for Kristina Ingrid McGowan‘s Frog and Toad
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frog-and-toad
Alternate instructions for Laurie Force.
Magic Loop throughout, BOR (beginning of round) is side seam, then front, then back with cable loop at other side seam.
it’s easier to transition from DPNs to Magic Loop if you put vertical running markers of contrast yarn where you’re directed to change needles. Cut a hands’ length of yarn and lay it crossing your line of stitches. Flip it back and forth as you come to it. For quick reference in Magic Loop, I like to put running markers at the “side seams”, center front/back, etc. these are handy if your side loops accidentally get disappeared.
Knit the arms from original instructions, except begin by casting on 12 stitches, placing a marker, and joining them in the round.
Set aside. When you get to the torso, don’t bother with armholes; knit right past them. The arms will be sewn on later.
New instructions for Head: Judy’s Magic Cast-On: 11 st on 2 needles = 22 sts
You’ll have a front and a back with loops at the side seams.
On the original Round 2, the 11 stitches are the ones at the front. Judy’s CO has you immediately knit one round, so we’ll pick up again at Round 3
The increases will be at each side of the front, every other round, creating the jowls.
Round 3: the increases are all on the front
(Running marker for side seam) M1L, knit 1, knit to last stitch, M1R (side seam), knit across back
= 13 stitches across front, 11 back = 24 total
NOTE: Kristina’s instructions increase 4 on alternate rounds. I’ve increased only 2 on the round before the eyelids to get a single uninvolved stitch at each end. From Round 8 down, increase 4 per round (on the stitches at either ends of the fronts)
Round 4: plain knitting row; front ready to start consists of:
[one knit stitch] [four stitches for upper eyelid with short rows] [three knit stitches for nose] [four stitches for upper eyelid with short rows] [one knit stitch]
Knit 1
(Eyelid short rows) Knit 1, M1L, Knit 2, M1R, Knit 1 (start with 4 eyelid stitches, end with 6)
Turn work, Slip 1, Purl 5
Turn work, Slip 1, M1L, Knit 4, M1R, Knit 1 (start with 6 eyelid stitches, end with 8)
Knit 3 (nose)
Repeat eyelid
Knit 1
= 21 stitches on front, 11 on back
Round 5, plain knit:
Knit 2, cast off 8, knit 3, cast off 8, knit 2; knit across back stitches
Round 6, (increase round, and cast-on lower eyelids)
Knit 1, M1L, tie fresh piece of yarn for long tail tail cast-on to working yarn, cast on 4 stitches, knit 3 (nose) with tail floating behind, cast on 4 stitches, trim tail and tie to working yarn, knit 1, M1R; knit 11
=23 stitches on front, 11 on back.
Round 7, knit
Round 8: 2 increases each side of front (+4) … until a total of 42 stitches: 31 across front, 11 back
5
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To avoid loose floats of yarn as seen at eye corners, gently tighten stitches as made.
When a few rounds down from neck (further than shown here), stop and finish the head.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cat-butt-coasters-2
Knit or crochet white discs for eyes (splat cat coaster butthole), embroider black pupils
Adjust to your preference from bulgy to sleepy as they’re sewn in.
Tie the tails from eye parts off and leave them (and all tails) inside*
Lightly stuff head. Make a harder ball to put behind each eye.
Embroider the mouth
* square knots are made firmly against the knitting with the second part (only) pulled very tight
Skip making armholes
Sew a bag of firmly woven fabric about the volume of the torso and partially fill it with rice/lentils/poly pellets. Tuck in when body is almost complete. In bigger toys, tack loosely to side seam areas.
Complete torso, split for legs, work legs 2aaT
Lightly stuff as you go, other than at the knee where you’ll overstuff the thighs, which lets you take a yarn needle and manipulate the stuffing down the calf later
Sew the arms to body with circular footprint (!)