UPPER SHELL
Using MC, CO 96 sts onto double-point needles. Divide
sts between needles and join to work in the round, being
careful not to twist. Place split ring marker or safety
pin in work to indicate beginning of round.
Work 3 rounds in 3x3 Rib,
W&T at end of last round.
Shape Edge of Shell:
This sequence of short
rows is worked in order to raise the edge of the shell
above the point where the mouth will be.
Row 1 [WS]: P81, W&T.
Row 2 [RS]: K4, [k2tog,
k6] 9 times, k2tog, k4, W&T. 86 sts remain.
Row 3 [WS]: P73, W&T.
Row 4 [RS]: K74, W&T.
Row 5 [WS]: P75, W&T.
Row 6 [RS]: K2, [k2tog,
k5] 10 times, k2tog, k2, W&T. 75 sts remain.
Row 7 [WS]: P66, W&T.
Row 8 [RS]: [K4, (MB, k7)
3 times, MB, k4] twice, k1, W&T.
Row 9 [WS]: P68, W&T.
Row 10 [RS]: K1, [k2tog,
k4] 11 times, k2tog. 63
sts remain.
Do not turn work. This
point will now be beginning of round. Redistribute sts
as necessary and place split ring marker or safety pin
in work to indicate beginning of round.
Shape Top of Shell:
Round 1: [K13, MB] twice,
k12, MB, k13, MB, k8.
Even-Numbered Rounds 2-8: K all sts.
Round 3: [K5, k2tog] 9
times. 54 sts.
Round 5: [K4, k2tog] 9
times. 45 sts.
Round 7: [K3, k2tog] 9
times. 36 sts.
Round 9: [K2, k2tog] 9
times. 27 sts.
Round 10: [K1, k2tog] 9
times. 18 sts.
Round 11: [K2tog] 9 times.
Break yarn, draw through
remaining 9 sts and pull tight. Thread yarn through sts
again to secure.
Attach safety eyes to face of crab, on either side of
raised portion of edge, using photo as guide.
LOWER BODY
With WS facing and using MC, pick up and k 96 sts along
last round of 3x3 Rib. (The CO edge and first 2 rows
of the upper shell form a ridge, which will protrude
over the edge of the lower body.) Place split ring marker
or safety pin in work to indicate beginning of round.
Break MC; from this point, lower body will be worked
using CC.
Round 1: Using CC, k tbl
all sts.
Round 2: [K9, k2tog] 8
times, k8. 88 sts.
Odd-Numbered Rounds 3-11: K all sts.
Round 4: [K8, k2tog] 8
times, k8. 80 sts.
Round 6: [K7, k2tog] 8
times, k8. 72 sts.
Round 8: [K6, k2tog] 9
times. 63 sts.
Round 10: [K5, k2tog] 9
times. 54 sts.
Round 12: [K4, k2tog] 9
times. 45 sts.
Round 13: K all sts.
Crab will be stuffed at this point, before knitting
is completed. Before stuffing, draw all yarn ends to
inside of body and weave in just enough to secure. Ends
do not need to be woven in invisibly or attractively,
as they will be hidden.
Lightly stuff body.
Round 14: [K3, k2tog] 9 times. 36 sts.
Round 15: K all sts.
Round 16: [K2, k2tog] 9
times. 27 sts.
Round 17: [K1, k2tog] 9
times. 18 sts.
Round 18: [K2tog] 9 times.
Add more stuffing to achieve
desired firmness. Break yarn, draw through remaining
9 sts and pull tight. Thread yarn through sts again to
secure.
BACK LEGS (Make 6)
Tip: When casting on, leave a tail approx. 12 inches
long, to be used for sewing leg onto body. You may find
it easier to stuff leg as it is worked, instead of waiting
until leg is complete.
Using MC, CO 15 sts onto double-point needles. Divide
sts between needles and join to work in the round, being
careful not to twist. Place split ring marker or safety
pin in work to indicate beginning of round.
Rounds 1-20: K all sts.
Round 21 [first decrease
round]: [K3, k2tog] 3
times. 12 sts.
Rounds 22-31: K all sts.
Round 32 [second decrease
round]: [K2, k2tog]
3 times. 9 sts.
Rounds 33-37: K all sts.
Round 38: [K1, k2tog] 3
times.
Break yarn, draw through
remaining 6 sts and pull
tight. Thread yarn through
sts again to secure. Weave ends inside the leg.
Lightly stuff leg. Be careful
not to overstuff, or leg will be too stiff.
Form Joints:
Cut an 8-inch piece of
MC. Tie tightly around leg at the first
decrease round (Round 21). Use tapestry needle to draw ends
through to other side of leg, so that one end is at
either side of piece of yarn circling leg. Tie ends
into a square knot, then sew ends securely into leg.
Form a second joint in
the same way, around second decrease
round (Round
32).
FRONT LEGS (Make 2)
Using MC, CO 12
sts onto double-point needles. Divide sts between needles
and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.
Place split ring marker or safety pin in work to indicate
beginning of round.
K 15 rounds.
Next Round: K6, place remaining
6 sts on hold on waste yarn; CO 3 sts and join to continue
working in the round. 9 sts.
First Claw:
K 10 rounds.
Next Round: [K1, k2tog]
3 times.
Break yarn, draw through
remaining 6 sts and pull tight. Thread yarn through sts
again to secure. Weave end inside claw.
Second Claw:
Place held sts on needles
and join yarn, leaving a tail. K held sts, CO 3 sts
and join to work in the round. Work as for first claw.
Use yarn tail between claws to sew CO edges of claws
together, and secure end.
Form a joint at base of
claws, in the same way as joints for back legs.
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