The Love Bug
Materials.
Needles. US size 10. (Knit in the flat).
Yarn. I used Malabrigo merino wool (worsted weight). Any worsted weight yarn would produce a similar effect.
Stuffing. The Love Bug pictured is stuffed with polyester fiberfill.
Facial Details. I stitched on facial details with scrap pieces of yarn.
Gauge.
4 st. = 1 inch, though exact gauge is not necessary for this project.
Knit the Body.
CO 5 st. Knit one row, purl one row.Row 3: (K1, inc. 1) 3X, end K2. (8 st.)
Rows 4, 6, and 8: Purl all stitches.
Row 5: (K1, inc. 1) 6X, end K2. (14 st.)
Row 7: (K1, inc.1) 12X, end K2. (26 st.)
Row 9: (K1, inc. 1) 24X, end K2. (50 st.)
Rows 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20: Purl all stitches.
Rows 11, 13, 15, 17, 19: Knit all stitches.
Row 21: K1, SSK, (K3, SSK) 9X, end K2 (40 st.)
Row 22: Purl all stitches.
Row 23: (K1, SSK) 13X, end K1. (27 st.)
Row 24: Purl all stitches.
Row 25: (K1, SSK) 9X (18 st.)
Row 26: Purl all stitches.
Row 27: (SSK) 9X (9 st.)
Row 28: (P2 tog.) 4X, end P1.
Row 29: Cast off all stitches. Cut yarn, leaving about an 8" tail.
Knit the Head.
CO 5 st. Knit one row, purl one row.
Row 3: (K1, inc. 1) 3X, end K2. (8 st.)
Rows 4, 6, and 8: Purl all stitches.
Row 5: (K1, inc. 1) 6X, end K2. (14 st.)
Row 7: (K1, inc.1) 12X, end K2. (26 st.)
Row 9: (K2, inc. 1) 11X, end K4. (37 st.)
Rows 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20: Purl all stitches.
Rows 11, 13, 15, 17, 19: Knit all stitches.
Row 21: (K2, SSK) 9X, end K1. (28 st.)
Purl all stitches.
Row 23: (K1, SSK) 9X, end K1. (19 st.)
Row 25: (SSK) 9X, end K1. (10 st.)
Row 27: (SSK) 5X. (5 st.)
Row 28: Cast off, leaving a tail about 8" long.
Putting it all together.
Stuff both pieces with fiberfill and stitch opposite seams together, forming a sphere. Attach the head to the body by stitching
Bits and pieces.
Heart-Shaped Ears (Make 2): CO 2 st, leaving a 5" tail.
Row 1: K1, inc. 1, K1. (3 st.)
Row 2: P1, inc. 1, P1, inc. 1, P1. (5 st.)
Row 3: K1, inc. 1, K1, inc. 1, K1, inc. 1, end K2. (8 st.)
Row 4: P2 tog, P2, turn.
Row 5: K2 tog, K2, turn.
Row 6: P2 tog, P1, turn.
Row 7: Cast off 2 stitches worked. Cut yarn, then repeat rows 4 - 7 for other side of heart.
Wedge Feet: CO 2 st.
Row 1: K1, inc. 1, K1. (3 st.)
Row 2: P1, inc. 1, P1, inc. 1, P1. (5 st.)
Row 3: K1, inc. 1, K1, inc. 1, K1, inc. 1, end K2. (8 st.)
Row 4: Purl one row.
Row 5: Cast off stitches. Cut yarn, leaving 5" tail.
Stitch the feet and ears on with the tails of yarn. Weave in ends.
Using bits of scrap yarn, stitch eyes and a nose (I typically make four equal size stitches for the eyes, then three stitches gradually declining in size for the nose).
