JACQUES CRUSTEAU AMIGURUMI (FREE KNITTING PATTERN)
Jacques was inspired by a trip to the grocery store, where she watched her daughter have an imaginary conversation with the lobsters in the tank by the seafood counter. For her, even something as odd and spiny as a lobster is cute and friendworthy. When Boyette finished the toy, Sophia was elated. In our house, Jacques lives the good life. He joins us for dinner, sleeps in a big comfy bed, and even goes on vacation.
Excerpted from Knitwits
by Katie Boyette, published by Sellers Publishing. Image by Katie Boyette.
Materials:
-1 skein Cascade 220 Quatro in Madagascar [MC] -1 skein Cascade 220 in White [CC] -1 set US 6 (4 mm) double pointed needles -Toy stuffing -Yarn needle -Embroidery needle -2 pieces of black felt cut in 1/2 in. circles
Glossary of Abbreviations:
-CO cast on -k knit -K2tog knit two together -kfb knit into front and back of stitch -pm place marker -ssk slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together -st[s] stitch[es] -yo yarn over
Step 1
Head Using MC cast on 5 sts, pm, being careful not to twist, join to knit in the round. Round 1: Kfb 5 times. 10 sts Round 2: (Kfb, k1) 5 times. 15 sts Round 3: (Kfb, k2) 5 times. 20 sts Round 4: Knit. Round 5: Kfb, k3, (kfb twice, k3) 3 times, kfb. 28 sts Rounds 6–7: Knit. Round 8: Kfb, k5, (kfb twice, k5) 3 times, kfb. 36 sts Rounds 9–10: Knit. Round 11: Kfb, k7, (kfb twice, k7) 3 times, kfb. 44 sts Rounds 12–13: Knit. Round 14: Kfb, k9, (kfb twice, k9) 3 times, kfb. 52 sts Rounds 15–16: Knit. Round 17: Kfb, k11, (kfb twice, k11) 3 times, kfb. 60 sts Rounds 18–19: Knit. Round 20: Kfb, k13, (kfb twice, k13) 3 times, kfb. 68 sts Rounds 21–25: Knit. Round 26: (K2tog, k13, ssk) 4 times. 60 sts Round 27: Knit. Round 28: (K2tog, k11, ssk) 4 times. 52 sts Round 29: Knit. Round 30: (K2tog, k9, ssk) 4 times. 44 sts
Continue decreasing in this manner every row until 20 sts remain. Break yarn, pull tail through remaining stitches. Stuff head firmly.
Step 2
Body Using MC, cast on 16 sts, pm, being careful not to twist, join to knit in the round. Round 1: K4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb. 20 sts Round 2: Kfb, k2, kfb twice, k4, kfb twice, k2, kfb twice, k4, kfb. 28 sts Round 3: K6, (kfb, k6) 3 times, kfb. 32 sts Round 4: Kfb, k4, kfb twice, k8, kfb twice, k4, kfb twice, k8, kfb. 40 sts Round 5: K8, kfb, k10, kfb, k8, kfb, k10, kfb. 44 sts Rounds 6–12: Knit. Round 13: K8, k2tog, k10, ssk, k8, k2tog, k10, ssk. 40 sts Rounds 14–17: Knit. Round 18: K2tog, k4, ssk, k2tog, k8, ssk, k2tog, k4, ssk, k2tog, k8, ssk. 32 sts Round 19: Knit. Round 20: K6, k2tog, k6, ssk, k6, k2tog, k6, ssk. 28 sts Round 21: Knit. Round 22: K2tog, k2, ssk, k2tog, k4, ssk, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2tog, k4, ssk. 20 sts Bind off. Stuff firmly.
Step 3
Tail Using MC, cast on 16 sts, pm, being careful not to twist, join to knit in the round. Round 1: (K4, kfb, k2, kfb) twice. 20 sts Round 2: (K4, kfb, k4, kfb) twice. 24 sts Round 3: (K4, kfb, k6, kfb) twice. 28 sts Round 4: (K4, kfb, k8, kfb) twice. 32 sts Round 5: (K4, kfb, k10, kfb) twice. 36 sts Rounds 6–10: Knit. Round 11: (K4, k2tog, k10, ssk) twice. 32 sts Round 12: (K4, k2tog, k8, ssk) twice. 28 sts Rnd 13: * K4, k2tog, k6, ssk; repeat from * once more: 24 sts. Rnd 14: * K4, k2tog, k4, ssk; repeat from * once more: 20 sts. Rnd 15: (K4, kfb) around: 24 sts. Rnd 16: * K4, kfb, k6, kfb; repeat from * once more: 28 sts. Rnd 17: * K4, kfb, k8, kfb; repeat from * once more: 32 sts. Rnds 18-21: Knit 4 rnds. Rnd 22: * K4, k2tog, k8, ssk; repeat from * once more: 28 sts. Rnd 23: * K4, k2tog, k6, ssk; repeat from * once more: 24 sts. Rnd 24: * K4, k2tog, k4, ssk; repeat from * once more: 20 sts. Rnd 25: (K4, kfb) around: 24 sts. Rnd 26: * K4, kfb, k6, kfb; repeat from * once more: 28 sts. Rnds 27-29: Knit 3 rnds. Rnd 30: * K4, k2tog, k6, ssk; repeat from * once more: 24 sts. Rnd 31: * K4, k2tog, k4, ssk; repeat from * once more: 20 sts. Rnd 32: * K4, k2tog, k2, ssk; repeat from * once more: 16 sts. Rnd 33: * K4, kfb, k2, kfb; repeat from * once more: 20 sts. Rnd 34: (K4, kfb) around: 24 sts. Rnds 35-36: Knit 2 rnds. Rnd 37: * K4, k2tog, k4, ssk; repeat from * once more: 20 sts. Rnd 38: * K2tog, ssk, k2tog, k2, ssk; repeat from * once more: 12 sts. Rnd 39: Knit around. Rnd 40: (K2, kfb) around: 16 sts. Rnd 41 and all remaining odd numbered rnds: Knit around. Rnd 42: * K2, kfb, k4, kfb; repeat from * once more: 20 sts. Rnd 43: * K2, kfb, k6, kfb; repeat from * once more: 24 sts. Continue increasing in this manner until there are 40 sts.
Next Rnd: K1, yo, (k2tog, k2, yo) 9 times, k2tog, k1. Last 2 Rnds: Knit 2 rnds.
Bind off leaving a 12 inch end. Thread a yarn needle with the end, fold last 2 rounds to inside to reveal scalloped edge and sew in place. Stuff tail firmly, but not so firmly that the indentations in the tail disappear.
Fold bottom of tail in half. Stitch along the bottom using a mattress stitch, pulling tight inside the scallops to accentuate.
Step 4
CLAW (make 2) Large Side
Using MC, cast on 4 sts, divide between two needles, pm, being careful not to twist, join to knit in the round. Increase to 3 or 4 needles when possible. Rnd 1: K1, kfb twice, k1: 6 sts. Rnd 2: K2, kfb twice, k2: 8 sts. Rnd 3: K3, kfb twice, k3: 10 sts. Rnd 4: K4, kfb twice, k4: 12 sts. Rnd 5: K5, kfb twice, k5: 14 sts. Rnd 6: Knit around. Rnd 7: K2tog, k4, kfb twice, k4, ssk: 14 sts. Rnd 8: Knit around. Rnd 9: K6, kfb twice, k6: 16 sts. Rnd 10: Knit around. Rnd 11: K7, kfb twice, k7: 18 sts. Rnd 12: Knit around. Rnd 13: K8, kfb twice, k8: 20 sts. Rnd 14: Knit around. Rnd 15: K9, kfb twice, k9. 22 sts. Rnd 16-19: Knit 4 rnds. Rnd 20: K9, ssk, k2tog, k9: 20 sts. Rnd 21: Knit around. Rnd 22: K8, ssk, k2tog, k8: 18 sts. Rnd 23: Knit around. Rnd 24: Kfb, k6, ssk, k2tog, k6, kfb. Place stitches on a piece of scrap yarn.
Step 5
Small Side
Using MC, cast on 4 sts, divide between two needles, pm, being careful not to twist, join to knit in the round. Increase to 3 or 4 needles when possible. Rnd 1: K1, kfb twice, k1: 6 sts. Rnd 2: K2, kfb twice, k2: 8 sts. Rnd 3: K3, kfb twice, k3: 10 sts. Rnd 4: Knit around. Rnd 5: K4, kfb twice, k4: 12 sts. Rnd 6: Knit around. Rnd 7: K5, kfb twice, k5: 14 sts. Rnds 8-13: Knit 6 rnds. Rnd 14: K5, ssk, k2tog, k5: 12 sts. Rnds 15-19: Knit 5 rnds. Rnd 20: K4, ssk, k2tog, k4: 10 sts. Rnds 21-23: Knit 3 rnds. Rnd 24: Kfb, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, kfb.
Cut yarn. Weave ends on both sides of claw to inside. Stuff each side of claw until nearly full. Slip next 3 sts of Small Side to right needle, pm to mark beginning of rnd. Slip sts from Large Side of Claw to left needle. Redistribute sts evenly on needles: 28 sts. Rnd 25-26: Knit 2 rnds. Rnd 27: * K2tog, k10, ssk; repeat from * once more: 24 sts. Rnds 28: Knit around. Rnd 29: * K2tog, k8, ssk; repeat from * once more: 20 sts. Rnds 30-33: Knit 4 rnds. Rnd 34: * K2tog, k6, ssk; repeat from * once more: 16 sts. Rnds 35-38: Knit 4 rnds. Rnd 39: * K2tog, k4, ssk; repeat from * once more: 12 sts. Rnds 40-56: Knit 17 rnds. Rnd 57: * K2tog, k2, ssk; repeat from * once more: 8 sts. Bind off remaining sts. Stuff claw completely full.
Step 6
EYE (make 2)
Using CC, cast on 5 sts, pm, being careful not to twist, join to knit in the round. Rnd 1: Kfb 5 times: 10 sts. Rnd 2: (Kfb, k1) 5 times: 15 sts. Rnd 3: (Kfb, k2) 5 times: 20 sts. Rnd 4: (Kfb, k3) 5 times: 25 sts. Rnd 5: Knit around. Rnd 6: (Kfb, k4) 5 times: 30 sts. Rnds 7-12: Knit 6 rnds. Bind off all sts.
Step 7
Assembly
Using a piece of MC and a ladder stitch, center head on top of body and attach. Use the same method to attach the tail. For the arms, cut a scrap of MC 10 in. long, and knot the end. Insert at the top of the arm on the small claw side, and weave yarn in and out of side, pulling as you go to curve the arm. Knot to secure, and pull to inside of toy. Use ladder stitch to attach arms to side of body.
For the eyes, use a scrap of CC, center eyes near the front of the head, spacing them a ¼ in. apart. Use a ladder stitch to secure, stuffing the eyes when the stitching is ¾ complete.
Attach pupils using a piece of black thread and mattress stitch.
