DIY Knitted Angel Pattern: How to Make a Fluffy, Handmade Angel Toy
There is something truly magical about a handmade angel. Whether you are crafting a nursery decoration, a holiday ornament, or a thoughtful gift for a loved one, a soft, ethereal angel brings a sense of peace and whimsy to any space. In this tutorial, I will walk you through the complete process of creating your very own fluffy angel. This project combines the soft, hazy texture of mohair knitting with delicate accents to create a toy that looks like it drifted straight out of a dream.
This pattern is perfect for intermediate beginners who are comfortable with basic knitting and want to try their hand at shaping a 3D object. We will also explore two different ways to make the dress—one using knitting needles for a cozy look, and one using a crochet hook for a delicate, lace-like finish. Let’s get started!
Materials and Tools You Will Need
To achieve that signature “halo” effect, I highly recommend using mohair yarn. The fine fibers will create a beautiful, fuzzy texture once brushed.
Yarn
- Main Body Yarn: Mohair (approximately 218 yards per 110g skein) in an off-white or milky shade.
- Dress Yarn (Knitting Option): Kid Mohair (approximately 273 yards per 27g skein) in pure white.
- Dress Yarn (Crochet Option): Cotton lace weight yarn (approximately 520 yards per 1.7 oz) in white.
- Detailing Yarn: A tiny amount of light brown wool for the nose and black embroidery thread for the face.
Tools
- Knitting Needles: A set of five 2mm (US 0/1) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the body, and two 3.5mm (US 4) needles for the knitted dress.
- Crochet Hook: 1.5mm (approx. D/1) for the crochet dress option.
- Stuffing: Polyfill or fiberfill.
- Felt: Off-white felt for the wings.
- Face Details: Two blue beads or safety eyes (approx. 3mm), and a small button for the wing center.
- Tools: A felting needle, a small metal pet brush (slicker brush), a sewing needle, and sewing thread.
Pattern Abbreviations
If you are new to these terms, here is a quick guide to the US abbreviations used in this pattern:
- K: Knit
- P: Purl
- M1: Make one (increase)
- K2tog: Knit two together (decrease)
- CO: Cast on
- BO: Bind off
- Ch: Chain (for crochet)
- Sc: Single crochet (for crochet)
- Dc: Double crochet (for crochet)
Step-by-Step Instructions
The Main Body (Head and Torso)
The body is worked in one continuous piece, starting from the head and moving down to the torso. You will be knitting in the round using your 2mm double-pointed needles.
The Head Shaping:
Cast on 20 stitches using your main color yarn. Distribute these 20 stitches evenly across four needles, then use your fifth needle to begin knitting in the round. You will be working only knit stitches for this section.
- Round 1: (K1, M1, K4) repeat 4 times = 24 stitches.
- Round 2: (K5, M1, K1) repeat 4 times = 28 stitches.
- Round 3: (K1, M1, K6) repeat 4 times = 32 stitches.
- Round 4: (K7, M1, K1) repeat 4 times = 36 stitches.
- Rounds 5 to 22 (18 rounds): Knit all 36 stitches in every round.
- Round 23: (K1, K2tog, K6) repeat 4 times = 32 stitches.
- Round 24: (K5, K2tog, K1) repeat 4 times = 28 stitches.
- Round 25: (K1, K2tog, K4) repeat 4 times = 24 stitches.
- Round 26: (K3, K2tog, K1) repeat 4 times = 20 stitches.
- Round 27: Knit all 20 stitches.
The Torso Shaping:
To create the lower body, you will repeat the shaping algorithm used for the head (from Round 2 through Round 27) for another 26 rounds. This will narrow the piece down toward the bottom.
- Final Decreasing Rounds:
- Round 55: (K1, K2tog, K2) repeat 4 times = 16 stitches.
- Round 56: (K1, K2tog, K1) repeat 4 times = 12 stitches.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. We will use this tail for assembly later.
Crafting the Arms and Legs
These pieces are worked flat in rows.
Arms (Make 2): Cast on 6 stitches. Work in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 12 rows. Bind off and fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Legs (Make 2): Cast on 6 stitches. Work in stockinette stitch for 15 rows. Bind off and fasten off, leaving a tail.
Making the Felt Wings
The wings add a lovely, soft silhouette to your angel. You can use a printed template or draw your own wing shape on a piece of paper.
- Trace your wing shape onto off-white felt and cut out two identical wings.
- Use a metal pet brush to lightly brush the edges of the felt to give them a soft, feathery appearance.
- Place the two wings together and sew them along the center edge. For a decorative touch, use a small button at the center where the wings meet.
- Once finished, you will sew these to the back of the angel’s torso.
The Angelic Dress: Two Ways to Make It
Depending on the look you want, you can choose either the cozy knitted version or the airy crochet version.
Option 1: The Knitted Dress
Use your 3.5mm needles and the white kid mohair. This creates a beautiful, textured look.
- Cast on 60 stitches.
- Work in stockinette stitch for 18 rows. (Note: Since tension varies, you may want to try the fabric on the angel as you go).
- To create the shape, divide the work into three sections: 15 stitches, 30 stitches, and 15 stitches.
- Work only the first 15 stitches for 6 rows, then bind them off.
- Work the middle 30 stitches for 6 rows, then bind them off.
- Work the final 15 stitches for 6 rows, then bind off.
- Thread a ribbon or thin string through the edge stitches to create ties for the back.
Option 2: The Crochet Lace Dress
Use a 1.5mm crochet hook and white cotton lace yarn for a more delicate, “see-through” effect.
- Chain a length of stitches that fits comfortably around the angel’s neck.
- Work in rounds following a pattern of double crochets.
- On the 4th round, create “arm holes” by working a chain of 6 stitches between your pattern repeats.
- Continue working the pattern until the dress reaches your desired length.
Finishing and Assembly
This is where your angel truly comes to life! Follow these steps carefully to ensure a professional, polished look.
- Stuffing: Turn the body right-side out and fill it evenly with polyfill. Be sure to stuff the head firmly so it holds its shape. Sew the opening closed.
- Attaching Limbs: To make the legs look more natural, sew the edges of the leg pieces together to form a “tube” before attaching them. Sew the legs to the bottom of the torso in a semi-circle. Sew the arms to the sides of the torso.
- The Wings: Sew the wings to the center of the back.
- The Face:
- Nose: Take a small tuft of light brown wool. Place it in the center of the face and use a felting needle to poke it repeatedly into the body until it is firmly attached and shaped into a small oval.
- Eyes: Sew on your blue beads or attach your safety eyes just above the nose. For extra detail, you can use a fine marker to add tiny pupils.
- Details: Using black embroidery thread, sew a simple smile and tiny eyelashes. Use a bit of pink chalk or actual makeup blush to gently color the cheeks for a sweet, rosy look.
- The Fluff Factor: This is the most important step! Take your metal pet brush and gently brush the entire angel. Focus especially on the top of the head to create a soft, cloud-like texture. This will hide the knit stitches and give the angel its ethereal, fuzzy glow.
Pro Tips for a Perfect Angel
- Don’t skip the brushing! The brushing step is what transforms a standard knitted toy into a high-end, professional-looking “mohair” creation.
- Watch your tension: When working with mohair, it can be easy to lose stitches in the fuzz. Use stitch markers if you need to keep track of your increases and decreases.
- Eye Placement: Always place the eyes before the nose. It is much easier to balance the face when you can see the relationship between the eyes and the nose.
- Customization: Don’t be afraid to get creative! You can change the color of the dress or even add a tiny flower crown to make your angel unique.
