Knitting Tutorial: Shaggy Dog in Mushroom Sweater and Striped Trousers – Free Knitting Pattern

This sweet knitted shaggy dog is dressed for a garden day with a green mushroom sweater, brown striped trousers with suspenders, embroidered sandals, a dotted headband, a straw sun hat, a woven tote with carrot and trowel, and two tiny plant pots. The design uses shaped knitting, looped ears, simple embroidery, and small accessories to match the cozy handmade look in the photo.

 

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

Pattern Overview

This pattern is written in US English knitting terms. The main dog is worked in separate shaped pieces, stuffed firmly, then seamed and dressed. The proportions are designed to copy the photo: a large oval head, shorter rounded body, long floppy shaggy ears, small arms, sturdy legs, soft feet, and removable garden accessories.

• Finished dog height: about 13 in / 33 cm from soles to top of headband.
• Head width: about 5 in / 12.5 cm after stuffing.
• Body height: about 5 in / 12.5 cm before trousers.
• Leg length: about 4 in / 10 cm including feet.
• Ear length: about 4.5 in / 11.5 cm, with looped shaggy texture.
• Skill level: advanced beginner to intermediate, because the pieces are small and shaped.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in warm beige for head, paws, feet, and muzzle.
• Worsted weight yarn in sandy tan or oatmeal for shaggy ears and headband.
• Worsted weight yarn in olive green for the sweater.
• Worsted weight yarn in medium brown and light tan for striped trousers.
• Small amounts of red, white, yellow, dark brown, black, sky blue, gray, orange, leaf green, and soil brown yarn.
• US size 3 / 3.25 mm knitting needles for firm toy fabric.
• US size 2 / 2.75 mm knitting needles for accessories and embroidery bases.
• Polyester fiberfill.
• Two 12 mm blue safety eyes or embroidered eyes.
• Two small tan buttons for trouser front.
• Tapestry needle, stitch markers, removable pins, scissors, and row counter.
• Optional: small amount of wool roving or scrap yarn to add extra fullness inside the ears.

Gauge

Gauge for toy fabric: 24 stitches and 32 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on US 3 needles. The gauge should be tight enough that stuffing does not show. If your fabric is loose, go down one needle size. If your toy is smaller or larger, keep the same stitch counts so the proportions remain correct.

Abbreviations

• BO: bind off.
• CO: cast on.
• k: knit.
• p: purl.
• st/sts: stitch/stitches.
• RS: right side.
• WS: wrong side.
• kfb: knit into the front and back of the same stitch.
• p2tog: purl 2 stitches together.
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
• ssk: slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together.
• M1: make 1 stitch by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting into it.
• St st: stockinette stitch, knit on RS rows and purl on WS rows.
• Garter st: knit every row.

Important Construction Notes

The dog is knitted mostly flat and seamed. This gives the plush a soft handmade appearance like the sample image. Seam with mattress stitch where possible, keeping seams centered at the back or underside. Stuff gradually and firmly, especially the head and feet, so the doll can sit flat on the table.

The face in the image is rounded and vertical, with the nose centered low on the muzzle. The eyes are large and slightly wide-set, placed high enough to give the dog a gentle puppy look. The ears are attached from the side of the head down to the shoulder line, then brushed or looped for the shaggy texture.

Main Dog Head

Use warm beige yarn and US 3 needles. Make 2 matching head panels. The head is a large oval with a narrow lower chin, broad cheek area, and softly rounded crown.

Head Panel, Make 2

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Row 1 RS: k all sts.
3. Row 2 WS: p all sts.
4. Row 3: k1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 12 sts.
5. Row 4: p all sts.
6. Rows 5-14: repeat Rows 3-4 five times. 22 sts.
7. Row 15: k1, kfb, k8, kfb, k2, kfb, k8, kfb, k1. 26 sts.
8. Rows 16-24: work St st, beginning with a purl row.
9. Row 25: k1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 28 sts.
10. Rows 26-36: work St st.
11. Row 37: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 26 sts.
12. Row 38: p all sts.
13. Rows 39-48: repeat Rows 37-38 five times. 16 sts.
14. Row 49: k1, ssk, k10, k2tog, k1. 14 sts.
15. Row 50: p all sts.
16. Row 51: k1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1. 12 sts.
17. Row 52: p all sts.
18. BO, leaving a long tail on one panel for sewing.

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Place the two head panels together with RS facing. Seam around the edges, leaving a 1.5 in opening at the lower back. Turn RS out. Stuff the crown, cheeks, and lower muzzle area firmly. The face should be plump, not flat. Close the opening with mattress stitch.

Muzzle Shaping and Nose Area

The photo shows the face as one beige knitted oval, with the muzzle shaped by embroidery and stuffing rather than a separate snout. Add gentle sculpting before the nose is embroidered.

1. Thread a long strand of beige yarn through a tapestry needle.
2. Enter at the back of the head and come out at the lower center front, about 1.25 in above the chin.
3. Take a tiny stitch upward, then return to the back. Pull gently to create a shallow vertical mouth valley.
4. Repeat 3 times, keeping the pull soft so the muzzle remains rounded.
5. Use dark brown yarn to embroider an oval nose about 0.75 in wide and 0.6 in tall.
6. Satin stitch the nose horizontally until fully covered.
7. With the same yarn, make one straight vertical stitch down from the nose, about 0.7 in long.
8. Add a tiny fork at the bottom with two short diagonal stitches if desired.

Eyes and Eye Whites

The eyes are large, glossy, and blue with white highlights. Safety eyes may be used, but embroidered eyes are softer for a fully knitted toy. Place the eyes before final facial tightening if using safety eyes.

• Place eyes 1.4 in apart, centered on the face.
• The eye line should sit slightly above the midpoint of the head.
• For safety eyes, insert 12 mm blue eyes with black pupils.
• For knitted eyes, make two small blue circles as written below.

Knitted Eye Circles, Make 2

1. With sky blue yarn and US 2 needles, CO 6 sts.
2. Row 1: k all sts.
3. Row 2: p all sts.
4. Row 3: kfb, k4, kfb. 8 sts.
5. Row 4: p all sts.
6. Row 5: k all sts.
7. Row 6: p all sts.
8. Row 7: ssk, k4, k2tog. 6 sts.
9. Row 8: p all sts.
10. BO.

Sew each blue eye circle in place. Embroider a black pupil in the center with satin stitch. Add one white stitch at the upper outer edge of each eye. Work two small white crescent stitches under the blue to copy the bright white lower eye detail in the image.

Body

The body is shorter than the head and slightly pear-shaped. The shoulders are narrow under the sweater, and the lower body is wider to fill the trousers.

Body Front, Make 1

1. With warm beige yarn, CO 14 sts.
2. Rows 1-2: work St st.
3. Row 3: k1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 16 sts.
4. Row 4: p all sts.
5. Rows 5-12: repeat Rows 3-4 four times. 24 sts.
6. Rows 13-28: work St st.
7. Row 29: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 22 sts.
8. Row 30: p all sts.
9. Rows 31-38: repeat Rows 29-30 four times. 14 sts.
10. Rows 39-42: work St st.
11. BO.

Body Back, Make 1

Work the same as the body front. Seam the body front and back together around the sides and shoulders, leaving the bottom open. Stuff firmly but keep the top narrower than the belly. Close the bottom with mattress stitch. Sew the head to the body with the chin resting slightly forward, as shown in the image.

Arms

The arms are small and simple, with beige paws peeking from short green sweater sleeves. Make two arms.

Arm, Make 2

1. With beige yarn, CO 10 sts.
2. Rows 1-8: work St st.
3. Change to olive green yarn.
4. Rows 9-24: work St st.
5. Row 25: k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. 8 sts.
6. Row 26: p all sts.
7. BO, leaving a long tail.

Fold each arm lengthwise with RS together. Seam from wrist to upper sleeve, turn RS out, and stuff lightly. Leave the top flatter so it sits neatly under the sweater shoulder. Sew arms to the sides of the body, angled slightly downward.

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Legs and Feet

The legs in the photo are sturdy and vertical, with rounded beige feet visible below the striped trouser cuffs. The feet are wider than the leg and lightly flattened underneath so the doll can sit or rest evenly.

Leg, Make 2

1. With beige yarn, CO 12 sts.
2. Rows 1-10: work St st.
3. Change to trouser stripe sequence: 2 rows medium brown, 2 rows light tan.
4. Rows 11-36: continue stripe sequence in St st.
5. BO.

Fold each leg with RS together and seam the back. Stuff the beige foot section firmly and the trouser leg moderately. Sew the top of each leg to the lower body, leaving about 0.4 in between legs.

Foot Top Panel, Make 2

1. With beige yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: k all sts.
3. Row 2: p all sts.
4. Row 3: kfb, k6, kfb. 10 sts.
5. Rows 4-8: work St st.
6. Row 9: ssk, k6, k2tog. 8 sts.
7. Row 10: p all sts.
8. BO.

Sew one foot top panel over the front of each beige foot to create the rounded slipper-like shape. Embroider sandal soles with light tan yarn by working a chain of stitches around the lower edge. Add two tiny brown flower stitches and two green leaf stitches on each sandal, copying the decorated shoes in the image.

Shaggy Floppy Ears

The ears are the signature feature. They are long, curly, sandy tan, and very full. Each ear is made with a knitted base and looped fringe. The loops are later cut or left looped, depending on the texture you prefer.

Ear Base, Make 2

1. With sandy tan yarn and US 3 needles, CO 12 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: work garter st.
3. Row 5: k1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 14 sts.
4. Rows 6-18: work St st.
5. Row 19: k1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 16 sts.
6. Rows 20-34: work St st.
7. Row 35: k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 14 sts.
8. Row 36: p all sts.
9. Rows 37-42: repeat Rows 35-36 three times. 8 sts.
10. BO.

Looped Fringe for Each Ear

Cut 70 strands of sandy tan yarn, each 5 in long, for each ear. With a crochet hook or tapestry needle, attach the strands along the outer edges and across the front face of the ear base. Fold each strand in half and pull the ends through the loop to knot it securely.

• Place fringe close together along both sides of each ear.
• Add shorter strands near the top so the headband can sit neatly.
• Trim the lower edge into a rounded curve.
• Gently separate the yarn plies with your fingers for the curly shaggy look.

Sew the ears to the sides of the head. Start the top of each ear just below the eye line and stitch downward toward the shoulder. Keep the outer fringe free, so the ears flare softly like the photo.

Olive Green Mushroom Sweater

The sweater is worked as a fitted garment over the body. It has short sleeves, a straight lower hem, and a mushroom motif across the front. The color is muted olive green, and the front embroidery includes a large red mushroom with white spots and smaller mushrooms beside it.

Sweater Front

1. With olive green yarn and US 3 needles, CO 28 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib across.
3. Rows 5-18: work St st.
4. Row 19: BO 3 sts, k to end. 25 sts.
5. Row 20: BO 3 sts, p to end. 22 sts.
6. Rows 21-28: work St st.
7. Row 29: k6, BO 10 sts for neck, k6.
8. Work left shoulder on 6 sts for 4 rows in St st. BO.
9. Rejoin yarn to right shoulder and work 4 rows in St st. BO.

Sweater Back

1. With olive green yarn, CO 28 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib across.
3. Rows 5-18: work St st.
4. Row 19: BO 3 sts, k to end. 25 sts.
5. Row 20: BO 3 sts, p to end. 22 sts.
6. Rows 21-30: work St st.
7. Row 31: k7, BO 8 sts for back neck, k7.
8. Work each shoulder on 7 sts for 3 rows. BO.

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Sleeves, Make 2

1. With olive green yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1-3: k1, p1 rib across.
3. Rows 4-14: work St st.
4. BO loosely.

Sew shoulder seams. Sew each sleeve into the armhole. Seam the sides and sleeve undersides. Dress the dog before closing any tight areas. The sweater should cover the upper body and stop just above the trouser waistband.

Mushroom Embroidery on Sweater

• For the large center mushroom, embroider a red cap about 0.9 in wide using satin stitch.
• Add a white stem under the cap, about 0.5 in tall.
• Make five small white French knots or duplicate stitches on the red cap.
• Work two small mushrooms to the left and two to the right using red caps and white stems.
• Add tiny green grass stitches and two yellow flower dots between the mushrooms.

Keep the mushroom line centered across the dog’s chest. The large mushroom should sit slightly lower than the smaller mushrooms, matching the playful garden scene in the photo.

Striped Trousers

The trousers are high-waisted, puffy, and vertically striped in brown and tan. The front has suspenders and two buttons. Work the trouser body as two leg panels that are joined at the center.

Trouser Leg Panel, Make 2

Use medium brown and light tan yarn. Carry yarn neatly up the side or cut and weave ends if preferred. The stripe direction is vertical, so each row uses alternating stitches.

1. With US 3 needles and medium brown, CO 18 sts.
2. Row 1 RS: with medium brown k2, with light tan k2, repeat from across, ending with medium brown k2 if needed.
3. Row 2 WS: p the sts in the same colors as they appear.
4. Rows 3-24: repeat Rows 1-2, keeping vertical stripes aligned.
5. Row 25: k1, kfb, work in stripe pattern to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. 20 sts.
6. Row 26: p in stripe pattern.
7. Rows 27-34: work in stripe pattern.
8. BO loosely.

Seam each leg panel into a tube. Slip trousers over the dog’s legs. Sew the inner leg seam and center front rise, leaving enough room around the belly. Add a waistband as written below.

Trouser Waistband

1. With medium brown yarn, CO 42 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib across.
3. BO loosely.

Wrap the waistband around the top of the trousers and sew it in place. Gather the trouser top slightly before attaching if needed. The waistband should sit over the lower edge of the sweater, creating the layered look in the image.

Suspenders, Make 2

1. With medium brown yarn and US 2 needles, CO 4 sts.
2. Work garter st for 48 rows, or until the strap reaches from front waistband, over shoulder, to back waistband.
3. BO.

Sew one suspender to each side of the front waistband. Cross them slightly over the shoulders or run them straight over the sweater, depending on your doll’s fit. Attach them to the back waistband. Sew one small tan button at each front suspender base.

Headband with Red Ladybug Dots

The headband in the photo is oatmeal colored and sits across the crown between the ears. It has small red ladybug-like dots with black centers. The band should be wide enough to show above the dog’s forehead.

Headband

1. With oatmeal yarn and US 2 needles, CO 8 sts.
2. Work garter st for 46 rows, or until the band fits from one ear base over the crown to the other ear base.
3. BO.

Sew the band to the head along the lower edge only, so it looks like a soft knitted accessory. Add five red oval dots spaced across the front. For each dot, make 4 red satin stitches, then add one tiny black stitch at one end. Add a small black center line on each red dot to suggest ladybugs.

Straw Sun Hat with Red Ribbon

The hat rests beside the dog in the photo, not on the head. It is a shallow straw-colored hat with a rounded crown, wide brim, and red ribbon tied into a bow.

Hat Crown

1. With straw tan yarn and US 2 needles, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: k all sts.
3. Row 2: p all sts.
4. Row 3: kfb in each st. 16 sts.
5. Row 4: p all sts.
6. Row 5: k1, kfb, repeat across. 24 sts.
7. Row 6: p all sts.
8. Rows 7-14: work St st.
9. Row 15: k2, k2tog, repeat across. 18 sts.
10. Row 16: p all sts.
11. Break yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull snug, and seam back of crown.

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Hat Brim

1. With straw tan yarn, CO 48 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: work garter st.
3. Row 7: k2, k2tog, repeat across. 36 sts.
4. BO loosely.

Join the brim into a ring and sew it around the base of the crown. Use the yarn tail to tack the brim into a gentle curved oval. With red yarn, embroider a ribbon around the crown base. Knit the bow as written below and sew it to one side.

Red Bow

1. With red yarn and US 2 needles, CO 6 sts.
2. Rows 1-8: work garter st.
3. BO.
4. Wrap red yarn around the center 5 times to pinch the rectangle into a bow.
5. For ties, CO 3 sts and knit 16 rows twice. BO and sew below the bow.

Garden Tote Bag

The tote is a soft woven-looking beige bag with two handles. It sits beside the dog and holds a knitted carrot and a small gray trowel.

Bag Body

1. With beige yarn and US 3 needles, CO 22 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: work garter st.
3. Rows 7-26: work seed stitch as k1, p1 across, then p the knits and k the purls on the next row.
4. Rows 27-32: work garter st.
5. BO.

Fold the rectangle in half with RS facing. Seam the side edges. Turn RS out. Push the bottom corners inward and stitch across each corner to make a flat base. This gives the tote the squared basket shape shown in the image.

Bag Handles, Make 2

1. With beige yarn, CO 4 sts.
2. Work garter st for 34 rows.
3. BO.

Sew one handle to the front and one handle to the back. Curve each handle upward and attach the ends securely about 1 in apart.

Carrot for Tote

Carrot Body

1. With orange yarn and US 2 needles, CO 10 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: work St st.
3. Row 5: k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. 8 sts.
4. Row 6: p all sts.
5. Row 7: k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. 6 sts.
6. Row 8: p all sts.
7. Row 9: k1, ssk, k2tog, k1. 4 sts.
8. Break yarn, thread through sts, pull tight.

Seam the carrot and stuff very lightly. With green yarn, make three leaves by CO 5 sts, BO, and sew them to the carrot top. Place the carrot partly inside the tote with the orange tip visible.

Small Garden Trowel

The trowel has a gray blade and a short handle. It should be slim enough to tuck into the tote.

Trowel Blade

1. With gray yarn and US 2 needles, CO 5 sts.
2. Row 1: k all sts.
3. Row 2: p all sts.
4. Row 3: kfb, k3, kfb. 7 sts.
5. Rows 4-8: work St st.
6. Row 9: ssk, k3, k2tog. 5 sts.
7. Row 10: p all sts.
8. Row 11: ssk, k1, k2tog. 3 sts.
9. BO.

Trowel Handle

1. With brown yarn, CO 4 sts.
2. Work garter st for 12 rows.
3. BO.

Sew the gray blade to the brown handle. Add one black straight stitch down the center of the blade to create a garden-tool detail.

Round Plant Pot with Green Sprout

The upright pot in the image is terracotta brown with dark soil and a few bright green leaves. Make one standing pot.

Pot Body

1. With terracotta yarn and US 2 needles, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: work garter st.
3. Rows 5-14: work St st.
4. Row 15: k2, k2tog, repeat across to last 2 sts, k2. 14 sts.
5. Row 16: p all sts.
6. BO.

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Seam the side to form a small cup. Gather the lower edge tightly. Stuff lightly. For the soil, CO 12 sts with dark brown yarn, work 4 rows St st, BO, and sew the oval into the top.

Sprout Leaves

1. With green yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Row 1: k all sts.
3. Row 2: p all sts.
4. Row 3: ssk, k1, k2tog. 3 sts.
5. BO.

Make 4 leaves. Sew them upright into the soil, placing two leaves higher and two leaves lower so the sprout curls naturally over the pot rim.

Flat Seedling Dish

The second plant piece is a low round dish with dark soil and tiny green sprouts. It sits flat beside the dog’s foot.

Dish Base

1. With beige yarn and US 2 needles, CO 20 sts.
2. Rows 1-5: work garter st.
3. BO.

Join into a shallow ring. With dark brown yarn, CO 14 sts, work 5 rows St st, BO, and sew it inside the ring as soil. Embroider six small green seedlings using two straight stitches for each sprout.

Optional White Flower Pot at Left

The photo includes a real pot of pansies in the background, but if you want the whole scene in knitted form, make a simple off-white garden pot with purple and yellow flowers. Keep it slightly taller than the tote but smaller than the dog.

Simple Pot

1. With light gray or off-white yarn, CO 26 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: garter st.
3. Rows 7-24: St st.
4. Row 25: k2, k2tog, repeat across. 20 sts.
5. BO and seam into a cylinder.

Add a dark soil circle and several green stems. For each flower, use purple yarn to make two lazy daisy stitches and yellow yarn for the center. This optional piece completes the garden-table styling.

Facial Embroidery and Expression

To match the image, keep the dog’s expression calm, curious, and soft. The nose should be dark and rounded. The mouth should be minimal. Do not add a large smile; the photo shows a simple vertical line below the nose.

• Use beige yarn to sculpt shallow cheeks by stitching from the back of the head to the lower eye area and back again.
• Pull gently under each eye to make the eyes sit into the face.
• Add two tiny dark brown eyebrow stitches above the eyes, angled slightly downward toward the center.
• Keep both eyebrows soft and short so the dog looks sweet, not worried.

Assembly Order

1. Knit and stuff the head.
2. Add eye placement, nose, mouth, and eyebrow embroidery.
3. Knit and attach the shaggy ears.
4. Knit, stuff, and seam the body.
5. Sew the head to the body with the face tilted slightly forward.
6. Knit and attach arms and legs.
7. Dress the dog in the sweater and trousers.
8. Add suspenders, buttons, and sandal embroidery.
9. Sew the headband in place between the ears.
10. Knit all accessories and arrange them around the dog.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Use long sewing tails to secure every part firmly. The head should sit low on the body, with the ears falling around the shoulders. Pin the sweater and trousers before sewing any permanent joins so the clothes line up neatly at the waist.

After everything is attached, check the face from the front. Adjust the eye highlights, nose shape, and mouth line if needed. A few tiny stitches can change the expression, so work slowly and stop when the dog looks gentle and balanced.

Care Notes

• Spot clean only with cool water and mild soap.
• Do not machine wash if safety eyes, buttons, or dense embroidery are used.
• Reshape the ears while damp and let the toy air dry flat.
• Keep the straw hat brim flat by drying it on a towel.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The head is larger than the body and rounded at the cheeks.
• The ears are full, shaggy, and attached along the sides of the head.
• The sweater is olive green with one large red mushroom and smaller mushrooms.
• The trousers have vertical brown and tan stripes.
• The suspenders have two small front buttons.
• The sandals have small embroidered leaves and brown floral details.
• The headband has red dotted ladybug-style decorations.
• The tote holds a carrot and gray trowel.
• The hat has a wide straw brim and red bow ribbon.
• The plant pots include dark soil and bright green sprouts.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Store the finished dog away from direct sunlight so the soft beige, olive, red, and brown yarn colors stay fresh. Keep the accessories together in a small cotton bag when not displayed. If the ears flatten, fluff the strands gently with your fingers instead of brushing hard.

For long-term display, place the doll on a dry shelf and support the back with a small cushion. Avoid heavy objects on the hat brim or tote handles. Refresh the shape by lightly steaming from a distance, then patting the knitted pieces into position without pressing them flat.