Knits Gifts 2018: Murray the Musk Ox

You guys, musk oxen are the cutest. Go Google “baby musk ox” right now and spend a little time. I’ve been in love with musk oxen, especially the baby ones, since a few years back when I learned about the fiber qiviut. Qiviut comes from the down of the musk ox, and it’s some of the best stuff out there. It’s extra warm, super light, water resistant, and it’s incrrrrrredibly soft. It’s seriously the greatest, and the critters are brilliant as well (that’s brilliant in the British sense; I have no idea what the musk ox IQ range is). So, when we asked Brenda K. B. Anderson to design some knitted animals for Knits Gifts 2018, we just had to ask her to include a cute musk ox that we named Murray.

Murray the Musk Ox isn’t a morning ox—magnets inside his hoof and mug ensure his hot chocolate is nearby at all times. Murray’s furry body is worked in loop stitch to give him snuggly texture. This stitch does take extra effort, but it’s fun, unusual, and well worth learning. Don’t forget to add his sleepy eyes to remind you that it’s always a good time for a nap with a stuffed friend.

Pattern Details

DESIGNER Brenda K. B. Anderson

DIFFICULTY Intermediate

FINISHED SIZE 9½” wide (measured across widest point at upper body) and 21″ tall (including his 8″ long legs).

YARN Plymouth Yarn Galway Worsted (100% wool; 210 yd [192 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): #759 Reese cup (medium brown; MC), 3 balls; #757 bark heather (dark brown; A), #752 pebble beach heather (light taupe; B), and #711 pale brown heather (light brown, C), 1 ball each.

NEEDLES Size 6 (4 mm): straight. Size 4 (3.5 mm): set of double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

NOTIONS Markers (m); removable m; tapestry needle; quilter’s pins; polyester fiberfill; size E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook; one 9″ × 12″ sheet of black (or brown) “-thick craft foam; two white 1 ” buttons and two black ” buttons (Note: Buttons should be flat, with no shank, and have the same number of holes so that they can be stitched together when stacked); sewing needle and black thread; small amount of brown felt and matching thread for eyelids and magnet casing; optional: small amount of instant glue to keep lower lids in place; 2 super strong magnets to fasten hot chocolate to Murray’s hoof (see Notes).

GAUGE 13 sts and 21 rows = 4″ in Loop st patt with yarn held double on larger needles; 26 sts and 29 rnds = 4″ in St st with 1 strand of yarn on smaller needles.

Make Gift-Giving Season Special with Murray the Musk Ox