PATTERN FOR A KNITTED WORRY MONSTER WITH LEGS
Here is the pattern I wrote recently for a worry monster. I have donated it to Knit-for-Nowt and it is already on their website.
This one is in intentionally scary. But it could easily be amended to make it cute and cuddly!
This pattern uses dk yarn doubled (i.e. two strands of dk yarn knitted together) and size 5.5mm knitting needles. It produces a Worry Monster measuring 13 inches long.
I find that doubling up the yarn and using 5.5mm knitting needles makes a strong fabric that knits up very quickly and contains the stuffing securely.
Don’t worry if the monster looks small when you are knitting it. It will look larger after you have sewed the seams and stuffed it.
Remember: the yarn is used doubled throughout except for the pocket and the facial features.
You will need
70g of dk yarn
5.5mm knitting needles
70g of toy stuffing
Felt or buttons for eyes
FRONT VIEW
Right leg
Cast on 9 stitches
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a Garter Stitch Row and ending with a purl row)
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a Garter Stitch Row and ending with a purl row)
Cut the yarn and push the leg to the far end of the left hand needle
Left leg
Cast on 9 stitches on the same left hand needle.
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Join legs
Knit across all 9 stitches of the left leg.
Turn your work and cast on 2 stitches
Turn your work again and knit across all 9 stitches of the right leg
You should now have 20 stitches on your needle
Body
Work 23 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a purl row)
Arms
Cast on 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Cast off 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows
Change to head colour
Work 4 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Mouth
Knit 5 stitches with the face colour
(you are now going to change to the mouth colour. But do not cut the face colour as you will need this on the next row)
Change to mouth colour
Work on next 10 stitches only as follows:
Knit across 10 stitches
Turn and purl or knit across 10 stitches (knitting this row produces a raised, knobbly texture which is similar to teeth)
Change back to face colour
Knit across 10 mouth stitches and remaining 5 face stitches
Work a further 11 rows straight – (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a purl row)
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 4 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 4 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Change to hair colour
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 4 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
You should now have 12 stitches on your needle
BACK VIEW
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 8 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
You should now have 20 stitches on your needle
Work 16 rows straight – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Change to body colour
Arms
Cast on 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Cast off 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows
Work 24 rows straight – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Left leg
Knit 9 stitches
Turn your work and continue on these 9 stitches for 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a garter stitch row)
Cast off these 9 stitches
Right leg
Rejoin yarn to remaining11 stitches
Cast off first 2 stitches
Knit 9 stitches
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a garter stitch row)
Cast off
Making up:
Embroider facial features as desired (the rosebud lips effect was achieved by Swiss darning)
Make plaits if desired and sew on firmly
Sew up outer leg seams, both sides, around arms and head
Stuff with approved toy stuffing and check that it is not escaping through any holes
Sew up remaining leg seams
Using a single strand of dk yarn, knit or crochet a square measuring 3.5 inches and attach it to the front as a worry pocket. (I find it easier to add the pocket after stuffing the monster. But you might prefer to add it first.)
Variations:
Let your imagination run riot
To make longer legs, add 2, 4, or 6 rows
Change the colours as required
To make shoes change the colour of the first four rows of the legs
Use all your left over oddments to make stripes
To knit a monster with ears at the top of the head
Follow pattern until
Change back to face colour, then
Knit across 10 mouth stitches and remaining 5 face stitches
Work a further 43 rows straight – (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a purl row)
Change to body colour and continue with the rest of the pattern
When making up, sew a running stitch across the top corners and pull tightly to make 2 ears
The inspiration for this pattern came from the BASIC PATTERN FOR A WORRY PUPPET by Diane Fenney
If you feel like knitting, crocheting or sewing some worry monsters or worry puppets for Knit-for-Nowt, there is currently a competition to win a wool voucher on their website HERE. There will be four winners and everyone has an equal chance as the winners will be selected at random by a senior social worker. The closing date is May 25th.
