EXCLUSIVE TO

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Christmas gifts don’t have to be complicated – as this cute and cuddly cat proves! Lenny is a quick and easy knit that uses basic stitches and simple shaping. He’s adorably chubby, which we

suspect is down to eating all the office mince pies!

Lenny the Cat G R E A T T O Y F O R N E W K N I T T E R S

Knit Louise Watling’s sweet and simple feline in a weekend!

“Make sure Lenny’s head, ears, feet and tail are really securely attached, because he’s sure to have a lot of

playtime adventures!”LK Deputy Editor Adrienne Chandler

Measurements & Sizes 12cm x 23cm

Knit KitYarn: Hayfield Bonus DK, shades (A) 816 Wheat, (B) 977 Signal Red, one 100g ball of each, oddments of Black DK

Needles: 3mm

Safety toy stuffing

Tapestry needle

For abbreviations see page 92

About the YarnHayfield Bonus DK is a good value acrylic DK which comes in over 70 shades and is machine washable. This makes it a practical choice for toys. It costs £2.20 per 100g (280m) ball from 0131 558 1747, www.mcadirect.com

Need an Alternative?Why not opt for a glittery yarn for Lenny’s jumper? King Cole Glitz DK is an acrylic yarn with a metallic polyester thread running throughout. It’s available in a jolly red shade or a multi-coloured red, white and green combo! It costs £2.99 per 100g (290m) ball from www.purplelindacrafts.co.uk

BODYUsing 3mm needles and yarn A, cast on 12 sts£ Row 1 (WS): p£ Row 2: (kfb) to end. 24 sts£ Row 3: p£ Row 4: (kfb, k1) to end. 36 sts£ Rows 5-7: cont in st st£ Row 8: (kfb, k2) to end. 48 sts£ Rows 9-11: cont in st st£ Row 12: (kfb, k3) to end. 60 sts£ Beg with a p row, work ten rows in st stCut yarn A and join yarn B£ Row 23: p£ Row 24: (k1, p1) to end£ Rows 25-27: as Row 24£ Beg with a k row, work 22 rows in st st£ Row 50: (k2, k2tog) to end. 45 sts£ Rows 51-53: cont in st st£ Row 54: (k1, k2tog) to end. 30 sts£ Row 55: p£ Row 56: (k2tog) to end. 15 sts£ Row 57: p£ Cut yarn leaving a tail, thread through rem sts, pull tight and fasten off

HEADUsing 3mm needles and yarn A, cast on 24 sts£ Row 1 (WS): p£ Row 2: k4, (kfb) four times, k8, (kfb) four times, k4. 32 sts£ Row 3: p£ Row 4: k4, (kfb, k1) four times, k8, (kfb, k1) four times, k4. 40 sts£ Rows 5-7: cont in st st£ Row 8: k4, (kfb, k2) four times, k8, (kfb, k2) four times, k4. 48 sts£ Beg with a p row, work 11 rows in st st£ Row 20: k4, (k2, k2tog) four

Start knitting here...

The embroidering of a toy’s face can often make or break a project, so it’s always wise to practise your sewn face before you commit to stitching directly onto your toy. Our Lenny has eyes that are close together, giving him a cute expression, but moving them further apart could create a completely different look.

knitwise

Tension Squarel 26 sts x 36 rowsl 10cm x 10cml stocking stitchl 3mm needles

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times, k8, (k2, k2tog) four times, k4. 40 sts£ Rows 21-23: cont in st st£ Row 24: k4, (k1, k2tog) four times, k8, (k1, k2tog) four times, k4. 32 sts£ Row 25: p£ Row 26: (k2tog) to end. 16 sts£ Row 27: p£ Row 28: (k2tog) to end. Eight sts£ Row 29: p£ Cut yarn leaving a tail, thread through rem sts, pull tight and fasten off

NOSEUsing 3mm needles and black DK, cast on six sts£ Row 1 (RS): kfb, k4, kfb. Eight sts£ Row 2: p2tog, p4, p2tog. Six sts£ Cut yarn leaving a tail, thread through rem sts, pull tight and fasten off

EARS (make two)Using 3mm needles and yarn A, cast on two sts£ Row 1 (WS): p£ Row 2: kfb, k1. Three sts£ Row 3: p£ Row 4: (kfb) twice, k1. Five sts£ Row 5: p£ Row 6: kfb, k2, kfb, k1. Seven sts£ Row 7: p£ Row 8: kfb, k4, kfb, k1. Nine sts£ Rows 9-13: cont in st st£ Row 14: k2tog, k5, k2tog. Seven sts£ Row 15: p£ Row 16: k2tog, k3, k2tog. Five sts£ Row 17: p£ Row 18: k2tog, k1, k2tog. Three sts£ Row 19: p£ Row 20: k1, k2tog. Two sts£ Cut yarn leaving a tail, thread through rem sts, pull tight and fasten off

FOOT (make four)Using 3mm needles and yarn A, cast on ten sts£ Row 1 (WS): p£ Row 2: (kfb, k1) to end. 15 sts£ Row 3: p£ Row 4: (kfb, k2) to end. 20 sts£ Beg with a p row, work five rows in st st£ Cast off

TAILUsing 3mm needles and yarn A, cast on 12 sts£ Beg with a k row, work 18 rows in st st£ Row 19: (k1, k2tog) to end. Eight sts£ Rows 20-22: cont in st st£ Row 23: (k2, k2tog) to end. Six sts£ Row 24: p£ Row 25: (k2tog) to end. Three sts£ Cut yarn leaving a tail, thread through rem sts, pull tight and fasten off

TO MAKE UPSew running stitch around cast-on edge of Body, pull to gather then sew row-ends together leaving front edge open. Stuff, then close gap. Sew row ends of Head together. Flatten Head with seam down centre back. Sew seam, stuff, then sew across cast-on edge. Pin Nose in place. Using oddment of black DK, embroider eyes and mouth as shown. Fold Ear in half then sew row-ends. Attach to top of Head. Attach Head to Body. Sew running stitch around cast-on edge of Foot, pull to gather, then sew row-ends. Stuff, then sew Feet to Body. Sew row-ends of Tail, leave cast-on edge open. Stuff and sew to back of Body LK

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