Easy Fox Knitting Pattern

This cozy “Finnegan” the fox pattern is so cute, so fun, and he’s totally beginner friendly!

The full, free pattern can be seen below, or you may choose to purchase the ad-free, printable version from my Etsy Shop HERE. It includes all helpful photos as well!

After sharing Poppy the chicken, I was reminded how much fun I have making plushie patterns, even though they have been a rarity for me the last many years. While I see a lot of crochet amigurumi options, I haven’t seen a ton of super easy knit options.

Finnigan is the cutest, easiest little fox! You’d never know he is so simple.

I really love using super bulky yarn because projects can work up quickly. For little fox friend, I went to the store, found some colors I like, and hopped to.

My first version was super ugly lol, but after some trial and error, I just love this pattern and am thrilled about it!

And yes, he is beginner friendly!

The fox is knit flat and seamed. The little body suit is fun because you can be creative with the color. You could also make him without it!

While he’s knit flat, if you want to knit his head and body in the round, you totally can do that. Just check out the notes on tips if you go that route!

Description:

This cozy fox is absolutely adorable and so easy to knit! He is perfect for beginner knitters as he is knit flat. He works up incredibly quickly, and before long, you will be addicted to making lots of cute fox friends with different sweaters. The size is lovely to make for little ones (and also for us adults who will always be kids)! Grab your super bulky yarn and have fun!

Beginner fox knitting pattern — Hello, he says!

Just a reminder, in case you like hard copies of your patterns, you can purchase the ad-free, printable version from my Etsy shop HERE!

Materials:

Super Bulky #6 yarn in orange or red like Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick (1 skein) in Spice (35 grams)

Super bulky #6 yarn in cream or white like Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick (1 skein)

in Fisherman (20 grams)

Super bulky #6 yarn in color of choice for sweater like Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick (1 skein) in Flax (20 grams)

Optional small amount of worsted weight yarn for scarf

US Size 10.5 (6 mm) knitting needles

Black safety eyes or black yarn for eyes

Charcoal or black worsted weight yarn for nose (Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted)

Fiber fill for stuffing (5-10 oz)

Scissors

Tapestry needle to seam and weave in ends

Measuring Tape

Finished Size (approximate):

5” x 10” tall

Gauge:

Not important for this pattern

Pattern Notes:

This cozy friend is knit from the bottom up. You will start by knitting the two legs, and then move onto the body and lastly the head. It is made as one flat panel and seamed.

You may also choose to knit this in the round, if you’re experienced. If you choose to knit in the round, simply decrease two stitches (one on each “leg”) when you begin. It’s possible to knit the body on 16” circular needles.

Have fun!

Abbreviations (US) & Skills:

k – knit

p – purl

st – stitch

sts – stitches

KFSB – knit front slip back *knit regularly without dropping the stitch off the needle, then slip stitch from the back (increase)

Stockinette Stitch: Knit one row, purl the next row. Repeat this pattern.

Cozy “Finnegan” Fox Knitting Pattern

Leg

Make 2

With your red or orange, cast on 8 sts

Row 1 Knit across

Row 2 Purl across

Row 3 KFSB each st across (16 sts)

Rows 4 – 12 Work stockinette stitch (row 12 should be a purl row)

Cut yarn.

Keep this leg on the needles and slide it down. You may also choose to take it off the needles and hold the stitches on a length of yarn to knit later.

Repeat above pattern one more time for a separate second leg.

Body/Sweater Suit Section

With both legs side by side on the needles with knit side up, pick up new body/sweater color to knit.

Row 1 Knit across all stitches (32)

Row 2 Knit across all stitches (32) (These two knit rows make the cute little ridge at the bottom of the sweater suit!)

Next, work stockinette for 13 rows, working a total of 15 rows in this section.

Head

Change color to cream or white.

Work stockinette stitch for a total of 6 rows.

Change color to orange or red.

Work stockinette stitch for a total of 13 rows with red or orange.

Head should now have a total of 19 rows.

Cast off.

Optional Scarf

With small needles (like US 8’s or similar) and worsted weight yarn, cast on 4 stitches. Work stockinette stitch until scarf is approximately 15” inches long or preferred length. Cast off and weave in ends.

Assembly

Using a mattress stitch seam, seam the fox together from the bottom, up. You will seam up each leg, and then make one seam all the way up. This seam will be the center back. See photo at end of pattern for how it looks once seamed.

Make a running stitch around the neck, where the sweater meets the head (see photo at end of pattern). Tighten to shape the neck. Tie loosely so you can make adjustments with his shaping before tying tightly and weaving in ends.

Lightly stuff to see shape.

Eyes

See photo for instruction along with these written notes.

Press your fingers into the head where you would like to see the eyes. There should be small indentations left on the fabric. With a length of worsted or light yarn, tie a stitch at the first indentation mark, then put your needle through the head and bring it up at the second eye indentation. Pull it, and tie to the stitch at the second indentation. Work around the stitches a couple of times, pulling them slightly. Then tie off and pull the yarn end through the head to hide it.

Next, place your safety eyes over the tied stitches. You may also embroider eyes with yarn. If the animal will be for children, embroidered eyes should be made.

Nose

Add the nose with a length of charcoal or black yarn, working around the center front stitch horizontally several times. Pull yarn through the horizontal stitches from top to bottom, and finish by pulling through into the head to hide yarn end.

Arms

Make 2

The arms are made by knitting a simple i-cord. If you’ve never done it, it’s so easy! There are a lot of great tutorials online if you conduct a simple search “how to knit an i-cord”. If you’d rather knit them traditionally flat and seam, that will work too. Simply add 2 stitches for a total of 7 cast on. Then mattress stitch seam them when finished.

Easy I-Cord Arm Instructions

With your circular needles and Body/Sweater color, cast on 5 stitches

Row 1 Knit each st across the row

Next, slide your work to the opposite side of the needles. Do not turn.

Knit another row, tightening the first stitch of the row and knitting the next.

Repeat this pattern by knitting the row, then sliding the work to the opposite end and knitting again.

Work a TOTAL of 7 rows for the sweater.

Next, change to orange or red for the hand.

Continue to knit another two rows.

Knit cast off.

Cinch the end of the hand together with the tail of yarn and a tapestry needle. Tie off and weave in ends.

Seam arms to the fox on each side directly on the sweater portion where the body/sweater meets the head.

Final Touches and Finishing Finish stuffing evenly. Seam the head closed at the top with a simple whip stitch seam or preferred method.

Photo Tutorial Finnigan The Knit Fox

First Photo: One leg is knit flat on the needles. You will now knit a second leg on the same needles, side by side.

Second Photo: The two legs are knit, the body and head are done and it is now seamed closed. A running stitch is worked with a tapestry needle at the neck. You will cinch it to tighten and shape!

Third Photo: The indentations of the eyes are created and the head is stuffed.

See how simple he is?

Above, you can see where the eyes have been indented first with the fingers, then the length of yarn worked around each stitch and pulled. This will hold the indentations in place. See above instructions for “Eyes”