Received a lovely response from the North Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership:
"Thank you for contacting us about the knitting pattern for our Ghillie
Dhu's. I have attached a copy for your information, and yes you have our
permission to add our post to your forum. Thank you for helping.
The family placement team have been running a group for children who are in
permanent foster care. This group is called the Ghillie Dhu Crew. The
name came about after searching for something Scottish. There are various
descriptions and stories about the Ghillie Dhu but a general consensus is
that the Ghillie Dhu was a Scottish Faerie who âwas kindly and reticent yet
sometimes wild in character but had a gentle devotion to children.â Each
Ghillie Dhu faerie is meant to have an identical wee one and big one so
that the children who we come into contact with, start to understand that
there is always somebody who can protect and look after them.
The children who attended the group were consulted and asked what they
would have liked, in a bag, when they first came to stay in foster care and
came up with some brilliant suggestions, which included a set of Ghillie
Dhus. So after consultation with the group facilitators we agreed that in
order to fulfil the request of the children from the Ghillie Dhu Crew we
would have to ask for assistance. So on behalf of the children, thanks again.
Once you have created your Ghillie Dhu please could you post them to the
address below:
Attn.: E. Brennan
Family Placement Team & Children & Families (Disabilities) Service
North Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership,
3rd Floor, West Wing
Bridgegate House
IRVINE
KA12 8BD"
Note: I believe that you may also need to add "United Kingdom" at the bottom, and mark your package with your return address.
Pattern follows:
The Ghillie Dhu Pattern (adapted from multiple other patterns)
Please feel free to be creative and adapt things as you see fit as we know that there will be more experienced knitters than ourselves out there.
-Can do all the rows in knit if itâs easier
-Can use whatever colour and combinations that you like
-Bits in red are for the wee ones
-People have used needles from around 3mm to 4mm but not
any bigger.
LEGS (MAKE 2)
With colour of boots that you choose cast on 10 (6)
Purl 1 row
Knit 1, increase 1 to the end (15 stitches) (9)
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
Knit 3, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit 3 (9 st)
Knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit 2
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Knit 1 row
Change to colour of flesh that you choose
Knit 1 row, purl 1 row for 23 rows (12 rows)
Cast off
Sew up the back and stuff
BODY (MAKE 1 PIECE)
With colour of choice cast on 30 stitches (20 Sts)
Starting with a purl row stocking stitch 7 rows (6 rows)
Knit 2 rows
Starting with a purl row stocking stitch 13 rows (7 rows)
Knit 2, knit 2 together to the end
Purl 1 row
Knit 2 together to the end
Purl 1 row
Draw wool through stitches and pull tight
Sew up and stuff
HEAD MAKE 1
with flesh colour to match the legs cast on 8 (4)
Purl 1 row
increase 1 to the end (16) (8)
Purl 1 row
(Increase 1, knit 1) to the end of row
Purl 1 row
(Increase 1, knit 2) to the end of row
Purl 1 row
(increase 1, knit 3) to the end of row
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
(Knit 2 together, knit 3) to end of row
Purl 1 row
(Knit 2 together, knit 2) to the end of row
Purl 1 row
(knit 2 together, knit 1) to the end of row
Purl 1 row
Knit 2 together to the end of row
Draw up remaining stiches and pull tight, sew up back and stuff it, sew up bottom
ARMS ( make 2)
With colour of body cast on 6 stitches (4)
Purl 1 row
Increase into every stitch (12) (8)
Purl 1 row, knit 1 row for 17 rows (11)
Purl 1 row, knit 1 row
Change to flesh colour
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
Knit 2 together
Purl 1 row
Pull up stitches tight and sew up
BOY SHORTS
Cast on 30 (18)
Knit 3 rows
Knit 1 row, purl 1 row for 9 rows (6)
Put stitches on a holder
Do the same again
Get both sets of stitches and knit right across
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Knit 3 rows
Cast off sew up each leg and join at the top
GIRL SKIRT
Cast on 80 (46)
Knit 2 rows
Knit 1 row, purl 1 row for 8 rows (6 rows)
(Knit 1, knit 2 together) to the end
Purl 2 row
Knit 2 together to the end
Cast off
Sew up back seam
HATS
Cast on 45 stitches (38)
Knit 4 rows
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
(Knit 5, knit 2 together) to the end
Purl 1 row
(knit 4, knit 2 together) to the end
Purl 1 row
(Knit 3, Knit 2 together) to the end
Purl 1 row
(Knit 2, Knit 2 together) to the end
Purl 1 row
(Knit 1, Knit 2 together) to the end
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
Knit 2 together to the end
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
Pull up all the stitches and sew up
GHILLIE DHU WINGS
Cast on 16
Knit into front and back 32
St st 4 rows
Cast of 3 stitches purl to end ( 29)
Cast of 3 stitches knit to end (26)
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Cast off 3 sts purl to end (23)
Cast off 3 sts knit to end (20)
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Cast off 3sts purl to end (17)
Cast off 3sts knit to end (14)
Purl 1 row
K2tog to end (7)
Purl 1 row
Knit 2 tog, knit 1, k 2 tog
Purl 2 tog 2
Break off wool
Thread through remaining 2 sts pull tight
Fold in half sew around all the outside
Take both wings and join together at the top
Sew on to the back of the ghillie dhu.
Sew all together, put on face and add hair in whatever colour/style you choose!
THANKS AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE GHILLIE DHU CREW !