Zozo grew from bits of I-cord and from playing with shaping that could be done to a ball after it was knit.

He was not really designed, but rather came to be.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Head Diameter: 2.5 inches
Height: 7 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
KnitPicks Swish Superwash [100% superwash wool; 110yd/100m per 50g skein]; color: shown in Bok Choy and Deep Ocean; less than one skein.
Small amount of lightweight black yarn, used for embroidering face details

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #4/3.5mm double-point needles

Notions
Yarn needle
Polyfil stuffing
2 plastic safety eyes, 0.25 inch/6mm diameter (optional)
2 3-inch pieces of chenille stem (pipe cleaner) in same color as yarn (optional)

GAUGE
22 sts/28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st
Note: Yarn is knit more tightly than recommended ball band gauge to ensure a firm fabric, which will give toy additional structure and prevent stuffing from seeping out.

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

DIRECTIONS
BODY AND HEAD

Note: When working with a small number of sts, you may find it easier to divide them between 2 needles, instead of 3.

Body and Neck:
Using desired color, CO 8 sts.
Divide sts between needles and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Round 1: [Kfb] in each st. 16 sts.
Round 2: K all sts.
Round 3: [K2, m1] to end. 24 sts.
Round 4: K all sts.
Round 5: [K3, m1] to end. 32 sts.
Round 6-7: K all sts.
Round 8: [K4, m1] to end. 40 sts.
Rounds 9-10: K all sts.
Round 11: [K5, m1] to end. 48 sts.
Rounds 12-15: K all sts.
Round 16: [K4, k2tog] to end. 40 sts.
Rounds 17-18: K all sts.
Round 19: [K3, k2tog] to end. 32 sts.
Rounds 20-21: K all sts.
Round 22: [K2, k2tog] to end. 24 sts.
Rounds 23-24: K all sts.
Round 25: [K1, k2tog] to end. 16 sts.
Before proceeding, sew up small hole at base of work, and stuff lightly with Polyfil stuffing.

Neck:
Next Round: [K2tog] to end. 8 sts.
K 2 rounds.

Head:
Continuing from neck, work Rounds 1-25 as for Body.

Stuff neck firmly, and head lightly. If using plastic safety eyes, apply now.
Next Round: [K2tog] to end. 8 sts.
Break yarn, leaving a tail 6-8 inches long. Thread tail through yarn needle, draw through all sts and pull tight. Weave in ends.

LEGS (Make 4)
Foot:
CO 2 sts. Work 4 rows I-Cord.
Break yarn and set aside.

Work 2 more pieces in the same way, but do not break yarn at end of last piece.

Using photo --> as guide, slip one st from each cord to one needle, and other st from each cord to a second needle.

Be sure that st with working yarn attached is at end of one needle.

Leg:
Work 6 rounds over these 6 sts.
BO all sts, leaving a tail approx. 12 inches long.

Weave in short yarn ends.
Using long tail, sew leg as shown in illustration below.
Pull the stitches firmly, but try to match the tension of the knitted fabric of the leg. This will shorten the front of the leg, bending the work so that the foot sits at an angle to the leg, forming a heel at the back. Draw the yarn tail back up through the center of the leg.

ARMS (Make 2)
Hand:
Work as for foot of leg.

Arm:
Work 14 rounds over 6 sts of hand. BO all sts.

Weave in short yarn ends. If poseable arms are desired, insert lengths of chenille stem into arm.

ANTENNAE (Make 2)
CO 6 sts, leaving a 12-inch tail. Work 12 rows I-Cord.

Bobble:
Divide sts between needles.
Round 1: [K1, m1] 6 times. 12 sts.
Rounds 2-3: K all sts.
Round 4: [K2tog] to end. 6 sts.
Stuff bobble lightly. Break yarn, leaving a tail 6-8 inches long. Thread tail thorugh yarn needle, draw through all sts and pull tight. Weave in end, but do not weave in long tail at CO end.

TAIL
CO 3 sts, leaving a 12-inch tail. Work 12 rows I-Cord.

Bobble:
Round 1: [K1, m1] 3 times. 6 sts.
Round 2: Work 1 row I-Cord. Divide sts between needles.
Round 3: K1, m1, [k2, m1] twice, k1. 9 sts.
Round 4: K all sts.
Round 5: [K2tog, k1] to end. 6 sts.

Stuff bobble lightly.
Break yarn, leaving a tail 6-8 inches long. Thread tail thorugh yarn needle, draw through all sts and pull tight. Weave in end, but do not weave in long tail at CO end. -->

Make 2 more pieces in the same way. Sew pieces together as shown in photo, along lower 0.5 inch of length.

FINISHING
Form the mouth, using photos to guide you. Pinch front of head as shown.

Baste to hold mouth shape in place. Basting in photo is shown in a contrasting color for clarity only.  Zozo will look best if you baste and sew using the working yarn.

Sew mouth in place, pulling stitches firmly.

Sew antennae, arms and legs to body as shown in photos. Legs should be evenly spaced around body, with toes pointing outward. If you have not used safety eyes, embroider eyes on face.

Pauline knits and lives in Northern Ontario. She learned to knit when she was 8 years old. She’s been knitting regularly for the last 12 years, but only obsessively for the last 5 years.  She finds inspiration for knitted items from her kids. 

More of her inspirations can be found here.