Flappy Flounder doesn’t get his name from the slim profile
and awkward locomotion; it’s because flounder are notorious
as the gossips of the ocean.
They spend so much
time skulking about, pressed up against
the ocean floor, surreptitiously watching
all the goings on for so long their eyeballs
actually migrate around to better see
the juicy parts!
Then they gather around and flap their lips until they’ve
dished all they can & then go off and do it all again.
SIZE
Size is determined by size of yarn and needles used.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Flounders shown range from approx. 2-12 inches in diameter.
MATERIALS Almost any yarn will work with this
pattern. Toys shown were knit with weights ranging from lace
to super bulky. Only a small amount of yarn is required (5-60yd,
depending on weight), so this is a good project for using
up scraps. See gauge notes below when choosing needle size.
Yarn
Large purple/orange flounder: [MC] Malabrigo Rasta [100% merino wool; 90yd/82m per 150g skein]; color:
#850 Archangel [CC] Cascade Lana Grande [100% wool; 87yd/80m per 100g skein]; color: #6010 Recommended needle size 1
set US#11/8mm double-point needles
Mid-sized blue/green/beige/brown flounder:
Red Heart Super Saver [100% acrylic;
244yd/223m per 141g skein]; [MC]
#0305 Aspen Print [CC]
#0311 White Recommended needle size 1
set US#4/3.5mm double-point needles
Mid-sized blue/pink/purple/yellow flounder: [MC]
Aspen Moon Arts Handpainted Mini Skein
[100% merino wool; 42yd/38m per 20g skein] [CC]
KnitPicks Bare Swish Worsted [100% superwash
merino wool; 220yd/201m per 100g skein];
undyed Recommended needle size 1
set US#3/3.25mm double-point needles
Small green/brown flounder: [MC]
EA Yarns Andes [100% wool; 165yd/151m
per 100g skein]; color: #05 [CC]
KnitPicks Bare Swish Worsted [100% superwash merino wool; 220yd/201m
per 100g skein]; undyed Recommended needle size 1
set US#3/3.25mm double-point needles
Small green flounder*[see notions]: [MC]
KnitPicks Shadow [merino wool; 440yd/402m
per 50g skein]; color: #0305 Springtime
Tonal
Recommended needle size 1
set US#3/3.25mm double-point needles
Notions Yarn
needle Small
amount of black yarn or embroidery thread Small
amount of stuffing *Instead
of knitted eyes, beads were used to make eyes for the small
green version.
Beads used: Blue Moon Beads; Bits & Baubles #40
GAUGE
Exact gauge is not important
for this project; however, it is important to knit tightly
to obtain a firm fabric (this is more important for eyes than
for body/fins). 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 into this stitch. 1
stitch has been increased.
DIRECTIONS
BODY
Tail:
Using one double-point needle and MC,
loosely CO 8 sts. Rows 1-3: K all sts. Row 4: Ssk, k4, k2tog. 6 sts. Row 5: [Kfb] six times. 12 sts.
Redistribute sts between two double-point
needles as follows: *sl first st to first needle, slip next st
to second needle; repeat from * until each of two needles holds
6 sts. From this point, body will be worked in the round. Use
additional needles as desired.
Body: Rounds 1-3: K all sts. Round 4: [Kfb, k4, kfb] twice. 16 sts. Round 5: K all sts. Round 6: [Kfb, k6, kfb] twice. 20 sts. Round 7: K all sts. Round 8: [Kfb, k8, kfb] twice. 24 sts. Round 9: K all sts. Round 10: [Kfb, k10, kfb] twice. 28 sts. Round 11: K all sts. Round 12: [Kfb, k12, kfb] twice. 32 sts. Round 13: K all sts. Round 14: [Kfb, k14, kfb] twice. 36 sts. Round 15: K all sts. Round 16: [Kfb, k16, kfb] twice. 40 sts. Rounds 17-21: K all sts. Round 22: [Ssk, k16, k2tog] twice. 36
sts. Round 23: K all sts. Round 24: [Ssk, k14, k2tog] twice. 32
sts. Round 25: K all sts. Round 26: [Ssk, k12, k2tog] twice. 28
sts. Round 27: K all sts. Round 28: [Ssk, k10, k2tog] twice. 24
sts. Round 29: [Ssk, k8, k2tog] twice. 20
sts. Round 30: [Ssk, k6, k2tog] twice. 16
sts. Round 31: [Ssk, k4, k2tog] twice. 12
sts. Round 32: [Ssk, k2, k2tog] twice. 8 sts.
Mouth:
K 2 rounds. Next Round: [K1, kfb, kfb, k1] twice.
K 3 rounds.
Loosely BO all sts. Weave in ends; most
ends can just be tucked inside body. Roll BO edge outward to
form lips. Lightly stuff body if desired (toys shown have not
been stuffed).
LONG FIN All fins and flippers are worked using
MC. Fins are attached to body as they
are worked. When instructed to pick up
st in body, insert tip of left needle
in st at side edge of body. For long
fin, begin picking up sts in first increase round after tail
as shown below. When working fin, pick up 1 st for each round
of body, working toward mouth – 2
rows of fin will be worked for each round
of body.
CO 1 st. Row 1: Kfb. 2 sts. Row 2: Kfb, sl 1 purlwise, pick up st
in body, return slipped st to left needle, k2tog tbl. 3 sts.
Row 3: K3. Row 4: Kfb, k1, sl 1 purlwise, pick up
st in body, return slipped st to left needle, k2tog tbl. 4 sts. Row 5: K4. Row 6: K3, sl 1 purlwise, pick up st
in body, return slipped st to left needle, k2tog tbl. Row 7: K4.
Repeat Rows 6-7 until 6 rounds of body
remain before base of mouth.
Row 8: Ssk, k1, sl 1 purlwise, pick up st in body, return slipped
st to left needle, k2tog tbl. 3 sts. Row 9: K3. Row 10: Ssk, sl 1 purlwise, pick up st
in body, return slipped st to left needle, k2tog tbl. 2 sts. Row 11: K2. Row 12: Ssk, pick up st in body, return
ssk just worked left needle, k2tog tbl. 1 st.
Break yarn and draw through remaining
st. Weave in ends.
SHORT FIN
Work short fin in the same way as long fin, along opposite side
of body. Begin picking up sts 7 rounds from base of mouth as
shown below. Work Row 8 of fin shaping when 5 rounds remain before
tail.
FRONT FLIPPER Note: If desired, flippers can be knit separately and sewn on
later, instead of being worked from picked-up sts. Choose which side of toy will be the top. With top of toy facing,
pick up 2 sts in space between short fin and mouth as shown below.
Join MC.
Row 1: K2. Row 2: Kfb, k1. 3 sts. Row 3: K3. Row 4: Kfb, k2. 4 sts. Row 5: K4.
BO all sts. Weave in ends.
TOP FLIPPER Pick up 2 sts in top of body as shown above, slightly to left
of center and approx. 12 rounds from base of mouth. Work as for
front flipper.
EYES Note: If using fine yarn, you may wish to make eyes
from beads or buttons instead of knitting eyes. If desired,
eyes can be knit separately and then sewn on, instead of being
worked from picked-up sts.
Using CC, 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 below.
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.
Her 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.
