Platypus by Knitti Politi
Yarn/notions
Yarn
King Cole Comfort Chunky in two shades (substitute with chunky/bulky weight yarn). 2 balls (212 metres) in body colour 1/2 ball (53 metres) in bill/feet colour DK weight white and black yarn for eyes
Needles
6 mm (US 10) and 4 mm (US 6) Tapestry needle for sewing
Gauge
14 sts and 20 rows to 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 inches) using 6 mm (US 10) needles Other Fibre fill toy filling for stuffing
Finished Size
Approximately 80cm (31 1/2 inches) long from tail to bill, approximately 22cm (8 1/2 inches) wide Platypus is a large cuddle cushion type softie in the form of an amazing aquatic animal! The pattern is worked flat with two main body/bill pieces and four feet pieces which are all seamed to assemble. Soft knitted eyes complete your cuddly creature.
Abbreviations
CO: cast on BO: bind off SS: stocking stitch (stockinette) k: knit p: purl ktbl: knit through the back loop ptbl: purl through the back loop k2tog: knit 2 together ssk: slip, slip, knit these 2 together sl: slip yfwd: yarn forward, bring yarn to front ml: make one (increase) kfb: knit in front and back of stitch (increase) RS: Right side of the work WS: Wrong side of the work
Instructions
Body (make 2) Cast on 10 stitches in main body colour using 6 mm (US 10) needles. Tail section Row 1: Knit Row 2: Purl Row 3: k1, ml, k8, m1, k1 (12) Rows 4-6: starting with a purl row, work 3 rows in SS Row 7: kl, m1, k10, m1, k1 (14) Rows 8-14: starting with a purl row, work 7 rows in SS Row 15: k1, ml, k12, ml, k1 (16) Rows 16-28: starting with a purl row, work 13 rows in SS Row 29: kl, ssk, k10, k2tog, k1 (14) Row 30: purl Row 31: k1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1 (12) Row 32: purl Shape body/Aeg stumps Row 33: kl, ml, k10, ml, k1 (14) Row 34: purl Row 35: k1, m1, k12, ml, k1 (16) Row 36: purl Row 37: kl, ml, k14, ml, k1 (18) Row 38: purl Row 39: k1, m1, k16, m1, k1 (20) Row 40: purl Row 41: k1, ml, k18, m1, k1 (22) Row 42: purl Row 43: k1, m1, k20, m1, k1 (24) Rows 44-48: starting with a purl row, work 5 rows in SS Row 49: k1, ml, k22, m1, k1 (26) Row 50: purl Row 51: k1, ml, k24, ml, k1 (28) Row 52: purl Row 53: k1, m1, k26, m1, k1 (30) Rows 54-56: starting with a purl row, work 3 rows in SS Row 57: k1, m1, k28, m1, k1 (32) Rows 58-60: starting with a purl row, work 3 rows in SS Row 61: (RS) CO 4 sts, knit to end (36) Row 62: (Ws) CO 4 sts, purl to end (40) Rows 63-66: starting with a knit row, work 4 rows in SS Row 67: (RS) BO 4 sts, knit to end (36) Row 68: (WS) BO 4 sts, purl to end (32) Rows 69-88: starting with a knit row, work 20 rows in SS Row 89: (RS) CO 4 sts, knit to end (36) Row 90: (WS) CO 4 sts, purl to end (40) Rows 91-94: starting with a knit row, work 4 rows in SS Row 95: (RS) BO 4 sts, knit to end (36) Row 96: (WS) B0 4 sts, purl to end (32) Row 97: knit Row 98: purl Row 99: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (30) Row 100: purl Row 101: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (28) Row 102: purl Row 103: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (26) Row 104: purl Row 105: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (24) Row 106: purl Row 107: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (22) Row 108: purl Row 109: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (20) Row 110: purl Row 111: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (18) Row 112: purl Shapehead Row 113: k1, ml, k16, ml, k1 (20) Row 114: purl Row 115: k1, ml, k18, m1, k1 (22) Rows 116-124: starting with a purl row, work 9 rows in SS Row 125: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (20) Row 126: purl Row 127: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (18) Row 128: purl Row 129: ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (16) Rows 130-132: starting with a purl row. work 3 rows in SS Bill section Break off body colour and join bill colour Rows 133-137: starting with a knit row, knit 5 rows in garter stitch Rows: 138-152: starting with a purl row, work 15 rows in SS Row 153: ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog (14) Row 154: purl Row 155: ssk, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog (12) Bind off in purl Make up body (see sewing tips on page 4) Sew the two halves together, leaving the end of the tail open for stuffing. Lightly stuff the bill and tail sections. Stuff the main body a little more firmly. Sew up the tail to close.
Feet (make 4)
(Slipped stitches are slipped purlwise) Cast on 19 sts in foot colour using 6 mm (US 10) needles Row 1: ktbl, k to last st, yfwd, sl1 Row 2: [ktbl, p2] to last st, sll Row 3: ktbl, k2, [ptbl, k2] to last st, yfwd, sl1 Row 4: [ktbl, p2] to last st, sl1
Rows 5, 6: Repeat rows 3 and 4
Row 7: ktbl, k2tog, [ptbl, k2tog] to last st, yfwd, sl1 (13 sts) Row 8: [ktbl, p1] to last st, sl 1 Row 9-11: knit Bind off all sts
Make up and attach feet (see photos on page 4)
With the smooth side of the piece facing you, fold the sides (row ends) of each foot in towards the centre back of the piece (the textured side will be on the outside of the foot). Sew the row ends together at the slip stitch edgings, and then oversew the cast on edges which form the tip of the foot. Do not sew up the cast off edges at the back of the foot. Each of these pieces will then form a little mitt-like foot which pops over the leg stump on the main body. Fit each foot over each leg stump and sew in place using the foot colour. Work the stitching in the channel between the garter ridges where it will be inconspicuous.
Eyes (make 2)
Cast on 4 sts in white dk weight yarn using 4 mm (US 6) needles Row 1: kfb in every stitch (8 sts) Row 2: kfb in every stitch (16 sts) Rows 3-6: knit 4 rows Row 7: k2tog to end (8 sts) Row 8: k2tog to end (4 sts) Bind off all sts
Makeup and attach eyes (see photos on page 4)
The piece will naturally curl inwards, forming a shape which looks like an open circle. Sew all the open edges of the circle together to close it up. Then embroider in the centre with black yarn to form the pupil. Sew the two eyes in place just in front of the bill For sewing up the two main body pieces: Either pin the pieces together with X right sides facing outwards and sew up using mattress stitch or other right-side seaming method. Or, pin pieces together with wrong sides facing outwards, sew together using a backstitch seam, turn right-side out and stuff. Do use whichever seaming method you feel most comfortable with.
