Monday Project: Snoozing Ned

I'm a little tired on a Monday night, so I thought I'd bring you Snoozing Ned; an amigurumi I can truly relate to just now!

Designer Lucinda Guy describes her creation as "a gorgeous knitting project for anyone with a little one to make things for", but I'd have no qualms about giving this little chap to a grown-up friend (though possibly not one with a reputation for laziness!) I'm not sure I know what species he is - somewhere between owl and bear would be my guess, but what does it matter when he's so well turned out? Full instructions follow after the jump.

materials required

Patons 100% Cotton 4ply 1697

Prym 3.25 mm needle

Tension:36 rows and 28sts to 10cm over stocking stitch.

Anchor Stranded cotton 279

1 x piece Rainbow Felt O256

1 x piece Rainbow Felt O660

Large handful of toy stuffing

Cotton sewing thread to match yarn colour.

Stocking stitch is used for all knitted parts of the toy.

instructions

Front
With 3.25mm needles cast on 34sts.
K 28 rows in stocking stitch.
Row 29 (RS) K1, K2tog. K to last 3sts, K2tog, K1.
K 3 rows.
Repeat the above 4 rows twice. ( 28sts on needle).
Row 41: (RS) K1, K2tog twice. K to last 5sts, K2tog twice, K1.
Row 42: Purl.
Row 43: As row 41.
Row 44: Purl.
Row 45: As row 42 (16sts ).
Row 46: P1, P2tog twice. Purl to last 5sts, P2tog twice, P1.
Row 47: (RS) Cast off the 12 remaining sts.

Back
As the front.

Ears
(Make 2) With 3.25 mm needles cast on 10sts.
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, K2tog. K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
Row 4: Purl.
Rows 5 and 6: repeat rows 3 and 4.
Row 7: K1, K2tog twice, K1.
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K1, K2tog, K1.
Row 10: P3tog.
Bind off.

Wings
(make 2) With 3.25 mm needles cast on 20sts.
Work as for Ears but continue decreasing until you have just knitted K1,
K2tog, K1.
Next row (WS): P3tog.
Bind off.

Tail
(Make one) With 3.25 mm needles cast on 20sts.
Work as for Wings.

Feet
(Make 2) With 3.25 mm needles cast on 14sts.
Knit 10 rows.
Row 11 (RS): K1, K2tog twice. Knit to last 5 sts, K2tog twice, K1.
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Repeat row 11.
Row 14 (WS): P2tog three times across the row casting off as you go along.

make up

Sew in all ends.
Press all pieces lightly with a warm iron and a damp cloth.

Pin the Front template to the Blue felt and cut one piece. Pin this piece of felt to the knitted front, placing it centrally and having it go up to but not over the cast on edge* and stitch in place. *(You will need the cast on edge to sew the bottom of the toy together after it has been stuffed).

Using the Spot template on the orange felt cut 5 pieces.
Pin these spots in position onto the felt front of the owl. Secure in place with a centrally placed simple cross stitch using the Anchor embroidery thread. Secure and sew in any ends on the back of the work. Using the templates cut two Eyes from the blue felt and one Beak from the orange felt and using the photo as a guide pin in place. Stitch just the top of the beak and the inner rim of the eyes onto the knitting. Secure and sew in any ends on the back of the work. With RS¹s together pin the top and sides of the knitting, leaving the bottom edge open. Using the knitting yarn and a large darning needle and either back or mattress stitch sew up.

Carefully turn the work the right side out and stuff. Too much stuffing will make Ned too rigid and not enough will make him floppy - it needs to be just right!

Using the knitting yarn and a large darning needle and either back or mattress stitch sew up the bottom seam. Sew in any ends.

Pin the knitted Wings, Ears and Tail to the orange felt, and the feet to the blue felt and carefully cut around them. Re pin each piece of felt to the WS of its corresponding piece of knitting making sure the felt sits within the edges of the knitting ie: the felt should not go over the edges of the knitting. Each piece may need to be trimmed to get it fitting neatly.

Using sewing cotton stitch in place. Sew in any ends. With the knitting yarn and a large darning needle and using the photo as a guide stitch the ears to the top of the head ( felt to the front), the wings (felt outward) to the sides of the body (only stitch the top of the wings as this will allow more movement), the feet (felt uppermost) to the bottom seam and the tail (felt outward) to bottom seam at the back.

Stand back and admire your Snoozing Ned!

Comments