FREE PATTERN: Space Invader

I got really inspired by Anna Hrachovec who designed the Woodins in the last Knitty issue. I fell in love with those cute creatures and wanted to design a stuffed toy myself. Other than that, I'm on ravelry now and just having one design there (and one really old one) is so, well, meagre.


I've always been a fan of the street artist 'Invader'. I like the way he uses an existing form and gives it another meaning. He takes the main characters from the 1978 arcade video game 'Space Invader', turnes them into mozaiques and then sticks them onto walls all over the world. So cool, so fun, such a friendly form of street art! Love it, love it, love it!


And so I thought it might be cool if the invaders took over the world one step further, this time 'knitty style'. So I designed knitted Space Invaders.

There's a big one and a small one, the small one is a little different. It was the first one that I knit and didn't turn out as boxy as I planned but I still like the little fellar so he can stay. Just so you know when you see the measurements beeing anything but logical. ;-)

Have fun invading!
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FREE PATTERN: Space Invader

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
This project is great for those leftovers that can’t seem to find a suitable pattern, it really doesn’t matter how big it will turn out so use all kinds of yarn just make sure you use the needle size that’s recommended or a bit smaller so that the stitches won’t bee too loose for filling. (So you still want to make a swatch... sorry...)

MATERIALS
Any yarn you like and 1 set needles to match the yarn, these ones are made with a 60% acrylic/ 40% wool mix, worsted weight knit on 4mm needles.
a tapestry needle
stich holders
stitch markers

GAUGE
17sts x 25rows = 4"

PATTERN NOTES
The space invader is knit in one shape, folded in half, then sewn up.

Used Techniques
casting on (single cast on + Double Cast-On aka Long-Tail Cast-On)
binding off
stockinette stitch
placing stitches on a holder
simple embroidery

PATTERN
Front Body
Cast on 10 (10) st
K 10(5) rows st st
(RS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and K to end
(WS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and P to end
(30 st on the needle)
K 12(5) rows st st
(RS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and K to end
(WS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and P to end
(50 st on the needle)
K 14(15) rows st st

Legs
(RS) K 10(5) st, BO 3(4), K10(5), BO 4(5), K 10(5), BO 3(5), K10(5)
(WS) P 10(5) st, place all other st on st holder
*Continue with the 10(5) st on the needle, K 24(15) rows
Place these 10 st on second st holder
Get next 10(5) st from first holder, K 24 rows(15) *repeat 3 times
Now all 40(24) st are on the second holder
(RS) K first 10(5) st
Cast on 3(4) st using single cast on
Add next 10(5) st from second holder and k10(5)
Cast on 4(5) st using single cast on
Add next 10(5) st from second holder and k10(5)
Cast on 3(5) st using single cast on
Add next 10(5) st from second holder and k10(5)

Back Body
K 14(15) rows st st
BO 10(5) st K till end of row
Bo 10(5) st P till end of row
K 12(5) rows st st
BO 10(5) st K till end of row
BO 10(5) st P till end of row
K 10(5) rows
BO all st.

FINISHING
Using simple straight stitches embroider eyes onto front side, making sure you ALWAYS stick in the middle of the yarn to make sure that when the knitting is stretched, the embroidery stays in shape.

* don't be gentle with me, I'm learning, if you have a suggestion or a remark, let me have 'em!