Stash Busting Monster
@ Designed by Kimberly Kwon I had three partial skeins of leftover yarns and wanted to use it for a monster. This pattern is written in general terms as a recipe to create a monster with your own existing yarns from your leftover stash in any you wish. The size of your monster will varywithyarnweight. I like to knit monsters with worsted weight yarns, as they are very affordable and easy to care for. The body of your monster in worsted weight will be a little over 8 inches in height; this does not include the length of your legs. When knitting stripes with alternating colors, I find easiest to alternate colors at the beginning of a new round. I like to bring yarn up as I change the colors on the sides of the body, arms or legs using the Jogless Stripes technique.
Materials
· Leftover skeins of yarn, in three or more colors. You will need approximately 200 to 250 yards for your project. I used worsted weight with my monster. A set of needles two sizes smaller than what is suggested for your skein weight of yarn - circular needles if you like to knit with the magic loop method or a set of double pointed needles to knit in the round. I like using both. I use a circular needle to knit the body with magic loop, and a set of DPNs to knit the arms and legs. For worsted weight yarn, I use I used US Size 6 needles. A little bit of felt and craft glue for the mouth. Safety eyes. You can also choose to embroider your eyes to your monster. Polyfil stuffing to stuff your monster body parts. ·Scissors Tapestry needle Optional: Any added embellishments like an iron-on patch, crochet or knitted appliques.
Instructions
Knit Your Monster Body:
Cast on 60 stitches. Join to knit in the round, be careful not to twist your stitches. Knit the next 43 to 45 rounds in your choice of colors. I used two alternating Colors A and B. Alternate colors any way you choose. Be sure you have enough to do the last color for the face of the monster - Color C. Switch to Color C, and knit 5 rounds. Now work your decrease rounds as follows: R1: (K2tog, K28) twice. (58 sts) R2: Knit all stitches R3: (K27, K2tog) twice (56 sts) R4: Knit all stiches R5: (K2tog, K26) twice (54 sts) R6: Knit all stitches R7: (K25, K2tog) twice (52 sts) R8: Knit all stitches R9: (K2tog, K24) twice (50 sts) R10: Knit all stitches R11: (K23, K2tog) twice (48 sts) R12: Knit all stitches R13: (K2tog, K20, K2tog) twice (44 sts) R14: (K2tog, K18, K2tog) twice (40 sts) R15: (K2tog, K16, K2tog) twice (36 sts) R16: (k2tog, K14, K2tog) twice (32 sts)
Knitting Abbreviations:
K: knit K2tog: Knit two stitches together with yourneedle KFB: Knit in the front and back of the same stitch to create an increase Turn your monster body inside out and work a 3-needle bind off. Turn the monster body right side out. Put in your safety eyes and stuff your monster body with polyfil stuffing. Sew the bottom of your monster body closed with a simple whip stitch.
Knit Monster Arms (make two):
Cast on 12 stitches. Join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches. Knit the next 30 rounds in your choice of colors. I used two alternating Colors A and C, alternating every 5 rounds. Alternate colors any way you choose. Change to the desired yarn color for your hand. I used Color B. Work the remaining rounds: R1: Knit R2: Knit R3: KFB all stitches (24 sts) R4 - R11: Knit these 8 rounds R12: K2tog around (12 sts) R13: K 2tog around (6 sts) Cut the yarn, leaving an extra long tail. Using your tapestry needle, thread through remaining stitches to close the hand. Use the leftover tail to sew in any open stitches in the hand, especially along the edges. Stuff the hand with polyfil stuffing. Sew on the arms to the body.
Knit Monster Legs (make two):
Cast on 16 stitches. Join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches. Knit the next 40 rounds in your choice of colors. I used two alternating Colors A, B, and C for my legs, alternating every 5 rounds. Alternate colors any way you choose. : desired yarn color for your foot. I used Color B. Work the remaining rounds: R1: Knit R2: Knit R3: Knit R4; (KFB, K7) twice (18 sts) R5: (K8, KFB) twice (20 sts) R6: (KFB, K9) twice (22 sts) R7: (K10, KFB) twice (24 sts) R8- R13: Knit these 6 rounds R14: (k2tog, K8, K2tog) twice (20 sts) R15: (K2tog, K6, K2tog) twice (16 sts) R16: (k2tog, K4, K2tog) twice (12 sts) R17: K 2tog around (6 sts) Cut yarn leaving an extra long tail. With your tapestry needle, thread through remaining stitches to close the foot. Use the yarn tail to sew and shape the foot. I like to sew in any extra holes at the edges of the foot. Stuff the foot with polyfil stuffing. Sew on the legs to the body.
Monster Mouth:
Take a small piece of felt (any color) to cut out a mouth for your monster. You can create monster like teeth by cutting a jagged crown shape. Add craft glue to the back of the felt mouth and press firmly on the face. Take some heavy books and add it on top of the mouth for 10 minutes to flatten and secure it onto the face. Then take your blow dryer and dry the mouth completely for several minutes.
Congratulations! You have finished your stash busting monster! Add an extra personal touch with some embellishments.
Added Embellishments
"X" Marks the Spot - aka Belly Button
Using leftover yarn, embroider at "X" at the bottom of the body to create a monster belly button.
Add an lron On:
Personalize your monster even further by using any iron appliques. Place the iron on patch anywhere on the body. Put the iron on high steam heat, and gently iron over the patch for a few seconds 2 to 3 times.
About the Designer
Kimberly has been knitting for several years, and finds monster making as one of her favorite things to knit and purl. She lives with a long list of chronic health conditions, and knits monsters to help her fight her daily battles with pain and fatigue. Kimberly lives “one stitch at a time" and practices random acts of kindness with her monsters in her daily life. You can read her blog at http://kkhymn.wordpress.com. She can be contacted via Ravelry as kkhymn.
