Get out the wings and needles! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME KNITTING?
Finished Size: Approximately 4 inches (10.1cm) long, depending on yarn used and amount of felting. Yarn: Use only 100% wool, worsted weight. Do not use a “superwash” wool as this will not felt. Bleached white yarns do not felt and many off-white yarns may not felt well. Test a sample knit swatch of white yarn before using. Yardages are approximate:
Other Supplies:
M1: (Make one): Insert left needle, from front to back, under the horizontal strand between the stitch on the left needle and the stitch just worked, forming a loop on the left needle. Knit this loop through the back when working a knit row, purl through front when working a purl row.
K2TOG: Knit two stitches together.
- BROWN, 1 skein.
- WHITE, 1 skein.
Other Supplies:
- Felt: black.
- Embroidery floss: black, white.
- Yarn or tapestry needle; embroidery needle.
- Stuffing.
- Small amount of waste non-wool yarn to temporarily secure seams.
M1: (Make one): Insert left needle, from front to back, under the horizontal strand between the stitch on the left needle and the stitch just worked, forming a loop on the left needle. Knit this loop through the back when working a knit row, purl through front when working a purl row.
K2TOG: Knit two stitches together.
FOOTBALL
Cast on 7 stitches in BROWN, starting from top.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2 & All Even Rows: Purl.
Row 3: K1, (M1, K1) 5 times, K1. (12 sts)
Row 5: K1, (M1, K2) 5 times, K1. (17 sts)
Continuing in WHITE:
Row 7: K1, (M1, K3) 5 times, K1. (22 sts)
Row 9: K1, (M1, K4) 5 times, K1. (27 sts)
Continuing in BROWN:
Row 11: Knit.
Row 13: Knit.
Row 15: Knit.
Row 17: Knit.
Row 19: Knit.
Row 21: Knit.
Continuing in WHITE:
Row 23: Knit.
Row 25: K1, (K2TOG, K3) 5 times, K1. (22 sts)
Continuing in BROWN:
Row 27: K1, (K2TOG, K2) 5 times, K1. (17 sts)
Row 29: K1, (K2TOG, K1) 5 times, K1. (12 sts)
Row 31: K1, (K2TOG) 5 times, K1. (7 sts)
Row 32: Purl.
Cut yarn leaving an 8 inch (20cm) tail. Using a tapestry needle, insert the needle through remaining stitches and pull tight. Turn inside out, with right sides facing each other and whipstitch, leaving a 1-1/2 inch opening on the back in between white stripes. Using WHITE yarn, embroider lacing on front side before felting as shown in Diagram 1.
Next Step: Work in all yarn ends on wrong side. Check your knitting for any holes and stitch them together loosely. With colorfast NON-WOOL yarn, baste the opening closed on back.
Felting: In a small container or dishpan, fill with about an inch of hot water. Add a small amount of dish soap. Place body and parts into water and let soak for about five minutes. This will open up the wool fibers for felting. Vigorously squish each piece. Repeat process until individual knitted stitches are not visible. If the pieces get too sudsy, rinse to check your progress. Some colors may felt faster than others!
Shaping: Remove cotton yarn from opening at bottom of football and stuff firmly with temporary stuffing while damp and mold into shape (See DIAGRAM 1). When you are happy with the shape, let dry overnight.
Stuffing: When completely dry, remove stuffing completely. Stuff firmly. Using matching yarn or embroidery floss, stitch opening together as invisibly as possible.
Attaching Parts: Using pattern pieces, cut out two eyes from black felt. Separate one strand from black embroidery floss and attach eyes with applique stitch as shown in DIAGRAM 1. Using three strands of embroidery floss, back stitch mouth as shown. Using three strands of white embroidery floss, make a french knot and straight stitch for each eye.
© 2013 Crafty Alien, Design by Lisa Eberhart
NOTICE: The written instructions, illustrations, photos, and patterns herein are protected by copyright law. Reproduction of this pattern is strictly forbidden by United States and international copyright law. By using this pattern, the buyer is granted a cottage license to handcraft and sell finished items. This license is non-transferrable and is not applicable to commercial mass-production. Rev 01/23/2014
