KNITTING CIRCLE // Help Tiny Penguins Live to Be Cute Another Day

Perhaps the most adorable victims of an October 5 oil spill off the coast of New Zealand were the little penguins (that's an actual zoological title, folks.) In order to have the oil scrubbed off of them, the penguins actually need to be healthy enough--and two crucial components to making that happen are keeping them warm (oil dramatically inhibits penguin feathers from retaining body heat) and making sure they don't ingest any of the toxic oil on their bodies.

To that end, Skeinz yarn shop has organized a drive to make sure each little penguin is besweatered in 100 percent wool. Wool is able to trap in body heat just as well when its wet, other fibers are not. They've provided a pattern, which can use up any scrap yarn you have around and can be done over the course of a movie or two. Essentially, it's a beer koozie with wing holes, so hold on to the pattern for all of your holiday beer koozie-knitting needs.

Grab the pattern straight from Skeinz and hit the jump for in-depth instructions. 

Penguin Jumper in 8ply [DK weight]

1 pair 3.25mm [U.S. size 3], 1 pair of 3.75mm [U.S. size 5] needles , 1 set of 3.25mm dpn’s or circular

Cast on 36 stitches using 3.25 needles.K1, P1 to end of row. Repeat this row 7 times. 

Change to 3.75mm needles and K2, P2 rib. Work 4 rows increasing at each end of every row. (44 sts)

Continue until work measures 15 cms.

Decrease 1 st at each end of every row until 28 sts remain.

Decrease 1 st. in middle of next row (27 sts.)

Leave on needle.

Make second side the same.

Transfer the 54 sts from both pieces to 3 of the set of 4 3.25mm needles.(18 sts on each.) and work a round neck in K1 P1 rib for 10 rows.

Cast off.

Stitch up sides to decreasing to 27sts (opening for flipper). Add elastic to the top and bottom to prevent the penguins getting out of them. Top: 15cm of elastic; bottom 17 cm (knots allowed). Flat elastic OK.

And wah-la:

--Layla Schlack