Free ITV Digital Monkey Knitting Pattern | PDF | Knitting | Handicrafts

If you grew up watching British television in the early 2000s, there’s a very good chance you have a soft spot for the little animated monkey that became the face of ITV Digital. That cheerful, wide-eyed character — brought to life through a series of playful advertisements voiced by Johnny Vegas — captured the hearts of an entire generation and became one of the most beloved mascots in UK television history. Even though ITV Digital itself eventually folded, the monkey lived on in the public imagination, and today he continues to inspire crafters, knitters, and textile artists all across the country and beyond.

If you’ve been searching for a free ITV Digital Monkey knitting pattern that you can download as a PDF and recreate in your own home, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know: the history of the famous monkey, what makes this pattern so special, the materials you’ll need, a full written pattern, tips for getting the best results, and how to put the finishing touches on your very own knitted ITV Digital Monkey toy.

Whether you’re a seasoned knitter or someone who has only recently picked up the needles, this project is achievable, rewarding, and a wonderful way to pay tribute to a genuinely iconic piece of British pop culture.

The Story Behind the ITV Digital Monkey

Before we dive into the pattern itself, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate just how this little stuffed toy became so famous. ITV Digital launched in 1998 as a subscription-based digital television platform in the United Kingdom. To advertise the service, the company created a series of television commercials featuring a man named Al (played by comedian Johnny Vegas) and his talking, opinionated monkey companion.

The monkey quickly became far more popular than the service itself. He was cheeky, loveable, and surprisingly philosophical for a stuffed animal. When ITV Digital collapsed in 2002, there was genuine public mourning — not just for the television service, but for the monkey, who had become a genuine celebrity in his own right.

The original plush monkey toys that were sold as merchandise became highly sought-after collector’s items almost overnight. Today they fetch significant sums on auction sites. For many people, knitting their own version of the monkey is both a creative project and a nostalgic act of love — a way of keeping the memory of that era alive through craft.

The knitting pattern that has circulated among crafters over the years is based on the design of that original plush toy: a sitting monkey with a round belly, long arms, a smiling face, and that unmistakable sense of cheerful mischief. Recreating him in yarn feels deeply satisfying.

What You’ll Need

Before you cast on, gather your materials. This pattern is designed to produce a monkey approximately 25–30 cm tall when sitting, which is close to the size of the original merchandise toys. Here’s what you’ll need:

Yarn: Double knitting (DK) weight yarn in the following colours — brown (main colour, approximately 100g), cream or off-white (for the face and belly, approximately 50g), and a small amount of black for the eyes and nose details.

Needles: A pair of 3.25mm (US 3) knitting needles. If you prefer a firmer fabric with less stuffing showing through, go down to 3mm. Some knitters prefer to work this in the round on double-pointed needles, but the pattern as written is worked flat in separate pieces and seamed together.

Stuffing: Toy stuffing or polyester fibrefill. You’ll need a reasonably generous amount to give the monkey a satisfying, firm shape.

Extras: A tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, stitch markers, scissors, and optionally a small amount of safety eyes (9mm or 12mm black) if you prefer these over embroidered eyes for a more polished finish. If the toy is for a child under three, always embroider the eyes rather than using safety eyes.

Gauge: Approximately 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10cm in stocking stitch. Gauge is not critical for a toy like this, but consistency will help you achieve a satisfying shape.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

For clarity, here are the abbreviations you’ll encounter throughout:

k = knit, p = purl, st = stitch, sts = stitches, k2tog = knit two stitches together (decrease), kfb = knit into the front and back of the stitch (increase), M1 = make one stitch, sl = slip, RS = right side, WS = wrong side, CO = cast on, BO = bind off (cast off), rep = repeat, rem = remaining, approx = approximately.

The Full Knitting Pattern

Body (worked from the bottom up)

Using brown yarn, CO 10 sts.

Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): Kfb in every stitch. (20 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K1, kfb rep to end. (30 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: K2, kfb rep to end. (40 sts)
Row 7: Purl.
Row 8: K3, kfb rep to end. (50 sts)

Work in stocking stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) for 20 rows without shaping.

Shape the top of the body:

Row 1: K3, k2tog rep to end. (40 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K2, k2tog rep to end. (30 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K1, k2tog rep to end. (20 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K2tog across. (10 sts)

Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, draw up tightly and fasten off. Seam the back of the body from top to bottom, leaving the cast-on edge open. Stuff firmly and then close the base by threading a length of yarn through the cast-on sts, drawing up to close, and fastening off.

Tummy Panel (in cream)

Using cream yarn, CO 8 sts.

Rows 1–4: Work in stocking stitch.
Row 5: Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. (10 sts)
Rows 6–16: Work in stocking stitch.
Row 17: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. (8 sts)
Rows 18–20: Work in stocking stitch.
Row 21: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. (6 sts)
Rows 22–24: Work in stocking stitch.

BO. Pin this piece to the front of the body and stitch neatly in place using your tapestry needle and a length of cream yarn.

Head (worked from the bottom up)

Using brown yarn, CO 10 sts.

Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): Kfb in every stitch. (20 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K1, kfb rep to end. (30 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: K2, kfb rep to end. (40 sts)
Row 7: Purl.
Row 8: K3, kfb rep to end. (50 sts)
Row 9: Purl.
Row 10: K4, kfb rep to end. (60 sts)

Work in stocking stitch for 16 rows without shaping.

Shape top of head:

Row 1: K4, k2tog rep to end. (50 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K3, k2tog rep to end. (40 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K2, k2tog rep to end. (30 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K1, k2tog rep to end. (20 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K2tog across. (10 sts)

Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, draw up and fasten. Seam the back, stuff firmly, and close the base.

Muzzle (in cream)

CO 6 sts in cream yarn.

Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: Kfb in every stitch. (12 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K1, kfb rep to end. (18 sts)
Rows 5–10: Work in stocking stitch.
Row 11: K1, k2tog rep to end. (12 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: K2tog across. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, thread through sts, draw up. Stuff lightly and stitch to the lower front of the head, positioning it centrally.

Ears (make two, in brown with cream centre)

Using brown, CO 12 sts.
Rows 1–6: Work in stocking stitch.
Row 7: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. (10 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. (8 sts)
BO.

For the inner ear, work the same in cream, casting on 8 sts and working 4 rows of stocking stitch before binding off. Stitch the cream piece to the brown piece, then fold and stitch each ear to the sides of the head.

Arms (make two)

Using brown, CO 8 sts.

Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: Kfb in every stitch. (16 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K1, kfb rep to end. (24 sts)

Work in stocking stitch for 24 rows.

Row 29: K1, k2tog rep to end. (16 sts)
Row 30: Purl.
Row 31: K2tog across. (8 sts)

Thread yarn through sts, draw up. Seam the arm, leaving the top open. Stuff moderately and stitch closed. Attach to the sides of the body with the arms hanging slightly forward.

Legs (make two)

Using brown, CO 10 sts.

Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: Kfb in every stitch. (20 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K1, kfb rep to end. (30 sts)

Work in stocking stitch for 8 rows (this forms the foot).

Row 13: K1, k2tog rep to end. (20 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K2tog across. (10 sts)

Do not cut yarn. Continue knitting the leg:

Work in stocking stitch for 20 rows.

Row 36: K2tog across. (5 sts)

Thread through sts, fasten off. Seam the leg, stuff firmly (especially the foot), and attach to the bottom of the body, positioning them so the monkey sits upright.

Tail

Using brown, CO 6 sts. Work in an I-cord or a flat strip in stocking stitch for approximately 18–20 cm. Taper by working k2tog at each end every 4 rows until 4 sts remain, then thread through and fasten off. Stitch to the back of the body with a slight curve.

Finishing and Facial Features

With the main pieces assembled, it’s time to bring your monkey’s face to life. This is the stage that many knitters find the most enjoyable, because it’s where the personality really starts to emerge.

Position your safety eyes (or embroider them in black yarn using satin stitch) on either side of the muzzle, slightly above it, and at an angle that gives the monkey a bright, alert expression. The original ITV Digital monkey had a slightly wide-eyed, endearing look, so spacing the eyes a little further apart than you might expect can help achieve that character.

For the nostrils, use a small amount of black yarn and create two tiny oval shapes at the front of the muzzle using satin stitch. For the mouth, a simple curved stitch in black worked just below the nostrils, gently upturned at each corner to suggest a smile, is all you need. Don’t overwork the face — the simplicity of the embroidery is part of what makes the finished toy so charming.

Once the face is complete, attach the head firmly to the body, stitching all the way around the base of the neck for security. If the toy will be handled frequently or given to a child, you may wish to add a small reinforcing circle of stitches at the back of the neck attachment for extra durability.

Tips for a Better Finished Toy

A few practical notes that can make a significant difference to your finished monkey. First, when stuffing the body and head, take the time to distribute the fibrefill evenly rather than pushing it all to the centre. This prevents lumpy spots and gives the toy a smoother, more rounded silhouette.

Second, when seaming, always use mattress stitch for the side seams where possible. It creates an almost invisible join and keeps the surface of the knitted fabric looking clean and continuous. For the pieces that are gathered and closed at the top (like the top of the head), use the ladder stitch technique for an equally tidy finish.

Third, don’t be discouraged if your first attempt doesn’t look exactly like the original character. Knitted toys always have a slightly handmade, individual quality, and that’s entirely part of their charm. A slight variation in proportions simply makes your monkey unique.

Finally, if you want to add an extra touch of authenticity, you can knit a tiny striped jumper or vest in red and white yarn for your monkey to wear — a nod to the merchandise packaging and promotional materials from the original ITV Digital era.

Downloading the PDF

To save this pattern for offline use, simply copy the text into a document editor such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs and save it as a PDF. You can format it however works best for you — many knitters prefer to print their patterns and keep them in a binder near their knitting basket, annotating as they go and ticking off rows to stay on track. If you prefer to work from a screen, saving it to a tablet works equally well.

A Note on Copyright and Sharing

This pattern is shared freely for personal use. You’re welcome to knit as many of these monkeys as you like for yourself, as gifts, or for charitable donations. If you share your finished makes on social media, tagging your posts with relevant hashtag communities will connect you with a wonderful community of fellow knitters who love both crafting and British television nostalgia in equal measure. Please don’t sell the pattern itself, but if you sell finished toys made from it at craft fairs or markets, that is generally considered acceptable within the wider knitting community.

The Joy of Knitting Nostalgia

There is something deeply satisfying about recreating a beloved cultural icon through the medium of knitting. Every stitch you make is a small act of memory, a quiet tribute to a moment in time that meant something to a great many people. The ITV Digital Monkey was never just a marketing tool — he was a genuinely funny, genuinely loveable character who made people smile at a time when digital television was still a new and slightly overwhelming concept for most households.

Knitting him today, in your favourite armchair with a cup of tea nearby, connects you to that era in a very tangible way. It’s also a reminder of what handcraft does best: it takes something ephemeral — a television advertisement, a cultural moment, a childhood memory — and makes it physical, permanent, and warm.

We hope this pattern brings you as much pleasure to knit as it does to display on a shelf, gift to a fellow fan, or cuddle on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Happy knitting.