Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Bumble Bee Pin Cushion


When I was blocking the garters for my bridesmaids, I wished that I had some kind of pin cushion. I kept stabbing myself placing the pins in my lap or holding them in my mouth. Why not make a pin cushion of something that would sting you back? I therefore decided to adapt the knitting pattern from my stuffed bumble bee toy.



This bee has no wings. Why you may ask? Well you can play with your pins to make his wings!


The yellow butterfly pins are from Singer Decorative Pins Set

Materials
  • Knitting Needles: 4 dpn Size 7
  • Yarn: Double stranded KnitPicks Wool of the Andes (worsted weight) in black and yellow.
  • 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: 4 inch nose to stinger, ~2.5 inches wide.


Body Construction:
(Starting at the tip of the head.)
1. CO 6 sts in Black. 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
13. Switch to Yellow: Kfb across - 24 sts
14. K across
15. K1, Kfb, K8, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K8, kfb, K1 - 28 sts
16. K across
17. Switch to Black: K1, Kfb, K10, Kfb, K2, Kfb, K10, kfb, K1 - 32 sts
Rows 18-20. K across
21. Switch to Yellow: K1, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K1 - 28 sts
22. K across
23. K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1 - 24 sts
24. K across
25. Switch to Black:*K2, K2tog* across, 18 sts
26. K across
27. *K1, K2tog* across, 12 sts
Stuff the head and body with polyester stuffing. Make sure to stuff it very full so it will withstand pins coming in and out.
28. K2tog across, 6 sts
29. K2tog across, 3 sts
30. work as Icord 1 round (to make the stinger), pull yarn through remaining stitches and weave in loose ends
Enjoy your pin cushion!

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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 knit stuffed bee pattern was created by Chemknits for your personal or charity use. You are not to distribute or reprint this pattern without the permission of Chemknits. © 2011 ChemKnits