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Hello and thanks for visiting my blog. I have been knitting on and off for 50 years and I recently learned to crochet. I love looking for wool bargains and making them into something useful. I mainly knit for charity. I occasionally knit for myself and family members if I find a really good pattern or if they ask nicely!!

Saturday 3 March 2018

Free pattern for an insect worry monster....


Here is the pattern I wrote recently for an insect worry monster. I have donated it to Knit-for-Nowt and it is already on their website. 

This one is in intentionally scary colours. But it could easily be amended to make it less traumatising!

     


This pattern uses dk yarn doubled (i.e. two strands of dk yarn knitted together) and size 5.5mm knitting needles. It produces a Worry Monster measuring 12 inches long.

I find that doubling up the yarn and using 5.5mm knitting needles makes a strong fabric that knits up very quickly and contains the stuffing securely.

Don’t worry if the monster looks small when you are knitting it. It will look larger after you have sewed the seams and stuffed it.

Remember: the yarn is used doubled throughout except for the pocket, the wings and the facial features.

You will need
60g of dk yarn
5.5mm knitting needles
40g of toy stuffing
Felt or buttons for eyes

Start with bottom colour
Cast on 20 stitches

Change to body/face colour
Work 42 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)

Mouth
Knit 4 stitches with the face colour
(you are now going to change to the mouth colour. But do not cut the face colour as you will need this on the next row)

Change to mouth colour
Work on next 12 stitches only as follows:
Knit across 12 stitches
Turn and knit back across 12 stitches (knitting both rows produces a raised, knobbly texture which is similar to teeth)

Change back to face colour
Purl 4 stitches
Knit across all stitches
Work a further 9 rows straight – (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a purl row)
Decrease one stitch at the beginning of the next 6 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)

Change to hair colour
Decrease one stitch at the beginning of the next 4 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Increase one stitch at the beginning of the next 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Work 14 rows straight – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)

Change to body colour
Work 38 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)

Change to bottom colour
Work 4 rows – (garter stitch)

Cast off all 20 stitches

Making up:
Embroider facial features as desired
Create the antennae by making a thick plait and attaching it firmly to the top of the head
Sew up both sides
Stuff with approved toy stuffing and check that it is not escaping through any holes
Sew up bottom seam
Using a single strand of dk yarn, knit or crochet 2 squares measuring 4 inches for the wings and sew them firmly to the monster along 2 side edges and across the diagonal
Using a single strand of dk yarn, knit or crochet a square measuring 3.5 inches and attach it to the front as a worry pocket. (I find it easier to add the pocket after stuffing the monster. But you might prefer to add it first.)

Variations:
Let your imagination run riot
You could add two wings to each side to make a butterfly
You could add knitted or crocheted i-cord to make insect legs for a spider or grasshopper etc
Change the colours as required
Use all your left over oddments to make stripes

The inspiration for this pattern came from the BASIC PATTERN FOR A WORRY PUPPET by Diane Fenney


I tested this pattern carefully by knitting it again after writing it. It's amazing how many little glitches can be spotted that way. So I know this pattern works. But if you have any queries, just ask and I will help...

I have another pattern in the pipeline. Watch this space...

7 comments:

  1. Thank you Una, I really must give these a try it would be great for using up some of my cone stash. :) x

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    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to seeing your finished monsters!

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  2. How nice that you've provided a pattern for your insect worry monster, Una. Hopefully, it will inspire other knitters to make some.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I hope so. They go to a very good cause.

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  3. Cute puppet! It's good you wrote a pattern that others can also use and make them for children.

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  4. I think the monster is very cute, if a little sad (to be expected). You're doing such good work for such a good cause!

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