PikachuBy Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter

Finished MeasurementsPikachu will stand approximately 9 inches tall.

Materials2 skeins Muench Family in Yellow or 160 yards of any worsted-weight yarn (MC)Approx 25 yards each of black (CC1), red (CC2) and white (CC3) worsted-weight yarn Set of US #6 DPN’s (or circular needles if you prefer magic loop)Poly-fil stuffingStitch holder or scrap yarn.Darning Needle

Gauge20 sts and 26 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch in the round – gauge is not terribly important for this project, however.

BodyWith MC, cast on 24 sts. Work flat in stocki-nette stitch for 2½ inches, ending with knit row. Keep sts live on needle, picking up 36 sts along the edges of the square you just knit.

PM and join for knitting in the round. K all sts for 4½ inches.

Decrease rnd 1: *k8, k2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd. K 2 rnds even.Decrease rnd 2: *k7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd.K 1 rnd even.

Increase rnd 1: *k7, kf&b, repeat from * to end of rnd.K 1 rnd even.Increase rnd 2: *k8, kf&b, repeat from * to end of rnd. K 1 rnd even. Increase rnd 3: *k9, kf&b, repeat from * to end of rnd. K all sts for 1 inch.

Decrease rnd 3: *k9, k2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd.K 3 rnds even.Decrease rnd 4: *k8, ktog, repeat from * to end of rnd.K 2 rnds even.Decrease rnd 5: *k7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd.K 2 rnds even.Decrease rnd 6: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd. K 2 rnds even. Here’s the tricky part: You’ll have to divide your stitches in half evenly to graft the top of the head together and reserve stitches for the ears. I simply laid mine flat and reverse-engineered from there.

Once you figure out which stitches belong to the front and back sides of your Pikachu, count to make sure they are even. Then take the first and last 2 sts of EACH SIDE and slide to scrap yarn or a stitch holder to work the ears later.

©2012 Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter. All rights reserved. No portion of this pattern can be reproduced by any means without the express permission of the author. In purchasing this pattern, you agree to print and use this pattern for your personal non-commercial use. You may not sell any items produced using the instructions in this pattern.

Stuff body and graft the remaining stitches together.

EarsSlide 4 reserved sts onto a DPN. With MC, work flat as follows:Increase row 1: kf&b, k 2, kf&b.Work in stockinette stitch for 1½ inches, ending with purl row. Switch to CC1 and k 1 row. Decrease row 1: p2tog, p2, p2tog.K 1 row.Decrease row 2: p2tog twice.Decrease row 3: k2tog.Cut yarn and pull through stitch that remains. Weave in ends, closing up the small hole creat-ed at the base of the ear. Repeat for other side.

Arms (Make 2)Cast on 10 sts with MC. Join for working in the round; knit all sts for 1½ inches. Divide sts in half to graft together. Lightly stuff arms and sew onto body, using images as reference.

Legs (Make 2)Cast on 10 sts with MC. Join for working in the round; knit all sts for 1½ inches. Divide sts in half to graft together. Lightly stuff legs and sew onto body, using images as reference.

Eyes (Make 2)With CC1, CO 4 sts. Join for working in the rnd. Kf&b all sts (8 sts total). Bind off in the round. Sew on face and use CC3 to embroider as shown in the photo.

Cheeks (Make 2)With CC1, CO 4 sts. Join for working in the rnd. Kf&b all sts (8 sts total). Bind off in the round. Sew on face as shown in the photo. Tail (Make 1)With CC1, CO 5 sts. NOTE: Tail is worked in seed stitch pattern; if you have trouble keeping track of where you are in the pattern, feel free to substitute in garter stitch so that your tail will still lay flat.

Work in seed stitch for 4 rows. ©2012 Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter. All rights reserved. No portion of this pattern can be reproduced by any means without the express permission of the author. In purchasing this pattern, you agree to print and use this pattern for your personal non-commercial use. You may not sell any items produced using the instructions in this pattern.

Next row: BO 2 sts, work remaining 2 sts in established pattern, backwards loop cast on 2 sts at end of row. Work in seed stitch for 2 rows. Switch to MC. Work in seed stitch for 2 rows; at the end of 2nd row, backwards loop cast on 3 sts. Work in seed stitch for 1 row. Bind off 2 sts at bg. of next row, work in seed stitch to end. Work in seed stitch for 5 more rows. BO.

Stripes & Facial Features: Using CC1, embroider facial features as pictured. Turn Pikachu over and dupli-cate-stitch (or embroider, if you prefer) two stripes on its back.