Mr Snuffles
Add some cute woodland charm to your desk with Jessica Biscoe’s paperweight.
This little chappie has got a lot going for him: small and quick to knit, but still an interesting project, he’s the perfect weekend make. Students, office workers and wildlife aficionados alike will all be thrilled to receive this little sweetheart. Why not knit a whole prickle of them for friends and family?
LOOPY STITCH
Knit the next stitch, but don’t slip it off the LH needle; bring the working yarn to the front of the work between the two needles, then place the left thumb on top of the working yarn and loop the yarn around the thumb and to the back between the two needles; keeping the thumb in the loop, insert the LH needle through the front loop of the stitch on the RH needle and insert the RH needle through the back loop of the stitch on the LH needle, and knit these 2 stitches together, dropping them off of the LH needle. One Loopy Stitch made. Repeat in each stitch to the end of the round. Work a Loopy Stitch round and a knit round alternately to form pattern.
HEDGEHOG PAPERWEIGHT
Cast on 6 sts using3 mm DPNs and Yarn A. Distribute sts evenly on three DPNs (2 sts on each needle). Place a marker at beg of round and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts.
BODY
Round 1 (Kfb) 6 times. [12 sts] Round 2 Work in Loopy Stitch. Round 3 (Kfb, K1) 6 times. [18 sts] Round 4 Work in Loopy Stitch. Round 5 (Kfb, K2) 6 times. [24 sts] Round 6 Work in Loopy Stitch. Round 7 (Kfb, K3) 6 times. [30 sts] Round 8 Work in Loopy Stitch. Round 9 Knit. Repeat Rounds 8 and 9, 6 times more, then repeat Round 8 once more. [11 Loopy Stitch rounds have been worked in total] Now add toy stuffing to fill out the Body. Place the weighted pellets in a small plastic bag and tie the bag closed. Insert the pellet bag inside the toy stuffing.
SHAPE FACE
Cut off Yarn A and continue in Yarn B, adding more stuffing as you proceed. Round 1 Knit. Round 2 K2tog, K16, ssk, K10. [28 sts]
Round 3 and every foll alt row Knit. Round 4 K2tog, K14, ssk, K4, k2tog, K4. [25 sts]
Round 6 K2tog, K12, ssk, K4, k2tog, K3. [22 sts]
Round 8 K2tog, K10, ssk, K3, k2tog, K3. [19 sts]
Round 10 K2tog, K8, ssk, K3, k2tog, K2. [16 sts]
Round 12 K2tog, K6, ssk, K2, k2tog, K2. [13 sts]
Round 14 K2tog, K4, ssk, K2, k2tog, K1. [10 sts]
Round 16 K2tog, K2, ssk, K1, k2tog, K1. [7 sts] Round 18 (K2tog) twice, K1, k2tog. [4 sts]
Cut off yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail onto a yarn needle, pass the needle through the rem live stitches, pull to draw closed and secure.
EARS
(MAKE 2) There are three lines of decreases on the top of the head. Mark the Ear positions on the top of the head along the top of the last Loopy Stitch row, 3cm apart. Using Yarn A and with the top of the head facing you, pick up and knit 3 sts at one Ear position. Row 1 P3. Row 2 K3. Row 3 P3. Row 4 K3tog and fasten off.
FINISHING
Using Yarn C, embroider two little eyes and a nose using the photo as a guide. Weave in any stray loose ends.