Sizes: 6 months (1) 2 (4) years Yarn: Fingering/ Sport weight. Suggestions: Babywool Sandnes Sisu Lorna's Lace Shepherd Sock Solid Rowan Pure Wool 4ply Wollmeise Wild Thing Quince & Co Chickadee. Number of 50 g skeins: Main color: 2 (2) 2 (3) Contrast color: 1 (2) 2 (2) Mouth: 1 (1) 1 (1) Odds and ends for teeth and eyes. Needles: 2.5 mm + 3 mm [U.S. 1 + 2] You will need both dpns and a small circular needle. Gauge: 26-28 stitches pr 10 cm/ 4". Tapestry needle for finishing. Elastic for waist, approximately 60 cm/24 ". Adjust to fit your child's waist. knitted seamless in the round, top-down and higher in the back using short rows
DIRECTtoNS:
Cast on 140 (140) 160 (160) sts on needle size 2.5 mm [U.S. 1] with main color. Place marker to indicate beginning of round (BOR). Make waistband for elastic as follows: Knit 8 rounds, purl 1 round (= fold), knit 8 rounds. Sew together when finishing the pants, leave a small opening in front to insert elastic. Switch to needle 3. Continue in stockinette st until piece measures 9 (10) 11 (11) cm [31/2"(4") 41"(41/4") from the folded edge. Place markers in both sides (i.e. with 70 (70) 80 (80) st in between, BOR marker being one of the two markers). Knit higher back = MONSTER MOUTH using red yarn (or your preferred color) and short rows over half of stitches as follows: Knit 70 (70) 80 (80) st from one marker to the other in red (1 row), wrap and turn (w&t). Purl 65 (65) 75 (75), w&t. Knit 60 (60) 70 (70), w&t. Purl 55 (55) 65 (65), w&t. Proceed as established in both sides of the red section by knitting 5 sts less each row until 20 live red stitches are left. W&t, purl all stitches to the left, i.e. 45 (45) 50 (50) m (this row is on the wrong side). Purl the wraps together with the stitch they surround as they appear. Turn, knit all stitches between the side markers in red. Knit the wraps together with the stitch they surround as they appear. Turn, purl all stitches between the side markers in red. You have now knitted 14 (14) 16 (16) rows of red. Keep BOR marker. The mouth is complete! The front stitches are then knit one row and purl one row using main color. Continue with the main color with all of the stitches and knit around for a further 3 cm [1%4"]. Insert stitch markers on both sides of the central two stitches both in the front and back, i.e. 34, 36, 104, 106 (34, 36, 104, 106) 39,41,119,121 (39, 41, 119, 121) sts after BOR. Increase for the crotch by M1 at all 4 markers every other round a total of 8 (8) 9 (9) times = 172 (172) 184 (184) sts. Keep 2 sts between the neighboring markers at front and back at all times. Split the work in two between the two neighboring markers, and work the legs separately. Each leg now counts 86 (86) 92 (92) sts. Start the round inside of the leg. Keep markers. Decrease 2 sts on the inside of the leg every 6th row a total of 7 times by k1 to first marker, k2tog, k to two st before next marker, ssk, k1 = 72 (72) 78 (78) sts. At the same time, change colors to make stripes (or any other pattern you may like). When the leg measures 18 (22) 30 (36) cm [7" (8%") 113%" (141%4")] from the crotch, decrease 24 (22) 26 (26) sts evenly to 48 (50) 52 (52) sts. Knit rib on the smaller needles, k1 p1 for about 8- 10cm [3"-4"]. Make second leg. Weave in all loose ends.
Sew teeth and eyes on the monster face. You might use duplicate stitch or crochet and applique the teeth and eyes on. Using a slightly heavier yarn for the duplicate sts makes it easier to achieve an even look. Refer to the pictures for inspiration! To make the shark look, simply follow the color chart on the legs, start after completion of the leg decreases. Dress up your mini monster and prepare for smiling reactions. (o:
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