Your eyes would be bugging out too if you laid eggs one quarter
of your own body weight! But despite the strain, Kiwis love each
and every one of their little chicks.
Kiwi is knit from the base of the body up to the tip of the
beak. The eyeballs & legs are knit on stitches picked up
from the body, or knit separately & sewn on.
SIZE
One size is determined by size of yarn and needles used.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Small Kiwis are approx. 5 inches tall, large kiwi is approx.
11 inches tall.
Measurements taken with toys seated as shown.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Many different yarns will work with
this pattern. Small toys shown were knit using worsted weight
yarns, large toy was knit using super bulky weight. Small toy
requires approx. 35yd/32m MC, large toy requires approx. 50yd/46m
MC. Small amounts of CC1 and CC2 are required, so this is a good
project for using up odds and ends.
Small green toy: [MC]
SWTC Vespera [100% wool, 164yd/150m per 50g skein]; color: #652 [CC1] Aspen Moon Arts Handpainted Mini
Skein [100% merino wool; 42yd/38m per 20g skein] [CC2] KnitPicks Bare Swish Worsted [100%
superwash merino wool; 220yd/201m per 100g skein]; undyed Needle size used: US #3/3.25mm
Small brown toy: [MC] KnitPicks Simply Cotton Worsted [100% cotton, 164yd per 100g]; color:
Reindeer Heather [CC1]
and [CC2] same as for small green toy above Needle size used: US #3/3.25mm
Large toy: [MC] Cascade Magnum [100% wool, 123yd/112m per 250g skein]; color: #9408
Cordovan [CC1] Mystery stash yarn [bulky single ply wool/polyester blend] [CC2] Cascade Lana Grande [100% wool; 87yd/80m per 100g skein]; color:
#6010 Natural Needle size used: US #11/8mm
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] 1
set double-point needles in size needed
for yarn chosen (see Gauge section below
and sizes used above)
Notions Yarn
needle Safety pin or split ring marker Small amount of black yarn or embroidery thread Stuffing
GAUGE
Exact gauge is not important
for this project; however, it is important to knit tightly
to obtain a firm fabric so that stuffing does not show through.
Use needles that are several sizes smaller than size recommended
on ball band.
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
LLI (Left Lifted Increase): Use the left
needle to pick up the stitch 2 rows below
the last stitch on the right needle.
Knit this stitch through its back loop.
1 stitch has been increased.
Directions for the Knitted Cast On method (“knitting on”)
can be found here.
DIRECTIONS
BODY
Using MC, CO 6 sts. Divide sts between
needles and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.
After several rounds have been worked, place safety pin or
split ring marker in work to indicate beginning of round.
Round 1: [Kfb] in each st. 12 sts.
Even-numbered Rounds 2-8: K all sts.
Round 3: [Kfb] in each st. 24 sts.
Round 5: [Kfb, k6, kfb] three times.
30 sts.
Round 7: [Kfb, k8, kfb] three times.
36 sts.
Round 9: [Kfb, k10, kfb] three times.
42 sts.
Rounds 10-19: K all sts.
Round 20: [Ssk, k10, k2tog] three times.
36 sts.
Odd-numbered Rounds 21-25: K all sts.
Round 22: [Ssk, k8, k2tog] three times.
30 sts.
Round 24: [Ssk, k6, k2tog] three times.
24 sts.
Round 26: [Ssk, k4, k2tog]
three times. 18 sts.
Round 27: K all sts.
Head is shaped using short rows (see Abbreviations
+ Techniques). Round 28: K6, W&T; p12, W&T; k24. Round 29: Kfb, k5, W&T; p13, W&T; k5, kfb, k20. 20 sts. Round 30: Kfb, k6, W&T; p15, W&T; k6, kfb, k22. 22 sts. Rounds 31 and 32: K8, W&T; p16, W&T; k30.
Before proceeding, sew up small hole at base of work and draw
yarn tail to inside of work. Stuff body. Round 33: Ssk, k4, k2tog, W&T; p6, p2tog, p4, p2tog, W&T;
k24. 18 sts. Round 34: [Ssk, k2, k2tog] three times.
12 sts.
Break MC and stuff head. Using CC1, proceed as follows. If you
wish to make a firm beak for your kiwi, switch to a smaller needle
size. Round 35: [Ssk, k2tog] three times. 6
sts. Round 36: Ssk, k2, k2tog. 4 sts.
Transfer all sts to one needle. Work 25 rows I-cord, or until
beak is desired length.
Last round: Ssk, k2tog. Break yarn and
draw through remaining 2 sts. Use yarn needle to draw yarn tail
down through center of beak to inside of head. Draw any remaining
yarn tails to inside of piece.
EYES Note: If desired, eyes and legs can be
knit separately and then sewn on, instead
of being worked from picked-up sts.
Using CC2, pick up and k 8 sts in top of toy, in two parallel
rows as shown below. Eyes are worked in the round.
Round 1:K all sts.
Round 2: [K1, LLI] eight times. 16 sts.
Rounds 3-6: K all sts.
Round 7: [Ssk] eight times. 8 sts.
Break yarn and draw loosely through remaining
sts. Stuff eye, then pull yarn tail tight to close. Weave in
ends and make a second eye in the same way.
Use black yarn or embroidery thread to
embroider pupils as shown at right.
LEGS
Using MC, pick up and k 6 sts in base of body as shown below,
to one side of front, approx. 7 rows
above CO.
Work 5 rows I-cord. Pull yarn tightly
to help close up back of I-cord. Break
MC.
Using CC1, continue in I-cord as follows: Next Row: [Ssk] three times. 3 sts.
Work 5 rows I-cord.
Form feet by working picot bind off as follows. Use knitted
cast on method (see Pattern Notes).
[CO 4 sts, BO 5 sts] twice, CO 4 sts,
BO 4 sts. Break yarn and draw through remaining st. Use
yarn needle to draw yarn tail down through center of leg. Draw
any remaining yarn tails to inside of piece.
Work second leg in the same way.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Cheezombie often finds herself bleary eyed
and finger sore, but still knitting and
watching slasher movies and cartoons, at
2 a.m. The byproducts
of these late-night sessions fuel others,
whereby creating a cycle of sleeplessness
and creativity and funny critters.
Knitting Manifesto:
1. Projects should take no longer than
a few hours from start to finish.
2. Projects should have few or no seams
to sew up at the end.
3. Projects should be made in one piece,
or the absolute minimum of pieces necessary.
4. Projects should use the simplest stitches
to get the desired effects as possible.
5. And above all, they should be quick
and fun enough to knit over and over until you have little herds
of funny critters following you about the house.
by
cheezombie
