Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Knitted Instructables Robot
Forget toys that will talk to you, or dance for you, or need batteries to be played with. Let’s get back to basics with a good old fashioned plushie toy. Something to cuddle, yet something that fits in with this modern world we live in. I bring you the soft and very huggable Instructables Robot! And with a little time, you can knit your very own Robot just like mine.
Notes:
While I have tried to keep these instructions easy, you will need to know how to knit in the round, either using double pointed needles or a circular needle using the magic loop method. The magic loop method is, in my opinion, a lot easier than using dpns and I would urge you to learn it if you don't already know how. It's so easy, my 13 year old has picked it up without any trouble. You can find a video tutorial here.
You will also need to be able to do an i-cord. This is very easy. You cast on 3 stitches using a double pointed needle. Slide these stitches to the right hand end of the needle and using another dpn, knit the 3 stitches. Again, slide the stitches to the right and knit. Continue in this manner till the piece is the required length.
I always leave fairly long tails of thread both at cast on and cast off. These tails are quite often used in sewing up. That way, there are less threads to weave in at the end.
Materials and tools
The yarn – I used 8 ply acrylic in the following colours:
Yellow - about 80 grams
Brown/orange - about 50 grams
Black – small amount
Red – small amount
Grey – small amount
White – small amount
Stuffing – I used Hobby Fill
Tools
4mm circular needle (the one I used was 80cm long) alternatively, you could use a set of double pointed needles
Pair of 4mm needles - these are not absolutely necessary as you can just use the circular needle to knit back and forth.
set of 3.25 double pointed needles
Scissors
Needle for sewing up and duplicate stitch embroidery
Stitch markers – I actually don’t like the plastic stitch markers you can buy, I prefer to just tie a scrap of different coloured yarn around the needle.
Row counter (optional)
Abbreviations used
k2tog - knit to together
p2tog - purl 2 together
m1 - make one stitch. Insert the left needle under the bar (of thread) between the stitches and pull this up onto the left needle. Knit into the back of this loop.
dpn -double pointed needle
kp in next stitch - knit and purl into the next stitch (making an extra stitch)
ssk - slip slip knit decrease. Slip the next 2 stitches knitwise onto the right needle. Insert the left needle into the front of these two stitches and knit them - there is a video tutorial here.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Body
Body
Note: I have used a circular needle and the magic loop method to knit the body, mainly because I like the seamless result, however, you could use straight needles and knit this piece flat and put a seam up the back. To do it that way, work rows in stocking stitch instead of knitting all rounds. You will also need to break off the yarn when you change colours in the first few rows and later when doing the shaping, make sure that decrease rows fall on a knit row.
Note: The marker will be where rounds start and finish. I deliberately made it 2 stitches in from the ‘real’ round end, because it’s easier to change colours after you have joined the knitting into a circle rather than trying to join the knitting into a circle while also trying to change from one yarn colour to another.
Another important thing to note. When you join your knitting to make a circle, make sure that the stitches are NOT twisted around the needle anywhere. I can’t stress this enough. On my first attempt at this, I thought all my stitches were straight and went on happily knitting. After about 10 rounds, I thought I should check, only to find I was knitting a mobius strip!
Using black yarn and the circular needle, cast on 120 stitches.
Knit across stitches then join knitting to form a circle. Knit 2 stitches and place a row/round marker. Join in yellow yarn, but do not cut the black yarn.
Knit 3 rounds in yellow.
Knit 1 round black. Break off black yarn and continue in yellow.
Knit 28 rounds.
Next round: knit 20, place marker (it’s a good idea to make these markers a different colour to your round marker), knit 20, place marker, knit 40, place marker, knit 20, place marker, knit 20.
Next round: *knit to 2 stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker, ssk. Repeat from * 3 times, knit to end of round (112 stitches remain)
Next round: knit
Repeat last two rows 8 times (48 stitches remain)
Knit one round
Next round: knit 9, k2tog, remove marker, k2 tog, remove marker, ssk, knit 18, k2tog, remove marker, k2tog, remove marker, k2tog, remove marker, ssk, knit 9 (42 stitches remain)
Cast off leaving a long thread.
Body bottom.
Using straight needles and yellow yarn, cast on 40 stitches and work 30 rows of stocking stitch.
Cast off
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
I've been knitting for years, but it's only recently that I figured out I could design patterns for things. The robot seemed to be a likely candidate for a knitted plushie.