Tree Dude is a wonderfully textural little toy with a personality all his own.

Knit in the round, he uses the loop stitch to create his shaggy foliage.

If the loop stitch is not for you, a textured yarn like fun fur works beautifully for the leaves instead.

Best of all, the pattern works with any weight yarn, so you can make a whole family of Tree Dudes, or one for every season.

He comes out at about 10 inches in bulky, 7.5 inches in worsted, 5.5 inches in sport, and 5 inches in sock weight.

Skill level: Intermediate

Techniques: knit in the round, loop stitch, working at any gauge

As an early childhood educator, I love a toy that invites a child into the seasons. A whole family of Tree Dudes, one leafy and green, one bare for winter, one blazing with fall color, turns a knitting project into a little lesson about the year going round, all through play.