WHODUNNKNIT
Floating Flutterguys
The Floating Flutterguy, hatched for Stitch London's annual Stitch Crawl 2011, is a simple bug. He turns from a cocoon of scrap yarn into a beautiful woolly winged wonder in less time than it takes to scream "AGH! Is that a moth! Get it away from my cashmerel!l!". Lucky for you (and for your cashmere) the Flutterguy isn't hungry for your yarn. All he wants is to be set free somewhere in your city. He comes in two delicious woolly insect species, Purly Winged Flutterguy (flat) and Curly Winged Flutterguy (fancy rolled edges). Free your Flutterguy! Go on.
Abbreviations
Gubbins
Yarn: 10g DK acrylic yarn in any colour 4.5mm knitting needles 1x 30cm (12") pipecleaner in any colour Pair of googly eyes Optional: Invisible thread, fishing line or some kind of floatation spell (Wingardium Leviosa might work) The iron will to set your knit free in the wild
Size
8cm (3") approx. from wingtip to wingtip Gauge: Not important. No one will be wearing him.
Skills you'll need
Knitting. Purling. Increasing. Decreasing. Pipecleaner bending skills. Yarnstorming (graffiti knitting sneaky stitchiness). Bug abandoning. K = knit P = purl Ktog = knit two together (knit two stitches together) Inc1 = increase one (knit into front of stitch but don't drop it off needle then knit into back of same stitch)
Pattern
Your Floating Flutterguy is made by knitting the very simple wing shapes and then folding the pipecleaner body just so. He's easy to create and won't eat a hole in your precious yarn stash. Unless he's really hungry.
Flutterguy Purly Wings
The Purly Wings have purls showing on both sides and lie flatter to show off their colours. Lucky you, you won't need to purl at all. It's plain knitting. It's just that the back of every knit stitch you make it a purl. Cast on 17 stitches Row 1. K across Row 2. K across Row 3. K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog (15 sts) Row 4. K across Lauren O'Farrell. Not for commercial use. Row 5 to 14. Repeat Row 3 (odd numbered rows) and Row 4 (even numbered rows) decreasing two stitcheseachoddrowuntilyouhave5 sts Row 15. K, inc1, knit to last 2 sts, inc1, k (7 sts) Row 16. K across Row 17 to Row 25. Repeat Row 15 (odd numbered rows) and Row 16 (even numbered rows) decreasing two stitches each odd row until you have 17 sts Bind off all stitches Darn in those pesky ends
Flutterguy Curly Wings
The Curly Wings are knit in stocking stitch showing purls on one side and knits on the other. They curl at the edges for that just stepped out of the insect salon' look. Cast on 17 stitches Row 1. K across Row 2. P across Row 3. K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog (15 sts) Row 4. P across Row 5 to 14. Repeat Row 3 (odd numbered rows)Darn in tr and Row 4 (even numbered rows) decreasing two stitches each odd row until you have 5 sts Row 15. K, inc1, knit to last 2 sts, inc1, k (7 sts) Row 16. P across Row 17 to Row 25. Repeat Row 15 (odd numbered rows) and Row 16 (even numbered rows) decreasing two stitches each odd row until you have 17 sts Bind off all stitches
Finishing
Before you start using pipecleaner bend both tips back on themselves to prevent pointy ends
1. Fold your pipecleaner in half to make a V.
2. Put your wings between each "leg' of the V about 5cm from the bottom. 3. Close pipecleaner around the wings twisting 2cm of the V to make the Flutterguy's bottom and head. 4. Curl the ends around a pen to make the whirl of the antennae. 5. Bend 2cm of the head at a right angle to make the face. 6. Stick on eyes to bring to life. Your Floating Flutterguy Lives!
Releasing your Flutterguy into the wild
· Tie invisible thread or fishing line to your Flutterguy, attach him to something outdoors and watch him flit. Wheeeeeeeeee! · Pick somewhere unexpected to release him. Putting him in flowerbeds may mean he's overshadowed by showy summer flowers. · Your Flutterguy isn't terribly child friendly with those plastic eyes. So watch they don't end up in tiny mouths. · Worried about littering? Fear not! He's cute enough that someone will adopt him and take him home. · Give your Flutterguys some wise words before you leave them. They're going to need to them make it in the big city. · Can't bear to leave him? It'll make someone's day to stumble across him unexpectedly. Graffiti knitting brings joy, confusion and colour to your city. Join the madness! Lauren O'Farrell. Not for commercial use.
