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Note: these instructions assume you are familiar with including short rows in round knitting to create a curve. If you are not, please see my Rings Tutorial for the basics, including a short video.
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Grey Heather and White
Also needed: black felt for the eyes and a small amount of black yarn for the nose/mouth
Needles: US size 3 double pointed needles (see my double-pointed needle tutorial to learn how they work)
These wedge portions use short rows to create curves. I've typed them out in detail but experienced knitters will notice the common pattern to all of them; a Group of 5 wedge leaves 5 more stitches off per each successive short row, and a Group of 2 leaves 2 more stitches off per each successive short row. Each wedge is completed with a full round unless otherwise stated.
For (25 25 25), Group of 5:
Knit completely along needles 1 and 2.
Purl back completely along needle 2 and first 20 of needle 1 (leaving 5 sts).
Knit forward 20 on needle 1 and 20 on needle 2.
Purl back 20 needle 2 (leaving 5 sts on needle 2) and first 15 of needle 1 (leaving 10 sts).
Knit forward 15 on needle 1 and 15 on needle 2.
Purl back 15 on needle 2 (leaving 10 sts on needle 2) and 10 on needle 1 (leaving 15 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 10 on needle 1 and 10 on needle 2.
Purl back 10 on needle 2 (leaving 15 sts on needle 2) and 5 on needle 1 (leaving 20 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward all sts of round on all three needles.
Knit 1 full round.
For (20 20 20), Group of 5:
Knit completely along needles 1 and 2.
Purl back completely along needle 2 and first 15 of needle 1 (leaving 5 sts).
Knit forward 15 on needle 1 and 15 on needle 2.
Purl back 15 on needle 2 (leaving 5 sts on needle 2) and 10 on needle 1 (leaving 10 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 10 on needle 1 and 10 on needle 2.
Purl back 10 on needle 2 (leaving 10 sts on needle 2) and 5 on needle 1 (leaving 15 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward all sts of round on all three needles.
Knit 1 full round.
For (15 15 15), Group of 5:
Knit completely along needles 1 and 2.
Purl back completely along needle 2 and first 10 of needle 1 (leaving 5 sts).
Knit forward 10 on needle 1 and 10 on needle 2.
Purl back 10 on needle 2 (leaving 5 sts on needle 2) and 5 on needle 1 (leaving 10 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward all sts of round on all three needles.
Knit 1 full round.
For (20 20 20), Group of 2:
Knit completely along needles 1 and 2.
Purl back completely along needle 2 and first 18 of needle 1 (leaving 2 sts).
Knit forward 18 on needle 1 and 18 on needle 2.
Purl back 18 on needle 2 (leaving 2 sts on needle 2) and 16 on needle 1 (leaving 4 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 16 on needle 1 and 16 on needle 2.
Purl back 16 on needle 2 (leaving 4 sts on needle 2) and 14 on needle 1 (leaving 6 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 14 on needle 1 and 14 on needle 2.
Purl back 14 on needle 2 (leaving 6 sts on needle 2) and 12 on needle 1 (leaving 8 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 12 on needle 1 and 12 on needle 2.
Purl back 12 on needle 2 (leaving 8 sts on needle 2) and 10 on needle 1 (leaving 10 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 10 on needle 1 and 10 on needle 2.
Purl back 10 on needle 2 (leaving 10 sts on needle 2) and 8 on needle 1 (leaving 12 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 8 on needle 1 and 8 on needle 2.
Purl back 8 on needle 2 (leaving 12 sts on needle 2) and 6 on needle 1 (leaving 14 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 6 on needle 1 and 6 on needle 2.
Purl back 6 on needle 2 (leaving 14 sts on needle 2) and 4 on needle 1 (leaving 16 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 4 on needle 1 and 4 on needle 2.
Purl back 4 on needle 2 (leaving 16 sts on needle 2) and 2 on needle 1 (leaving 18 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward all sts of round on all three needles.
Knit 1 full round.
For (12 12 12), Group of 2:
Knit completely along needles 1 and 2.
Purl back completely along needle 2 and first 10 of needle 1 (leaving 2 sts).
Knit forward 10 on needle 1 and 10 on needle 2.
Purl back 10 on needle 2 (leaving 2 sts on needle 2) and 8 on needle 1 (leaving 4 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 8 on needle 1 and 8 on needle 2.
Purl back 8 on needle 2 (leaving 4 sts on needle 2) and 6 on needle 1 (leaving 6 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 6 on needle 1 and 6 on needle 2.
Purl back 6 on needle 2 (leaving 6 sts on needle 2) and 4 on needle 1 (leaving 8 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward 4 on needle 1 and 4 on needle 2.
Purl back 4 on needle 2 (leaving 8 sts on needle 2) and 2 on needle 1 (leaving 10 sts on needle 1).
Knit forward all sts of round on all three needles.
Knit 1 full round.
For (4 4 4), Group of 2:
Knit completely along needles 1 and 2.
Purl back completely along needle 2 and first 2 of needle 1 (leaving 2 sts).
Knit forward 2 on needle 1 and 2 on needle 2.
Purl back 2 on needle 2 (leaving 2 sts on needle 2).
Knit forward all sts of round on all three needles.
Knit 1 full round.
Cast 6 sts, 2 on each needle (2 2 2)
Knit 1 round
Inc1 in all (4 4 4)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k1; repeat around (6 6 6)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k2; repeat around (8 8 8)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k3; repeat around (10 10 10)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k1; repeat around (15 15 15)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k2; repeat around (20 20 20)
Place marker, knit rounds for 3.25 inches
Work one Wedge Portion for (20 20 20), Group of 5 as above.
Knit 1 round.
K2tog, k2; repeat around (15 15 15)
Work two Wedge Portions for (15 15 15), Group of 5 as above.
Knit 1 round.
K2tog, k3; repeat around (12 12 12)
Work one Wedge Portion for (12 12 12), Group of 2 as above.
Knit 1 round.
K2tog, k1; repeat around (8 8 8)
K2tog; repeat around (4 4 4)
Break yarn and pull through remaining sts, leaving enough tail to run through any gaps left at the sides.
Cast 6 sts, 2 on each needle (2 2 2)
Knit 1 round
Inc1 in all (4 4 4)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k1; repeat around (6 6 6)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k2; repeat around (8 8 8)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k3; repeat around (10 10 10)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k1; repeat around (15 15 15)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k2; repeat around (20 20 20)
Knit 1 round
Inc1, k3; repeat around (25 25 25)
Place marker and knit rounds for 2.75".
Work five Wedge Portions for (25 25 25), Group of 5.
K2tog, k3; repeat around (20 20 20).
Work one Wedge Portion for (20 20 20), Group of 2 as above.
Knit 1 round.
K2tog, knit to last 2 sts of needle 2, k2tog, knit rest of round.
Repeat above step until needles 1 and 2 have 10 sts each.
Combine sts on needles 1 and 2 on one needle, so you have 2 needles with 20 sts each, a total of 40 sts.
Stuff firmly.
Use the Kitchener Stitch to close between the two needles and leave a very long tail (at least 20"). The head may look vaguely ape-like at this stage.
To shape the head, find a point on the underside where you will want to attach the head to the body (neck). Place a marker if desired. Using the extra-long tail from the close of the head, make several tight stitches along the kitchener seam, down through the head to the neck point you've chosen, and then back up through the kitchener seam. Doing this carefully and firmly will cause the face to bend slightly against that seam. There will also be some puckering at the neck point, but since you're going to sew that onto the body, it doesn't matter, and in fact allows the end of the body to nestle against the head in a very stable away (as opposed to sewing two rounded surfaces together).
If desired, use any excess tail to fill in any gaps.
When complete, sew the head firmly onto the curved-up end of the body.
Using black yarn, embroider on a mouth, nose, and nose line. Cut two 1 1/4 inch ovals of black felt as eyes and sew them in place with black thread.
Make four.
Cast 6 sts, 2 on each needle (2 2 2)
Inc1 in all (4 4 4)
Inc1 in all (6 6 6)
Knit rounds for 4".
K2tog; repeat around. (4 4 4)
Knit 1 round.
K2tog; repeat around. (2 2 2)
Bind off.
Stuff the legs, then sew the open ends to the body.
Make two.
With White, cast on 12 sts, 4 on each needle (4 4 4).
Knit rounds for 1 inch.
Work two Wedge Portions for (4 4 4), Group of 2.
Knit all on needle 1 and 2, k2tog twice on needle 3. (4 4 2)
Move one stitch each from needles 1 and 2 onto needle three. (3 3 4)
Knit all on needle 1 and 2, k2tog twice on needle 3. (3 3 2)
Move one stitch each from needles 1 and 2 onto needle three. (2 2 4)
Knit all on needle 1 and 2, k2tog twice on needle 3. (2 2 2)
K2tog; repeat around (1 1 1)
Break yarn and pull through remaining 3 sts.
Sew them onto the head. You may wish to complete both horns and both ears first so they can be temporarily pinned in place before stitching to ensure good placement.
Make two.
Cast 10 sts onto TWO needles, 5 on each needle (5 5).
Inc1 at the start of each needle, knitting all other stitches, working in rounds until each needle has 10 sts for a total of 20.
Knit 12 rounds.
K2tog at the start and end of each needle, knitting all other stitches, working in rounds until each needle has 2 sts.
Break yarn with a long tail and pull through remaining 4 sts, then use tail to carefully place some stitches inside the ear (ie sew the interior purl bars together so your sewing doesn't show) to hold it flat closed.
Sew them onto the head. You may wish to complete both horns and both ears first so they can be temporarily pinned in place before stitching to ensure good placement.
Cast on 9 sts, three on each needle (3 3 3).
Knit for 1 inch.
K2tog, k1; repeat around (2 2 2)
Knit 1 round.
K2tog; repeat around (1 1 1)
Break yarn and pull through remaining 3 sts.
Sew onto back end of body.
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Page last updated January 25, 2008.
Email me at crafts@kimberlychapman.com
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