Excellent Taco!
Finished size: Approximately $8^{\circ}$ long x 5" tall Suggested materials: About 30 yards or less of any worsted weight yarn, although wool or cotton are recommended. I used an assortment of odds and ends from my stash. PLEASE NOTE: I made the cheese on mine with fingering weight yarn because that's what I had available. Suggested needle size: US6 (I used a US4, but I knit loosely) Other items needed: Crochet hook, tapestry or sewing needle, sewing thread to match taco shell, pins, Fiberfil for stuffing taco (optional). This item is constructed through two methods: picking up stitches and knitting from an established edge, and by knitting individual pieces and stitching them together. A basic knowledge of knitting is needed, along with some very basic sewing skills. Pieces should be blocked before stitching. The taco can be made larger or smaller by changing the yarn and needle size, and you can change the ingredients to suit yourself. Disclaimer: This is my first pattern, so if I've made any errors, I promise to have myself publicly flogged. However, as the designer, I am not responsible for the following problems: 1.Knitting mistakes 2.. Yarn felting as you work with it. 3. Sudden cravings for tacos or other Mexican foods. 4. Zombie attacks.
Taco Shell
Using your favorite provisional method, CO 30 stitches. Knit 6 rows stockinet, remembering to slip the first stitch of every row for a smooth edge, then continue as follows: Row 11: S1, K1, SSK, knit to last 4 stitches, K2tog, K2. (28 stitches) Row 12: S1, purl to end. Row 13: S1, knit to end. Row 14: S1, purl to end. Row 15: S1, K1, SSK, knit to last four stitches, K2Tog, K2. (26 stitches) Row 16: S1, purl to end. Repeat rows 15 and 16 until 12 stitches remain. Next row: S1, K1, SSK, knit to last four stitches, K2Tog, K2. This leaves 10 stitches on your needle. Turn, and BO all stitches purl wise. Pick up the beginning stitches from your provisional CO, and work exactly as above starting with 6 rows of stockinet. After all stitches are bound off, blocking is recommended. I steam blocked mine flat first, then folded it in half and steamed it lightly to set the taco shell shape.
Meat Filling
CO 28 stitches. Working in garter stitch, knit until the piece measures about 4" from the CO edge. BO all stitches loosely. Using either a crochet hook or tapestry needle, whichever is easier for you, stitch the BO edge to the CO edge to form a tube. OPTIONAL : Lightly stuff the tube with fiberfill or similar material to give it some width. Seam the ends shut.
Lettuce
Using the stitches that closed the Meat Filling lengthwise, pick up and knit 28 stitches. Work 8 rows of garter stitch, then work as follows: Row 9: K3, (K,YO,K) into next stitch, K3. Repeat to end of row: 36 stitches. Row 10: Knit all stitches across. Row 11: K4, (K,YO,K) into next stitch, K4. Repeat to end of row: 44 stitches. Row 12: Knit all stitches. Row 13: K5, (K,YO,K) into next stitch, K5. Repeat to end of row: 52 stitches. Row 14: Knit all stitches. Row 15: K3, Kfb (knit front and back) into next stitch, K2, Kfb into next stitch, K2, Kfb into next stitch, K3. Repeat to end of row: 64 stitches. Row 16: Knit all stitches. Row 17: K4, Kfb into next stitch, K3, Kfb into next stitch, K3, Kfb into next stitch, K3. Repeat to end of row: 78 stitches. Rows 18, 19, and 20: Knit all stitches. BO very loosely to keep the wavy edge of the lettuce. I recommend Judy's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off, and if you haven't used it there is an excellent video of it on Youtube.
Tomatoes
(I made three, but you can do as many wedges as you like. Or make them green so they can be avocado, whatever you like!) CO 12 stitches. Remembering to slip the first stitch of every row, work four rows in stockinet, then work as follows: Row 5: S1, K1, SSK, knit to last four stitches, K2tog, K2. (10 stitches) Row 6: S1, purl to end. Row 7: S1, K1, SSK, knit to last four stitches, K2Tog, K2. (8 stitches) Row 8: S1, purl to end. Row 9: S1, K1, SSK, K2tog, K2. (6 stitches) Row 10: S1, purl to end. Row 11: S1, SSK, K2Tog, K1. (4 stitches) Row 12: BO all stitches purlwise.
Cheese
I used about 24 strips of yarn, cut to $3^{\circ}$ lengths for the cheese. You could also use lengths of I-cord. Fold the $3^{\circ}$ length of yarn in half. Working into one of the first few garter ridges on the lettuce, put the crochet hook through a loop, put the folded cheese yarn on the hook, and pull a small loop through the lettuce. Pull the ends of the cheese yarn through the loop, and pull gently to tighten. (If you've ever done latch hook, this is the same technique.) Put 6 or more pieces of yarn on each end of the taco, at either side where it will stitch out from the shell.
Construction
After you've blocked the shell and the tomatoes, it's time to stitch it all together. (The meat and lettuce really don't require blocking.）Fit the bottom edge of the meat into the fold of the taco shell. I used regular cotton sewing thread, but if you're going for durability here, use yarn instead. Using needle and thread, tack the meat filling into the bottom of the shell in several places. Line up the tomato wedges where you would like them to be along the top edge of the shell and pin them in place. Tack the tomatoes onto the shell Working into approximately the middle of the shell, work small tack stitches into the lettuce to secure the whole taco closed. Try to work into the middle of knit stitches on the shell to hide your sewing! If desired, block again lightly. If you have any problems or questions please contact me either through email at cgasher $@$ gmail.com, or on Ravelry where I use the name Meanie393. I hope you enjoy knitting my taco!
