Mr Monster toy
Spookily cute, this fanged chap is more friend than fiend. Cast him on just in time for Halloween. By Amanda Berry
MONSTER TOY
Note The monster is knitted in the round to minimise seaming, although there is still a little sewing together to do at the end. Use the long-tail cast on unless otherwise specified. There’s a great tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXA3gBNiSiM.
BODY
Cast on 9 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn A. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Start at the bottom.
Round 1 Knit.
Round 2 (Kfb) 9 times. [18 sts]
Round 3 Knit.
Round 4 (Kfb, K1) 9 times. [27 sts]
Round 5 Knit.
Round 6 (Kfb, K2) 9 times. [36 sts]
Round 7 Knit.
Round 8 (Kfb, K3) 9 times. [45 sts]
Round 9 Knit.
Round 10 (Kfb, K4) 9 times. [54 sts]
Round 11 Knit.
Round 12 (Kfb, K5) 9 times. [63 sts]
Rounds 13 to 35 Knit.
Round 36 (K2tog, K19) 3 times. [60 sts]
Rounds 37 to 41 Knit.
Round 42 (K2tog, K8) 6 times. [54 sts]
Rounds 43 to 47 Knit.
Round 48 (K2tog, K7) 6 times. [48 sts]
Rounds 49 to 53 Knit.
Round 54 (K2tog, K6) 6 times. [42 sts]
Rounds 55 to 59 Knit.
Round 60 (K2tog, K5) 6 times. [36 sts]
Rounds 61 to 65 Knit.
Round 66 (K2tog, K2) 9 times. [27 sts]
Rounds 67 to 69 Knit.
Add stuffing inside the body.
Round 70 (K2tog, K1) 9 times. [18 sts]
Round 71 Knit.
Round 72 (K2tog) 9 times. [9 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
FEET (MAKE 2)
Cast on 9 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn A. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Start at the heel.
Round 1 Knit.
Round 2 (Kfb) 9 times. [18 sts]
Round 3 Knit.
Round 4 (Kfb, K7, kfb) twice. [22 sts] Rounds 5 to 7 Knit.
Round 8 (Kfb, K9, kfb) twice. [26 sts] Rounds 9 to 21 Knit.
Round 22 (Ssk, K9, k2tog) twice. [22 sts] Round 23 Knit.
Cast off.
LIP
Cast on 5 sts using 3.25mm DPNs and Yarn A.
Work in i-cord for 23 rows.
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
CLAWS (MAKE 12)
Cast on 9 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn B. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round.
Rounds 1 to 5 Knit.
Round 6 (K2tog, K1) 3 times. [6 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
LEGS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 18 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn A. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Rounds 1 to 19 Knit in stripes of Yarn A and Yarn B, changing colour at the beg of each round beg and ending with Yarn A.
Cast off.
ARMS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 15 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn A. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Rounds 1 to 17 Knit in stripes of Yarn A and Yarn B, changing colour at the beg of each round beg and ending with Yarn A. Break Yarn B and cont in Yarn A only for Hand.
Round 18 (Kfb, K2) 5 times. [20 sts]
Rounds 19 to 21 Knit.
Round 22 (Kfb, K8, kfb) twice. [24 sts]
Rounds 23 to 29 Knit.
Round 30 (Ssk, K8, k2tog) twice. [20 sts]
Round 31 Knit.
Cast off.
SIDE EYEBALLS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 7 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn A. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Start at the back.
Round 1 Knit.
Round 2 (Kfb) 7 times. [14 sts]
Round 3 Knit.
Round 4 (K1, kfb) 7 times. [21 sts]
Round 5 Knit.
Round 6 (K2, kfb) 7 times. [28 sts]
Round 7 Knit.
Round 8 Purl.
Break Yarn A and join Yarn C.
Round 9 Knit.
Round 10 (K2, k2tog) 7 times. [21 sts]
Round 11 Knit.
Round 12 (K1, k2tog) 7 times. [14 sts]
Round 13 Knit.
Add stuffing inside the eye.
Round 14 (K2tog) 7 times. [7 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
CENTRAL EYEBALL
Cast on 9 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn A. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Start at the back.
Round 1 Knit.
Round 2 (Kfb) 9 times. [18 sts]
Round 3 Knit.
Round 4 (K1, kfb) 9 times. [27 sts]
Round 5 Knit.
Round 6 (K2, kfb) 9 times. [36 sts]
Rounds 7 to 9 Knit.
Round 10 Purl.
Break Yarn A and join Yarn C.
Round 11 Knit.
Round 12 (K2, k2tog) 9 times. [27 sts]
Round 13 Knit.
Round 14 (K1, k2tog) 9 times. [18 sts]
Round 15 Knit.
Add stuffing inside the eye.
Round 16 (K2tog) 9 times. [9 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
TOP BACK HUMP
Cast on 15 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn B. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Rounds 1 and 2 Knit.
Round 3 (K2tog) 7 times, K1. [8 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
MIDDLE BACK HUMP
Cast on 21 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn B. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Rounds 1 to 3 Knit.
Round 4 (K2tog, K1) 7 times. [14 sts]
Round 5 (K2tog) 7 times. [7 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
BOTTOM BACK HUMP
Cast on 27 sts using 3.25mm DPNs (or circular needle, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method) and Yarn B. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. PM to mark beg of round. Rounds 1 to 4 Knit.
Round 5 (K2tog, K1) 9 times. [18 sts]
Round 6 Knit.
Round 7 (K2tog) 9 times. [9 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
FINISHING
Sew a button to the centre of the Yarn C section of each Eye for the pupil. Attach the 3 Eyes to the top and top sides of the Body, using photograph as a guide. Sew the cast-on edge of each Hump to the back of the Body, adding a little stuffing under each Hump before finishing sewing. For the Teeth, cut two triangles of white felt fabric, approximately 1.5cm tall. Pin the Lip piece onto the front of the Body and glue the top edge of each Tooth onto the Body under each end of the Lip. When the glue is dry, sew the Lip onto the Body. For each Foot, add stuffing, sew the cast-off edge tog across the top and gather the cast-on sts tog at the bottom. Add stuffing to the Leg, and sew one end of the Leg onto the Foot, and sew the other end onto the bottom of the Body. For each Arm, add stuffing, sew the cast-off edge tog across the top of the hand, and sew the cast-on edge onto the side of the Body. For each Claw, add a little stuffing inside and sew the cast-on edge onto the Feet/Hands (3 claws on each).
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SETH SINGH, ART EDITOR