Welcome to the Hungry Monsters Project. Hunger isn't just something that happens between meals. It isn't something that only happens to children in far away countries. It's a real, everyday problem that is currently affecting people in communities across the United States and beyond, and the problem is growing. Hungry Monsters is a joint effort between a group of 1st graders from Boone, NC's Hardin Park Elementary and knitting designer (and ist grade mom) Katie Boyette. In short, the kids work together to design original monsters and Katie knits them, turning the kids' creative visions into threedimensional creatures. In addition to offering knitters a fun and unique project, buying Hungry Monsters knitting patterns helps to feed real people. ALL proceeds from the Hungry Monsters project go Hunger & Health Coalition. Thanks for your help. r more info, email katie @hungrymonstersproject.org
Hungry Monsters
This is a choose-your-own-monster pattern. Begin by choosing a head, and then a body. Knit the accessories, add the face of your choice, and you have your hungry monster! All monsters are knit from the top down.
Materials:
1 skein Cascade 220 in worsted weight (color of your choice) 1 skein Cascade 220 in sport weight (for horns only) US 5 double pointed needles US 3 double pointed needles (for horns only) Scraps of wool felt for eyes and teeth 2 small buttons (for dress only) Stitch marker Toy stuffing Yarn needle Embroidery needle Thread to match felt Finished size: 10" tall Gauge: 22 sts and 28 rows over 4" in stockinette st Techniques Casting on a small number of stitches in the round: Casting on a few stitches in the round can be fiddly and difficult to maneuver. Here is how I do it. -Using one dpn and a long-tail cast on, CO6.
-Split the sts evenly, 3 sts on each needle. -Fold in half, so that needles are parallel.
-Knit into the front and back of each st, so that there are 12 sts, dividing over 3 needles as you go, 4 sts per needle. Continue knitting.
Seaming:
For attaching arms, legs, or for seaming up seams on various parts of the monster, I recommend using a mattress stitch.
Knitty has a great article about seaming here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/mattress.html
Attaching felt pieces:
Cut out the paper templates and use a fabric marker to trace onto felt. Or, be creative and create your own. Place the pieces on the monster. Even little adjustments can change the toy's personality, so play around with placement before you decide Use a small very sharp needle. A dull needle will snag and pucker the felt. Use one strand of thread or embroidery floss that matches the felt. For the eyes, begin with the white eyeball. Use a slip stitch to sew into place. Follow with additional parts of eye.
For outlining eyes and creating the mouth, use an embroidery technique called couching. Thread a yarn needle with a length of black yarn or embroidery floss. Knot the tail and pull into toy fabric exiting at one edge of the mouth or eye. Create the desired outline with the thread. Use an embroidery needle and a length of black thread to sew the yarn outline into place.
Read more about couching here: http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/couching.html
Patterns:
HEADS Square Head:
Using US size 5 dpns and desired color, CO40, pm, join to knit in the round. Rounds 1-20: Knit. Round 21: K15, bo10, k10, bo5. 25 sts Round 22: Bo5, k10, knit the 10 remaining sts. 20 sts Rounds 23-24: Knit. Round 25: K1, kfb, k6, kfb, k2, kfb, k6, kfb, k1. 24 sts Round 26: Knit. Round 27: K1, kfb, k8, kfb, k2, kfb, k8, kfb, k1. 28 sts Round 28: Knit. Round 29: K1, kfb, k10, kfb, k2, kfb, k10, kfb, k1. 32 sts
Skip to desired body and continue knitting. Return to finish head when complete. To finish: Seam up bottom corners of head.
Creating points on top of head.: Beginning at edge of head, pick up 4 sts along front edge with one double pointed needle. Using a 2"d needle, pick up 4 sts from back edge of top of head. Attach working yarn and begin knitting in the round. Knit 2 rounds. 8 sts Next round: K2tog 4 times. 4 sts Break yarn, pull tail through remaining sts, knot, pull tail to inside of fabric. Pick up the next 4 sts from the front edge, and the next 4 sts from the back edge and repeat. Stuff head, press flat with hand. Repeat three more times, so that you have 5 triangles.
Round Head:
Using US size 5 dpns, CO6, pm, join to knit in the round. Round 1: Kfb 6 times. 12 sts Round 2: K1, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k1. 16 sts Round 3: K1, kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k1. 20 sts Round 4: K1, kfb, k6, kfb, k2, kfb, k6, kfb, k1. 24 sts Round 5: K1, kfb, k8, kfb, k2, kfb, k8, kfb, k1. 28 sts Round 6: K1, kfb, k10, kfb, k2, kfb, k10, kfb, k1. 32 sts Round 7: K1, kfb, k12, kfb, k2, kfb, k12, kfb, k1. 36 sts Round 8: K1, kfb, k14, kfb, k2, kfb, k14, kfb, k1. 40 sts Round 9: Knit. Round 10: K1, kfb, k16, kfb, k2, kfb, k16, kfb, k1. 44 sts Rounds 11-14: Knit. Round 15: K1, ssk, k16, k2tog, k2, ssk, k16, k2tog, k1. 40 sts Round 16: Knit. Round 17: K1, ssk, k14, k2tog, k2, ssk, k14, k2tog, k1. 36 sts Round 18: K1, sk, k12, k2tog, k2, ssk, k12, k2tog, k1. 32 sts Round 19: K1, ssk, k10, k2tog, k2, ssk, k10, k2tog, k1. 28 sts Round 20: K1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k2, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1. 24 sts Round 21: K1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. 20 sts Round 22: Knit. Round 23: K1, kfb, k6, kfb, k2, kfb, k6, kfb, k1. 24 sts Round 24: Knit. Round 25: K1, kfb, k8, kfb, k2, kfb, k8, kfb, k1. 28 sts Round 26: Knit. Round 27: K1, kfb, k10, kfb, k2, kfb, k10, kfb, k1. 32 sts Continue to body. Horns: Lower horn (knit 2): Using US size 3 dpns, CO2, begin knitting straight on double pointed needles. Row 1: Kfb twice. 4 sts Row 2: Pfb, p2, pfb. 6 sts Row 3: Kfb, k4, kfb. 8 sts Row 4: Pfb, p6, pfb. 10 sts Divide sts between three needles, pm, begin knitting in the round. Rounds 5-7: Knit. Bind off. Upper horn (knit 2): Using US size 3 dpns, CO2, begin knitting straight on double pointed needles. Row 1: Kfb twice. 4 sts Row 2: Pfb, p2, pfb. 6 sts Row 3: Kfb, k4, kfb. 8 sts Row 4: Pfb, p6, pfb. 10 sts Divide sts between three needles, pm, begin knitting in the round. Rounds 5-6: Knit. Round 7: K2tog, k6, k2tog. 8 sts Rounds 8-9: Knit. Round 10: K2tog, k4, k2tog. 6 sts Rounds 11-12: Knit. Round 13: K2tog, k2, k2tog. 4 sts Break yarn, pull tail through remaining sts, knot, pull knot to inside of horn. Stuff each portion of horn lightly. Seam together at diagonal edges. Seam to sides of head.
Oblong Head:
Using US size 5 dpns, CO6, pm join to knit in the round. Round 1: Kfb 6 times. 12 sts Round 2: K1, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k1. 16 sts Round 3 and all odd numbered rounds: Knit. Round 4: K1, kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k1. 20 sts Round 6: K1, kfb, k6, kfb, k2, kfb, k6, kfb, k1. 24 sts Round 8: K1, kfb, k8, kfb, k2, kfb, k8, kfb, k1. 28 sts Round 10: K1, kfb, k10, kfb, k2, kfb, k10, kfb, k1. 32 sts Knit 12 rounds. Continue to body. Horns (knit 2): Using US size 3 dpns, CO2, begin knitting straight on double pointed needles. Row 1: Kfb twice. 4 sts Row 2: Pfb, p2, pfb. 6 sts Row 3: Kfb, k4, kfb. 8 sts Row 4: Pfb, p6, pfb. 10 sts Divide sts between three needles, pm, begin knitting in the round. Rounds 5-6: Knit. Round 7: K2tog, k6, k2tog. 8 sts Rounds 8-9: Knit. Round 10: K2tog, k4, k2tog. 6 sts Rounds 11-12: Knit. Round 13: K2tog, k2, k2tog. 4 sts Break yarn, pull tail through remaining sts, knot, pull knot to inside of horn. Stuff lightly. Seam to top of head. Begin with 32 sts. Rounds 1-15: Knit. Divide for legs: K8, place the next 16 sts on scrap yarn, knit remaining 8 sts. 16 sts. Knit 26 rounds even. Next round: (Kfb, k3) 4 times. 20 sts Knit 5 rounds even. Next round: (K2tog, k2) 5 times. 15 sts Next round: (K2tog, k1) 5 times. 10 sts Next round: K2tog 5 times. 5 sts. Break yarn, pull tail through remaining sts, knot, pull knot to inside of toy. Stuff first leg and body. Attach yarn to outer edge of body, pick up sts from scrap yarn and divide evenly betwe dbl pointed needles. Repeat from round 1, same as for first leg, pausing before closing stuff the leg. Using a double pointed needle, CO4 sts. Knit an i-cord 3" long. Seam to sides of body.
Round Body:
Begin with 32 sts Round 1: Knit. Round 2: K1, kfb, k12, kfb, k2, kfb, k12, kfb, k1. 36 sts Round 3: Knit. Round 4: K1, kfb, k14, kfb, k2, kfb, k14, kfb, k1. 40 sts Round 5: Knit. Round 6: K1, kfb, k16, kfb, k2, kfb, k16, kfb, k1. 44 sts Rounds 7-13: Knit. Round 14: K1, ssk, k16, k2tog, k2, ssk, k16, k2tog, k1. 40 sts Round 15: Knit. Round 16: K1, ssk, k14, k2tog, k2, ssk, k14, k2tog, k1. 36 sts Round 17: K1, ssk, k12, k2tog, k2, ssk, k12, k2tog, k1. 32 sts Round 18: K1, ssk, k10, k2tog, k2, ssk, k10, k2tog, k1. 28 sts Round 19: K1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k2, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1. 24 sts Stuff toy mostly full. Round 20: K1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. 20 sts Round 21: K1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. 16 sts Round 22: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. 12 sts Round 23: K2tog 6 times. 6 sts Stuff toy completely. Break yarn, pull tail through remaining sts, knot, pull knot to inside of toy. Arms: Using double pointed needles, CO6, pm, join to knit in the round. Round 1: Kfb 6 times. 12 sts Round 2: (Kfb, k1) 6 times. 18 sts Round 3-5 Knit. Round 6: (K2tog, k1) 6 times. 12 sts Knit 9 rounds even. Bind off, leaving a 8" tail for seaming. Stuff lightly. Press flat. Seam to sides of body. Legs: Using double pointed needles, CO6, pm, join to knit in the round. Round 1: Kfb 6 times. 12 sts Knit 2 legs 1 %2" long, and 2 legs 1 %" long. Stuff legs. Seam to bottom of body. (note: if making underwear, place underwear on body before seaming legs to help with placement)
Bigfoot Body:
Begin with 32 sts. Rounds 1-2: Knit. Round 3: K1, kfb, k12, kfb, k2, kfb, k12, kfb, k1. 36 sts Rounds 4-5: Knit. Round 6: K1, kfb, k14, kfb, k2, kfb, k14, kfb, k1. 40 sts Rounds 7-8: Knit. Round 9: K1, kfb, k16, kfb, k2, kfb, k16, kfb, k1. 44 sts Round 10-11: Knit. Round 12: K1, kfb, k18, kfb, k2, kfb, k18, kfb, k1. 48 sts Rounds 13-15: Knit. Round 16: K1, ssk, k18, k2tog, k2, ssk, k18, k2tog, k1. 44 sts Round 17: Knit. Round 18: K1, ssk, k16, k2tog, k2, ssk, k16, k2tog, k1. 40 sts Round 19: Knit. Round 20: K1, ssk, k14, k2tog, k2, ssk, k14, k2tog, k1. 36 sts Round 21: Knit. Round 22: K1, ssk, k12, k2tog, k2, ssk, k12, k2tog, k1. 32 sts Round 23: Knit. Begin dividing for legs: Round 24: K5, bo6, k10 onto length of scrap yarn, bo6, k5. 20 sts Round 25: Knit the first 5 sts, pull yarn across and knit the last 5 sts. 10 sts Rounds 26-32: Knit. Round 33: K1, ssk, kfb, k2, kfb, k2tog, k1. Rounds 34-35: Knit. Repeat rounds 33-35 three more times. Bind off. Pick up sts from scrap yarn. Reattach yarn to outer edge. Repeat from round 26, same as for first leg. Stuff body and legs. Seam bottom between legs closed. Feet (make 2): Using US size 5 dpns, co4, pm, join to knit in the round. Round 1: Kfb 4 times. 8 sts Round 2: (Kfb, k2, kfb) twice. 12 sts Round 3: (Kfb, k4, kfb) twice. 16 sts Rounds 4-5: Knit. Round 6: Ssk, k14, k2tog. 12 sts Rounds 7-8: Knit.
Round 9: Kfb, k14, kfb. 16 sts Rounds 10-12: Knit. Begin making toes. Break yarn, leaving a 12?” tail. Divide sts evenly between 2 dpns. Using a yarn needle, weave the tail through the first 2 sts on the front needle, and the first 2 sts on the back needle. Pull tight, knot, and pull yarn through center of gathered sts. Take needle and pull yarn through the next 2 sts on the front needle, and the next 2 sts on the back needle. Pull tight, knot, and pull yarn through center of gathered sts. Stuff foot lightly. Repeat 2 more times without breaking yarn to create 4 toes. Seam foot to bottom of leg.
ACCESSORIES:
Dress (for medium body only):
Using US size 5 dpns CO32, pm, join to knit in the round. Rounds 1-12: Knit. Round 13: K2tog, k12, k2tog twice, k12, k2tog. Turn and begin knitting front side of dress, leaving back side on one needle. Row 14: P14, turn. 14 sts Row 15: K1, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k1. 12 sts Row 16: Purl. Row 17: K1, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k1. 10 sts Bind off purlwise, leaving a 4"’ tail to use as dress strap. Reconnect yarn to remaining sts, beginning with a purl row. Repeat first side, beginning with row 14. Slide dress onto doll. Pull yarn tail across shoulder to create strap, thread through front corner, pull back across and knot into place, weaving tail into fabric. Sew button to front of dress.
Underwear (for round body only):
Using US size 5 dpns, CO46, pm, join to knit in the round. Rounds 1-7: Knit. Round 8: BO4, k15, B08, k15, BO4. 34 sts Begin diving for front and back. Place 15 sts each on 2 dpns. Break yarn, reattach to edge of remaining sts along front, beginning with a knit row. Row 1: Knit. 15 sts Row 2: P1, p2tog, p9, p2tog, p1. 13 sts Row 3: Knit. Row 4: P1, p2tog, p7, p2tog, p1. 11 sts Row 5: Knit. Row 6: P1, p2tog, p5, p2tog, p1. 9 sts Row 7: Knit. Row 8: P1, p2tog, p3, p2tog, p1. 7 sts Row 9: Knit. Row 10: P1, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p1. 5 sts Row 11: Knit. Bind off. Reattach yarn to remaining 15 sts. Repeat from row 1. Seam bottom of underwear at crotch. Sew on felt embellishments.
Templates
teeth (cut 2)
eyes (cut 2)
underwear bands
for waistband, cut a 1/4" wide strip of felt that is 9" long.
Glossary of abbreviations
BO bind off CO cast on dpn double pointed needles[s] kknit k2tog knit two together kfb knit into front and back of stitch ppurl p2tog purl two together pfb purl into front and back of stitch pm place marker st[s] stitch[es] St st stockinette stitch @ All work and content is copyrighted 2011 Katie Boyette unless otherwise indicated. No part of these pages may be reproduced without the express written consent of the artist. Any unauthorized usage is strictly prohibited.
