Notes:
Guage: 6st x 8 rows per l inch, but this is not crucial as long as he looks proportionate to you Kitchener Stitch is used frequently. If you haven't used this technique before, it's not difficult to learn. Instructions for kitchener stitch, and abbreviations can be found on the last page. His afterthought arms are also fairly simple. If you have never used the technique before, give it a try.
Notions:
Plymouth Yarn Encore, 2 balls for MC, 1 ball for CCl and small amount (about 30 yds) for lips and heart. US 3 (1.25mm) dpns US 7 (mm) dpns Safety eyes, or small amount of black yarn Tapestry needle Stuffing / Fiberfill
Meet Manny the Monkey
Manny is always ready for adventure, whether it's swinging from a tree or reading his favorite book. He's perfect for your little one to tug around with her, and machine washable just in case his adventures are of the messy kind! With sewing minimized you won't spend hours finishing and he'll be done in no time. Manny is knit from the neck down with afterthought arms, using the same technique used when making afterthought heels on socks. After the legs are done, stitches are then picked up from the neck and worked for the head. Ears and an I-cord tail are attached after stuffing is complete.
Instructions
→BODY:
Cast on 50 stitches. A provisional cast on would probably be the cleanest looking and easiest to pick up later; however, I used a cable cast on and did just fine, so you can use whatever you prefer. [kfb, k4] 10 times {60sts} Knit one round [kfb, k4] 12 times {72sts} Knit 3 rounds Set up for afterthought arms: k15, 66 with scrap yarn, slip these 6sts back on to left needle, k6 with MC, k30, k6 with scrap yarn, slip these 6sts back to left needle, k15 Continue knitting until body measures 6 inches from the cast onedge.
>LEGS:
K3, k30, place first three knitted stitches and remaining stitches on a piece of waste yarn. Join the 30sts that remain live for knitting in the round. Knit leg until it measures 5-1/2 inches from dividing point Knit 3 rounds in CC1 Knit 3 rounds in MC Switch to CC1 and knit until CC1 band measures 2 inches. K2tog, k26, ssk, k2tog, k26, ssk K2tog, k24, ssk, k2tog, k24, ssk K2tog, k22, ssk, k2tog, k22, ssk K2tog, k20, ssk, k2tog, k20, ssk K2tog, k18,ssk, k2tog, k18, ssk Divide stitches between decreases onto 2 needles and kitchener stitch foot closed. Starting at the inside, 30sts for the second leg and repeat instructions for first leg. There should be l2 live stitches still on scrap yarn between the legs - 6 on each side. After the second leg is done, kitchener stitch these stitches closed and close any holes that may be evident where the legs meet the body.
ARMS:
Pick up stitches that are held on waste yarn - 6 across the top, two down the side, 7 across the bottom and 1 up the other side. Some people pull the waste yarn out in order to see the loops more easily. I find this to be a bit risky, especially with such dense fabric, so I pick the stitches up before pulling out the waste yarn.
HEAD:
Pick up and knit 50sts around the neck, beginning at the center back of the body. Knit 2 rounds [kfb, k4] 10 times {60sts} Knit l round [kfb, k4] 12 times {72sts} Knit 4 rounds Set up opening for the snout: K30, BO14,k29 K28, k2tog, turn Sll, p28, continue to other side of opening by purling 28 more, p2tog, turn. You will be working back and forth until indicated to join again. Knit 1 round {16sts) K11, k2tog, ssk, k24, k2tog, ssk, k11 K10, k2tog, ssk, k22, k2tog, ssk, k10 K9, k2tog, ssk, k20, k2tog, ssk, k9 Knit 10, this should be the dividing point between decreases, place sts on 2 needles and kitchener stitch closed. Stuff the arms, legs and body through the snout opening at this point. [kfb, k1] 8 times {24sts} Continue knitting until arm measures 5-1/2 inches from picked up stitches Knit 3 rounds in CC1 Knit 3 rounds in MC Knit in CC until arm measures Zinches from picked up stitches K4, k2tog, ssk, k8, k2tog, ssk, k4 K3, k2tog, ssk, k6, k2tog, ssk, k3 K2, k2tog, ssk, k4, k2tog, ssk, k2 Divide stitches between decreases onto 2 needles and kitchener stitch closed. Repeat these instructions for the second arm. Sll, purl across S11, k53, kfb Sl1, k58, CO14, join to other side, k30. This will be the end of the round (the same place it was before we made the snout opening. {72sts} Knit 6 rounds - about linch from the CO edge of the opening.
Abrieviations
K-knit P-purl Kfb - knit through the front and back loop of the same stitch Pfb - purl through the front and back loop of the same stitch CO- cast on BO-bind off Ssk - slip 2sts as if to knit, the slip them back to the left needle and knit them together K2tog - knit 2sts together
Kitchener Stitch:
Cut a long tail of yarn (about 16 inches should be enough). 1: Starting at the right side, draw yarn purlwise through the front loop and leave on the needle. 2: Draw yarn knitwise through the back loop and leave stitch on the needle. 3: Draw yarn through front loop knitwise and slip off. Next, draw yarn purlwise through the next front stitch and leave it on the needle. 4: Draw the yarn through the back loop again, purlwise and slip off. Draw the yarn through the next back stitch knitwise. Repeat 3 & 4 until all stitches are bound off.
SNOUT:
Pick up and knit 40sts with CC1 beginning at the center of the right side of the opening Knit 6 rounds Switch to CC2 for lips, knit 1 round K2tog, k16, ssk, k2tog, k16, ssk K2tog, k14, ssk, k2tog, k14, ssk K2tog, k12, ssk, k2tog, k12, ssk Finish stuffingthe head and sew the eyes. Kitchener stitch the mouth closed.
EARS:
UU susts, join ior kntung in tme round. Knit 4 rounds K2tog, k1l, ssk, k2tog, kll, ssk Knit 1 round K2tog, k9,ssk, k2tog, k9, ssk Knit 1 round K2tog, k7, ssk, k2tog, k7, ssk Knit l round K2tog, k5, ssk, k2tog, k5, ssk Kitchener stitch remaining stitches closed. Repeat for second ear. Attatch ears to sides of monkey's head.
TAIL:
CO4sts, make an I-cord about 13inches long. Because the tail will not be stuffed, I used the larger needles for this. Sew tail to the monkey's rearend.
Happy kntting!
If you have any questions, you can contact me through my website, www.mrsducksdesigns.wordpress.c om. I am also on Ravelry under the user name mel-is-swell.
Enjoy your monkey!
