ANT

SIZE one (dependent on yarn used & gauge) FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Width: 2.25 inches (without legs. Legs = 3 inches long apiece, stretched out) Length: 8.5 inches 1 set US #4/3.5 mm double-point needles notions required: * small amount of contrasting yarn or embroidery thread for eyes * 3 (or more) pipe cleaners in color to match the ants body (use the long ones so one pipe cleaner can be threaded through 2 legs, adding extra support by going through the ants body) * tapestry needle * polyester fiberfill stuffing * 6 safety pins or small stitch holders GAUGE 28 sts/28 rows = 4 inches stockinette stitch Gauge is not crucial for this project, but it is advisable to knit a firm fabric to prevent the stuffing from showing though. PATTERN NOTES PATTERN Head CO 6 stitches. Distribute among 3 needles (you can use 4 needles if

you prefer, once you have enough stitches) and join for knitting in the round. PM. Round 1: K all sts. Round 2: Kfb into each st. (12 sts) Round 3: K all sts. Round 4: Kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k2 (18 sts) Round 5: K all sts. Round 6: *Kfb, k2*, rep 5 times (24 sts) Round 7: K all sts. Round 8: Kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k4, kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k2 (30 sts) Round 9: K all sts. Round 10: Kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k6, kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k2 (36 sts) Round 11: K all sts. Round 12: Kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k8, kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k2 (42 sts) Rounds 13-17: K all sts. Round 18: ssk, k5, ssk, k5, ssk, k8, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k2 (36 sts) Round 19: K all sts. Round 20: ssk, k4, ssk, k4, ssk, k6, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (30 sts) Round 21: K all sts. Round 22: ssk, k3, ssk, k3, ssk, k4, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k2 (24 sts) Round 23: K all sts. Round 24: *ssk, k2*, rep 2 times; *k2tog, k2*, rep 2 times (18 sts) Round 25: K all sts. Nows the time to embroider the eyes, while theres still room to move your fingers around inside the head. I used satin-stitch rectangles for the eyes, but feel free to make the eyes another way if you wish (beads or buttons would work if youre not concerned about a choking hazard). If you would rather wait to place the eyes until the ant is completed and youre certain where they need to go, the eyes can easily enough be done at the very end. Now, stuff the head so it is firm but still squeezable. Round 26: ssk, k1, ssk, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2 (12 sts) Round 27: K all sts. Embroidery directions Use satin stitch to create the eyes. Then, either weave in ends or (to make embroidery more secure) tie a knot in back of work using both loose ends, making sure not to pull too tightly, or embroidery will

distort the knitted fabric. If choking hazards are not a concern, you can use buttons for the eyes. Thorax this section is shaped very similarly to the head, beginning on what is round 4 of the head section. The slipped stitches in this section should be placed on a holder (a safety pin works well) and will later be picked up to create the legs. Round 28: Kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k2 (18 sts) Round 29: K all sts. Round 30: *Kfb, k2*, rep 5 times (24 sts) Round 31: K all sts. Round 32: Kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k4, kfb, k3, kfb, k3, kfb, k2 (30 sts) Round 33: K all sts. Round 34: Kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k6, kfb, k4, kfb, k4, kfb, k2 (36 sts) Round 35: K all sts. Round 36: Kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k8, kfb, k5, kfb, k5, kfb, k2 (42 sts) Rounds 37-41: K all sts. Round 42: k6, sl3 and place on holder, k24, sl 3 and place on holder, k6 (36 active sts) (Note: the slipped stitches should be placed in a way that makes sense for the legs. Depending on where you oriented the eyes, you may wish to re-orient the leg holes. Ive described how many stitches apart they should be, so use that as a reference. ) Round 43: K all sts. Round 44: ssk, k4, ssk, k4, ssk, k6, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (30 sts) Round 45: K all sts. Round 46: ssk, k3, ssk, k3, ssk, k4, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k2 (24 sts) Round 47: K all sts. Round 48: k3, sl3 and place on holder, k12, sl 3 and place on holder, k3 (18 active sts) ) (Note: as with the first set of legs, the orientation should make sense in relation to the placement of the eyes. If you reoriented the first set of leg holes, you should follow suit with this set. ) Round 49: K all sts. Round 50: ssk, k1, ssk, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2 (12 sts) Now stuff the thorax so it is firm but still squeezable. Round 51: K all sts. Body (Abdomen): Round 52: Kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, kfb, k1, kfb, k1, kfb, k2 (18 sts) Round 53: K all sts. Round 54: K6, kfb, k1, kfb, kfb, k1, kfb, k6 (22 sts) Round 55: K all sts.

Round 4: K9, kfb, k2, kfb, k9 (24 sts) Round 5: K all sts. Round 6: K9, kfb, k4, kfb, k9 (26 sts) Round 7: K all sts. Round 8: K9, kfb, k6, kfb, k9 (28 sts) Round 9: K all sts. Round 10: K9, kfb, k8, kfb, k9 (30 sts) Round 11: K all sts. Round 12: K9, kfb, k10, kfb, k9 (32 sts) Round 13: K all sts. Round 14: K9, kfb, k12, kfb, k9 (34 sts) Round 15: K all sts. Round 16: K9, kfb, k14, kfb, k9 (36 sts) Round 17: K all sts. Round 18: K4, sl3, k22, sl3, k4 (30 active sts) (Note: remember what you did with the other 2 sets of leg-holes. If you re-oriented them, you should follow suit with this set. ) Rounds 19-20: K all sts. Round 21: [k2tog, k4] around. (30 sts) Round 22: K all sts. Round 23: [k2tog, k3] around. (24 sts) Round 24: K all sts. Round 25: [k2tog, k2] around. (18 sts) Round 26: K all sts. Stuff the abdomen so it is firm but still squeezable. Round 27: [k2tog, k1] around. (12 sts) Round 28: K all sts. Round 29: [k2tog] around. (6 sts) Break yarn. Add a little more stuffing if you wish. Thread tail through rem sts and pull firmly. Tie a knot if desired and thread the yarn through the body. Legs (repeat for all 6 legs) Place 3 slipped stitches on a dpn, pick up and knit 3 additional stitches. Depending on where the yarn falls, you may need to knit 3 stitches so your yarn is now at the end of the row of stitches. Commence 6 stitch i-cord and work for approximately 3 inches. Place stitches on holder (a safety pin will do the job well). Antennae (make 2) Cast on 5 stitches and work i-cord for approximately 2 inches. I skipped the pipe cleaner for the antennae, so 2 inches makes for cute, slightly floppy antennae. Make yours shorter if you want to avoid the floppy effect.

Decrease row: K2tog, k1, k2tog Next row: K2tog, k1 Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Weave in ends. FINISHING Note: if you would like a sturdier leg, twist 2 or 3 pipecleaners together to form a sturdier, thicker pipecleaner. Thread a pipe cleaner through 2 legs (left & right side) as follows: Thread tapestry needle with pipe cleaner and bend pipe cleaner to keep it connected to the tapestry needle when working it through the body of the ant. Begin at the end of one of the legs, go through the body, and out the leg on the other side. Stretch the i-cord out to its fullest length over the pipe cleaner, and trim the excess length of the pipe cleaner. Slide the 6 stitches from the holder onto a dpn. Next row i-cord: k2tog, k2, k2 tog Next row i-cord: k1, k2tog, k1 Leaving a longish tail (at least 8 inches), break yarn and thread through remaining stitches. When weaving in ends, make sure to wrap well around the stitches where the wire end of the pipe cleaner could poke through. I wrapped mine so that I essentially created a little footpad on the end. Repeat for 2 more sets of legs. Position antennae on head and use the CO tail to attach.