Subaru Drive - Knit Monster Plushie

If you have even basic knitting skills, this adorable plush monster is an easy project to take on – and it’s sure to please the little ones in your life. The secret is that it only involves a little actual knitting. “By knitting or crocheting a dense rectangle you can bring to life a cute monster for play or decoration,” Reynoso says.

The best part about this craft is that it’s easy to customize based on your recipient’s favorite colors and your monster vision, says Reynoso. Don’t forget: You’ll need to come up with a cute (or scary!) monster name.

Knit Monster Plushie

You’ll Need

Colored yarn

Knitting needles

Safety eyes (optional)

Felt for eyebrows and mouth

Colored thread

Sewing needle

Cotton or other material for stuffing

Directions

If you’re a regular knitter, you’ll want to go down two-millimeter sizes for your hook/needle than what the label on the yarn recommends. Otherwise, be sure to select knitting needles that meet the recommended specification. This will help you create a swatch that’s dense and will hold up to being stuffed. (Reynoso uses worsted weight yarn and a 4mm hook/needle.)

Start off with 11 inches of stitches along your needle. Reynoso recommends making a gauge swatch (aka a sample square of knitted fabric) to check your stitch and row gauge (aka a sample row) to help you get exact dimensions.

Work until there is 8 inches of knit fabric trailing from your needle, so your monster base will be 8 x 11". Bind off your stitch and remove the knit rectangle from needle. Place the rectangle so it’s facing you like a sheet of paper, and fold it in half from top to bottom. Then rotate the folded material 90 degrees so the monster is taller than it is wide. Place safety eyes through one side of the fabric for the monster eyes. If there is any possibility the monster will come in contact with children younger than 5 or pets, skip the safety eyes – a possible choking hazard – and sew on two felt circles for eyes. Cut desired eyebrows (optional) and mouth from felt and stitch on above and underneath eyes, respectively. Once you’re satisfied with the face, sew up two sides of the folded rectangle. Stuff to the desired plushness and sew the third side shut.

To make the arms and legs, knit the I-cord to create four tubes, or simply braid two arms and two legs from the yarn. Sew them on at desired spots. Add hair by sewing strands of yarn in a row along the very top of the back side of the monster. Pull hair into pigtails and secure with yarn.