#Knitting A Tiny Turtle

He didn’t turn out tiny, and he didn’t turn out purty. He’s a poor thing, but mine own. I hope the ones that follow will be superior. If you want to try, here’s my pattern.

Oh, for those who don’t savvy the lingo, here’s what the abbreviations mean:

CO = cast on
k2tg = knit two stitches together (decreases 2 stitches into 1)
kfb = knit front and back (increases 1 stitch into 2)
st = stitches (duh)
*blah blah* = repeat the pattern inside the ** to the end of the row
PU = pick up stitches

If there’s any of this you don’t know how to do yet, do what I do and run whining to KnittingHelp.com.

SMALL KNIT TURTLE

Body and tail

CO 3 stitches

knit
kfb, kfb, k1 (you now have 5 stitches)
purl
k1, *kfb* (9 st)
purl
k1, *k1, kfb* (13 st)
knit
knit
purl
knit
purl
knit
purl
k1, *k1, k2tg* (9 st)
purl
k1, *k2tg* (5 st)
purl
k1, k2tg (3 st)
k3tg

Cut yarn, leaving 6 inch tail. Using tapestry needle, run yarn through last stitch and then into the knitting and tie it off. this should leave a stubby little tail.

Cut another length of yarn. using the tapestry needle, run it through stitches on the circumference of the knitting. Pull it closed like a drawstring and tie it off.

If your guy comes out the way my guy did, you’ll have a ridge at one end. I used that as the front of the shell. The front feet need to be placed just behind that ridge, with the back feet a few stitches back from them. The head, of course, is at the opposite end from the tail!

Foots

PU 2 st

knit
purl
k2tg

Finish off, as you did for the tail.

Head

PU 3 st

knit
purl
k2tg

Finish off. You might want to stuff him. You might need to tighten up or sew closed that underside. I’m thinking of cutting a piece of felt and sewing it on.

I hope your guy comes out looking better than my guy did, but I’m proud of him, even though he is kind of raggedy.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character loves something he or she has made, even though it’s seriously flawed. Steampunkers, I’m lookin’ at YOU.

MA