When you think of the Loch Ness monster, you’re probably
picturing a grainy photograph from the 1930s featuring a big
back and spindly neck emerging from the water. But the first
recorded sighting of the monster is actually from 564 CE,
recorded in the writings of St. Columbia. The photo from 1934
has led many to speculate that this water-faring cryptid may
actually be a plesiosaurus, a kind of aquatic dinosaur that
(supposedly) went extinct some 65 million years ago. Is Lernie
trapped outside of time, the last in the line of an otherwise
extinct species? Are they a single creature or does Lernie
have a family? (What about Nessie, after all?) I’ve asked, but
Lernie won’t tell me. Perhaps you’ll have better luck.

Difficulty
Intermediate

Skills & Techniques
Working in the round in small circumferences

Yarn
Knitpicks Brava Worsted (100% Acrylic, 218 yds/117 m per
100g skein) or another worsted weight yarn

• MC Peacock; 44 yards/40 meters

Needles
US 4/3.5mm needles for working small pieces in the
round: DPNs, 1 long circular, or 2 short circulars

Notions

• Two 6mm sew-in doll eyes
• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
• Pins
• Polyester fiber fill
• Two pipe cleaners
• Scissors
• Length of black fingering weight yarn or embroidery floss

Optional Notions, for Body Weight:

• 4 inch/10cm diameter circular piece of scrap fabric
• 1-2 tbsp poly pellets (or rice or dried beans)
• Needle and thread for sewing

Finished Measurements
One Size
8.5 inches/21.5 cm long from head to tail with neck fully
extended

Photo Notes
Lernie’s big sister Nessie is made with the same pattern, using super bulky yarn and US 10.5/6.5mm needles