.
6. Rnd 13: k3, k2tog; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
7. Rnd 14: k2, k2tog; rep around. You now have 18 sts.
8. Stuff lightly.
9. Rnd 15: k1, k2tog; rep around. You now have 12 sts.
10. Rnd 16: k2tog around. You now have 6 sts.
11. Cut yarn, draw through rem sts, and close.

Large Soil Disk

1. With brown yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: kfb in each st around. You now have 16 sts.
3. Rnd 2: k1, kfb; rep around. You now have 24 sts.
4. Rnd 3: k2, kfb; rep around. You now have 32 sts.
5. BO all sts.
6. Sew the disk flat into the top opening of the pot.

Large Succulent Leaves

1. Make 8 large leaves using pale green yarn and the same leaf instructions as the small succulent, but add 2 extra stockinette rows before decreasing.
2. Make 8 medium leaves using the standard leaf instructions.
3. Make 5 small center leaves by CO 4 sts, increasing to 6 sts, knitting 3 rows, then decreasing to 2 sts before binding off.
4. Sew the large leaves around the outside, medium leaves inside them, and small leaves upright in the center.
5. Use a slightly darker green yarn to add one short vein stitch down the center of several leaves.

Seaming the Puppy

Before sewing, pin every part in place. The head should sit slightly forward on the neck so the puppy looks gently tilted and friendly. The feet should point forward, and the body should sit securely without rolling backward.

1. Sew the head to the body using the long body tail. Match the center front of the muzzle with the center front of the bib.
2. Work around the neck twice with firm mattress stitches so the head does not wobble.
3. Sew the arms to the body at the upper sides, just below the shoulder level.
4. Sew the blue leg cuffs to the lower body if not already attached.
5. Sew the white feet partly inside the blue cuffs so they look like the puppy’s feet are coming out of the shorts.
6. Attach the ears after the head is secure so you can adjust their hanging angle.
7. Place the bag strap diagonally across the chest and tack it lightly at the shoulder and hip.
8. Set the shoes and hat beside the puppy as props, or stitch them lightly to a display base if desired.

Facial Placement Details

• Eyes: place between Rnds 25 and 26 of the head, about 12 sts apart.
• Muzzle: center it under the eyes, with its top edge just below the eye line.
• Nose: embroider at the upper center of the muzzle, not too low.
• Mouth: keep the vertical line short and the smile shallow.
• Black patch: let it cover one eye and curve down the cheek.
• Flower: sew it above the patched eye near the upper head edge.

How to Keep the Rounded Toy Shape

Stuff the head more firmly than the ears. The ears should remain soft and floppy. Add small pieces of stuffing gradually, pushing them into the cheeks first, then the forehead, then the back of the head. A smooth head shape gives the puppy its soft handmade look.

The body needs enough stuffing to hold the seated position, but the lower bottom should stay slightly flat. Press the bottom gently on a table before closing the body. This helps the puppy sit upright with the feet placed forward.

• Do not overstuff the muzzle, or it may look pointed instead of rounded.
• Do not overstuff the arms, because the paws should hang softly.
• Stuff each foot firmly at the front toe area and lightly at the back.
• Use pins to check symmetry before sewing any final seam.

Optional Safety Adjustments

If the finished puppy is intended for a child under three years old, embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes. Do not use small buttons, loose bag straps, or removable shoes for young children. Sew all pieces down firmly and check every seam before gifting.

• Replace buttons with embroidered tan circles.
• Sew the bag flat to the body instead of leaving it loose.
• Attach the hat permanently or leave it out for child-safe play.
• Use embroidered shoe details instead of raised knots for cherries.

Finishing the Accessories

The image includes accessories arranged around the puppy, so they are important to the full finished scene. The hat should sit to one side, the red shoes should rest in front, and the potted succulents should frame the puppy like a tiny garden table display.

1. Block the hat lightly by placing it over a small round object until dry.
2. Flatten the shoe soles gently with your fingers so the sneakers sit properly.
3. Shape each succulent leaf outward by pinching the base and curling the tip upward.
4. Trim the pom-pom evenly so it is round and fluffy.
5. Weave all yarn tails into the inside of accessories where they cannot show.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Check the puppy from the front, side, and top before adding the final stitches. The black patch should frame one eye, the ears should hang evenly, and the muzzle should be centered. The overalls should sit high on the belly with the bib visible under the red strap.

• Final face check: confirm both eyes are level before tightening the muzzle seam.
• Ear angle: sew each ear with the top edge slightly curved for a natural flop.
• Bag placement: position the red bag over one hip with the strap crossing the chest.
• Flower detail: secure the yellow flower with several tiny stitches so it stays upright.
• Paw lines: embroider black paw marks last, after the feet and arms are sewn in place.

Care Notes

Spot clean the puppy with cool water and mild soap. Do not soak the toy if it has safety eyes, buttons, or embroidered decorations. Gently press with a towel and let it air dry flat in a shaded place.

• Do not machine wash if the toy has glued or sewn-on buttons.
• Do not tumble dry, because heat may affect stuffing and shape.
• Use a soft lint roller to remove dust from the surface.
• Reshape the hat, ears, and bag while damp if needed.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The head is round, smooth, and firmly stuffed.
• The black face patch covers one eye and curves down the cheek.
• The muzzle is centered and softly oval.
• The ears are black, floppy, and sewn low on each side.
• The blue overalls have straps, buttons, and small flower embroidery.
• The shirt sleeves show clear blue and cream stripes.
• The red shoulder bag has a white paw print.
• The blue hat has cream stripes, ribbing, and a pom-pom.
• The red sneakers have white toes, soles, laces, and cherry details.
• The two succulent pots are finished with brown soil and layered green leaves.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Store the finished puppy away from direct sunlight to protect the blue, red, and black yarn colors. Keep it in a dry place with good air flow. If displaying it on a shelf, gently dust the toy and accessories every few weeks.

For long-term storage, wrap the puppy loosely in acid-free tissue or clean cotton fabric. Do not compress the head, ears, bag, or hat under heavy items. Keep the small shoes and plant pots in a labeled pouch so the full display set stays together.

• Refresh shape: gently squeeze and roll stuffed areas between your palms.
• Protect embroidery: avoid rubbing the face, paw print, and tiny flowers.
• Remove loose fibers: trim only the fuzzy ends that are not part of the knitted texture.
• Preserve accessories: keep the hat, sneakers, and plants dry and lightly shaped.