Throw Your Enemy to Your Cat!
Knitted up for a laugh for a fan forum thread, this is an easy-to-make little doll with an optional catnip sachet. You don't have to throw it to your cat, but if you do, why not make it look like someone you dislike and then watch them get mauled?
Knitted on 2.5mm needles. Materials: oddments of double knitting (sportsweight in US) in fleshtone, black, blue and red.
Arms/Sleeves (x 2)
In flesh, cast on 8 sts. Work 6 rows in ss, ending in a p row. Next row: K 1, inc 1, k to last st, inc, k1 Work 3 rows, ending in a p row. break off yarn. Place sleeves on a spare needle or stitch holder.
Main Piece
In black, cast on 16 sts. K 1 row, p 1 row. Next row: K 1, inc 1, k6, inc 1, k2, inc 1, k6, inc 1, k1. (20 sts). Next row; purl. Do not break off yarn, but carry it up the side of the next set of rows:
Change to blue and work 16 rows in ss, ending on a p row. Break off yarn, leaving a good length for making up.
Pick up black yarn from feet, being sure not to pull this too tight up the side of the knitting. K 1 row. Break off yarn.
Change to red and work 5 rows, ending in a p row
Add Arms
With right side of all pieces facing, k5, knit the 10 sts of the first arm, k 10, k the 10 sts of the second arm, k5 (40 sts on needle) Purl one row
Change to flesh colour and p2tog right across row (8 sts)
On these 8 sts, work 2 more rows for neck
Next row: k2 inc 1 right across row (11 sts)
Next row: p1, then inc 1, p2 across row (16 sts)
Next Row: k3, inc 1, k to last 3, inc 1, k3 (18 sts)
Work 3 rows without further shaping.
Next row: reattach black (do NOT break off fleshtone) and k4 sts in black, then k in flesh until last 4. Attach a second strand of black and work the remaining 4 sts with this strand.
Next row: purl 4 black, 10 fl, 4 blk
Next row:k 3 blk, k 2tog using black, k in flesh to last 5, k2tog using black, k 3 black (16sts)
Next row: p3 blk, p 2tog using black, p in flesh to last 5, p2tog using black, p 3 black (14 sts)
Break off fleshtone and work entirely in black from this point.
Next row: k3, k2 tog, k to last 4, k2tof, k3 (12 sts)
Next row: purl 1, p2rog, right across row. (8sts)
Catnip Sachet
Cast on 18 st and work 10 rows in ss. Cast off, break off yarn. Fold rectangle in two and sew up two sides. wrap the dried cat nip in a piece of fabric ( I use a bit of baby-wipe or cleansing wipe with the lotion/perfume washed out of it), pop it inside the knitted sachet and sew shut.
Making Up
With the toy inside out, sew up all the seams. including the two red ends on the sleeves, but NOT the other two red ends as you‘ll need these to sew up the back of the red section. Secure and finish all the yarn ends except for the blue ends and the two red ends you left for sewing up the back. Turn toy right side out
Stuff arms, legs and head of the figure, then pop the sachet inside the chest before sewing up the back with red ends of yard. Use the loose ends of blue yarn to sew through and down the length of the leg section so it looks like the toy has two legs. Finish remaining loose ends. Embroider facial features, SECURELY knot in strands of yarn for hair.