Fun animal skittles
Rain or shine, Ann Franklin’s awesome skittles will have the kids’ summer activities all sorted!
YOU WILL NEED
■ Hayfield, Bonus DK
(100% acrylic, 100g/280m)
1 ball of each:
Yarn A Fox (0779)
Yarn B Bright Lemon (0819) Yarn C Black (0965)
Yarn D Pumpkin (0766)
Yarn E White (0961)
Yarn F Bright Orange (0981) Yarn G Silver Grey (0838)
Yarn H Lemon Grass (0699)
■ A pair of 3 mm needles
■ 6 cardboard discs, 8cm diameter (optional, for bases)
■ Toy stuffing
For yarn stockists contact Sirdar 01924 231682 www.sirdar.co.uk
TENSION
Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 26 sts and 34 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3 mm needles
MEASUREMENTS
Height 18cm (7in)
Base diameter 8cm (3.15in)
ABBREVIATIONS
B&T Break and tighten – break off the yarn and thread the end through the sts left on the needle. Pull the end of the yarn to tighten the sts together.
Kfbf Knit into the front, back and front of the next st (3 sts made from 1)
For a full list see page 95 Planning a summer picnic? Pack these cuddly toys for a spot of on-the-go fun! Knitted in easy-to-wash yarn, in a range of bright colours, these skittles are easy to knit. In quick stocking and garter stitch, you’ll have a whole set in no time.
MONKEY BODY AND HEAD
Cast on 9 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 (RS) *Kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [17 sts]
Row 2 and every foll alt row Knit to end. Row 3 *K1, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Row 5 *K2, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [33 sts]
Row 7 *K3, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [41 sts]
Row 9 *K4, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [49 sts]
Row 11 *K5, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [57 sts]
Row 13 *K6, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [65 sts]
Row 14 Knit to end.
Rows 15 to 26 Beg with a knit row, work in st st for 12 rows.
Row 27 *K6, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [57 sts]
Rows 28 to 32 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 33 *K5, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [49 sts]
Rows 34 to 38 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 39 *K4, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [41 sts]
Rows 40 to 44 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 45 *K3, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [33 sts]
Rows 46 to 50 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 51 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Row 52 Purl.
Row 53 (Kfbf) 8 times, K9, (kfbf) 8 times. [57 sts]
Rows 54 to 72 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 19 rows.
Row 73 *K5, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [49 sts]
Row 74 and every foll alt row Purl to end. Row 75 *K4, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [41 sts]
Row 77 *K3, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [33 sts]
Row 79 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Row 81 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [17 sts] Row 83 *K2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [9 sts]
B&T.
SNOUT
Cast on 31 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn B.
Row 1 *K2, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [41 sts]
Rows 2 to 6 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 7 *K3, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [33 sts]
Row 8 and every foll alt row Purl to end. Row 9 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Row 11 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [17 sts]
Row 13 *K2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [9 sts]
B&T.
NOSE
Cast on 9 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn A.
B&T.
EARS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 7 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 *Kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [13 sts]
Rows 2 to 4 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 3 rows.
Row 5 *K1, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [19 sts]
Row 6 Purl to end.
Break off Yarn A and join in Yarn B.
Rows 7 to 10 Beg with a knit row, work in
st st for 4 rows.
Row 11 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [13 sts]
Row 12 Purl to end.
Row 13 *K2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [7 sts]
B&T.
MAKING UP
Note When embroidering features such as the eyes and mouths, check their placement by using pins to mark where they will be. Only embroider the features when you are pleased with the pins’ placement.
1 Sew a row of running stitches across the cast-on stitches of the main body and draw the yarn up to close the stitches into a circle.
2 Join the seam, leaving a gap that is large enough to allow the cardboard base to be inserted. Turn work to the right side and place the cardboard inside to form a base. Stuff, then close the gap. 3 Join the seam of the snout and stuff, leaving the cast-on edge open.
4 Sew the cast-on edge of the snout onto the front of the face. Join the seam of the nose, and then sew it onto the front of the snout.
5 Using a length of Yarn C, embroider a pair of eyes just above the snout, and a long mouth shape on the bottom half of the snout.
6 Sew a row of stitches across the cast-on stitches of the ears and draw the yarn up to close the stitches into a circle.
7 Fold the ears in half and sew the fronts and backs together across the side seams. 8 Sew the ears onto the sides of the head, placing the top of the ears level with the eyes.
LION
Make the main body and head exactly as for the Monkey, except using Yarn D throughout. Make the snout exactly as for the Monkey, except using Yarn E. Make the nose exactly as for the Monkey, using Yarn A.
EARS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 7 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn D.
Rows 1 to 10 Beg with a knit row, work in st st for 10 rows.
Cast off.
MANE
Cast on 5 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn A.
Work in g st until work measures 30cm. Cast off.
MAKING UP
1 Make up main body and head, snout and nose as for the Monkey.
2 Using a length of Yarn C, embroider eyes just above the snout, and a mouth below the nose on the snout. The Lion’s mouth consists of a short, straight line sewn vertically from just below the nose, with a semi-circular smile lying horizontally at the end of the short line. 3 Fold the ears in half and sew the side seams. Sew the cast-on and cast-off edges to the top of the head, with the top-edge of the ears level with the first decrease row of the head. Bend the ears
outwards at the centre for a curved look. 4 Join the cast-on and cast-off edges of the mane together to form a large loop. 5 Place the loop around the face/chin/ ears and sew in place.
TIGER
Make the main body and head exactly as for the Monkey, except working in stripes of two rows Yarn C, then two rows Yarn F throughout. Make the snout exactly as for the Monkey, except using Yarn E. Make the nose exactly as for the Monkey, using Yarn A. Make the ears exactly as for the Lion, except working in stripes of two rows Yarn C, then two rows Yarn F.
MAKING UP
Make up exactly as for the Lion, except using a length of Yarn H for the eyes, rather than Yarn C.
ZEBRA
Make the main body and head exactly as for the Monkey, except working in stripes of two rows Yarn E, then two rows Yarn C throughout.
SNOUT
Cast on 31 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn G.
Row 1 *K2, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [41 sts]
Rows 2 to 8 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 7 rows.
Row 9 *K3, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [33 sts]
Row 10 and every foll alt row Purl to end. Row 11 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Row 13 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [17 sts]
Row 15 *K2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [9 sts]
B&T.
EARS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 8 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn E.
Rows 1 and 2 Beg with a knit row (RS), work in st st for 2 rows.
Join in Yarn C and commence stripe pattern as set for body.
Row 3 (In Yarn C) K2togtbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [6 sts]
Row 4 Purl to end.
Row 5 (In Yarn E) K2togtbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [4 sts]
Row 6 Purl to end.
Row 7 (In Yarn C) K2togtbl, k2tog. [2 sts] Row 8 Purl to end.
Row 9 K2tog. [1 st]
B&T.
MAKING UP
1 Make up main body and head and snout as for the Monkey.
2 Using a length of Yarn C, embroider 2 nostrils and a small, upwards-facing V-shaped mouth.
3 Using Yarn H, embroider two eyes just above the snout.
4 Fold the ears in half lengthwise, making two thin triangle shapes. Sew to the top of the head.
CROCODILE
Make main body and head as for the Monkey, except working in Yarn H throughout.
NOSE
Cast on 9 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn H.
Row 1 *Kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [17 sts]
Row 2 and every foll alt row Purl to end. Row 3 *K1, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Row 5 *K2, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [33 sts]
Row 7 *K3, kfb; rep from * to last, K1. [41 sts]
Rows 8 to 16 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 9 rows.
Rows 17 and 18 Cast off 5 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. [31 sts] Rows 19 to 24 Cast off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 6 rows. [13 sts] Cast off the remaining 13 sts.
EYES (MAKE 2)
Cast on 16 sts using 3 mm and Yarn H. Rows 1 to 4 Beg with a knit row, work in st st for 4 rows.
Row 5 *K2tog; rep from * to the end of the row. [8 sts]
B&T.
MAKING UP
1 Make up the main body and head exactly as for the Monkey.
2 Make up the nose as for the Monkey’s snout.
3 Join the side seams of the eyes. Fold so that the seam is at the centre-back. Sew the eyes to the top of the head.
4 Using a length of Yarn C, embroider 2 eyeballs by sewing 3 to 4 vertical stitches at the centre-front of each eye, 2 nostrils on the front/top of the nose, and a wide mouth (by embroidering a line from one side of the nose to the other, across the middle of the nose).
ELEPHANT
Make the main body and head exactly as for the Monkey, except working in Yarn G throughout.
TRUNK
Cast on 9 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn G.
Rows 1 and 2 Knit to end.
Row 3 (RS) *K1, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [13 sts]
Rows 4 to 8 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 9 *K2, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [17 sts]
Rows 10 to 14 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 15 *K3, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [21 sts]
Row 16 to 20 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Row 21 *K4, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Rows 22 to 26 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Rows 27 and 28 Cast off 3 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. [19 sts] Row 29 *K2togtbl, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. [2 sts dec’d]
Row 30 Purl to end.
Rep Rows 29 and 30 until 5 sts remain. Cast off.
EARS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 7 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn G.
Row 1 (RS) *Kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [13 sts]
Rows 2 to 4 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 3 rows.
Row 5 *K1, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [19 sts]
Rows 6 to 9 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 4 rows.
Cast off purlwise.
MAKING UP
1 Make up the main body and head as for the Monkey, except for the eyes.
2 Sew a row of stitches across the cast-on stitches of the trunk and draw the yarn up to close the stitches into a circle.
3 Sew the seam, leaving the cast-off edge open. Turn to the right side and stuff.
4 Sew the cast-on edge to the front of the head. Then sew the cast-on edge of the ears to the side of the head.
5 Using a length of Yarn C, embroider a pair of eyes either side of the trunk.
BALL
Cast on 7 sts using 3 mm needles and Yarn H.
Row 1 (RS) *Kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [13 sts]
Row 2 and every foll alt row Purl to end. Row 3 *K1, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [19 sts]
Row 5 *K2, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Row 6 Purl to end.
Break off Yarn H and join in Yarn D.
Row 7 *K3, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [31 sts]
Row 9 *K4, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [37 sts]
Row 11 *K5, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [43 sts]
Row 12 Purl to end.
Break off Yarn D and join in Yarn B.
Row 13 *K6, kfb; rep from * to the last st, K1. [49 sts]
Rows 14 to 18 Beg with a purl row, work in st st for 5 rows.
Break off Yarn B and join in Yarn F.
Rows 19 to 22 Beg with a knit row, work in st st for 4 rows.
Row 23 *K6, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [43 sts]
Row 24 Purl to end.
Break off Yarn F and join in Yarn A.
Row 25 *K5, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [37 sts]
Row 27 *K4, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [31 sts]
Row 29 *K3, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [25 sts]
Break off Yarn A and join in Yarn E.
Row 31 *K2, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [19 sts]
Row 33 *K1, k2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [13 sts]
Row 35 *K2tog; rep from * to the last st, K1. [7 sts]
Row 36 Purl to end.
B&T.
MAKING UP
1 With WS facing, sew a row of stitches across the cast-on stitches and draw the yarn up to close the stitches into a circle. 2 Join the seam, leaving a gap for turning and stuffing. Turn right-side out and stuff firmly. Close the gap.