This little brooch is a celebration of the loveliness of red squirrels, officially one of Scotland’s favourite animals and definitely one of mine.
The tiniest beasties are often the fiddliest to make but this little squirrel is surprisingly straightforward. You knit the squirrel in one piece, from tail tip to nose, and then wet felt it down to a neat miniature of itself. I like knitting animals in gently heathered Shetland yarn, as it makes natural looking fur with a soft, fuzzy bloom.

The squirrel is knitted as a length of I-cord, with the legs and ears knitted as you go, as simple short rows.

These make sweet brooches, with a brooch pin sewn onto their undersides, or you can use them as hanging decorations stuck onto a bauble or cone (make sure the cone has fully opened first!).

Thank you to the Journal of Scottish Yarns, who first published this pattern in November 2024.

Please note this squirrel is not suitable for small children.

SIZE

Finished Length 8.2 cm / 3.25 in

YARN

Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift, jumper (4 ply/fingering) weight, 100% Shetland wool, 105 m / 115 yds per 25g ball.
Shades Paprika (261) and Burnt Umber (1190) both make great red squirrels.

OR in 4 ply yarn that knits to the specified gauge and is wet feltable, i.e. 100% wool and not superwash treated.

APPROXIMATE YARDAGE REQUIRED

9 m / 10 yds

TECHNIQUES

I-cord, wet felting, simple short rows.