Day eighteen!

little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way...

Donkey 

You will only need:

Set of 2mm (US size 0) double pointed needles

Tiny amounts 4-ply (fingering) weight or sock yarn (in two shades if you want a different colour muzzle)

Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Pattern

Beg at the muzzle and with muzzle colour yarn (if opting for a different colour muzzle) cast on 7 sts.

Divide sts over three dpns. K 1 rnd.

Rnd 2 Kfb, k to last st, kfb. (9 sts)

Change colour here, if necessary, for head.

Rep last rnd once more. (11 sts)

Rnd 3 K11.

Rep last rnd twice more.

Shape sides of head

Rnd 6 [Kfb] twice, k7 [kfb] twice. (15 sts)

Rnd 7 K15.

Rep last rnd twice more.

Shape neck

Rnd 10 Kfb, k5, k3 tog, k5, kfb. You may need to rearrange the sts more evenly at this point.

Rnd 11 K15.

Rep last 2 rnds once more.

Shape body

Rnd 16 [Kfb] 3 times, k9, [kfb] 3 times. (21 sts)

Rnd 17 K21.

Rep last rnd 14 times more.

Shape back

Rnd 28 [K2 tog] 10 times, k1. (11 sts)

Rnd 29 K11.

Stuff your donkey with toy filling or spare yarn.

Tail

Cut the yarn, leaving a tail end of approx. 51cm/ 20in, thread end through yarn needle, thread needle through first 3 sts, leave next 5 sts onto a dpn, cont to thread rem 3 sts onto the yarn needle. Pull up tight to close hole, use the thread to work the tail as i cord until the yarn runs almost to the end, thread end through the rem sts, pull up and secure the end.

Legs

Fore legs make 2 alike. Cast on 5 sts, *work an i cord until the cord measures 2½cm/ 1in. Cut yarn, thread end through yarn needle, thread needle through 6 sts, pull up tight to close hole. Secure end. Weave in the end at the hoof end.**

Back legs make 2 alike. Cast on 6 sts, work as Fore Legs from * to **.

Sew legs to the sides of the body.

Ears make 2 alike

Cast on 5 sts, work as i cord as follows;

K5.

Rep last rnd twice.

K2 tog, k1, k2 tog.

K3.

Rep last rnd once.

Cut yarn, thread end through yarn needle, thread needle through 3 sts, pull up and secure end.

Sew onto the side of the head at the cast on end of ear.

Sew on eyes, a mane with sewing thread – on the white donkey I also sewed a band around the muzzle, in cotton thread to give shape to the muzzle.