Introduction

The Seaside Postgrad Turtle is a cozy, friendly character dressed for a breezy coastal walk—bucket hat, cable jumper, shorts with wave trim, coral slip-ons, and a scholarly backpack.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

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Materials Needed

• Yarn (DK, ~22–26 sts = 10 cm / 4″ in stockinette):
  1. Turtle skin (soft moss/sea-green): ~45 g
  2. Sweater (baby blue): ~30 g
  3. Shorts & hat (ivory/cream): ~30 g
  4. Shoes (coral): ~18 g; shoe soles/edging (ivory): scraps
  5. Backpack (dark teal): ~20 g
  6. Seashell pendant (ivory + pale sand): scraps
  7. Face embroidery (dark olive/brown)
• Needles:
  1. US 3 (3.25 mm) circular/DPNs for most pieces
  2. US 2.5 (3.0 mm) for ribbings, shoes, hat brim, shell pendant details
• Notions: 6–7 mm safety eyes; tapestry needle; stitch markers; waste yarn; polyester fiberfill; small pouch of pellets for base weight (optional); a short piece of twine or I-cord for pendant loop; tiny wooden button for backpack flap (optional).

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Abbreviations (US Terms)

• CO – cast on
• BO – bind off
• k – knit
• p – purl
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• kfb – knit front & back (inc 1)
• m1L / m1R – make 1 left / make 1 right
• k2tog – knit 2 together
• ssk – slip, slip, knit
• yo – yarn over
• pm / sm – place marker / slip marker
• tbl – through back loop
• RS / WS – right / wrong side
• I-cord – narrow tube on 3–4 sts
• C4F – slip next 2 sts to cn, hold to front, k2, then k2 from cn (rope cable)

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Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge (in the round): 26 sts × 36 rnds = 10 cm on US 3 (stockinette).
• Finished size: ~22–23 cm tall; shoe length ~4.2 cm; hat brim Ø ~8.5 cm; backpack height ~6 cm.

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Color & Yardage Map

• Sea-green: head, body, arms, legs, tail.
• Blue: sweater body & sleeves.
• Ivory: shorts, hat, shoe soles/edging, shell pendant.
• Coral: shoe uppers.
• Dark teal: backpack & straps.

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Pattern Notes

• Work in the round unless stated.
• Safety eyes placement: between Head rnds 17–18, 10 sts apart (~2.2 cm).
• Shape softly with even stuffing—no hard lumps.
• Use invisible decreases (ssk on left, k2tog on right) on visible taper areas.

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TURTLE

Head (sea-green) — crown to mouth

CO 6 sts, join, pm.

1. kfb around — 12
2. k
3. (k1, kfb) — 18
4. k
5. (k2, kfb) — 24
6. k
7. (k3, kfb) — 30
8. k
9. (k4, kfb) — 36
10. k
11. (k5, kfb) — 42
12. k
13. (k6, kfb) — 48
    14–18) k even (5 rnds)
14. (k7, kfb) — 54
    20–24) k even (5 rnds)
    — Insert eyes between rnds 17–18, 10 sts apart.
15. (k7, k2tog) — 48
16. k
17. (k6, k2tog) — 42
18. k
19. (k5, k2tog) — 36
20. k
21. (k4, k2tog) — 30
22. (k3, k2tog) — 24
    Stuff head firmly; keep cheeks rounded, mouth area slightly flat.
23. (k2, k2tog) — 18
24. (k1, k2tog) — 12
25. k2tog around — 6. Draw yarn through; secure.
    Embroider two small nostrils and a simple smile.

📌Thank you for reading the article.

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Body (sea-green) — hips to neck

CO 30 sts, join.

1. k
2. (k4, kfb) — 36
3. k
4. (k5, kfb) — 42
5. k
6. (k6, kfb) — 48
   7–12) k even (6 rnds)
7. (k7, kfb) — 54 ← lower belly fullness
   14–18) k even (5 rnds)
8. (k7, k2tog) — 48
9. k
10. (k6, k2tog) — 42
11. (k5, k2tog) — 36
    23–25) k even (3 rnds)
12. (k4, k2tog) — 30 ← waist
    27–29) k even (3 rnds)
13. (k4, m1) — 36 ← upper chest
    31–33) k even (3 rnds)
14. (k4, k2tog) — 30
15. (k3, k2tog) — 24
    Stuff body (firm at base, soft at waist).
16. (k2, k2tog) — 18
17. (k1, k2tog) — 12. BO long tail to join head.

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Arms/Flippers (make 2, sea-green)

CO 8 sts; work I-cord 18 rows (arm cylinder).
Next 4 rows: decrease to a blunt end—knit k2tog once per row until 4 sts, then draw tail through. Lightly stuff top half only. Finished length: ~7 cm.

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Legs & Feet (make 2, sea-green)

Foot first:
CO 8, join.

1. (k1, kfb) — 12
2. k
3. (k2, kfb) — 16
4. k
5. (k3, kfb) — 20
   6–9) k even (oval).
6. (k3, k2tog) — 16
7. (k2, k2tog) — 12
8. (k1, k2tog) — 8 (end of foot).
   Leg: k even 14 rnds. BO. Stuff foot firmly, leg lightly.

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Tail (sea-green)

CO 4 sts; work I-cord 2.5–3 cm. BO. Sew as a small nub at low back.

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CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Cable Sweater (baby blue) — top-down raglan, in the round

Yoke:
With US 3, CO 48 sts, join, pm at start.
Rib k1, p1 for 4 rnds.
Setup rnd (RS): k4 (front-left), pm, k2 (raglan), pm, k10 (sleeve), pm, k2 (raglan), pm, k12 (back), pm, k2 (raglan), pm, k10 (sleeve), pm, k2 (raglan), pm, k4 (front-right) — markers around each raglan 2-st column.
Raglan increase section: On every RS rnd for 10 rnds, work:

• At each raglan: k to 1 before marker, m1R, k2 (raglan), m1L; work rest in stockinette.
  Establish center front cable after the 2nd increase rnd: place a center panel of 8 sts for cable motif (stitch count accommodates it).
  Cable panel (worked in the round):
• Keep 8-st panel centered at front as: 2 purl, 4 knit (rope cable), 2 purl.
• Cross C4F every 6th rnd.
  After 10 raglan inc rnds, you should have ~88 sts total (exact distribution: Fronts combined allow the 8-st cable + stockinette, sleeves each ~26–28 sts, back ~28–30 sts).

Divide for sleeves:

• Place sleeve sts on waste yarn, CO 4 sts at each underarm, join to work body in the round.

Body:

• Work straight in stockinette, maintaining the center cable and its purl borders.
• After 12 rnds, work k1, p1 rib for 6 rnds. BO in rib. Hem hits just over shorts waistband (as in photo).

Sleeves (one at a time):

• Return sleeve sts to needles; pick up 4 sts at underarm.
• Knit even 10–12 rnds, then k1, p1 rib 5 rnds; BO in rib.
• Sleeve length ends mid-palm with gentle cuff roll in the photo; keep rib cuffs snug.

Neck finishing:

• From neckline, pick up stitches evenly; work k1, p1 rib 3 rnds; BO low-tension for a neat crew.

Seashell pendant:

• Work as separate piece (see “Knitted Seashell Pendant” below) and tack to left-front chest.

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Shorts with Wave Trim (ivory)

Legs worked together in the round.
CO 72 sts, join.
1–6) k1, p1 rib (waistband).
7–18) k even.
19) (k10, k2tog) — 66
20–28) k even.
Wave trim at hem (each leg edge):
Switch to US 2.5 and work a simple scallop in the round:

• Rnd A: (yo, k2tog, k2tog, yo, k1) repeat to end.
• Rnd B: k.
• Rnd C: (kfb, k1, kfb, k3tog, k1) repeat (makes gentle points).
  Work 2 plain rnds, then BO loosely.
  Crotch seam: Divide the round into front/back equal halves; BO 2 sts at each inner thigh; graft or seam 2–3 cm to shape shorts. Length ends slightly above knee as in photo.

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Slip-On Shoes (coral with ivory sole)

Soles (ivory, make 2):
CO 10 sts flat.
Row 1 (RS) k.
Row 2 (WS) kfb at each end — 12.
Row 3 k.
Row 4 kfb each end — 14.
Rows 5–8 k even.
Row 9 k2tog each end — 12.
Row 10 k.
Row 11 k2tog each end — 10. BO. Pick up sts evenly around the sole (approx 44–48 sts) using ivory and knit 1 rnd to raise an edge.

Uppers (coral):
Change to coral; knit 5 rnds even.
Next: decrease toe area every rnd: (k8, k2tog) around once; knit 1 rnd; (k7, k2tog) once; knit 1 rnd.
Pick up across heel and work straight 3 rows flat for slip-on opening; BO.
Collar: With ivory, pick up around opening and work k1, p1 rib 2 rnds; BO.
Sew a tiny tack at heel if needed so shoes stay on.

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Bucket Hat (ivory)

Work top-down in the round.
CO 6 sts, join.

1. kfb around — 12
2. (k1, kfb) — 18
3. (k2, kfb) — 24
4. (k3, kfb) — 30
5. (k4, kfb) — 36
6. (k5, kfb) — 42
   7–12) k even for crown depth (gentle dome).
   Side wall: knit 6 more rnds even.
   Brim:

• Rnd A: (k6, m1) around — 48
• Rnd B: k
• Rnd C: (k5, m1) — 56
• Rnd D: k
• Rnd E: (k6, m1) — 64
• Rnd F: k
  Switch to US 2.5 and work k1, p1 rib 3 rnds; BO neatly. Block the brim to sit slightly downward.

📌Thank you for reading the article.

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Backpack (dark teal)

Body (flat):
CO 22 sts; work stockinette 24 rows.
Fold in half to make a pouch ~6 cm tall; seam sides.
Flap: Pick up 22 sts along top back edge; work garter 6 rows; BO with a gentle curve by k2tog at each end on last RS row.
Straps (make 2): I-cord 3 sts × 9–10 cm; attach top under flap and bottom near pouch corners.
Button loop: CO 12 sts, BO; sew as loop to flap underside. Sew on a tiny button (optional) or tack flap closed.

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Knitted Seashell Pendant (ivory with sand accent)

Shell piece:
CO 10 sts flat.
Row 1 (RS) k.
Row 2 p.
Row 3 kfb, k1, (kfb, k1) x3 — 14.
Row 4 p.
Row 5: (k2, kfb) across — 18.
Row 6 p.
Row 7: k2tog, k2, k2tog across — 14.
Row 8 p.
Row 9: k2tog, k1 across — 7. BO leaving a long tail. Spiral the piece slightly and tack to hold a seashell curve. Embroider 3–4 sand-colored lines from tip outward.
Loop: I-cord 2 sts × 2.5 cm (sand); attach to shell and then to sweater’s left chest.

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ASSEMBLY & PLACEMENT MAP

1) Head to Body

• Align neck openings; ladder stitch closed. Head sits upright (no forward tilt).

2) Arms

• Sew to body at Body rnd ~30 from cast-on, matching sweater underarm line. Slight forward angle 5–10°.

3) Legs

• Attach centered under body, spaced ~2.2–2.5 cm apart. Ensure feet are parallel so slip-ons sit flat.

4) Tail

• Sew nub 4 rnds above body cast-on, pointing down 15–20°.

5) Face

• If embroidering eyes, place between Head rnds 17–18, 10 sts apart. Stitch small vertical dashes for nostrils and a short curved smile.

6) Dress the Turtle

• Put on shorts first, then sweater.
• Add shoes and bucket hat.
• Fit backpack, sinking strap joins slightly under sweater hem at back if needed.
• Tack seashell pendant to left chest.

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Exact Visual Targets

• Head diameter about 6.5–7 cm when stuffed; cheeks rounded.
• Sweater hem meets top of shorts; center rope cable aligns with nose.
• Shorts length: hem sits mid-thigh; wave trim visible.
• Shoe opening shows a narrow ivory collar; sole thickness ~0.5 cm (stuff lightly).
• Backpack height ~6 cm; flap ends just below shoulder line.
• Hat brim turns down slightly; crown snug to head without wrinkles.

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Quality Check

• Keep stuffing smooth at neck join; massage to remove “step.”
• Maintain even cable tension; cross every 6th rnd so rope appears crisp but not tight.
• Rib edges (sweater hem/cuffs/neck and shoe collars) should be elastic but not flaring.
• Ensure shorts crotch is neat; reinforce inner thigh with an extra stitch if needed.
• Align backpack straps symmetrically.

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Care & Safety

If gifting to a child under 3, replace safety eyes with embroidered eyes and secure all small accessories (pendant, shoes, backpack) permanently. Hand-wash cool; reshape and dry flat.

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Quick Pattern Recap (for exact likeness)

• DK gauge 26×36 / 10 cm on US 3.
• Head to 54 sts then tapered; eyes rnds 17–18, 10 sts apart.
• Body hips 54, waist 30, short neck.
• Arms short cylinders; legs straight; small tail nub.
• Outfit: baby-blue cable sweater with centered rope cable & rib edges; ivory shorts with wave hem; coral slip-on shoes with ivory soles; ivory bucket hat; dark-teal backpack; ivory seashell pendant on left chest.