Freestanding Knit Mustache

Halloween is just around the corner, but having a knit mustache isn't just a Halloween knitting project. Mustache knitting patterns have been taking over a storm, as has wearing fake mustaches. I wish I could remember the event, but there was something in Cambridge a few years ago where people wore fake mustaches to support a cause.

In any event, after making my search for free mustache knitting patterns, I was inspired to design one of my own. I hope you enjoy my take on a free standing mustache.

Materials

• Knitting Needles: 3 dpn Size 1 (2.25 mm)
• Yarn: Hand dyed KnitPicks Palette yarn
  
• Gauge: Not important for the completed project
• Misc: yarn needle (for weaving in loose ends)
  
• Finished Size: ~4 inches long
  

Instructions - The chart to the right represents half of the knit mustache. It is knit in the round to give it some more volume.

1. Cast on 4 stitches (onto 2 double pointed needles). Join to knit in the round.
   
2. K2tog (knitting into the front and back of those two stitches), Slip 1, Kfb, pass slipped stitch over (PSSO) the two stitches. (4 sts)
3. Repeat round 2
4. Kfb, K2, Kfb (6 sts)
   
5. Kfb, K2tog, SSK, Kfb (6 sts)
   
6. Repeat round 5
7. K across
8. K across
9. Kfb, K4, Kfb (8 sts)
10. K across
11. K3, Kfb, Kfb, K3 (10 sts)
12. K across
13. Kfb, K3, Kfb, Kfb, K3, Kfb (14 sts)
14. K across
15. K6, Kfb, Kfb, K6 (16 sts)
16. K across
17. K across
18. K across
19. *SSK, K4, K2tog* twice (12 sts)
20. K across
21. K4, K2tog, SSK, K4 (10 sts)
22. K3, K2tog, SSK, K3 (8 sts)
23. SSK, K4, K2tog (6 sts)
24. K1, K2tog, SSK, K1 (4 sts) This is the center portion of the knit mustache
    
25. K1, Kfb, Kfb, K1 (6 sts)
26. Kfb, K4, Kfb (8 sts)
27. K3, Kfb, Kfb, K3 (10 sts)
28. K4, Kfb, Kfb, K4 (12 sts)
29. K across
30. Kfb, K4, Kfb, Kfb, K4, Kfb (16 sts)
31. K across
32. K across
33. K across
34. K6, K2tog, SSK, K6 (14 sts)
35. K across
36. *SSK, K3, K2tog* twice (10 sts)
37. K across
38. K3, K2tog, SSK, K3 (8 sts)
39. K across
40. *SSK, K4, K2tog* twice (6 sts)
41. K across
42. K across
43. SSK, Kfb, Kfb, K2tog (6 sts)
44. Repeat round 43
45. SSK, K2, K2tog (4 sts)
46. S1, Kfb, PSSO both stitches; K2tog - knitting into the front and back of both stitches (4 sts)
47. Repeat round 46
48. Cut yarn, and pull through remaining stitches. Weave in loose ends.
    

If you like, you can attach yarn to either end of the mustache to tie it on to the back of your head, or fix it to your upper lip with some double sided tape. Enjoy!

The original sketch of this mustache. I drew the curvature I wanted, and then "pixelated" it with the graph paper.

The knit mustache fits my original design pretty well (of course, much smaller!)

Sizing up the half mustache on Keith's face.

I received a question about knitting in the round on two double pointed needles. This is keeping the live stitches on two needles and knitting with the third needle. I hope this video helps clear things up!

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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
I-cord - knit stitches on dpn's without ever turning the needle (effectively knitting in the round with a small number of stitches.)
SSK - decrease by slipping two stitches then knitting them together. Alternatively, you could slip one stitch, knit one stitch and pass slipped stitch over.
PSSO - 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 distribute or reprint this pattern without the permission of ChemKnits. © 2011 ChemKnits