Uncle Herman the Country Swine, knitting pattern

Uncle Hermann can‘t deny it: He is firmly rooted in the fat, dark earth of rural Northern Germany. A country as flat as a pan, with wet winds from the sea and locals, be it man or swine, that are short in words but equipped with golden hearts as big as the biggest potatoe you can imagine. And they love their friends; playing cards with his best mates in the snuggly warmth of the local pub while ignoring the howling wind outside is one of Uncle Hermann‘s favorite pasttime.

Please mind: You only get the pattern for Uncle Hermann, NOT the little piglet. The small one will come soon :-)

To knit Uncle Hermann is real fun – especially because of the gradient NORO yarn I used for the body. The pattern leads you step-by-step with many pictures through the knitting adventure, so if you master the basic techniques and a set of double pointed needles, this cuddly swine will soon be your new friend!
You know all basic knitting techniques, and all the rest the pattern and an apendix for more elaborate techniques is taking care of.

PLEASE MIND: The animal is knitted in the ROUND, there is no instruction for flat knitting!

Uncle Hermann stands 52 cm tall – provided you use the following gauges. I used two different yarns with different gauges, so if you substitute one yarn or both, make sure the gauges match; otherwise Uncle Hermann will go out of proportions.

Gauge for NORO (striped body), knitted with needle size 3.5 mm (US 4, UK 9 or 10):
21 stitches x 33 rows = 10 x 10 cm = 4 x 4 inches

Gauge for Cool Wool (head, cap, feet), knitted with needle size 3.0 mm (US 3, UK 12):
27 stitches x 38 rows = 10 x 10 cm = 4 x 4 inches

• NORO Silk Garden Sock (40 % wool, 25 % silk, 25 % polyamid, 10 % mohair; 300 m/328 yards per 100 g/3.52 ounces), 1 skein. Unfortunately, I don‘t know the exact colour number, but number 308 would be a good bet.

• Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino Superfein (100 % Merino wool, 160 m/175 yards per 50 g/1.76 ounces), 1 skein each in pale pink, auburn; 1/4 skein in olive green, leftover in light brown
• 2 black beads, approx ø 10 to 12 mm, twine in black
• Strong felt for the neck and cap, approx 2 or 3 mm thickness, approx 15 x 30 cm / 6 x 12 inches
• Thin felt in pink fpr the cheeks, sewing thread
• Set of double pointed needles and/or circular needle 3.0 mm (US 3, 12 UK) and 3.5 mm (US 4, UK 9 or 10)
• Crochet hook 4 mm (US G, UK 8)
• 4 safety pins
• Embroidery needle, sewing needle, darning needle
• Polyester stuffing, scissors