Metamorphosis Part I - Caterpillar Knitting Pattern

You see them inching along, so slow and plump. Even people who don't like bugs tend to feel better about caterpillars, since you know that they will eventually turn into something beautiful.

I am delighted to share with you this pattern for a knit caterpillar stuffed toy. Be sure to see what this guy will become, in Metamorphosis Part II, the Butterfly Knitting Pattern.

Materials

• Knitting Needles: 4 dpn Size 1, (2.5 mm)
• Yarn: Remnants of KnitPicks Palette Yarn (Fingering weight) hand dyed to a light blue/green (MC) and a darker green (CC)
  
• Gauge: Not important for the completed project, but you want to knit tight enough that you will not see the polyester stuffing.
• Misc: Toy stuffing, yarn needle.
• Finished Size: Just over 3 inches long
  

Body

1: Cast on 6 sts in MC, join and knit 1 row
2: kfb across - 12 sts
3: K across
4: Kfb across - 24 sts
Rows 5-8: K across
9: *K2, K2tog* across - 18 sts
10: K across
11: K2tog across - 9 sts
12: K across
13: Kfb across - 18 sts
14: K across
15: *K2, Kfb* across - 24 sts
16: K across
17: *K2, K2tog* across - 18 sts
18: K across
19: K2tog across - 9 sts
20: K across
Repeat rows 13-20 three more times
Stuff the caterpillar. Tip, the end of a pencil or pen may be helpful for the stuffing!
Next row: *K1 K2tog* across - 6 sts
Pull yarn through the remaining 6 sts, weave in loose ends.

Legs (make 8)
CO 3 sts in MC. Work as Icord for 8 rounds. Sew ends together into loop. Attach three to each side of the body.

Eyes (make 2)
CO 3 sts of CC. Work in Icord for 4 rounds. Tie into a circle. Sew onto the head of the caterpillar.

Metamorphosis:
Check out the second part of this series... the butterfly!

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Abbreviations Used in this pattern:
Kfb - increase by knitting into the front and back of a single stitch.
K - knit
P - purl
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 this pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. This pattern is not to be replicated, sold or redistributed without permission from ChemKnits. © 2010 ChemKnits