Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Amigurumi LadyBug - Flying Version


She's here! I have had a lady bug amigurumi sitting in my design notebook for a long time. I finally decided to get up and knit her. When I started to cast on, I realized I had two options for the wings. I could either place the spots directly on her back (simple version) or I could make two flat wings and attach them to her back (Flying Version.) Since I couldn't decide between the two, I decided to create both. For simplicity reasons, I decided to publish each of these projects separately (but you will see many similarities between the two patterns.)

The knit amigurumi ladybugs: simple version (left) and flying version (right)

This knitting pattern will help you make the LadyBug Amigurumi - Flying Version. To make the LadyBug Amigurumi - Simple Version, see the complementing pattern.

The knit amigurumi ladybugs: simple version (left) and flying version (right)

Materials:
  • Fingering Weight Yarn (KnitPicks Palette in Black and hand dyed red; 1-2 g of each) (This project will work in multiple weights of yarn.)
  • Needles: Size 1 (2.5 mm) double pointed needles
  • Notions: polyfill stuffing, Yarn needle for weaving in loose ends and sewing wings to the body. Crochet hook for creating antennae.
  • Gauge: Not Important for this project, as long as you are consistent between the body and wings!
  • Finished Size: ~2 inches long


Body Construction:
(Starting at the tip of the head.)
1. CO 6 sts in Black (MC). Join to knit in the round and knit one row.
2. Kfb across - 12 sts
3. K across
4. Kfb across - 24 sts
5. K across
6. K across
7. *K6, K2tog* repeat 3 times - 21 sts
8. K across
9. K2, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K3 - 18 sts
10. K across
11. *K1, K2tog* across- 12 sts
12. K across
Now starting the body of the lady bug. Continue knitting in black yarn.
13. Kfb across - 24 sts
14. K across
15. K1, Kfb, K8, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K8, kfb, K1 - 28 sts
16. K across
17. K1, Kfb, K10, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K10, kfb, K1 - 32 sts
18. K across
19. K1, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K12, Kfb, K1 - 36 sts
Rows 20-21. K across
22. K1, K2tog, K12, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K12, K2tog, K1 - 32 sts
23. K across
24. K1, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K1 - 28 sts
25. K across
26. K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1 - 24 sts
27. K across
28. *K2, K2tog* across, 18 sts
29. *K1, K2tog* across, 12 sts
Stuff the head and body with polyester stuffing. Take care not to overstuff!
30. K2tog across, 6 sts
Pull yarn through the remaining 6 sts, weave in loose ends.


Wing #1:
Note: these written directions do not include the colorwork. Please refer to the chart to know where to put the spots.
1. Cast on 6 sts in RED
2. P across
3. Kfb, K5 (7 sts)
4. P across
5. Kfb, K6 (8 sts)
6. P across
7. Kfb, K7 (9 sts)
8. P across
9. K across
10. P7, P2tog (8 sts)
11. K across
12. P6, P2tog (7 sts)
13. K across
14. P4, P2tog (6 sts)
15. K across
16. P1, P2tog, P2tog, P1 (4 sts)
17. K2tog, K2tog (2 sts). Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Weave in loose ends except for cast on tail (you will use this to sew the wing to the body.) Block wing so it lays flat.

The flying ladybug body and unblocked wings.

Wing #2:
Note: these written directions do not include the colorwork. Please refer to the chart to know where to put the spots.
1. Cast on 6 sts in RED
2. P across
3. K5, Kfb (7 sts)
4. P across
5. K6, Kfb (8 sts)
6. P across
7. K7, Kfb (9 sts)
8. P across
9. K across
10. P2tog, P7 (8 sts)
11. K across
12. P2tog, P6 (7 sts)
13. K across
14. P2tog, P5 (6 sts)
15. K across
16. P1, P2tog, P2tog, P1 (4 sts)
17. K2tog, K2tog (2 sts). Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Weave in loose ends except for cast on tail (you will use this to sew the wing to the body.) Block wing so it lays flat.

The ladybug body and wings being blocked.

The ladybug body and finished, blocked wings.


Connect the wings to the body - Sew the cast on edge of the wings at the neck of the lady bug. If desired, you can have these at an angle so the lady bug looks like it is about to take off.


Construction of the Ladybug's Antenna (Images are from the free toy ant knitting pattern.)
  • Cut a piece of yarn (~24 inches) and thread through the head of the ladybug. You want both ends of the yarn to be in the location where you want the antennae.

  • Using a crochet hook, crochet a single chain (starting with a stitch on the side of the head) until the desired length has been reached. Cut the yarn just above the knot. (see below)

    One antenna has been cut.

    The ladybug body with completed antenna.
Optional Legs - I decided that I didn't want to put legs on my ladybug amigurumi, but if you want to add legs, I recommend that you follow the instructions from my caterpillar knitting pattern.

Enjoy your Ladybug!
If you enjoy your flying ladybug, you may want to consider constructing the simple version, too. See below for some pictures of both version of the knit ladybug.



The knit amigurumi ladybugs: simple version (left) and flying version (right)

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Abbreviations Used in this pattern:
Kfb - increase by knitting into the front and back of a single stitch.
M1 (Make 1)- increase stitch by picking up yarn between two stitches, twisting and knitting.
K - knit
P - purl
S1 - slip one stitch
SSK - decrease by slipping two stitches then knitting them together. Alternatively, you could slip one stitch, knit one stitch and pass slipped stitch over.
K2tog - decrease by knitting two stitches together.

This knitting pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. You are not to sell, to distribute or reprint this pattern without the permission of ChemKnits. © 2012 ChemKnits