Cut Out + Keep

Tadpole

Knitted toy submarine

https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/tadpole • Posted by KatieBoyette

I actually stole the design for this submarine directly from my little brother. At 6 feet tall, he’s not so little anymore. As a kid, Wesley created an impressive portfolio of military vehicle designs, including everything from jet planes and submarines, to aircraft carriers. He made elaborate sketches, complete with specs and even maps of their locations. Best of all were the names he gave them, such as USS Brown Barbarian, Rockin’ Starfish, or my favorite, a tiny submarine called Spy Cod. He was imaginative, to say the least. These days he is an aerospace engineer, creating jet fuel from lollipops, or something like that. I’m not sure about the specifics. Apparently, it’s top secret.

You will need

Project Budget
Free

Time

10 h 00

Difficulty

Nice & Simple
Medium 104836 2f2014 10 11 183721 tadpole 01 Medium 104836 2f2014 10 11 183731 tadpole 02 Medium 104836 2f2014 10 11 183739 tadpole 03

Description

I actually stole the design for this submarine directly from my little brother. At 6 feet tall, he’s not so little anymore. As a kid, Wesley created an impressive portfolio of military vehicle designs, including everything from jet planes and submarines, to aircraft carriers. He made elaborate sketches, complete with specs and even maps of their locations. Best of all were the names he gave them, such as USS Brown Barbarian, Rockin’ Starfish, or my favorite, a tiny submarine called Spy Cod. He was imaginative, to say the least. These days he is an aerospace engineer, creating jet fuel from lollipops, or something like that. I’m not sure about the specifics. Apparently, it’s top secret.

Instructions

  1. Small 104836 2f2014 10 11 184314 tadpole1%2bfig

    Body Using CC1, cast on 6 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist. Rnd 1: Kfb 6 times: 12 sts. Rnds 2 and 3: Knit around. Rnd 4: (Kfb, k1) 6 times: 18 sts. Rnd 5: Knit around. Break yarn. Join MC. Rnd 6: Knit around. Rnd 7: (Kfb, k2) 6 times. 24 sts Rnd 8 and all even rounds through Rnd 16: Knit around. Rnd 9: (Kfb, k3) 6 times: 30 sts. Rnd 11: (Kfb, k4) 6 times: 36 sts. Rnd 13: (Kfb, k5) 6 times: 42 sts. Rnd 15: (Kfb, k6) 6 times: 48 sts. Rnd 17: (Kfb, k7) 6 times: 54 sts. Rnds 18-21: Knit around. Rnd 22: (K2tog, k7) 6 times: 48 sts. Rnds 23-28: Knit around. Rnd 29: (K2tog, k6) 6 times: 42 sts. Rnds 30-35: Knit around. Rnd 36: (K2tog, k5) 6 times: 36 sts. Rnds 37-46: Knit around. Stuff sub. Rnd 47: (K2tog, k4) 6 times: 30 sts Rnd 48 and all remaining even numbered rounds: Knit around. Rnd 49: (K2tog, k3) 6 times: 24 sts Rnd 51: (K2tog, k2) 6 times: 18 sts Rnd 53: (K2tog, k1) 6 times: 12 sts Rnd 54: K2tog 6 times: 6 sts Break yarn; weave tail through remaining sts. Stuff remainder of toy. Pull sts tightly closed, knot and pull knot to inside of fabric. Fins (make 2) Using CC1, cast on 20 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist. Rnd 1: Knit around. Rnd 2: Ssk, k16, k2tog: 18 sts. Rnd 3: Ssk, k14, k2tog: 16 sts. Rnd 4: Ssk, k12, k2tog: 14 sts. CONTINUE in this manner, decreasing 1 st at the beginning and end of each row until 4 sts remain. Break yarn, weave tail through remaining sts. Pull sts tightly closed, knot and pull tail to inside of fabric. Do not stuff. Periscope Bottom Using CC2, cast on 12 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist. Rnds 1-10: Knit around. Rnd 11: K12, turn, begin knitting straight. Rnd 12: P2tog, p8, p2tog: 10 sts. Rnd 13: Ssk, k6, k2tog: 8 sts. Rnd 14: P2tog, p4, p2tog: 6 sts. Rnd 15: Ssk, k2, k2tog: 4 sts. Bind off remaining sts. Periscope Top Using CC2, cast on 12 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist. Rnds 1-5: Knit around. Rnd 6: K12, turn, begin knitting straight. Rnd 7: P2tog, p8, p2tog: 10 sts. Rnd 8: Ssk, k6, k2tog: 8 sts. Rnd 9: P2tog, p4, p2tog: 6 sts. Rnd 10: Ssk, k2, k2tog: 4 sts. Bind off. Leave a 10 inch tail for seaming. Periscope Base Using CC1, cast on 18 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist. Rnd 1: (Kfb, k2) 6 times. 24 sts Rnds 2-5: Knit around. Bind off. Leave a 10 inch tail for seaming. FINISHING All seaming uses a ladder stitch. Center the fins on the top and bottom of sub, centered between lines of decreases. Seam into place as shown.

  2. Small 104836 2f2014 10 11 184446 tadpole2%2bfig

    Line up the diagonal edges of the periscope, so that it forms a right angle. Seam those edges together using tail.

  3. Small 104836 2f2014 10 11 184514 tadpole3%2bfig

    Stuff periscope firmly. Cut felt insert using template. Push into periscope opening, and sew around perimeter using gray thread.

  4. Small 104836 2f2014 10 11 184553 tadpole4%2bfig

    Place periscope on top of sub, centering with top fin. Seam in place. Slide blue base over top. Seam around upper edge using blue yarn. Sew bottom of base to top of sub, stuffing lightly as you go.

  5. Small 104836 2f2014 10 11 184612 tadpole5%2bfig

    Use black embroidery floss to sew black cross lines over opening of periscope. Cut portholes from white felt using template. Use white thread and a whipstitch to sew to sides of sub, spacing portholes ¼ inch apart. Outline each porthole in CC2, by laying a length of yarn along edge of circle, and securing into place using gray thread. This is also known as couching.