Sunshine in My Pocket

Completed: July 2008

Pattern: my own


Notes:
Gray skies? Blue mood? Don't worry. You can carry your own bit of sunshine around with you in your pocket! The backstory for this pattern is on the main blog.


This toy is knit in one piece in the round. The sunrays are adapted from the Eyelet Point Ruffle in Knitting on the Edge. Fingering weight yarn is used to make it small enough to be able to actually fit inside a pocket, but you can make this pattern using other yarn weights. Just be sure that your stitches are tight enough to hold the stuffing in.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
4.5“ in diameter

YARN
Knit Picks Palette [100% wool, 231 yd (211 m) per 50 g (1.74 oz)]; 1 skein of each color (less than 20% of skein used)
[MC] 6240 Semolina
[CC] 6879 Orange


NEEDLES
1 US #1/2.25 mm circular needle, at least inches 32”, if doing magic loop,
OR 1 set US #1/2.25 mm dpn’s
Optional: Crochet hook size B

NOTIONS
Stitch markers
Waste yarn
Tapestry needle
Black embroidery floss
Polyester fiberfill stuffing

GAUGE
32 sts = 4 inches in stockinette

Exact gauge is not important, but the fabric created should be dense enough to not allow the stuffing to come out

STITCH GUIDE
Sunray
Round 1: *K1, yo, k4, ssk, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, k4, yo; repeat from * to end.
Round 2: Knit all sts.
Repeat these 2 rounds for Sunray pattern.


Make Bobble (MB)
In next stitch, k1,yo,k1,yo,k1,yo,k1. Turn work.
Purl 7 sts. Turn work
Ssk, k3, k2tog. Turn work.
Purl 5 sts. Turn work
Ssk, k1, k2tog. Turn work.
Purl 3 sts. Turn work.
Sl 1, k2tog, psso.

DIRECTIONS
Sunrays
Using CC, CO 128 sts. For magic loop, distribute stitches evenly across the 2 sides of the circular needle; for dpns, distribute stitches evenly across 4 dpn’s. Place marker that is different from the others and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work sunray pattern for a total of 7 rounds.

Sun Body
Change to MC. Knit 1 round.

Next round, *k1, sl1 purlwise to waste yarn; repeat from * to end. 64 sts on needles, 64 sts on waste yarn.

Front
*K8, place marker; repeat from * to last 8 sts, k8.

Round 1: K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog; repeat from * to end
Round 2:K all sts
Repeat these 2 rounds 5 additional times. 16 sts remain.
**

*K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog; repeat from * to end. 8 sts remain.
K5, MB, k2.

Break yarn and draw through remaining stitches. Pull yarn tightly to close opening. Use yarn to tack down bobble “nose” to cover center hole. Bring yarn to wrong side and tie a small knot very close to center hole and trim, leaving 1” tail. Weave in remaining yarn ends or tie small knots very close to the fabric and trim ends. Block work (it will be easier to embroider if the piece has been blocked).

Embroider features on face, positioning the beginning of the round as the bottom center of the sun “face”.

Back
Transfer 64 sts from waste yarn back to needle.

Knit as for front, to **.

Insert stuffing to desired fullness.

*K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog; repeat from * to end. 8 sts remain.
K all sts.

Break yarn and draw through remaining stitches. Pull yarn tightly to close hole. Tie a small knot very close to center hole. Hide yarn end inside body.

Optional: Bring yarn end through body and out the top. Crochet a chain loop and hide yarn end inside body.

Pin It