Knitting Tutorial: Patchwork Garden Puppy in Beret and Floral Cardigan – Free Knitting Pattern.

This charming knitted garden puppy is made with a soft cream body, floppy patchwork ears, a colorful beret, a blue-and-cream floral cardigan, textured blue pants, little sandals, a crossbody garden bag, a tiny watering can, and a potted sunflower. The finished toy is designed as a seated keepsake with embroidered details, button accents, and cheerful garden colors.

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

Pattern Information

• Skill level: Intermediate confident beginner. You should know knitting in the round, increasing, decreasing, picking up stitches, simple cables, seaming, embroidery, and basic toy stuffing.
• Finished size: About 12 in tall seated, measured from the sandal soles to the top of the beret.
• Main construction: The puppy body, head, arms, legs, ears, clothing, bag, flowerpot, sunflower, and watering can are knitted separately and sewn together.
• Needles: US 2 / 2.75 mm double-pointed needles or magic-loop circular needle for toy pieces; US 3 / 3.25 mm needles for cardigan and pants if you want slightly softer fabric.
• Gauge: 7 sts and 10 rnds = 1 in in stockinette using toy yarn and smaller needles. Gauge must be firm so stuffing does not show.

Yarn Colors

• Cream: face, muzzle, body, arms, feet, toe divisions.
• Medium blue: cardigan yoke, cardigan ribbing, bag, sandal straps, beret brim, small pants accents.
• Denim blue speckled or marled yarn: pants.
• Green: beret crown, one ear base, leaf embroidery, sunflower stem.
• Purple: second ear patch area.
• Rust red: face patch, ear dots, beret dots, small flowers.
• Golden yellow: beret dots, sunflower petals, flower centers.
• Brown: sunflower center, small buttons, sandal soles.
• Black: nose, mouth, eye outlining.
• White: eye highlights and tiny flower accents.
• Gray: watering can.
• Terracotta orange: flowerpot.

Tools and Notions

• Polyester fiberfill stuffing.
• Two glossy black safety eyes, 12 mm, or black shank buttons.
• Four tiny wooden buttons, 8 mm, for the cardigan front.
• Two tiny buttons or embroidered circles for the bag flap.
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch markers.
• Waste yarn.
• Embroidery needle.
• Small amount of craft wire for sunflower stem and watering can handle, optional.
• Cardboard or plastic circle, 1 1/4 in wide, for firm flowerpot base, optional.

Abbreviations

• BO: bind off.
• CO: cast on.
• dec: decrease.
• inc: increase.
• k: knit.
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
• kfb: knit front and back of same stitch.
• p: purl.
• pm: place marker.
• rnd: round.
• RS: right side.
• sl: slip stitch purlwise unless noted.
• ssk: slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together.
• st or sts: stitch or stitches.
• WS: wrong side.
• yo: yarn over.

Important Knitting Notes

Use a firm gauge for the puppy pieces. The photographed toy has dense, tidy stitches and a rounded plush shape, so the fabric should not be loose. Stuff each piece gradually while shaping it with your fingers.

The puppy sits naturally because the legs are made wider at the thighs and flattened at the sandal soles. The head is larger than the body, giving the toy a friendly handmade character. Keep the face centered before sewing the ears and beret.

• Seaming style: Use mattress stitch for visible side seams and whipstitch for hidden attachment seams.
• Stuffing style: Stuff firmly in the head and muzzle, medium-firm in the body, lightly in arms, ears, and clothing pieces.
• Embroidery style: Use small duplicate-stitch flowers and lazy-daisy leaves to match the garden look.

Finished Proportions

• Head: about 3 1/2 in tall and 3 1/4 in wide.
• Body: about 4 in tall from shoulder to lower hip.
• Arms: about 3 1/4 in long.
• Legs: about 3 1/2 in long including feet.
• Ears: about 3 1/2 in long, soft, floppy, and patch-colored.
• Beret: wide and rounded, sitting low across the forehead with a blue brim.
• Cardigan: short-sleeved, blue yoke, cream textured front, blue ribbed hem, and four buttons.

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Puppy Head

The head is knitted in cream with intarsia-style color patches added by duplicate stitch after knitting. This gives better control for the red and brown patches around the eyes.

1. With cream yarn and smaller needles, CO 8 sts. Divide over needles and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 8 sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: k all sts.
5. Rnd 4: repeat k1, kfb around. 24 sts.
6. Rnd 5: k all sts.
7. Rnd 6: repeat k2, kfb around. 32 sts.
8. Rnd 7: k all sts.
9. Rnd 8: repeat k3, kfb around. 40 sts.
10. Rnd 9: k all sts.
11. Rnd 10: repeat k4, kfb around. 48 sts.
12. Rnd 11: k all sts.
13. Rnd 12: repeat k5, kfb around. 56 sts.
14. Rnds 13-25: k all sts for 13 rnds.
15. Rnd 26: repeat k5, k2tog around. 48 sts.
16. Rnd 27: k all sts.
17. Rnd 28: repeat k4, k2tog around. 40 sts.
18. Rnd 29: k all sts.
19. Rnd 30: repeat k3, k2tog around. 32 sts.
20. Pause and insert safety eyes between Rnds 17 and 18, spacing them 12 sts apart. The eyes should sit high and wide.
21. Rnd 31: repeat k2, k2tog around. 24 sts.
22. Stuff the head firmly, shaping the cheeks round and the forehead smooth.
23. Rnd 32: repeat k1, k2tog around. 16 sts.
24. Rnd 33: k2tog around. 8 sts.
25. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and secure.

Face Patches

The image shows a rust-red patch around the puppy’s left eye and a warm brown patch beside the right eye. These patches are best added with duplicate stitch so they follow the knitted texture.

• Left red eye patch: With rust red yarn, duplicate stitch an oval about 8 sts wide and 10 rows tall around the left eye. Keep the patch slightly pointed toward the forehead.
• Right brown patch: With warm brown yarn, duplicate stitch a vertical patch about 6 sts wide and 11 rows tall from the upper forehead down beside the right eye.
• Eye rings: With cream or white yarn, make a loose embroidered ring around each safety eye. Add one tiny white highlight stitch at the upper outer edge.
• Black eye outline: Use one strand of black yarn to backstitch lightly around the lower half of each eye.

Muzzle

The muzzle is oval, raised, and cream-colored. It sits low on the face and creates the soft puppy expression seen in the image.

1. With cream yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 8 sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: repeat k1, kfb around. 24 sts.
5. Rnds 4-8: k all sts.
6. Rnd 9: repeat k1, k2tog around. 16 sts.
7. Stuff lightly. Do not overstuff, because the muzzle should be rounded but not bulky.
8. Rnd 10: k2tog around. 8 sts.
9. Cut yarn, thread through sts, and close.
10. Sew the muzzle to the front lower center of the head, beginning just below the eyes and ending above the chin.

Nose and Mouth

• With black yarn, embroider a rounded triangular nose across the top center of the muzzle. Cover an area about 7 sts wide and 5 rows tall.
• Work satin stitches from the upper edge to the lower point until the nose looks full and smooth.
• Make one straight vertical black stitch from the nose point down 5 rows.
• Embroider two gentle curved mouth lines from the base of the vertical stitch, each curve about 5 sts wide.

Body

The body is cream and hidden partly by the cardigan and pants. It is pear-shaped, narrower at the neck and fuller at the seated hip.

1. With cream yarn, CO 12 sts. Divide and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 12 sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in every st around. 24 sts.
4. Rnd 3: k all sts.
5. Rnd 4: repeat k3, kfb around. 30 sts.
6. Rnd 5: k all sts.
7. Rnd 6: repeat k4, kfb around. 36 sts.
8. Rnd 7: k all sts.
9. Rnd 8: repeat k5, kfb around. 42 sts.
10. Rnds 9-24: k all sts.
11. Rnd 25: repeat k5, k2tog around. 36 sts.
12. Rnds 26-29: k all sts.
13. Rnd 30: repeat k4, k2tog around. 30 sts.
14. Rnd 31: k all sts.
15. Rnd 32: repeat k3, k2tog around. 24 sts.
16. Stuff firmly at the lower body and medium-firm at the shoulder area.
17. Rnd 33: repeat k2, k2tog around. 18 sts.
18. BO, leaving a long tail for sewing the head to the body.

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Arms

The arms are cream with blue knitted cuffs. They hang down at the sides, slightly forward, matching the relaxed seated pose.

1. With cream yarn, CO 10 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 10 sts.
3. Rnd 2: repeat k1, kfb around. 15 sts.
4. Rnds 3-8: k all sts.
5. Rnd 9: k5, kfb, k4, kfb, k4. 17 sts.
6. Rnds 10-23: k all sts.
7. Change to medium blue for the cuff.
8. Rnds 24-27: repeat k1, p1 around for ribbing.
9. Change back to cream.
10. Rnds 28-32: k all sts.
11. Rnd 33: repeat k1, k2tog to last 2 sts, k2. 12 sts.
12. Stuff lightly, keeping the lower paw rounded.
13. Rnd 34: k2tog around. 6 sts.
14. Cut yarn, thread through sts, pull closed, and secure.
15. Make a second arm the same way.

Legs and Feet

The legs are knitted in cream at the foot, then changed to denim blue for the pants. The feet are flattened slightly so the puppy appears to sit on the bench with sandals visible.

Foot and Lower Leg

1. With cream yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 8 sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: repeat k1, kfb around. 24 sts.
5. Rnds 4-8: k all sts.
6. Rnd 9: k6, k2tog 6 times, k6. 18 sts. This shapes the top of the foot.
7. Rnds 10-13: k all sts.
8. Change to denim blue speckled yarn.
9. Rnds 14-17: k all sts.
10. Rnd 18: repeat k5, kfb around. 21 sts.
11. Rnds 19-33: k all sts.
12. Rnd 34: repeat k5, k2tog around. 18 sts.
13. Stuff foot firmly and leg medium-firm. Flatten the sole gently with your fingers.
14. BO, leaving a tail for sewing to the lower body.
15. Make a second leg the same way.

Toe Lines

• With dark brown or tan embroidery floss, make four vertical toe lines on each cream foot.
• Each toe line should be about 5 rows tall, beginning at the front edge of the foot and moving upward.
• Keep the stitches slightly curved so the toes look rounded, not stiff.

Floppy Patchwork Ears

The ears are long, soft, and colorful. One ear is mainly green with bright circular patches. The other ear includes purple and green sections with red, orange, and lime dots.

Left Ear

1. With green yarn, CO 10 sts. Work flat.
2. Row 1: k all sts.
3. Row 2: p all sts.
4. Row 3: kfb, k8, kfb. 12 sts.
5. Row 4: p all sts.
6. Row 5: kfb, k10, kfb. 14 sts.
7. Rows 6-22: continue in stockinette, knitting RS rows and purling WS rows.
8. Row 23: ssk, k10, k2tog. 12 sts.
9. Row 24: p all sts.
10. Row 25: ssk, k8, k2tog. 10 sts.
11. Row 26: p all sts.
12. Row 27: ssk, k6, k2tog. 8 sts.
13. Row 28: p all sts.
14. Row 29: ssk, k4, k2tog. 6 sts.
15. Row 30: p all sts.
16. BO all sts.
17. Make a second matching piece for the back of the ear. Sew the two pieces together around the edge, stuff very lightly, and close.

Right Ear

1. With purple yarn, CO 10 sts. Work flat.
2. Rows 1-8: work in stockinette.
3. Change to green yarn.
4. Rows 9-18: work in stockinette.
5. Change back to purple yarn.
6. Rows 19-30: work as for the left ear shaping, decreasing on Rows 23, 25, 27, and 29.
7. Make a second piece for the back using the same color changes.
8. Sew, lightly stuff, and close.

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Ear Patch Dots and Lines

• Embroider three rust-red circles on the green ear. Each circle covers about 4 sts wide and 4 rows tall.
• Add one orange center inside one red circle.
• Add two blue vertical duplicate-stitch lines near the upper part of the green ear.
• On the purple ear, embroider one lime green circle, one orange circle, and one red circle.
• Sew the ears to the sides of the head between Rnds 12 and 15. Let them hang downward with the front edge slightly angled toward the face.

Beret With Blue Brim

The beret is rounded and slightly oversized, with a blue ribbed brim and a green crown decorated with colorful dots. It sits low across the forehead and touches the tops of the ears.

Blue Brim

1. With medium blue yarn and smaller needles, CO 54 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-5: repeat k1, p1 around.
3. Rnd 6: k all sts.

Green Beret Crown

1. Change to green yarn.
2. Rnd 7: repeat k2, kfb around. 72 sts.
3. Rnds 8-14: k all sts.
4. Rnd 15: repeat k7, k2tog around. 64 sts.
5. Rnd 16: k all sts.
6. Rnd 17: repeat k6, k2tog around. 56 sts.
7. Rnd 18: k all sts.
8. Rnd 19: repeat k5, k2tog around. 48 sts.
9. Rnd 20: repeat k4, k2tog around. 40 sts.
10. Rnd 21: repeat k3, k2tog around. 32 sts.
11. Rnd 22: repeat k2, k2tog around. 24 sts.
12. Rnd 23: repeat k1, k2tog around. 16 sts.
13. Rnd 24: k2tog around. 8 sts.
14. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull closed, and secure.

Beret Top Nub

1. With green yarn, CO 6 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-4: k all sts.
3. Rnd 5: k2tog around. 3 sts.
4. Cut yarn and close. Sew to the top center of the beret.

Beret Decoration

• Embroider four red circles, two yellow circles, and two blue short lines across the crown.
• Keep each circle about 4 sts wide. Use satin stitch or duplicate stitch.
• Place one red circle near the front center, one on each side, and one toward the back.
• Sew the beret to the head after the ears are attached. Angle the brim slightly downward over the forehead.

Blue-and-Cream Floral Cardigan

The cardigan is worked flat from the bottom up. It has a blue ribbed hem, cream textured body panels, blue yoke, short sleeves, a button band, and tiny embroidered flowers near the shoulders.

Cardigan Body

1. With medium blue yarn and US 3 needles, CO 52 sts. Work flat.
2. Row 1: k2, p2 across to last 0 sts.
3. Row 2: p2, k2 across to last 0 sts.
4. Rows 3-6: repeat Rows 1-2 for ribbing.
5. Change to cream yarn.
6. Row 7 RS: k5 for right front, pm, k18 for back, pm, k5 for cable panel, k6 center front, k18 for left side area. 52 sts total.
7. Row 8 WS: p all sts, slipping markers.
8. Row 9 RS: k4, p2, k4, p2, k8, p2, k6, p2, k4, p2, k4, p2, k4.
9. Row 10 WS: p the knit sts and k the purl sts as they appear.
10. Row 11 RS cable row: k4, p2, slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold front, k2, k2 from cable needle, p2, k8, p2, k6, p2, slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold front, k2, k2 from cable needle, p2, k4.
11. Rows 12-18: work sts as they appear, keeping purl columns around the cable panels.
12. Row 19: repeat Row 11 cable row.
13. Rows 20-24: work sts as they appear.
14. Change to medium blue yarn for the yoke.
15. Row 25 RS: k all sts.
16. Row 26 WS: p all sts.
17. Row 27 RS: k4, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k8. 48 sts.
18. Row 28 WS: p all sts.
19. Row 29 RS: k all sts.
20. Row 30 WS: p all sts.
21. Row 31 RS: k3, k2tog, repeat k6, k2tog across to last 3 sts, k3. 42 sts.
22. Row 32 WS: p all sts.
23. Row 33 RS: k all sts.
24. Row 34 WS: p all sts.
25. Row 35 RS: k2, repeat k5, k2tog across to last 5 sts, k5. 36 sts.
26. Row 36 WS: p all sts.
27. Row 37: BO all sts loosely.

Cardigan Front Bands

1. With medium blue yarn, pick up and knit 32 sts along the right front edge.
2. Rows 1-4: work k1, p1 ribbing.
3. BO in rib.
4. For the left front edge, pick up and knit 32 sts.
5. Row 1: k1, p1 ribbing.
6. Row 2 buttonhole row: work 3 sts, yo, k2tog, work 6 sts, yo, k2tog, work 6 sts, yo, k2tog, work 6 sts, yo, k2tog, work to end.
7. Rows 3-4: continue ribbing.
8. BO in rib.
9. Sew four tiny buttons to the opposite band, aligned with the buttonholes.

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Cardigan Sleeves

1. With cream yarn, CO 24 sts for each sleeve. Work flat.
2. Rows 1-8: stockinette stitch.
3. Change to medium blue yarn.
4. Rows 9-12: k1, p1 ribbing.
5. BO in rib.
6. Sew sleeve seams. Attach each sleeve to the cardigan arm opening, keeping the blue cuff at the lower arm.

Cardigan Embroidery

• On the blue yoke, embroider small flowers near each shoulder using pink, red, yellow, white, and lavender yarn.
• Make each flower with five tiny straight stitches around one center stitch.
• Add green lazy-daisy leaves beneath the flowers.
• On the cream panels, lightly emphasize the cable ridges by smoothing the fabric with your fingers after blocking.

Textured Blue Pants

The pants are roomy, denim blue, and slightly tapered toward the lower leg. A speckled yarn gives the mottled garden look seen in the photo.

Left Pant Leg

1. With denim blue yarn and US 3 needles, CO 24 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-4: k1, p1 ribbing.
3. Rnds 5-18: k all sts.
4. Rnd 19: k6, kfb, k10, kfb, k6. 26 sts.
5. Rnds 20-30: k all sts.
6. Place sts on waste yarn.

Right Pant Leg

1. Work the same as the left pant leg through Rnd 30.
2. Do not cut yarn after finishing the right leg.

Join Pants

1. Place both legs on needles with inner leg edges touching. Knit around the right leg, CO 2 sts for crotch, knit around the left leg, CO 2 sts for back crotch. 56 sts.
2. Rnds 1-8: k all sts.
3. Rnd 9: repeat k12, k2tog around. 52 sts.
4. Rnds 10-13: k all sts.
5. Rnd 14: repeat k11, k2tog around. 48 sts.
6. Rnds 15-18: k all sts.
7. Rnds 19-23: k1, p1 ribbing for waistband.
8. BO loosely in rib.
9. Dress the puppy before attaching legs permanently, or slide pants over the legs before sewing the legs to the body.

Sandals

The sandals have brown soles, blue straps, and tiny flowers. They sit over the cream feet so the embroidered toes remain visible.

Soles

1. With brown yarn, CO 8 sts. Work flat.
2. Row 1: k all sts.
3. Row 2: p all sts.
4. Row 3: kfb, k6, kfb. 10 sts.
5. Rows 4-12: work stockinette.
6. Row 13: ssk, k6, k2tog. 8 sts.
7. Row 14: p all sts.
8. BO. Make four sole pieces total.
9. Sew two sole pieces together for each sandal, wrong sides facing, to create a firm sole.

Blue Straps

1. With medium blue yarn, CO 4 sts.
2. Knit every row until strap measures 1 1/2 in.
3. BO. Make two straps for each sandal.
4. Sew one strap across the toes and one around the ankle area.

Sandal Flowers

• Embroider one small pink flower on each sandal strap.
• Add one lavender flower on the opposite side if desired.
• Use yellow or white for the flower centers.

Crossbody Garden Bag

The bag is medium blue, worn diagonally across the cardigan. It has a flap, leaf embroidery, and a long strap crossing from the shoulder to the opposite hip.

Bag Body

1. With medium blue yarn, CO 18 sts. Work flat.
2. Rows 1-4: knit every row for garter base.
3. Rows 5-18: work stockinette.
4. Row 19: k all sts.
5. Row 20: p all sts.
6. Row 21: ssk, k14, k2tog. 16 sts.
7. Row 22: p all sts.
8. Row 23: ssk, k12, k2tog. 14 sts.
9. Row 24: p all sts.
10. BO.
11. Fold the lower rectangle upward to form a pouch about 1 1/2 in deep. Sew side seams.
12. Fold the shaped top section down as the flap.

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Bag Strap

1. With medium blue yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Knit every row until strap measures about 10 in, or long enough to cross the puppy’s body diagonally.
3. BO.
4. Sew strap ends to the upper side edges of the bag.

Bag Embroidery

• On the flap, embroider two green leaves using lazy-daisy stitches.
• Add two tan or brown small oval stitches beside the leaves.
• Add one tiny yellow stitch as a flower center.
• Place the bag at the puppy’s left hip and sew the strap lightly to the shoulder so it stays in position.

Tiny Watering Can

The watering can is gray with a rounded body, side handle, small spout, and blue decorative stripe. It is placed beside the puppy as a garden accessory.

Can Body

1. With gray yarn and smaller needles, CO 10 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: k all sts. 10 sts.
3. Rnd 2: kfb in every st around. 20 sts.
4. Rnd 3: repeat k1, kfb around. 30 sts.
5. Rnds 4-10: k all sts.
6. Rnd 11: repeat k1, k2tog around. 20 sts.
7. Stuff lightly.
8. Rnd 12: k2tog around. 10 sts.
9. Cut yarn and close.

Can Top Rim

1. With gray yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Work 3 rows in garter stitch.
3. BO and sew into a small ring on top of the can.

Spout

1. With gray yarn, CO 8 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-5: k all sts.
3. Rnd 6: k2tog around. 4 sts.
4. Cut yarn and close.
5. Sew spout to one side of the can at a slight upward angle.

Handle

1. With gray yarn, CO 4 sts.
2. Knit every row until strip measures 2 1/4 in.
3. BO.
4. Sew one end near the upper side of the can and the other end near the lower side, forming a curved handle.

• Embroider one blue stripe around the watering can body.
• Add a tiny rust flower on the front with four straight stitches and one yellow center stitch.

Potted Sunflower

The sunflower is small and cheerful, with a terracotta pot, green stem, brown center, and yellow petals. It stands beside the watering can.

Flowerpot

1. With terracotta yarn, CO 24 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-4: k1, p1 ribbing.
3. Rnds 5-12: k all sts.
4. Rnd 13: repeat k2, k2tog around. 18 sts.
5. Rnd 14: k all sts.
6. Rnd 15: repeat k1, k2tog around. 12 sts.
7. Insert small cardboard or plastic circle if using.
8. Stuff firmly.
9. Rnd 16: k2tog around. 6 sts.
10. Cut yarn and close.

Stem

1. With green yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Work i-cord for 2 1/2 in.
3. BO.
4. Insert a thin craft wire inside if you want the sunflower to stand firmly.

Sunflower Center

1. With brown yarn, CO 6 sts and join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: kfb in every st around. 12 sts.
3. Rnd 2: repeat k1, kfb around. 18 sts.
4. Rnd 3: k all sts.
5. Rnd 4: repeat k1, k2tog around. 12 sts.
6. Stuff very lightly and close.

Petals

1. With golden yellow 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. Row 4: p all sts.
6. Row 5: sl1, k2tog, psso. 1 st.
7. Cut yarn and pull through. Make 12 petals.
8. Sew petals evenly around the brown center.
9. Sew the flower head to the stem, then sew the stem into the pot.

Joining the Puppy

Before sewing, pin every major piece in place. This helps you balance the large head, floppy ears, visible sandals, diagonal bag strap, and seated leg position.

1. Sew the head to the body using the long body tail. Add extra stitches at the back neck so the head stays upright.
2. Sew the legs to the lower front body. Angle them forward so the puppy sits with feet facing outward.
3. Sew the arms to the upper sides of the body, just below the cardigan shoulder line.
4. Dress the puppy in the pants and cardigan. Tack the clothing in hidden places if needed.
5. Sew the ears securely to the head before attaching the beret.
6. Place the beret low across the forehead. Sew around the brim with small hidden stitches.
7. Attach the bag diagonally across the body and sew the bag to the left hip area.
8. Place sandals on the feet and tack the soles and straps so they do not slide.

Floral Details and Surface Embroidery

The small embroidered flowers are what make this design match the garden look. Keep them tiny and scattered rather than large. Use short strands of yarn or embroidery floss so the stitches stay neat.

• Cardigan flowers: Add one pink flower and one white flower on the puppy’s right yoke. Add one red flower and two green leaves on the left yoke.
• Bag leaves: Use two lazy-daisy leaves and two small brown seed stitches.
• Sandals: Add one flower to each front strap.
• Beret dots: Keep the dots raised by stitching over the same spot twice.
• Ears: Make the dots round by stitching horizontally first, then vertically over the same area.

Optional Cable Texture for the Cream Cardigan Panels

If you want the cream front panels to look closer to the image, add narrow mock cables on the cardigan front. Work them only on the cream section before the blue yoke begins.

• Use a 4-st cable with one purl st on each side.
• Cross the cable every 8 rows.
• Keep one cable on each front panel and one faint textured line near the center.
• Do not make the cables too bulky, because the cardigan must still fit over the stuffed body.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Check that the puppy’s eyes are level, the muzzle is centered, and the nose sits slightly above the mouth curve. Add small black backstitches around the eye bottoms for a glossy, expressive look. Shape the cheeks by pressing gently around the muzzle.

• Secure all yarn tails inside the toy.
• Brush the cardigan lightly with your fingers to smooth the stitches.
• Make sure the beret brim touches the top of the face but does not cover the eyes.
• Angle the ears downward and slightly forward.
• Place the watering can and sunflower beside the puppy for display.

Care Notes

Spot clean only with cool water and mild soap. Do not soak the toy if you used cardboard, buttons, wire, or safety eyes. Press with a towel and let it air dry completely before storing.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The puppy sits upright without tipping forward.
• The head is firmly attached to the body.
• The ears hang evenly on both sides.
• The cardigan buttons line up with the buttonholes.
• The bag strap crosses from shoulder to opposite hip.
• The sandals show the embroidered toes clearly.
• The sunflower and watering can are stable enough for display.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Keep the finished puppy away from direct sunlight for long periods, because bright embroidery colors may fade. Store it in a breathable cotton bag or on an open shelf. Avoid plastic bags in humid rooms, as trapped moisture can affect the stuffing and yarn.

To refresh the shape, gently squeeze the head, body, and legs back into place with clean hands. If dust appears, use a soft dry cloth or a clean makeup brush. Do not machine wash, tumble dry, bleach, or iron the finished knitted toy.