LLAMA-RAMA
Make someone smile for their birthday, or just by saying thanks, with this cute llama backpack by Nicola Valiji
LLAMA BACKPACK
Note All pieces are worked flat, using the long tail cast-on method (www.wikihow.com/Do-the-Long-Tail-Cast-On), on straight knitting needles and seamed using mattress stitch. Place pins where you want the eyes to be embroidered to get the positioning correct.
BODY OF BAG (MAKE 2)
Cast on 34 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 (RS) Kfb, knit to last st, kfb. [2 sts inc’d]
Row 2 (WS) Purl.
Rep Rows 1 and 2 another 3 times. [42 sts] Work 44 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Row 53 K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [2 sts dec’d] Row 54 Purl.
Rep Rows 53 to 54 another 3 times. [34 sts]
Cast off.
BAG FLAP
Cast on 22 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn B. Work 12 rows in garter st.
Row 13 (RS) Skpo, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [2 sts dec’d] Row 14 Knit.
Rep Rows 13 to 14 twice more. [16 sts]
Rep only Row 13 another 4 times. [8 sts]
Cast off.
FRONT OF EAR (MAKE 2)
Cast on 8 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn B. Work 8 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Row 9 (RS) Skpo, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [6 sts] Row 10 P2tog, P2, p2tog. [4 sts]
Cast off.
BACK OF EAR (MAKE 2)
Work as for Front of Ear with Yarn A.
LONG STRAP (MAKE 2)
Cast on 7 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn A. Work in garter st until Strap measures 60cm. Cast off.
HANDLE
Cast on 35 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn A. Work 4 rows in st st, beg with a knit row.
Cast off.
ZIGZAG TRIM (MAKE 1 EACH IN YARNS C, D AND E)
Cast on 51 sts using 6mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) K4, *s2kpo, K7; rep from * to last 7 sts, sk2po, K4. [41 sts]
Row 2 Knit.
Row 3 K1, *M1, K2, s2kpo, K2, M1, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 4 Knit.
Rep Rows 3 and 4 once more.
Cast off.
CHEEK (MAKE 2)
Cast on 10 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn C.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Row 2 (P2tog) 5 times. [5 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
NOSE
Cast on 5 sts using 6mm needles and Yarn B. Row 1 (RS) Kfb, K3, kfb. [7 sts]
Row 2 Purl.
Row 3 Kfb, k5, kfb. [9 sts]
Work 5 rows in st st, beg with a purl row.
Row 9 Skpo, K5, k2tog. [7 sts]
Row 10 Purl.
Row 11 Skpo, K3, k2tog. [5 sts]
Cast off.
MAKING UP
Place two Body pieces together, with RS facing each other, and seam around the edges leaving a 19cm gap at the top. Place Backpack Flap over the gap and sew the cast-on edge to the back of the Backpack. Sew the back and front of the Ear pieces together with RS facing each other, leaving the cast-on edges open. Turn Ears RS out and sew up the hole. Attach the Ears to the top of the Bag on either side of the Flap. Sew the cast-on and cast-off edges of the Top Handle together, then attach to the Bag on either side of the Flap. Attach the Long Straps at the top of the Bag behind the Ears and at the bottom of the Bag.
FINISHING
Using the picture as a guide, sew the Nose in the middle of the face, adding a little toy stuffing. Embroider the eyes and nose details using Yarn F. Gather the fasten-off edge of the Cheek and sew up the row-edges to the cast-on edge to form a circle. Rep for second cheek and sew them in place on either side of the nose.
Placing one above the other, sew the 3 pieces of Zigzag Trim in place along the bottom of the Bag, using the picture as a guide. Make one tassel in each of Yarns C, D and E, and attach these along the top of the Flap. Crochet a 24cm chain in Yarn C and make an additional tassel in Yarn C at the bottom of the chain. Make 3 large pompoms in each of Yarns C, D and E and attach them to the crochet chain. Attach the top of the chain to the Bag just below one of the Ears.
NEXT MONTH
Look out for next issue’s brilliantly fun knits for kids – from Rico’s awesome teddy bear hat to Amanda Berry’s amazing automobiles, filled with lovely details! Don’t miss issue 195, on sale Tuesday 28 January 2020 in all good supermarkets and newsagents.