Gingerbread man (and his girlfriend)
The idea came from the pattern Bendy Bodies (Frankie's Knitted Stuff) I would transform that into a gingerbread man. However during the knitting it changed so much that it was worth to write down the pattern, but not with out a great thank you to "Frankie's Knitted Stuff'sBendyBodies"
Material:
I have used about 25 gram of yarn in a gingerbread colour. I have used a double tread of 4-ply sock-yarn. Any other yarn will and will give your gingerbread man it's on looks. Cotton will do very well, specially when you want children to play with it. A set of DPN's and a circular needle (in my case 3.5mm) Stitch holders Tapestry needle 3 strands of XL-Chenille pipe cleaners 50cm \* Some yarn to make the decorations, eventually small buttons or beads. If you like you can use stitch-markers. \*)You can replace the Chenille pipe cleaners by copper wire which is easy to fold and some fiberfill to get a bit filling. Size: 20 cm long
Used stitches:
Kknit Ppurl M1 Make 1 stitch: Insert left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through back loop. 1 stitch increased. P2togpurl twotogether ssk slip 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit those 2 stitches together k2togknit two together
Begin with the legs.
If you are used to magic loop and specially two at the time it will be most easy to knit both legs that way. Cast on for each leg 12 st. (6 back leg, 6 front leg) Use Judy's Magic Cast on, or the way you like best. Every leg round starts with the back of the legs. Knit 19 rounds in stockinet. Round 20: first leg, k6, second leg, k6 (back legs 2x 6 st), m1, k6, first leg k6, m1 (front legs 2x 7 st) Round 21: knit all (if you don't knit two at the time keep a good eye on it that you will get a left and right leg)
Continue with the body part.
Put the legs close to each other on two dpn's or circular needle The increased stitches at the outside front part. The rest of your gingerbread man will be knitted forth- and backwards rows, open at the back. Start with: k6 stitches from the back leg and turn. You are at the mid back side) 1st body row: P6 (back leg), p6, p2tog (to connect both legs), p6, p6. At this point I prefer to use 4 dpn's (2 for the backside, 1 front-side and 1 to knit with). Row 2: k6,m1, k1, m1, k11, m1, k1, m1, k6. (29 st) Row 3, 4 and 5: purl the wrong side and knit the right side. Row 6: k7, m1, k1, m1, k13, m1, k1, m1, k7. (33 st) Row 7: purl all Row 8: k8, m1, k1, m1, k15, m1, k1, m1, k8. (37 st) Row 9: purl all Row 10: k10, cast on 18 st (2x9), k17, cast on 18 st (2x9), k10. (73 st) Row 11: purl all At this point it is all easier to handle on a circular needle. Divide your stitches in frontbackside, but keep on knitting in rows. Row 12, 14, 16 knit all Row 13, 15, 17 purl all
Time to knit the neck.
Pick up a dpn and k4, slip the 5th st to your right needle, slip 28 st (2x14) on a stitch holder or peace of scrap yarn, slip that 5th back neck stitch to your left needle and knit together with the first front neck stitch, k5, slip the next stitch to your right needle, slip 28 st (2x14) on a stitch holder or piece of scrap yarn, slip the last front neck stitch to your left needle and knit together with the next back neck stitch, k4. (15 neck st) Next row: purl all.
Without a head no gingerbread man.
First head row: k4, m1, k1, m1, k2, m1, k1, m1, k2, m1, k1, m1, k4. (21 st) Row 2, 4,6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18: purl all stitches Row 3: k5, m1, k1, m1, k9, m1, k1, m1, k5. (25 st) Row 5: k3, m1, k3, m1, k1, m1, k3, m1, k5, m1, k3, m1, k1, m1, k3, m1, k3. (33 st) Row 7: k8, m1, k1, m1, k15, m1, k1, m1, k8. (37 st) Row 9: knit all Row 11: k7, ssk, k1, k2tog, k13, ssk, k1, k2tog, k7. (33 st) Row 13: k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2. (25 st) Row 15: k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k7, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4. (21 st) Row 17: k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1 k2tog, k3. (16 st) Row 19: k2, ssk. K1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2. (12 st) Row 20: p10, fold the back head pieces to the back (6 st front head and 2 x 3 st back head) Make front and back together using kitchener-stitch. Close the upper-arms also with kitchener-stitch and close the small shoulder hole.
Skeleton part:
Now your Gingerbread man is ready to get his skeleton. Fold the strands of Chenille in a way that the sharp ends can't come out of your knitting. Seepictures
Close the underarms and backside, using the ends of yarn that is left.
Time to decorate.
Use pieces of yarn in other colours to make a face and some decorations. Buttons and small beads will also do. It is all up to you to make him / her as nice as you like. When make the face it will look that your Gingerbread man will come a live. Ick and remember a lonely Gingerbread is so sad and lonely ... make more @
