I thought there must be a better way to do this! My first search on Ravelry for finished projects of this pattern uncovered echoed frustrations by my fellow Ravelers, but I didn't really find any help. I expanded my search to the vast www, and my first result on Google produced this ingenious woman's blog:
Cogknition
Now armed with schematics and some good advice, I forged ahead to make my own pattern for the arms and legs of the bear. My version of the leg eliminates the need to knit a separate piece for the sole. Here are my mods, so far:
These notes cover only the parts of
the pattern that I modified. Gauge, yarn, needle (etc.) information
remains the same as printed in the book. Also, unless I provided
notes about my modifications, I used the instructions as written in
the book.
With long-tail method CO 12 sts, join in the round and knit 1 round. (Note: I used the magic loop method.)
Next: Inc to 20 sts in next 2 rounds by:
- (kfb, k2) around to end, then
- (kfb, k3) around to end. (20 sts)
Next: Work 12 rounds
even.
Next: Inc to 26 sts for instep by working the next 2 rows 3 times:
Next: Inc to 26 sts for instep by working the next 2 rows 3 times:
- kfb, knit to last st, kfb.
- Knit 1 round
Next round: Knit.
Next: Dec for sole:
Next: Dec for sole:
- K2tog, k5, (k2tog, k3) x 2, k2tog, k5, k2tog. (21 sts)
- Knit 1 round.
- K2tog, k4, (k2tog, k2) x 2, k2tog, k3, k2tog. (16 sts)
- Knit 1 round.
- STUFF THE LEG AT THIS POINT!
- K2tog around. (8 sts)
- K2tog around. (4 sts)
ARMS (make 2)
With long-tail method CO 4 sts, join in the round and knit 1 round (Note: I used the magic loop method.)
Round 1: kfb into each st (8 sts)
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: (kfb, k2, kfb) x 2 (12 sts)
Round 4: Knit.
Round 5: (kfb, k4, kfb) x 2 (16 sts)
Round 6: (kfb, k6, kfb) x 2 (20 sts)
Rounds 7-20: Knit.
Rounds 21 & 22: (SSK, knit to last 2 sts on needle, k2tog) x 2 (12 sts)
Round 23: Knit.
STUFF THE ARM AT THIS POINT!
Round 24: (SSK, knit to last 2 sts on needle, k2tog) x 2 (8 sts)
Round 25: Knit.
Repeat round 24 & 25 (4 sts).
Cut the working yarn leaving a tail, thread tail through remaining sts and pull tight. Knot these so they don't come undone and bury the tail up and through the arm. Snip off excess. I used the cast-on tail to sew the arm to the body.
BODY (made in 1 piece)
Using long-tail method CO 28 sts, join in the round and knit 1 round (Note: I used the magic loop method.)
Round 1: (kfb, knit to last st on needle, kfb) x 2.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat round 1 & 2 4 times for a total of 48 sts.
Now I needed to shape the body to give the bear a "seat" and I did this by working a turn heel sock technique on the first half of the stitches, thusly:
Seat
Note that the stitches on the back needle (last 24 sts) will remain unworked during turn heel construction. "Heel" will be worked over the 24 sts of the front needle and not knit in the round. You can watch knitpurlhunter Turn Heel (Magic Loop) video for a video tutorial of this technique.
Row 1: K12, slip 1 kways wyib, k1, psso, k1, turn.
Row 2: Slip 1 pways wyif, p4, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Slip 1 pways wyib, k to within 1 stitch of the gap, slip 1 kways wyib, k1, psso, k1, turn.
Row 4: Slip 1 pways wyif, p to within 1 stitch of the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked ending after a knit row, 12 stitches.
Next:
Seat shaping
Round 1: (Front needle) Knit. (Back needle) SSK, k to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat round 1 & 2 until stitches on Front needle and Back needle are the same.
Final shaping
Decrease as follows:
Round 1: Beginning at first stitch, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches of needle, k2tog, k1. On 2nd needle, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: Knit all stitches with no decreases.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 20 total stitches remain ending after Round 2.
Graft remaining sts together with Kitchener technique. Stuff the body. The cast on edge is open and stayed open until I attached the head. I attached the legs to the side of the body at the bottom along the edge of the "Seat." I sewed the arms 1/2" from the cast on edge of body.
EARS (make 2)
With long-tail method CO 6 sts.
Work 3 rows in St st.
Row 4: p2tog, p2, p2tog tbl. (4 sts)
Row 5: SSK, k2tog. (2 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: kfb in each st.
Row 8: pfb, p2, pfb. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows in St st.
BO in purl.
Fold in half with wrong sides together and sew up the sides.
Round 24: (SSK, knit to last 2 sts on needle, k2tog) x 2 (8 sts)
Round 25: Knit.
Repeat round 24 & 25 (4 sts).
Cut the working yarn leaving a tail, thread tail through remaining sts and pull tight. Knot these so they don't come undone and bury the tail up and through the arm. Snip off excess. I used the cast-on tail to sew the arm to the body.
BODY (made in 1 piece)
Using long-tail method CO 28 sts, join in the round and knit 1 round (Note: I used the magic loop method.)
Round 1: (kfb, knit to last st on needle, kfb) x 2.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat round 1 & 2 4 times for a total of 48 sts.
Now I needed to shape the body to give the bear a "seat" and I did this by working a turn heel sock technique on the first half of the stitches, thusly:
Seat
Note that the stitches on the back needle (last 24 sts) will remain unworked during turn heel construction. "Heel" will be worked over the 24 sts of the front needle and not knit in the round. You can watch knitpurlhunter Turn Heel (Magic Loop) video for a video tutorial of this technique.
Row 1: K12, slip 1 kways wyib, k1, psso, k1, turn.
Row 2: Slip 1 pways wyif, p4, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Slip 1 pways wyib, k to within 1 stitch of the gap, slip 1 kways wyib, k1, psso, k1, turn.
Row 4: Slip 1 pways wyif, p to within 1 stitch of the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked ending after a knit row, 12 stitches.
Next:
- Pick up and knit 3 sts along right edge to eliminate any gap. These stitches go on the front needle.
- Return to magic loop knitting and knit across the back 24 stitches.
- Pick up and knit 3 sts along left side.
- Arrange your sts so that the front needle has 18 sts and back needle has 24.
- Knit 1 round.
- (k2tog, k3) 2x, SSK, k3, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k6, SSK, k5, k2tog.
- Knit 1 round.
Seat shaping
Round 1: (Front needle) Knit. (Back needle) SSK, k to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat round 1 & 2 until stitches on Front needle and Back needle are the same.
Final shaping
Decrease as follows:
Round 1: Beginning at first stitch, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches of needle, k2tog, k1. On 2nd needle, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: Knit all stitches with no decreases.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until 20 total stitches remain ending after Round 2.
Graft remaining sts together with Kitchener technique. Stuff the body. The cast on edge is open and stayed open until I attached the head. I attached the legs to the side of the body at the bottom along the edge of the "Seat." I sewed the arms 1/2" from the cast on edge of body.
EARS (make 2)
With long-tail method CO 6 sts.
Work 3 rows in St st.
Row 4: p2tog, p2, p2tog tbl. (4 sts)
Row 5: SSK, k2tog. (2 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: kfb in each st.
Row 8: pfb, p2, pfb. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows in St st.
BO in purl.
Fold in half with wrong sides together and sew up the sides.
