little monstah bear. :]

heyy it's me. and a little monster bear. he didn't felt very well, and it was lion brand felting yarn. so, i guess i suck at felting. oh well.

again, this is from one skein wonders (i want to try to make everything in the book, so sorry, you'll get sick of me soon) by a little monster bear expert wendy gross.

materials:
-size 10 straight needles and two size 10 double pointed needles.
-book calls for malabrigo merino worsted (100% merino wool) color oceanos.
-polyfil, plastic eyes, and a tapestry needle.

pattern for body:
-cast on 8 stitches using long tail method. leave 10" tail.
-*k1, kfb; repeat from *. you now have 12 stitches.
-rows 2 and even numbered rows to 10: purl.
-row 3: *k2, kfb; repeat from *. now you have 16 stitches.
-row 5: *k2, kfb; repeat from * to last stitch, k1. now 21 stitches.
-row 7: *k3, kfb; repeat from * to last stitch, k1. 26 stitches!
-row 9: *k3, kfb; repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2. now 32 stitches.
-work in stockinette until piece measures 3.5".

pattern for neck:
-row 1: *k4, k2tog; repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2. 27 stitches? good.
-row 2: *p3, p2tog; repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p2. 22 stitches.
-row 3: knit.
-row 4: purl.
-row 5: *k6, kfb; repeat from * to last stitch, k1. 25 stitches.
-work in stockinette until whole thing measures 5.5".

pattern for head:
-row 1: *k2, k2tog; repeat from * to last stitch, k1. 19 stitches.
-row 2: purl.
-row 3: *k1, k2tog; repeat from * to last stitch, k1. 13 stitches left.
-row 4: *p1, p2tog; repeat from * to last stitch, p1. 9 stitches!
-bind off leaving 24" tail.

pattern for legs (don't forget to make two!):
-cast on 9 stitches with long tail method.
-rows 1 and 3: knit.
-row 2: purl.
-row 4: p2, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p2.
-row 5: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1.
-work in 10 rows of this 5-stitch I-cord.
-bind off leaving 10" tail.

pattern for arms (make twooo):
-cast on 7 stitches with long tail method.
-row 1: knit.
-row 2: purl.
-row 3: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1.
-row 4: p1, p2tog, p2.
-work in 8 rows of 3 stitch I-cord.
-Bind off leaving 10" tail.

-assemble him! turn the body inside out and sew from head to butt. leave about 1" open in both top and bottom so you can have room to stuff him with polyfil. turn him right side out and stuff him, but don't overstuff (i think that was my problem). finish stitching and pull up extra tail through body out of the head.

-stitch up the feet and arms at the heel and wrist parts creating little pockets to stuff. the part you stitched with I-cord you do not sew or stuff.

-using the tails from casting on and binding off, attach the legs and arms to the body. attach the eyes. stitch up the head opening, and stitch the ears to his head securely with the tails from the ears. weave in ends.

-felting. sigh. i'm never good at this (never being, i think i tried once before). put your bear in a pillowcase and tie it up. put him in a washing machine with jeans or another heavy material and wash him. if necessary keep doing it until he's how you want him to be. blot excess water with a towel and allow him to dry.

there are other ways of felting that you can google and try. have fun cuddling with him.

oh ps the I-cord stitch: you put the stitches onto your double pointed needles and stitch the first row normal, then you do NOT turn needle around, but slide it to the other end. knit as usual with the working yarn stretching across the stitches. looks and feels weird at first but i love the I-cord.

peace and SDG.