Netflix has been putting out some awesome stuff for a while now. Kimmy Schmidt is one of my favorite shows, and there's Orange is the New Black, GLOW, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, House of Cards, and of course Stranger Things! They're also making movies, and the new film Okja is sorta strange, heartwarming, sad, funny, and completely unique. There are big stars on screen and behind the scenes. It's like Free Willy for grownups. The super pig star of the show is a creature named Okja. Okja is a lovable giant pig/hippo/rhino looking animal, and I made him out of yarn. If you want to, here's a pattern!
OKJA
Materials:
Bulky weight gray yarn (Lion Brand "Hometown USA" -- Dallas Gray)
Polyester fiberfill
Black embroidery floss
8mm brown safety eyes
Tools:
Size J (6.0mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle
Embroidery needle
Quilting pins
Super glue
*Okja as written measures 10" long. If you would like a smaller doll you can substitute worsted weight yarn and an E hook. Smaller eyes will also be needed.
Pattern:
Body/Head:
Rnd 1: Starting at the back end, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, sc 6 into ring. Pull tail to close hole. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each st (12 sts)
Rnd 3: *(2 sc in first st, sc in next st), repeat from * to end of rnd (18 sts)
Rnd 4: *(2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (24 sts)
Rnd 5: *(2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (30 sts)
Rnd 6: *(2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (36 sts)
Rnds 7-10: Sc into each st.
Rnd 11: *(2 sc in first st, sc in next 11 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (39 sts)
Rnds 12-15: Sc into each st.
Rnd 16: *(Sc2tog, sc in next 11 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (36 sts)
Rnds 17-18: Sc into each st.
Rnd 19: *(Sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (30 sts)
Rnd 20: *(Sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (24 sts)
Rnd 21: *(Sc2tog, sc in next 10 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (22 sts)
Rnd 22: Sc in next 9 sts, sc2tog twice, sc in next 9 sts (20 sts)
Rnd 23: Sc in 8 sts, sc2tog twice, sc in next 8 sts (18 sts)
Rnds 24-26: Sc in each st.
Rnd 27: *(2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (20 sts)
Rnd 28: Sc in each st.
*Insert a stitch marker to hold your place. Stuff the Body firmly.
Rnd 29: Sc2tog around (10 sts)
Rnd 30: Sc2tog around (5 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Use a yarn needle to sew end closed. Weave in ends.
Muzzle:
Rnd 1: Ch 4. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, 5 sc in last ch, working around to other side, sc in next 2 chs, 5 sc in last ch (14 sts)
Rnds 2-3: Sc in each st around.
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Pin Muzzle to Head of Okja. Stitch into place with a yarn needle, adding stuffing. Weave in ends.
Ears (Make 2):
Ch 7. Sl st in first st, sc in next 2, hdc in next 2, dc in last ch (6 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Sew to each side of head.
Front Legs (Make 2):
Rnd 1: Make an adjustable ring, ch 1, work 3 sc and 4 dc into ring. Pull tail to close ring (7 sts)
Rnd 2: Working into back loops only (BLO) of each st, sc in each st.
Rnds 3-5: Sc into each st.
Rnd 6: 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts (9 sts)
Rnd 7: 2 sc in first st, sc in each st around (10 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Stuff and sew to bottom of Okja as shown.
Back Legs (Make 2):
Rnd 1: Make an adjustable ring, ch 1, work 4 sc and 4 dc into ring. Pull tail to close ring (8 sts)
Rnd 2: Working into BLO of each st, sc in each st.
Rnd 3: 2 sc in first st, sc in each st (9 sts)
Rnd 4: Sc in each st.
Rnd 5: Sc2tog, sc around (8 sts)
Rnd 6: 2 sc in first st, sc in each st (9 sts)
Rnd 7: *(2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts), repeat from * to end of rnd (12 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Stuff and sew to bottom of Okja as shown.
Tail:
Ch 5. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next st, hdc in next 2 (4 sts)
Fasten off and leave a long tail. Sew to the back of Okja.
Finishing:
Apply a dab of superglue to the post of each eye and insert into the head as shown. (Using super bulky yarn, it is difficult to use the washer and assemble the eyes, so gluing the eyes into place works better.)
Thread a yarn needle with a strand of gray yarn. Come up beside each eye and stitch a small short stitch over the top of each eye for an eyelid. Weave in ends.
Thread an embroidery needle with black embroidery floss. Stitch nostrils making loop shapes and straight stitches on the muzzle. Stitch a vertical line and two short diagonal lines for the mouth. Refer to photo.
