2024-11-20

Knitted Gerbil Pattern

 Started knitting them in 2008. I could not believe that I finally found a pattern that I can modify into a gerbil. They don't look too bad.

Materials:

  • Worsted weight best but I leave that up to you.
  • Needles suitable for the yarn. I used 4-mm (US Size 5) diameter straight needles– this project is knit back and forth in row.
  • Tapestry needle.
  • Straight Pins to help put the gerbil together.
  •  Floss in the color of your choice for the eyes or get wiggly eyes to glue them on.
  • Crochet hook. I used a size F.
  • Something to cut yarn with.
  • I think that’s all!

Directions:

  • Get the bunny pattern at: Heartstrings Fiber Arts site
  • Garter or stockinette stich a square 4 or 4 1/2 inches.
  • Follow the bunny directions on assembling the gerbil together..
  • Make the ears by just crocheting a tiny chain and sew them on. It is trail and error on how many. It is pain to sew on,
  • Use the crochet hook to chain a tail and make a tuft use spare strands of yarn.
  • POOF! You have a gerbil. It will usually only take and hour or two to make depending on how fast you knit..

Update 07/27/2008

I have been using 4.5mm (US 7) needles with Stockinette stitch with a 4" square. The gerbil turns out much better. I have found a better way to make the tail look more fuller like a real gerbil. Cut 3 strands of the color you want the tail. Thread each one through the back of the gerbil. Then divide them into 2 strands each and braid them. Once the tail is as long as you like, tie it off. Cut off any excess but leave enough for the tuft. The tail turns out much nicer.  At the gerbil show in May 2008, they were the hit of the show. I sold many but many of them were used as prizes and raffle items. I plan on having at every gerbil show I attend. I an even entering on at the local fair for handcrafted knitted toys.

Update 09/10/2008

Ear Improvement. Using size 3.5mm (US 4). Cast 4 stitches then immediately cast off in knit. Thread one end through the other end forming the ear. Sew in place. For those that hate crochet.

Update: 03/23/2010:

I got some homespun wool/angora yarn 3ply in a Craftster Swap. I went down a needle size (US 6). The gerbil came out wonderful. Much closer to a real agouti or nutmeg gerbil. Take a look.
Knitted Gerbil

News Articles that mention my knitted Gerbils:

New Hampshire Public Radio May 19, 2008 | Nashua Telegraph May 12, 2008 | The American Gerbil Show: What Our Pets Teach Us

Please send me pictures of your gerbils. I would love to see them. If you live near Nashua NH in May, there will be a gerbil show. I will be there selling my knitted rodent merchandise. See Pictures of my gerbil creations here. I tried to be as close to real colors as possible. I welcome suggestions!  My knitted gerbils will be at the New England Gerbil Show on May 1, 2010 in Nashua, NH. I will also have my gerbil and hamster knitted necklaces that are featured at my Etsy Store.

April 6, 2010: My Knitted Gerbils appeared in a New York Free paper called amNewYork. It was under the Stuff Section. Found on Etsy. Here is the PDF.

I did start selling my knitted gerbils at my Etsy Store.

Knitted Gerbil Suggestions Welcome

I welcome suggestions on yarn colors for gerbils to make them more color realistic.

Dark Eyed Honey - suggestion? Orange Maybe?

Topaz - suggestion?

Polar Fox - Slightly lighter than a Grey Agouti

Spotted Lilac - A suggestion was made to use "Linen Marl" (Red Heart/Eco-Cotton).

DEH or Dark Eyed Honey - A suggestion was made to use "Yam" (Red Heart/Eco-Ways). 

Knitted Gerbil Brown

 Brown

Gerbil Color?

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted


Updated picture 19 June 2015




Knitted Gerbil Dark Agouti or Nutmeg

 Dark Agouti or Nutmeg

Yarn Used: Homespun Wool 

I use various homepun wool yarns to make these different nutmegs or agouti's.




Knitted Gerbil Agouti or Nutmeg

 Agouti or Nutmeg

Yarn Used: Super Saver Mill Grade 250 Yarn SHADED BROWN



Knitted Gerbil Red Eyed Honey

 


Red Eyed Honey

Yarn Used: TLC Essentials - Permission (Look like a Rust Color)


2024-11-10

Day 3 Baby update

Had a peek after feeding mom and dad this morning. They look happy and healthy. They are being wonderful first time parents. The babies are going to be black eyed. Showing dark pigment. Possibly both are going to be agouti.

2024-11-09

2022-07-01

cucumber treat

Everyone got a cucumber treat tonight. Slash, Dash, Ashe, Zach, Wayne, Mice, Ghost, Winter, Erik, Spot, Sansa and Arya.

2022-06-26

Fireworks tonight

Went to see fireworks tonight at the Columbia Station Homecoming Festival. Steak 🥩 sandwich 🥪 and apple 🍎 pie 🥧. Cute photo of Ashe me

2022-01-20

Knitted Gerbil Orange

Any Young Orange Colored Pup, Nutmeg Before Molt, Red Fox/Saffron, Argente Golden, Argente Cream, Argente

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted, Orange and Black

Knitted Gerbils Black/Red

Black/Red
Black with red ears and red into the tail. It doesn't represent any real gerbil color. I think it just looks cool.

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted Black. Red Worsted Yarn.

I like to call it a "devil gerbil".

Knitted Gerbils Holiday Green

 Green Holiday Gerbils

These poor gerbils ate too many peas and turned green. They also will look cute in an Easter Basket

Knitted Gerbil Color Suggestions

I welcome suggestions on yarn colors for gerbils to make them more color realistic.

Dark Eyed Honey - suggestion? Orange Maybe?

Topaz - suggestion?

Polar Fox - Slightly lighter than a Grey Agouti

Spotted Lilac - A suggestion was made to use "Linen Marl" (Red Heart/Eco-Cotton).

DEH or Dark Eyed Honey - A suggestion was made to use "Yam" (Red Heart/Eco-Ways).

2022-01-19

Knitted Gerbil Silver Nutmeg

Silver Nutmeg or Polar Fox

Yarn Used: Vanna's Choice 401 Grey Marble

Grey with white and black flecks

Knitted Gerbil Dove

Color: Dove (A very light grey)

Yarn Used: Red Heart 0341 Lt. Grey

Knitted Gerbil Halloween

 11 March 2011
  28 Color: Halloween Gerbil

Just for fun.

Knitted Gerbil Silver Point

 Silver Point (This is a real gerbil color)

  Body: Loops & threads soft worsted weight yarn. Impeccable. Color 01008 Aran 108919
  Ears and Tail: Light Grey Yarn

Knitted Gerbil Pied or Mottled Siamese

Pied or Mottled Siamese

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted Weight, Sandy Print Color #0792, (light brown/white variegated)

Knitted Gerbil Black

Black - Completely Black

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted, Black

This completely black gerbil is rare in the real gerbil world. I have only seen a couple of gerbils that were completely black. Usually they have some white on them.

Knitted Gerbil CP Nutmeg

Gerbil Color: Colorpoint nutmeg

Yarn Used: Vanna's Choice soft worsted. Color 302 Taupe Mist

Color was suggested by one of my gerbil friends.

Knitted Gerbil Lt. CP Nutmeg

Lt. CP Nutmeg or maybe a Light Spotted Nutmeg or Agouti

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted Weight, Sandy Print Color #0792, (light brown/white variegated)


Knitted Gerbil Mottled or Pied Argente

Mottled or Pied Argente

Yarn Used: Vanna's Choice Color Tang Mist

Added 19 June 2015. Not sure if this is a real color or not but it is cute.

Knitted Gerbil Argente

Argente

Yarn Used: Plymouth Yarn, Encore, Knitting Worsted, 95% Acrylic, 25% wool
Color 175 or Vanna's Choice Color 135 Rust

Knitted Gerbil Grey Agouti

Grey Agouti

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted Weight Heather Grey. This yarn has tiny strands of white in the yarn simulating the Grey Agouti coat.

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted, 0400 Grey Heather

I love how this yarn knits up.

Knitted Gerbil Beige with black flecks

Beige with black specks (not sure what gerbil color) but they are cute.

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted, 4334 Buff Fleck

Knitted Gerbil yellow fox

Yellow Fox

Yarn Used: Caron Perfect Match Worsted, Sunflower 7723

Knitted Gerbil White

White or PEW or REW or Ivory

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted White or any soft worsted weight yarn.

Knitted Gerbil Siamese

Siamese

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worsted, Black & 0334 Buff

Knitted Gerbil Burmese

 Burmese

Yarn Used: Red Heart Worst for both colors

Knitted Gerbil Blue

 Blue

Yarn Used: Dark Blue is Reynolds Utopia Blue Jean Colored. The Light Blue is Red Heart Worsted. Various blue yarns are used.

Updated to a better picture. 19 June 2015