Sunday, November 20, 2011

Knitted PIKACHU Pattern

I have been searching for a pattern for this loveable Pokemon, but all I found was a crochet pattern. There was a Pikachu pattern designed by Alan Dart – so said one knitter in a forum – however this is no longer available – and the knitter who proudly shared her pictures refused to share her pattern.

If you don't know what is Pokemon and who is Pikachu.... Hmm..you can read Wikipedia's explanation of Pokemon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon. Pikachu is the main character in Pokemon movies, he belong to Ash Ketchum, the main human character.

So, with great satisfaction and a bit of pride, here is my very first pattern that I designed from scratch!
For the first "experimental" Pikachu, I used pink yarn - just because I have too many pink and no yellow at the time. I will upload pictures of the original yellow Pika when I finish knitting this second one.
Materials:
DK weight wool or acrylic – yellow, brown and small amount of black. & red
4mm DPN
Yarn needle
polyester stuffing
Gauge: not important

Colours:
MC – yellow
CC- brown
Small amount of black for eyes and tip of ears
Small amount of red for cheeks and lip

BODY
CO 15 sts, then join to work in the round
Row 1; k
Row 2: (k2, kfb, k2) x3, total 18 sts
Row 3: k
Row 4: (k2, kfb x 2, k2) x 3, total 24 sts
Row 5: k
Row 6: (k3, kfb x 2, k3) x 3, total 30 sts
Row 7: k
Row 8: (k4, kfb x 2, k4) x 3, total 36 sts
Row 9: k
Row 10: (k5, kfb x 2, k5) x 3, total 42 sts
Row 11: k
Row 12: (k5, kfb x4, k5) x 3, total 54 sts
Row 13 – 16 : k
Row 17: k4, with CC k10, with MC k4, k till end of row with MC
Row 18 – 19: same as row 17
Row 20 – 22: k with MC
Row 23 – 25: same as Row 17
Row 26: k with MC
Row 27: start decrease. (k6, k2tog x 3, k6) x 3, total 45 sts
Row 28 – 29: k
Row 30: (k6, k2tog, k7) x 3, total 42 sts
Row 31: k
Row 32: (k6, k2tog, k6) x 3, total 39 sts
Row: 33: k
Row 34: (k5, k2tog, k6) x 3, total 36 sts
Row 35: k

HEAD
Row 36: increase. (k5, kfb x 2, k5) x 3, total 42 sts
Row 37: k
Row 38: (k6, kfb x 2, k6) x 3, total 48 sts
Row 39: k
Row 40: (k7, kfb x2, k7) x 3, total 54 sts
Row 41: k
Row 42: (k8, kfb x 2, k8) x 3, total 60 sts
Row 43: k
Row 44: (k8, kfb x 3, k9) x 3, total 69 sts
Row 45 - 48: k
Row 49: decrease. (k9, k2tog x 2, k10) x 3, total 63 sts
Row 50: k
Row 52: (k8, k2tog x 2, k9) x 3, total 57 sts
Row 53: k
Row 54: (k8, k2 tog, k9) x 3, total 54 sts
Row 55: k
Row 56: (k7, k2tog x 2, k7) x3 total 48 sts
Row 57: k
Row 58: (k6, k2tog x 2, k6) x 3 total 42 sts
Row 59: k
* this would be the right time to embroider the face. Using black yarn, make the eyes and nose and using red yarn embroider the smiley lip and red cheeks. See picture of original Pikachu as a model.
* stuff the body and head firmly before continuing the next rows
Row 60: (k5, k2tog x 2, k5) x 3, total 36 sts
Row 61: k
Row 62: (k4, k2tog x 2, k4) x 3, total 30 sts
Row 63: k
Row 64: (k3, k3tog x 2, k3) x 3, total 24 sts
Row 65: k
Row 67: (k2, k2tog x 2, k2) x 3, total 18 sts
Row 68: (k1, k2tog x 2, k1) x 3, total 12 sts
Break yarn and thread tail through remaining stitches, secure and pull to inside of the head to hide the thread.

LEGS (make 2)
CO 15 sts, then join to work in the round
Row 1: k
Row 2: (k2, kfb, k2) x 3, total 18 sts
Row 3: k
Row 4: (k2, kfb x 2, k2) x3, total 24
Row 5 – 9 : k
Row 10: decrease. (k3, k2tog, k3) x 3, total 21
Row 11: (k2, k2tog, k3) x 3, total 18
Row 12: k
Row 13: (k2tog x 2, k2) x 3, total 12
Break yarn and thread tail through remaining stitches, stuff firmly, secure and hide the thread. Sew to body

ARMS (make2)
Row 1 – 4: same as leg
Row 5 - 13: k
Row 14 - 17: same as Row 10 - 13 for leg.
Break yarn and thread tail through remaining stitches, stuff firmly, secure and hide the thread. Sew to body

TAIL
Tail is worked in garter stitch on straight 4mm needle, do not join in the round.
CO (with CC) 10 sts
K for 20 rows in gt st
Change to MC, k for 30 rows in gt st
Next row: Increase: kfb, k8, kfb. total 12 sts
Next row: K
Next row: kfb, k10, kfb. Total 14 sts
Next row: k
Next row: kfb x2, k10, kfb x 2. total 18 sts
Next row: k for 4 rows
Cast off. Fold the tail, sew seams, stuff lightly (not too firm), sew to Pikachu’s bottom below the stripes.

EARS (make 2)
With MC. CO 9, join to work in the round
Row 1: k
Next row: increase. (k, kfb, k) x 3, total 12 sts
Next: k for 8 rows in st st
Next row: change to Black yarn. k for 4 rows in st st
Next row: decrease. (K, k2tog, k) x 3, total 9 sts
Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining stitches, weave in the inside of the ear. Sew the CO to Pikachu’s head. Sew the left ear cockeyed off to the side (see picture of Pikachus)