Becca Compton (photo)
click to enlarge

Mr. Edless

I'll write you a pattern you can't refuse.

by Becca Compton

Suggested Viewing

The Godfather (1972, rated R)

Difficulty

Strong Intermediate
Click here for definitions of difficulty levels.

Finished Measurements

18" (45.7 cm) from nose to neck, and 20" (50.8 cm) around, not counting the ears.

Materials

• Red Heart Super Saver [100% Acrylic; 7oz/364yd per skein] #0365 Coffee, 1 skein
• Caron Simply Soft [100% Acrylic; 3oz/165yd per skein] #2661 Victorian Rose, 1 skein
• Caron Simply Soft [100% Acrylic; 3oz/165yd per skein] #2622 Plum Wine, 1 skein
• Caron Simply Soft [100% Acrylic; 3oz/165yd per skein] #2601 White, 1 skein
• Caron Simply Soft [100% Acrylic; 3oz/165yd per skein] #2680 Black, 1 skein
• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted [80% Acrylic/20 % Wool; 3oz/197yd per skein] #260-138 Cranberry, 1 skein
• Two US Size 4 (3.5mm) 32" circular needles
• US Size 4 (3.5mm) DPNs
• Stitch markers
• Fiberfill
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

19.5 sts x 29 rows = 4" in stockinette (in the round)

Design Notes

This pattern begins at the edges of the mouth. The upper and lower jaws are worked flat and then joined. The remainder of the head is worked in the round on two circular needles. If you would prefer to work the pattern on DPNs or with one circular needle then use two stitch markers to note the top and bottom jaw sections. Save your yarn tails and use them for stuffing small parts like the eyes and ears.

Skills used in this project: Short rows, knit in the round on two circular needles, magic loop, embroidery, lots of seaming, and the three needle bind-off.

Special stitches:
w&t – Wrap & Turn (RS) With the yarn in front of work, slip the next stitch on the left hand needle to the right needle, wrap the yarn from front to back, replace the slipped stitch on the left hand needle, turn work. (WS) With the yarn in back of work, slip the next stitch on the left hand needle to the right needle, wrap the yarn from back to front, replace the slipped stitch on the left hand needle, turn work.

Ssptbl – Slip the next two stitches knitwise, place the stitches back on the left needle one by one, bring the yarn to the front of the work and purl the stitches through the back loop.

S2kp – Slip two stitches as if to k2tog, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitches over.

Becca Compton (photo)
click image to enlarge

Directions

Lower Jaw:

Using brown yarn, CO 18 sts onto circular needle. Do not join, but work flat.

Row 1 (WS): p14, w&t
Row 2 (RS): k10, w&t
Row 3: p8, w&t
Row 4: k6, w&t
Row 5: p4, w&t
Row 6: k2, w&t
Row 7: purl across 8 sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 8: knit across 14 sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 9: p12, w&t
Row 10: k10, w&t
Row 11: p8, w&t
Row 12: k6, w&t
Row 13: p4, w&t
Row 14: k2, w&t
Row 15: purl across remaining sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, pick up 1 st at corner from cast on edge (19 sts)
Row 16: knit across remaining sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, pick up 1 st at corner from cast on edge (20 sts)

Knit in St st for 25 rows.

Next row: k1, m1, k18, m1, k1

Cut yarn and leave live sts on needle for now.

Upper Jaw:

Using brown yarn, CO 24 sts onto second circular needle. Do not join, but work flat.

Row 1 (WS): p18, w&t
Row 2 (RS): k12, w&t
Row 3: p10, w&t
Row 4: k8, w&t
Row 5: p6, w&t
Row 6: k4, w&t
Row 7: purl across 10 sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 8: knit across 16 sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 9: p14, w&t
Row 10: k12, w&t
Row 11: p10, w&t
Row 12: k8, w&t
Row 13: p6, w&t
Row 14: k4, w&t
Row 15: purl across 12 sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 16: knit across 20 sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 17: p18, w&t
Row 18: k16, w&t
Row 19: p14, w&t
Row 20: k12, w&t
Row 21: p10, w&t
Row 22: k8, w&t
Row 23: purl across remaining sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, pick up 1 st at corner from cast on edge (25 sts)
Row 24: knit across remaining sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, pick up 1 st at corner from cast on edge (26 sts)
Row 25: purl
Row 26: k8, k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 into next stitch (1 to 6 st increase), k8, k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 into next stitch, k8
Row 27: p8, k6, p8, k6, p8
Row 28: k8, p6, k8, p6, k8

Work in established pattern for nine more rows, ending on a WS row.

Row 38: k8, p3, fold left and right needles together (right side facing) and using three needle bind off, BO 3 sts, unfold needles and place stitch left on third needle onto right hand needle, k8, p3, fold left and right needles together and using third needle BO 3 sts, unfold needles and place stitch on third needle onto right hand needle, k8 (26 sts)
Row 39: purl
Row 40: knit
Row 41: p10, pick up loop from top corner of nostril bound off stitches and p2tog with next stitch, p4, pick up loop from top corner of nostril bound off stitches and p2tog with next stitch, p10
Row 42: k1, m1, knit across to second to last stitch, m1, k1 (28 sts)
Row 43: purl
Row 44: knit
Row 45: purl
Row 46: knit across upper jaw to last stitch, join to lower jaw by ssk last stitch from upper jaw with first stitch from lower jaw, using second circular needle knit across lower jaw to last stitch, using first needle join lower jaw to upper jaw by k2tog the last stitch from lower jaw with the first stitch from the upper jaw. You will now be knitting in the round. (28 sts upper needle / 20 sts lower needle)

Head:

Work in St st for 1" (approx. 8 rows)

You will now begin increasing one stitch, four stitches in from each side of the lower jaw needle on every other round, like so:
Rnd 1: k28 on upper needle, then k4, m1, k12, m1, k4 on lower needle
Rnd 2: knit
Rnd 3: k28 on upper needle, then k4, m1, k14, m1, k4 on lower needle
Rnd 4: knit
Repeat until there are 40 sts on lower needle, ending on an odd round.

Next rnd: m1, *k5, m1* eight times on lower needle, k 28 on upper needle (28 sts upper needle / 49 sts lower needle)

Work in St st for 4" (approx. 30 rows)

Next rnd: k2tog, *k4, k2tog* seven times, k3, k2tog on lower needle, k 28 on upper needle (28 sts upper needle / 40 sts lower needle)

Neck

You will now work short rows on the upper needle to create the neck curve.

Row 1: k20, w&t
Row 2: p12, w&t
Row 3: k10, w&t
Row 4: p8, w&t
Row 5: knit across 12 sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 6: purl across 16 sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 7: k14, w&t
Row 8: p12, w&t
Row 9: k10, w&t
Row 10: p8, w&t
Row 11: knit across 14 sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 12: purl across 20 sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, w&t
Row 13: k18, w&t
Row 14: p16, w&t
Row 15: k14, w&t
Row 16: p12, w&t
Row 17: knit across the remaining sts picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts, turn work
Row 18: purl across the remaining sts picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts, turn work

You will now resume working in the round by ssk at beginning and k2tog at end of lower needle to rejoin (as you did to join the upper and lower jaw) (28 sts upper needle / 38 sts lower needle)

Work in St st for 2" (approx. 15 rows)

Place marker every 11 sts.

Inc Rnd: *knit to marker, m1* repeat to end of rnd

Repeat inc rnd every fifth rnd 5 times (96 sts)

Knit four rnds

Purl one rnd (for turning hem)

Knit two rnds

BO 20sts, and move the remaining 76 stitches onto one needle.

Lips

You will now pick up stitches around the cast on edges/sides of upper and lower jaw, and knit a hemmed edge. There are small points on the jaws from where you joined the short rows, pick up stitches further into the fabric so that these points are hidden inside the hemmed edge.

Pick up 1 st from corner of mouth, place marker (pm), pick up 55 sts along top of mouth, pm, pick up 1 st from corner of mouth, pm, pick up 50 sts along bottom of mouth, pm (107 sts)

Rnd 1: knit
Rnd 2: k1, slip marker (sl m), k2tog, knit to two sts before marker, ssk, sl m, k1, sl m, k2tog, knit to two sts before marker, ssk, sl m
Rnd 3: knit
Rnd 4: k1, sl m, k2tog, knit to two sts before marker, ssk, sl m, k1, sl m, k2tog, knit to two sts before marker, ssk, sl m
Rnd 5: purl
Rnd 6: k1, sl m, m1, knit to marker, m1, sl m, k1, sl m, m1, knit to marker, m1, sl m
Rnd 7: knit
Rnd 8: k1, sl m, m1, knit to marker, m1, sl m, k1, sl m, m1, knit to marker, m1, sl m.
Rnd 9: knit

BO all sts. You can either sew this hemmed edge down now or later when the mouth is sewn in.

Mouth

Using lighter pink yarn, CO 10 sts.

Working in St st, inc 1 st each end of every RS row until there are 20 sts.

Knit until piece measures 5".

On the next RS row increase 4 sts evenly across row.

Knit until pieces measures 8.5".

Decrease 1 st on each end of every RS row until 14 sts remain.

BO all sts. Sew in mouth along the bind off of the hemmed lips (not the turning row). You should also sew the bottom of the nostrils closed at this time.

Teeth (Make two: one upper and one lower.)

Using white yarn, CO 24 (28 for lower) sts.

Knit in St st for 8 rows.

BO all Stitches.

Using 2 plies of black yarn embellish to demarcate teeth.

Fold over piece WS out and sew up side edges.

Turn RS out, and sew onto mouth.

Tongue

Using darker pink yarn, CO 24 sts, join and work in the round.

Knit in St st for 4.5".

Next Rnd: k2tog, k8, ssk, k2tog, k8, ssk (20 sts)
Next Rnd: knit
Next Rnd: k2tog, k6, ssk, k2tog, k6, ssk (16 sts)
Next Rnd: knit
Next Rnd: k2tog, k4, ssk, k2tog, k4, ssk (12 sts)
Next Rnd: knit
Next Rnd: k2tog, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, ssk (8 sts)

Fold tongue inside out. Cut yarn leaving a long tail and perform 3-needle BO of all sts. Turn right side out and sew a line up the middle of the tongue to keep it flat. Sew tongue inside mouth.

Becca Compton (photo)
click image to enlarge

Eyes: (Make two.)

Note: If you know how, it would probably be easier to crochet two flat circles 1.5" in diameter.

Using black yarn, CO 3 sts.

Row 1 (WS): p1, m1 purlwise , p1, m1 purlwise, p1 (5 sts)
Row 2 (RS): k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7 sts)
Row 3: p1, m1 purlwise , p5, m1 purlwise, p1 (9 sts)
Row 4: knit
Row 5: purl
Row 6: knit
Row 7: purl
Row 8: k2tog, k5, ssk (7 sts)
Row 9: ssptbl, p3, p2tog (5 sts)
Row 10: k2tog, k1, ssk (3 sts)

BO all sts.

(Optional – use a piece of white yarn to put a glint in the glassy eye).

Eye Ridge: (Make two.)

Using brown yarn, CO 12 sts.

Row 1 (WS): purl
Row 2 (RS): k1, m1, k10, m1, k1.
Row 3: purl
Row 4: k12, w&t
Row 5: p10, w&t
Row 6: k8, w&t
Row 7: p6, w&t
Row 8: k4, w&t
Row 9: p2, w&t
Row 10: knit across row picking up the wraps and k2tog them with their paired sts.
Row 11: purl across row picking up the wraps and ssptbl them with their paired sts.

BO all sts.

Sew eye ridge around top of eye, and then sew onto head (stuff lightly). At this point, it may help to partially stuff the head to position eyes and ears correctly. I slipped a piece of scrap paper inside the head where I was sewing down pieces to prevent the stuffing from being caught in the stitches.

Outer Ear: (Make two.)

Using brown yarn, CO 24 sts.

Knit in St st for 15 rows, ending with a WS row.

Next Row: k1, k2tog, knit to last three sts, ssk, k1 (22 sts)
Next Row: purl

Repeat the last two rows five more times ending on a dec row (12 sts)

Next Row: p1, ssptbl, p6, p2tog, p1 (10 sts)
Next Row: k1, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1 (8 sts)
Next Row: p1, ssptbl, p6, p2tog, p1 (6 sts)
Next Row: k1, k2tog, ssk, k1 (4 sts)

BO all sts.

Inner Ear: (Make two.)

Using darker pink yarn, CO 12 sts.

Knit in St st for 21 rows.

Next Row: k1, k2tog, k6, ssk, k1 (10 sts)
Next Row: p1, ssptbl, p4, p2tog, p1 (8 sts)
Next Row: k1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1 (6 sts)
Next Row: p1, ssptbl, p2tog, p1 (4 sts)

BO all sts.

Sew the inner ear inside the outer ear. Because the inner ear is shorter than the outer ear, you will sew the outer ear to itself at the top, and flat across the BO sts. Fold the pink inner ear inside the outer brown, and whipstitch the brown ear together for an inch at the bottom. Stuff lightly and sew onto head.

Becca Compton (photo)
click image to enlarge

Severed Neck:

Using the red yarn, CO 20 sts.

You will now be returning to the 76 sts of the neck edge and changing color as well as finishing the hemmed edge.

Pick up a purl bump from two rounds below the turning round and place it on the left hand needle. Using the red yarn knit the stitch just picked up together with the next stitch on the left hand needle. Note: I always have a difficult time figuring out which row the purl bump I need is from, so before I started this round I ran a piece of embroidery thread through all the bumps I would be picking up.

Repeat around the edge. (96 sts)

Join and work in the round (either using one circular and magic loop or splitting the stitches up onto two circulars).

Knit two rounds, on second round place a marker every 16 sts.

Dec Rnd: *knit to two stitches before marker, k2tog* to end of rnd
Next Rnd: knit

Repeat last two rows until 54 sts remain, then work the decrease round for every round.

When 6 sts remain, cut yarn and using tapestry needle pull yarn through all stitches and then to the inside of neck.

Vertebrae:

Using white yarn, CO 28 sts, join and work in the round.

Rnds 1-10: knit
Rnd 11: purl
Rnd 12: knit
Rnd 13: Switch to red yarn and knit all sts
Rnd 14: * k2tog, k3, ssk* to end of rnd (20 sts)
Rnd 15: knit
Rnd 16: *k2tog, k1, ssk* to end of rnd (12 sts)
Rnd 17: knit
Rnd 18: s2kp four times (4 sts)

Cut yarn and using tapestry needle pull yarn through all stitches and then to the inside of piece. Stuff and sew to severed neck edge.

Esophagus/Trachea: (Make two.)

Using the light pink yarn, CO 24 sts, join and work in the round.

Rnds 1-3: knit
Rnd 4: purl
Rnds 5-7: knit

BO all sts.

Fold cast on edge to inside, and sew both edges together.

Sew to severed neck edge.

Becca Compton (photo)
click image to enlarge

Finishing:

Stuff head, and sew gap at severed neck edge. Weave in ends.

Cut 60 12" pieces of black yarn for the mane. Fold length of yarn in half and using crochet hook knot yarn into 2 lines along back of head.

About

contact Becca: • http://knit-fink.livejournal.com/ • legal info

Edited by Anthony Ascione, Edith Cummings, and Zabet Stewart.