Materials: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece – Black Forest (about 2 oz.),
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece - Perry's Primrose, Blue Paradise, Lime Light, and Buttercream (about .25 oz. each) OR Cotton Ball (about 1 oz.)
16” circular size 4 needles
16” circular size 6 needles
set of 5 - 7” double pointed size 6 needles
Gauge: 6 stitches x 6 rows per inch on size 6 needles
Size: S (20”), M (22”), L (24”) - instructions given as S (M, L)
Instructions:
1) Using size 4 rounds, cast on 120 (132, 144) stitches in black, join in the round.
2) Knit 6 rows in k2, p2 rib
3) Next Round, K all stitches, evenly decreasing 3 (2, 1) stitches across the row – left with 117 (130, 143) stitches. Change to size 6 circular needles
4) Next round, start the pattern chart – 9 (10, 11) repeats.
5) Follow the chart through the purple, blue, and green invaders, stopping after the last green row.
6) Next round (black only)-
Small – k58, k2tog, k57 – 116 stitches left
Medium – k63, k2tog, k63, k2tog – 128 stitches left
Large – k46, k2tog, k45, k2tog, k46, k2tog – 140 stitches left
7) Next round, k3 (2, 0), *ssk, place marker, k2tog, k25 (28, 31)*, repeat * to * three more times.
8) There are now 4 panels contained between markers. Decreases slant away from each marker.
9) Next round, start the first row of the yellow invader chart centered on each panel. Decrease one stitch at each end of each panel, continuing to slant the decreases toward the center invader. (It is helpful to carry the yarn by catching it behind the stitch before the decreases and the stitch after the decreases to prevent show-through.)
10) Continue in this manner, following the chart and decreasing a total of 8 stitches every row. Change to size 6 double pointed needles when necessary.
11) When the invader chart ends, continue in plain black until there are 12 (8, 12) stitches remaining. For size small and large, complete one final row – for each panel, k2tog, slip stitch back to left needle, slip remaining stitch over, 1 stitch remaining on each of 4 needles.
12) All sizes, cut yarn, leaving a 6” tail. Thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in all ends.
