Grapefruit

Cute, but messy little monster

Posted by KatieBoyette

About

You may think Grapefruit was born with her lovely spots, but in actuality, they are merely the result of messy eating. Her favorite food is, of course, banana pudding. Unfortunately, 80% of the pudding she scoops up with her spoon, winds up on her pelt. In addition, Grapefruit is often so busy eating, that she frequently forgets to bathe. Her parents were embarrased by their daughter’s table manners, exhausted from the daily scrubbing, and broke from the extensive dry cleaning bills. Eventually they gave up, and began telling their friends and extended family that the spots are natural.

Share

You Will Need (9 things)

  • Toy Stuffing
  • Embroidery Needle
  • Yarn Needle
  • Black Thread
  • Two ½” circles cut from black Felt for eyes
  • Double pointed Knitting Needles in US size 6
  • Straight Knitting Needles in US size 6
  • 1 skein Worsted Weight Yarn in white (CC)
  • 1 skein Worsted Weight Yarn in orange (MC)

Steps (5 steps, 480 minutes)

  1. 1

    Finished size:
    10 ½” tall
    Gauge:
    20 sts and 28 rows over 4” in stockinette st

    Body, knit from the bottom up (Knit 2):
    Using straight needles and MC, CO 18 sts.
    Row 1: K1, kfb, k14, kfb, k1. 20 sts
    Row 2: Purl.
    Row 3: K1, kfb, k16, kfb, k1. 22 sts
    Row 4: Purl.
    Row 5: K1, kfb, k18, kfb, k1. 24 sts
    Row 6: Purl.
    Begin knitting chart (download attachment), starting with a knit row, continuing in stockinette st. When changing colors, be sure to twist sts, to avoid creating a small hole in the fabric. Do not run colors behind the fabric, as doing so will prevent the fabric from stretching easily when stuffing toy. Instead, wind bobbins of each color. (see figure 1)

  2. 2

    After completing chart, continue knitting as follows:
    Rows 46-49: Complete evenly in stockinette st.
    Row 50: K1, k2tog, k18, ssk, k1. 22 sts
    Row 51: Purl.
    Row 52: K1, k2tog, k16, ssk, k1. 20 sts
    Row 53: Purl.
    Row 54: K1, k2tog, k14, ssk, k1. 18 sts
    Bind off, leaving a 30” tail for seaming.
    Block front and back.

    Feet (knit 2):
    Using double pointed needles and MC, CO6, pm, join to knit in the round.
    Round 1: (Kfb, k1, kfb) twice. 10 sts
    Round 2: Knit.
    Round 3: (Kfb, k3, kfb) twice. 14 sts
    Rounds 4-5: Knit.
    Round 6: (K2tog, k2, ssk) twice. 10 sts
    Rounds 7-9: Knit.
    Bind off, leaving a 6” tail for seaming.

    Arms (knit 2):
    Using double pointed needles and MC, CO6, pm, join to knit in the round.
    Round 1: (Kfb, k1, kfb) twice. 10 sts
    Rounds 2-4: Knit.
    Round 5: K2tog, k1, ssk) twice. 6 sts
    Knit 6 rounds evenly. Bind off, leaving a 6” tail for seaming.

    Horns (knit 2):
    Using double pointed needles and MC, CO4.
    Knit a 1” icord, then continue as follows:
    (K1, kfb) twice. 6 sts
    Knit 3 more rounds as an icord. Break yarn, pull tail through remining sts, knot, pull knot to inside of horn.

    Assembly:
    Weave in loose ends. Seam together front and back using tail, matching polka dots at sides. (see figure 2).

  3. 3

    Pause after sewing three sides to stuff body. Press flat to get shape, pushing stuffing into the corners. Be careful not to overstuff.

    Stuff legs very lightly. Arms and horns are not stuffed. Sew on legs, arms and horns (see figure 3).

  4. 4

    Use a full thickness of embroidery floss to create a smile. Use a single strand to sew over the smile and hold it in place (outline stitch).

  5. 5

    Use a single strand of embroidery floss to secure felt eyes in place.