Knitting Tutorial: Striped Woodland Raccoon – Free Knitting Pattern

This striped woodland raccoon knit project features a plush gray raccoon with a rounded head, black facial mask, white muzzle, glossy safety eyes, soft pointed ears, striped blue-green hooded sweater, kangaroo pocket, wooden-style front buttons, tiny acorn charm, crossbody mushroom bag, flower head accents, sandals, a matching pom-pom hat, and a small yarn basket accessory.

 

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 to create a detailed knitted woodland raccoon inspired by the image. The finished raccoon is designed as a standing soft toy with a large expressive head, compact body, rounded belly, short arms, thick legs, textured fur markings, and layered handmade accessories.

The main body is knitted firmly at a tight gauge so the stuffing does not show through. The sweater, bag, hat, flowers, sandals, acorn, and basket are all made separately, then sewn onto the raccoon for a dimensional handmade look.

• Finished height: about 12 inches from feet to top of head, not including flower accents.
• Skill level: adventurous beginner to intermediate.
• Construction: mostly knitted flat and seamed, with small parts worked in the round where helpful.
• Main techniques: knit, purl, increase, decrease, short shaping, color changes, seaming, embroidery, and simple I-cord.
• Style goal: soft toy raccoon wearing a striped woodland hoodie with matching accessories.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in medium gray for the raccoon body, about 90 yards.
• Worsted weight yarn in dark charcoal or black for mask, ears, paws, and tail markings, about 35 yards.
• Worsted weight yarn in white or cream for muzzle, brow marks, and face stripes, about 25 yards.
• Worsted weight yarn in warm taupe for inner face shading and soles, about 20 yards.
• Worsted weight yarn in sky blue, teal blue, cream, pale green, and denim blue for sweater stripes, about 25 yards of each.
• Small amounts of tan, red, white, green, brown, pink, yellow, lavender, and mint yarn for flowers, bag, mushrooms, acorn, basket, and details.
• US size 3 knitting needles for toy body.
• US size 4 knitting needles for sweater, hat, and bag.
• Set of US size 3 double-pointed needles for I-cords and small round pieces.
• Two 14 mm brown safety eyes or glossy black safety eyes with brown backing.
• One 16 mm black safety nose, or black yarn for an embroidered nose.
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing.
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch markers.
• Small buttons, 3 pieces, each about 3/8 inch wide.
• Optional thin white thread or yarn for whiskers.

Gauge

Use a tight toy gauge. Your knitted fabric should feel firm but still flexible. If your stitches are loose, go down one needle size. If your fabric is too stiff to shape, go up one needle size.

• Toy gauge: 6 stitches and 8 rows per inch in stockinette stitch using US size 3 needles.
• Sweater gauge: 5.5 stitches and 7 rows per inch in stockinette stitch using US size 4 needles.
• Bag and basket gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch in garter or stockinette stitch using US size 4 needles.

Abbreviations

• K: knit.
• P: purl.
• St or sts: stitch or stitches.
• CO: cast on.
• BO: bind off.
• RS: right side.
• WS: wrong side.
• Kfb: knit into the front and back of the same stitch.
• M1: make 1 stitch by lifting the strand between stitches and knitting into the back loop.
• K2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
• SSK: slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit slipped stitches together through back loops.
• P2tog: purl 2 stitches together.
• St st: stockinette stitch, knit RS rows and purl WS rows.
• G st: garter stitch, knit every row.
• I-cord: small knitted cord worked on double-pointed needles.

Color Stripe Guide for the Sweater and Hat

The hoodie and matching hat in the image have soft, uneven woodland stripes. Use this sequence to create the same blended blue, teal, cream, green, and denim effect. Carry yarn loosely on the inside when possible, or cut yarn for a cleaner small garment.

• Rows 1-4: denim blue.
• Rows 5-8: teal blue.
• Rows 9-12: cream.
• Rows 13-16: pale green.
• Rows 17-20: sky blue.
• Rows 21-24: denim blue.
• Rows 25-28: cream.
• Rows 29-32: teal blue.
• Rows 33-36: sky blue.
• Rows 37-40: pale green.

For narrow parts such as sleeves, use 2-row stripes instead of 4-row stripes so the bands stay proportional. The goal is a cozy hand-knit look rather than perfectly identical stripes.

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Main Raccoon Head

The head is rounded, slightly wider across the cheeks, and gently tapered near the neck. Work two matching head panels flat, then seam them together. Add the muzzle and facial mask after stuffing so the face stays dimensional.

Head Panels, Make 2 in Medium Gray

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1, WS: P all sts.
3. Row 2, RS: Kfb in each st across. You now have 16 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. You now have 18 sts.
6. Row 5: P all sts.
7. Row 6: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, K1. You now have 20 sts.
8. Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until you have 34 sts.
9. Work 10 rows in st st.
10. Next RS row: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. You now have 32 sts.
11. Next WS row: P all sts.
12. Repeat the last 2 rows until 22 sts remain.
13. Work 4 rows even in st st.
14. Next RS row: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. You now have 20 sts.
15. Next WS row: P all sts.
16. Repeat until 14 sts remain.
17. BO all sts, leaving a long tail for seaming.

Head Assembly

1. Place the two head panels together with RS facing inward.
2. Sew around the curved edges using mattress stitch or backstitch.
3. Leave the lower neck edge open.
4. Turn RS out and stuff firmly, especially across the cheeks and forehead.
5. Shape the lower head by pinching the neck opening into an oval about 1.5 inches wide.
6. Do not close the neck yet. It will be attached to the body later.

Black Raccoon Eye Mask

The black mask is the strongest facial feature. It wraps across both eyes and reaches toward the cheeks. Make two separate mask patches so you can angle them naturally around the muzzle.

Left Mask Patch in Black, Make 1

1. CO 6 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K4, kfb. You now have 8 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: Kfb, K6, kfb. You now have 10 sts.
6. Rows 5-9: Work in st st.
7. Row 10: SSK, K6, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
8. Row 11: P all sts.
9. Row 12: SSK, K4, k2tog. You now have 6 sts.
10. BO all sts.

Right Mask Patch in Black, Make 1

Work the same as the left mask patch. When sewing, angle the inner edges downward slightly toward the nose. The outer edges should rise softly toward the ears.

White Brow Stripes, Make 2

1. Using white yarn, CO 12 sts.
2. Work 2 rows in garter stitch.
3. BO all sts.
4. Steam lightly with your hand, not an iron, and curve each strip above the black mask.

Central Forehead Stripe in Dark Gray and White

1. Using dark gray yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Work 18 rows in st st.
3. Decrease row: SSK, K1, k2tog. You now have 3 sts.
4. Purl 1 row.
5. Decrease row: Slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over. You now have 1 st.
6. Fasten off.
7. Using white yarn, embroider two narrow vertical lines along both sides of the stripe.

Muzzle and Nose

The muzzle sits forward from the face and is shaped like a soft oval. It should cover the lower center of the black mask, with the black nose placed at the upper middle.

White Muzzle Oval

1. Using white yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb in first st, K6, kfb in last st. You now have 10 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: Kfb, K8, kfb. You now have 12 sts.
6. Rows 5-10: Work in st st.
7. Row 11: P all sts.
8. Row 12: SSK, K8, k2tog. You now have 10 sts.
9. Row 13: P all sts.
10. Row 14: SSK, K6, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
11. BO all sts.

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Shaping the Muzzle

1. Run a length of white yarn around the outer edge of the muzzle.
2. Pull slightly to cup the oval.
3. Add a small amount of stuffing behind the muzzle.
4. Pin it to the lower center of the face.
5. Sew around the edge using tiny stitches.
6. Attach the black safety nose at the top center of the muzzle, or embroider a satin-stitch oval nose.
7. Embroider a short vertical line from the nose downward using black yarn.
8. Add a tiny curved mouth with two short black stitches.

Eyes and Facial Placement

Place the eyes before fully finishing the face. The image shows large glossy eyes set inside the black mask, with a bright alert expression. The eyes should sit about 1 inch apart and slightly above the nose line.

1. Mark the center of the face.
2. Place each safety eye through one black mask patch before sewing the patch completely down.
3. Position the eyes between Rows 12 and 15 of the head, counted from the top of the head.
4. Keep about 6 to 7 stitches between the inner edges of the eyes.
5. Secure the safety backs inside the head before the neck is closed.
6. Sew mask patches flat around the outer edges, leaving no loose corners.
7. Sew white brow strips above each eye, curving them slightly upward.

Ears

The ears are rounded triangular raccoon ears with black outer edges and lighter gray centers. They sit high on the head and lean slightly outward.

Outer Ear, Make 2 in Black

1. CO 14 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Work in st st.
3. Row 5: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. You now have 12 sts.
4. Row 6: P all sts.
5. Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until 4 sts remain.
6. Next row: K2tog twice. You now have 2 sts.
7. Next row: P2tog. You now have 1 st.
8. Fasten off.

Inner Ear, Make 2 in Medium Gray

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Rows 1-3: Work in st st.
3. Row 4: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
4. Row 5: P all sts.
5. Repeat Rows 4 and 5 until 2 sts remain.
6. K2tog and fasten off.

Ear Assembly

1. Sew each gray inner ear onto one black outer ear.
2. Fold the base of each ear slightly inward to create a shallow cup.
3. Sew one ear to each side of the head between Rows 5 and 11 from the top.
4. Angle the ears outward, with the inner corners closer to the forehead stripe.

Body

The raccoon body is oval and plush, with a soft belly that widens below the sweater. The upper body is narrower so the hoodie can sit naturally over the shoulders.

Body Panels, Make 2 in Medium Gray

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb in each st across. You now have 24 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: K2, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, kfb, K2. You now have 26 sts.
6. Row 5: P all sts.
7. Repeat Rows 4 and 5 until 38 sts are on the needle.
8. Work 14 rows even in st st.
9. Next RS row: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. You now have 36 sts.
10. Next WS row: P all sts.
11. Repeat the last 2 rows until 24 sts remain.
12. Work 4 rows even.
13. Next RS row: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. You now have 22 sts.
14. Next WS row: P all sts.
15. Repeat until 16 sts remain.
16. BO all sts.

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Body Assembly

1. Place body panels RS together.
2. Sew around the sides and lower curve, leaving the neck edge open.
3. Turn RS out.
4. Stuff firmly in the lower belly and lightly at the shoulders.
5. Shape the body so it stands upright with a rounded front.
6. Sew the head to the body using strong stitches around the neck opening.
7. Pass around the neck twice for stability.

Legs and Feet

The legs are short and sturdy, visible below the sweater. The feet are broad enough to support the raccoon. The toes are dark and embroidered at the front.

Legs, Make 2 in Medium Gray

1. CO 16 sts.
2. Rows 1-18: Work in st st.
3. Row 19: K2tog across. You now have 8 sts.
4. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and seam the back of the leg.
5. Stuff each leg firmly but do not overstuff the top.

Feet, Make 2 in Dark Charcoal

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K8, kfb. You now have 12 sts.
4. Row 3: P all sts.
5. Row 4: Kfb, K10, kfb. You now have 14 sts.
6. Rows 5-10: Work in st st.
7. Row 11: P all sts.
8. Row 12: SSK, K10, k2tog. You now have 12 sts.
9. Row 13: P all sts.
10. Row 14: SSK, K8, k2tog. You now have 10 sts.
11. BO all sts.

Toe Detailing

1. Sew one foot to the lower front of each leg.
2. Use black yarn to embroider four vertical toe lines on each foot.
3. Each toe line should be about 3 rows tall.
4. Attach the legs to the lower body, spaced about 1 inch apart.
5. Angle the feet slightly outward for balance.

Arms and Paws

The arms hang down at the sides of the sweater. The sleeves cover most of the arms, but dark paws show at the cuffs. Keep the arms soft and narrow.

Arms, Make 2 in Medium Gray

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Rows 1-16: Work in st st.
3. Row 17: K2tog across. You now have 6 sts.
4. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and seam the arm.
5. Stuff lightly.

Dark Paws, Make 2

1. Using charcoal yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Work 6 rows in st st.
3. BO all sts.
4. Wrap each paw piece around the lower end of one arm.
5. Sew in place and embroider 3 small claw lines with black yarn.

Tail

The raccoon tail is short, fluffy, and striped. In the image, the tail is mostly hidden behind the body, so this pattern creates a modest tail that peeks from the back.

Tail Panel, Make 2

1. Using medium gray, CO 10 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Work in st st.
3. Change to dark charcoal and work 4 rows.
4. Change to medium gray and work 4 rows.
5. Change to dark charcoal and work 4 rows.
6. Change to medium gray and work 4 rows.
7. Decrease row: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
8. Purl 1 row.
9. Repeat the last 2 rows until 4 sts remain.
10. BO all sts.

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Tail Assembly

1. Sew the two tail panels together with RS facing.
2. Leave the base open.
3. Turn RS out and stuff lightly.
4. Sew to the back lower body, centered between the legs.
5. Curve the tail slightly downward.

Striped Hooded Sweater

The sweater is the main clothing piece. It has a relaxed body, a striped texture, ribbed cuffs, front opening, hood, kangaroo pocket, and three buttons. Use the stripe guide to match the image closely.

Sweater Back

1. Using US size 4 needles and denim blue, CO 34 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: K1, P1 rib across.
3. Begin stripe sequence and work 22 rows in st st.
4. Armhole shaping Row 23: BO 3 sts, knit to end. You now have 31 sts.
5. Row 24: BO 3 sts, purl to end. You now have 28 sts.
6. Rows 25-34: Continue in st st, keeping stripe sequence.
7. Neck shaping Row 35: K8, BO 12 sts, K8.
8. Work left shoulder on 8 sts for 3 rows.
9. BO left shoulder.
10. Rejoin yarn to right shoulder and work 3 rows.
11. BO right shoulder.

Left Front

1. CO 19 sts using denim blue.
2. Rows 1-4: K1, P1 rib across, ending K1.
3. Rows 5-22: Work in st st using stripe sequence.
4. Armhole shaping Row 23: BO 3 sts at armhole edge, work to end. You now have 16 sts.
5. Rows 24-30: Continue even in st st.
6. Neck shaping Row 31: BO 5 sts at neck edge, work to end. You now have 11 sts.
7. Row 32: Work even.
8. Row 33: Decrease 1 st at neck edge. You now have 10 sts.
9. Row 34: Work even.
10. Row 35: Decrease 1 st at neck edge. You now have 9 sts.
11. Rows 36-38: Work even.
12. BO all sts.

Right Front

1. Work the same as left front, reversing armhole and neck shaping.
2. Make three buttonholes on the front band later rather than while knitting the front panel.

Shoulder and Side Seams

1. Sew sweater shoulders together.
2. Sew side seams from hem to armhole opening.
3. Try the sweater on the raccoon before attaching sleeves.
4. The hem should cover the upper legs and sit just above the sandals.

Sleeves, Make 2

1. Using denim blue, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: K1, P1 rib across.
3. Begin 2-row stripe sequence.
4. Row 5: K all sts.
5. Row 6: P all sts.
6. Row 7: K1, M1, knit to last st, M1, K1. You now have 20 sts.
7. Row 8: P all sts.
8. Repeat Rows 7 and 8 every 6 rows until 26 sts are on the needle.
9. Work even until sleeve measures about 3 inches.
10. BO all sts.
11. Sew sleeve seam.
12. Sew sleeve into armhole with the seam under the arm.

Front Bands

1. Using denim blue, pick up and knit 28 sts along the left front edge.
2. Work 4 rows in K1, P1 rib.
3. BO in rib.
4. Pick up and knit 28 sts along the right front edge.
5. Row 1: Work in K1, P1 rib.
6. Row 2: Rib 5 sts, BO 2 sts, rib 6 sts, BO 2 sts, rib 6 sts, BO 2 sts, rib to end.
7. Row 3: Rib across, casting on 2 sts over each bound-off buttonhole.
8. Row 4: Rib across.
9. BO in rib.
10. Sew three small buttons to the opposite band, matching the buttonholes.

Hood

The hood frames the raccoon’s head and sits open around the cheeks. It should be soft, slightly oversized, and striped like the sweater body.

1. Using US size 4 needles, CO 44 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: K1, P1 rib.
3. Continue in st st using the stripe sequence for 24 rows.
4. Decrease Row 25: K10, k2tog, K20, ssk, K10. You now have 42 sts.
5. Row 26: P all sts.
6. Decrease Row 27: K9, k2tog, K20, ssk, K9. You now have 40 sts.
7. Row 28: P all sts.
8. Repeat this centered decrease pattern until 32 sts remain.
9. BO all sts.
10. Fold the hood in half with RS together.
11. Sew the back seam from top to lower back edge.
12. Sew the lower hood edge around the sweater neckline.
13. Leave the front ribbed edge open around the raccoon’s face.

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Kangaroo Pocket

The front pocket is placed low on the sweater. It is striped and has a cream edging. Its top edge curves slightly, like a small pouch.

1. Using sky blue, CO 20 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Work in st st.
3. Change to cream and work 2 rows.
4. Change to teal and work 4 rows.
5. Change to denim and work 4 rows.
6. Shape top Row 15: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, K2. You now have 18 sts.
7. Row 16: P all sts.
8. Repeat Rows 15 and 16 until 14 sts remain.
9. Work 2 rows in cream garter stitch.
10. BO all sts.
11. Sew the side and bottom edges to the sweater front.
12. Leave the upper shaped edge open.
13. Embroider a cream line around the pocket edge for the raised trim seen in the image.

Drawstrings

The hoodie has light drawstrings hanging at the front. Use a simple I-cord so they look rounded and neat.

1. Using cream yarn and double-pointed needles, CO 3 sts.
2. Knit 3 sts, slide stitches to the other end of the needle, and knit again.
3. Continue until the cord measures 7 inches.
4. BO all sts.
5. Make a second cord the same length.
6. Sew one cord to each side of the hood opening.
7. Tie a small knot at each lower end.

Matching Striped Hat

The hat sits beside the raccoon in the image. It is a small pointed winter hat with blue, teal, cream, and green stripes and a fluffy pom-pom.

Hat Body

1. Using US size 4 needles and denim blue, CO 36 sts.
2. Rows 1-5: K1, P1 rib across.
3. Begin stripe sequence and work 12 rows in st st.
4. Decrease Row 18: K4, k2tog across to end. You now have 30 sts.
5. Row 19: P all sts.
6. Row 20: K3, k2tog across to end. You now have 24 sts.
7. Row 21: P all sts.
8. Row 22: K2, k2tog across to end. You now have 18 sts.
9. Row 23: P all sts.
10. Row 24: K1, k2tog across to end. You now have 12 sts.
11. Row 25: P all sts.
12. Row 26: K2tog across. You now have 6 sts.
13. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and seam the back of the hat.

Pom-Pom

1. Wrap blue, teal, cream, and green yarn around three fingers 45 times.
2. Tie tightly around the center with strong yarn.
3. Cut loops and trim into a round pom-pom about 1.25 inches wide.
4. Sew firmly to the top of the hat.

Sandals

The raccoon wears small sandals with tan soles, teal straps, and tiny pink flowers near the outer sides. The toes remain visible.

Soles, Make 2 in Tan

1. CO 14 sts.
2. Rows 1-3: Knit all sts.
3. Row 4: Kfb, K12, kfb. You now have 16 sts.
4. Rows 5-8: Knit all sts.
5. Row 9: SSK, K12, k2tog. You now have 14 sts.
6. Rows 10-12: Knit all sts.
7. BO all sts.

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Toe Straps, Make 2 in Teal

1. CO 6 sts.
2. Work 18 rows in garter stitch.
3. BO all sts.
4. Wrap one strap over the top of each foot.
5. Sew strap ends underneath the tan sole.

Side Flowers for Sandals, Make 2

1. Using pink yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Kfb in each st. You now have 10 sts.
3. BO all sts loosely.
4. Coil the strip into a tiny flower.
5. Sew one yellow stitch into the center.
6. Attach one flower to the outer side of each sandal strap.

Flower Crown Accents

The raccoon has a cluster of small flowers near one ear. Use cream, pink, blue, green, lavender, and yellow for the garden look.

Small Five-Petal Flower, Make 5

1. Using any flower color, CO 5 sts.
2. Row 1: Kfb in each st. You now have 10 sts.
3. Row 2: BO all sts loosely.
4. Coil the bound-off strip into five rounded bumps.
5. Sew through the center to secure the shape.
6. Add a yellow center using 3 small embroidery stitches.

Leaf Sprigs, Make 3 in Pale Green

1. CO 3 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K1, kfb. You now have 5 sts.
4. Row 3: K all sts.
5. Row 4: SSK, K1, k2tog. You now have 3 sts.
6. Row 5: Slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over.
7. Fasten off.

Attaching the Flower Cluster

1. Place the largest cream flower above the raccoon’s right eye near the ear.
2. Add the pink flower slightly lower and outward.
3. Add blue, mint, and lavender flowers around the first two flowers.
4. Tuck the green leaves underneath the flowers.
5. Sew everything securely with small hidden stitches.

Acorn Charm

The little acorn hangs on the sweater front near the raccoon’s right side. It is knitted separately and sewn on like a woodland brooch.

Acorn Nut in Rust Brown

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: Work in st st.
3. Row 7: SSK, K6, k2tog. You now have 8 sts.
4. Row 8: P all sts.
5. Row 9: SSK, K4, k2tog. You now have 6 sts.
6. Row 10: P all sts.
7. Row 11: K2tog across. You now have 3 sts.
8. Cut yarn, thread through sts, pull tight, and seam the side.
9. Stuff lightly.

Acorn Cap in Dark Brown

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Knit all sts.
3. Row 5: K2tog across. You now have 6 sts.
4. Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts.
5. Sew cap to the top of the acorn.
6. Use dark brown yarn to embroider small diagonal texture lines across the cap.
7. Sew the finished acorn to the sweater chest.

Crossbody Mushroom Bag

The raccoon carries a tan crossbody bag with red mushrooms and green grass embroidery. The strap crosses from shoulder to hip, and the bag rests on the lower front side.

Bag Front in Tan

1. CO 22 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Knit all sts.
3. Rows 5-20: Work in st st.
4. Rows 21-24: Knit all sts.
5. BO all sts.

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Bag Back in Tan

1. Work the same as bag front.
2. Do not embroider on the back piece.

Bag Gusset

1. CO 6 sts.
2. Work 44 rows in garter stitch.
3. BO all sts.
4. Sew the gusset around the sides and bottom of the bag front.
5. Sew the bag back to the remaining gusset edge.
6. Lightly stuff the bag with a small flat piece of fiberfill if you want it to hold shape.

Mushroom Embroidery

1. Use red yarn to make two mushroom caps on the bag front.
2. For each cap, work 5 horizontal satin stitches, widest in the middle.
3. Use white yarn to embroider the mushroom stems below the caps.
4. Add 3 small white dots on each red cap.
5. Use green yarn to stitch short vertical grass lines below the mushrooms.
6. Add one tiny red dot mushroom beside the large mushrooms.

Bag Strap

1. Using tan yarn and double-pointed needles, CO 4 sts.
2. Work I-cord until the strap measures 15 inches.
3. BO all sts.
4. Sew one strap end to the upper left corner of the bag.
5. Sew the other end to the upper right corner.
6. Place the strap over the raccoon’s shoulder so the bag rests at the opposite hip.
7. Tack the strap to the sweater at the shoulder and side so it does not slide.

Small Yarn Basket

The basket sits beside the raccoon and holds small balls of yarn. It is shaped like a shallow tan bowl with a rolled rim.

Basket Base

1. Using tan yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: Knit all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb in each st. You now have 16 sts.
4. Rows 3-6: Knit all sts.
5. Row 7: K1, kfb across to end. You now have 24 sts.
6. Rows 8-12: Knit all sts.
7. BO all sts.

Basket Side

1. CO 32 sts.
2. Rows 1-18: Knit all sts.
3. BO all sts.
4. Sew the short edges together to form a ring.
5. Sew the lower edge of the ring to the basket base.
6. Fold the top edge outward slightly and sew it down to create a thick rim.

Basket Handle

1. CO 4 sts.
2. Work I-cord for 8 inches.
3. BO all sts.
4. Sew one end to each side of the basket.
5. Curve the handle upward gently.

Mini Yarn Balls

1. Make 4 mini yarn balls in blue, cream, green, and brown.
2. For each ball, wrap yarn around two fingers 20 times.
3. Slip the wrap off your fingers and wrap yarn around the center in several directions.
4. Keep wrapping until the ball measures about 0.75 inch wide.
5. Tuck the yarn end under several wraps.
6. Place the balls inside the basket and tack them down with sewing thread if desired.

Optional Knit Yarn Balls Instead of Wrapped Balls

Use this knitted option if you want all basket contents to be made with needles rather than simple wrapping.

1. CO 8 sts in chosen yarn color.
2. Row 1: P all sts.
3. Row 2: Kfb in each st. You now have 16 sts.
4. Rows 3-6: Work in st st.
5. Row 7: K2tog across. You now have 8 sts.
6. Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts.
7. Seam the side and stuff lightly.
8. Embroider curved yarn lines around the ball using the same color yarn.

Fur Texture Embroidery

The raccoon in the image has fuzzy gray fur with darker vertical shading on the forehead, body, arms, and legs. Add this effect carefully after the toy is assembled.

• Use dark gray yarn to make short vertical stitches on the forehead stripe.
• Use white yarn to add small highlights above the eyes and along the sides of the muzzle.
• Use charcoal yarn to stitch light fur lines on the legs and paws.
• Use medium gray yarn over dark areas to soften strong color transitions.
• Keep stitches short, about 0.25 inch long, so the texture looks like fur rather than stripes.

Whiskers

The image shows fine white whiskers extending from both sides of the muzzle. Add them last so they stay clean and straight.

1. Cut six pieces of thin white yarn or thread, each about 4 inches long.
2. Thread one piece through the side of the muzzle.
3. Pull until both ends are even.
4. Tie a tiny knot close to the muzzle if needed.
5. Repeat to create three whiskers on each side.
6. Trim each whisker to about 1.75 inches.
7. Add a tiny dot of fabric glue only if the whiskers will not stay in place.

Putting the Sweater on the Raccoon

1. Slide the sleeves over the arms first.
2. Place the sweater around the body and pull the fronts together.
3. Adjust the hood so it frames the ears without covering the flower cluster.
4. Button the front buttons.
5. Sew the sweater lightly to the body at the back neck, underarms, and lower side seams.
6. Do not sew the whole sweater flat. A little looseness gives it the cozy look shown in the image.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Check the raccoon from the front before making final knots. The head should sit straight, the eyes should look level, and the muzzle should project softly from the face. Adjust the stuffing by gently massaging the head and cheeks.

• Sew the ears firmly and make sure they angle outward evenly.
• Sew the arms to the upper sides of the body, slightly forward.
• Sew the legs to the bottom of the body with the feet facing forward.
• Attach the tail at the back so it peeks out naturally.
• Place the hoodie so the ribbed hem sits level around the body.
• Add the acorn charm to the upper sweater front.
• Place the crossbody bag over the sweater and tack the strap securely.
• Arrange the hat and basket beside the raccoon as display accessories.

For the face, use small controlled stitches. Add the nose line, mouth, brow highlights, whiskers, and final fur marks only after the eyes and muzzle are fully attached. This order keeps the expression clean and balanced.

Care Notes

• Spot clean gently with a damp cloth and mild soap.
• Do not soak if safety eyes, buttons, or glued whiskers were used.
• Let the raccoon air dry completely before storing.
• Do not machine wash, because the sweater, bag, flowers, and basket details may shift.
• Keep away from pets that may chew buttons or yarn parts.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The raccoon stands upright without leaning too far forward.
• The black eye mask is symmetrical and smooth.
• The white muzzle is centered under the eyes.
• The hood frames the face without hiding the ears.
• The sweater stripes line up neatly across the front and sleeves.
• The kangaroo pocket is centered and open at the top.
• The three buttons match the buttonholes.
• The flower cluster is secure near one ear.
• The sandals show the dark toes clearly.
• The bag strap crosses the chest at a natural angle.
• The acorn charm, hat, basket, and yarn balls are all securely finished.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

To preserve the shape, store the raccoon standing or lying flat in a clean dry place. Avoid pressing heavy objects on top of the head, hood, flowers, or basket handle.

If dust collects on the fur texture, use a soft clean brush and stroke gently in the direction of the knitted stitches. Brush the face carefully so the whiskers, eyes, and muzzle embroidery are not pulled loose.

For long-term display, keep the toy away from direct sunlight. Strong sunlight may fade the blue and green sweater stripes, the red mushroom embroidery, and the pastel flower accents.

• Use a breathable cotton bag for storage.
• Avoid plastic bags for long storage because trapped moisture can affect the yarn.
• Check buttons and small decorations regularly.
• Repair loose embroidery with matching yarn before washing or moving the toy.
• Keep the basket and hat beside the raccoon rather than tied permanently if you want easier cleaning.

Your striped woodland raccoon is complete when the soft raccoon body, cozy hooded sweater, floral details, sandals, acorn charm, mushroom bag, striped hat, and yarn basket all work together as one cheerful woodland knitting scene.