Seymour is a perfect weekend project. It is knitted in separate parts and sewn together and is shaped by simple increases and decreases.
Time: Weekend Project
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Approximately 11” by 11” when assembled
Gauge: 20 sts and 29 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ReVive (100% recycled wool; 197 yards [180 meters]/100 grams): Aqua Haze 16 (MC, 1 ball), Duck Green 08 (CC, 1 ball)
Needles: US size 3 (3.25 mm) dpns, set of 5
Notions: Polyester fiberfill, 2 black acrylic safety eyes (15 mm), tapestry needle, extra needle or stitch holder, sewing pins (optional)
Abbreviations
kfb – knit into the front and back of the same st (1 st increased)
Pattern
Head
With MC, CO 4.
Rnd 1: Kfb every st, distribute over dpns and join to work in the rnd. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: Kfb every st. (16 sts)
Rnds 3-6: Knit.
Rnd 7: [K1, kfb] 8 times. (24 sts)
Rnds 8-11: Knit.
Rnd 12: [K2, (M1, k1) 3 times, k1, kfb, k4, kfb] 2 times. (34 sts)
Rnds 13-16: Knit.
Rnd 17: [K2, (M1, k1) 5 times, k2, kfb, k6, kfb] 2 times. (48 sts)
Rnds 18-21: Knit.
Rnd 22: [Kfb, k12, kfb, k10] 2 times. (52 sts)
Note: Sts 1-16 are the top of the head. Sts 17-26 are the side of the face. Sts 27-42 are the underside of the face/chin. Sts 43-52 are the other side of the face. With that shaping in mind, place the safety eyes in the face at approximately Rnd 17 on either side of the face, towards the top of the head. The safety eyes on the sample turtle are placed in Rnd 17, after the first “kfb” of the rnd and before the last “kfb” of the rnd.
Rnds 23-28: Knit.
Rnd 29: [K2tog, k12, k2tog, k10] 2 times. (48 sts rem)
Rnd 30: Knit.
Rnd 31: [K4, k2tog] 8 times. (40 sts rem)
Rnd 32: [K3, k2tog] 8 times. (32 sts rem)
Rnd 33: [K2, k2tog] 8 times. (24 sts rem)
Rnds 34-41: Knit.
Bind off all sts.
Eyelids (make 2)
With MC, CO 6.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): Sl1, kfb, k2, kfb, k1. (8 sts)
Row 3: Sl1, p7.
Row 4: Sl1, k1, BO next 4 sts, k1. (4 sts rem)
Row 5: Sl1, p1, CO 4 sts, p2. (8 sts)
Row 6: Sl1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1. (6 sts rem)
Row 7: Sl1, p5.
Row 8: Sl1, k2tog twice, k1. (4 sts rem)
BO all sts purlwise.
Front flipper (make 2)
With MC, CO 20 sts.
Rnd 1: Knit all sts, distribute over dpns and join to work in the rnd. (20 sts)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: K18, W&T, p16, W&T, *k to 2 sts before previously wrapped st, W&T, p to 2 sts before previously wrapped st, W&T, rep from * until there rem 6 sts bet wraps, then k to end of rnd.
Rnds 4-6: Knit.
Rnd 7: K8, kfb, k2, kfb, k8. (22 sts)
Rnds 8-18: Knit.
Rnd 19: K18, W&T, p14, W&T, *k to 2 sts before previously wrapped st, W&T, p to 2sts before previously wrapped st, W&T, rep from * until there rem 8 sts bet wraps, then k to end of rnd.
Rnds 20-22: Knit.
Rnd 23: [K1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (18 sts rem)
Rnds 24-31: Knit.
Rnd 32: [K1, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (14 sts rem)
Rnds 33-34: Knit.
Rnd 35: [K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (10 sts rem)
Rnds 36-37: Knit.
Rnd 38: K2tog 5 times. (5 sts rem)
Pull yarn through rem sts and cynch tight to tie off.
Hind flipper (make 2)
With MC, CO 20 sts.
Rnd 1: Knit all sts, distribute over dpns and join to work in the rnd. (20 sts)
Rnds 2-3: Knit.
Rnd 4: K8, kfb, k2, kfb. K8. (22 sts)
Rnds 5-7: Knit.
Rnd 8: K9, kfb, k2, kfb, k9. (24 sts)
Rnds 9-15: Knit.
BO all sts.
Shell
With CC, CO 26.
Rnd 1: Knit all sts, distribute over dpns and join to work in the rnd. (26 sts)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: [K1, kfb, k9, kfb, k1] 2 times. (30 sts)
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: [K1, kfb, k11, kfb, k1] 2 times. (34 sts)
Rnds 6-7: Knit.
Create holes for front flippers:
Row 1 (RS): K1, kfb, k13, kfb, k1, place all rem sts in the rnd on a st holder or spare needle. Turn work. (19 active sts)
Row 2: Sl1, p18.
Row 3: Sl1, kfb, k15, kfb, k1. (21 sts)
Row 4: Sl1, p20.
Row 5: Sl1, kfb, k17, kfb, k1. (23 sts)
Row 6: Sl1, p22.
Row 7: Sl1, kfb, k19, kfb, k1. (25 sts)
Row 8: Sl1, p24.
Row 9: Sl1, kfb, k21, kfb, k1. (27 sts)
Row 10: Sl1, p26.
Place these 27 sts on st holder and rep Rows 1-10 above on the held sts from Rnd 7, then rejoin and begin again to work in the rnd.
Rnd 8 (RS): [K1, kfb, k23, kfb, k1] 2 times. (58 sts)
Rnds 9-11: Knit
Rnd 12: [K1, kfb, k25, kfb, k1] 2 times. (62 sts)
Rnds 13-18: Knit.
Rnd 19: [K1, k2tog, k25, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (58 sts rem)
Rnds 20-21: Knit.
Rnd 22: [K1, k2tog, k23, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (54 sts rem)
Rnd 23: Knit.
Rnd 24: [K1, k2tog, k21, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (50 sts rem)
Rnd 25: Knit.
Rnd 26: [K1, k2tog, k19, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (46 sts rem)
Rnd 27: Knit.
Rnd 28: [K1, k2tog, k17, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (42 sts rem)
Rnd 29: [K1, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (38 sts rem)
Rnd 30: [K1, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (34 sts rem)
Rnd 31: [K1, k2tog, k11, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (30 sts rem)
Rnd 32: [K1, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (26 sts rem)
Rnd 33: [K1, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (22 sts rem)
Rnd 34: [K1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (18 sts rem)
Rnd 35: [K1, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1] 2 times. (14 sts rem)
Rnd 36: Knit.
Rnd 37: [K2tog, k3, k2tog] 2 times. (10 sts rem)
Cut yarn, pull through rem sts.
Finishing
Stuff head and with CC, embroider 2 vertical lines for nostrils.
Position eyelid over plastic eye, using sewing pins to hold in place if necessary. The opening in the middle of the eyelid should be slanted slightly down in the front. Use tapestry needle and length of MC to sew all the way around the outer edge of eyelid, fastening it to head. Be sure to pull it taut, adding extra stitches at the inner corners of the opening for the eye, if necessary.
Position BO edge of head into CO edge of shell. Using a tapestry needle and length of MC, sew the two pieces together. Stuff the shell with fiberfill.
Lightly stuff front flippers. Position CO edge of each front flipper into front flipper opening on shell. Using a tapestry needle and length of MC, sew the front flippers into position.
Lightly stuff the back flippers and sew each to the back edge of the shell with tapestry needle and length of MC.