Knit a Trusty Troll for a Kid, Or Yourself

I’m a sucker for knit toys of all sorts, but especially when that knit toy is a character of some kind that you can make a story about and put into different scenes, I don’t think there’s anything better. Knit toys allow kids (and adults, too!) to build a world around them. I think that’s part of the appeal of the knit frog and toad characters, and maybe the emotional support chicken, too.

This pattern from Fuzzy Mitten is for a trusty troll with a rucksack and a tool belt. The sack can hold tiny treasures like the rocks you collect when you’re out exploring together, and he can carry his own tiny tools on his belt.

The pattern is rated for advanced beginners as it uses increases and decreases, garter and stockinette stitch worked flat, bobbles, yarn overs and a bit of intarsia for the face. Alternatively you could work the face in the same color as the body and add it later with duplicate stitch.

It calls for bulky yarn for the troll’s body and worsted weight yarn for the accessories. You could easily use leftover yarn from other projects for this project. It stands about 16 inches of 40 cm tall, and really the hardest part is probably all the finishing because it is worked flat and you need to add safety eyes, embroidery and other details.

This little creature is just so cute I want to knit one for myself so I can take it on adventures or insert it into photos for no particular reason. If you have a young child in your life I see no reason you shouldn’t knit a whole basket full of trolls.

I also don’t see why not having a young child in your life should stop you from doing that, either.

You can grab a copy of the pattern (and check out all the other cute creations) from Fuzzy Mitten on Etsy.

[Photo: Fuzzy Mitten]

As the temperatures start getting cooler as they are doing now where I live, all I want to do is knit blankets or be under knit blankets or be under a blanket while knitting it.

If you’re new to knitting or just looking for an easy and cozy knit blanket project, check out the Knit Squares Blanket from Mama in a Stitch.

The blanket is worked in bulky yarn all in one piece on a long circular knitting needle (though it is knit flat) and using alternating blocks of stockinette, reverse stockinette and seed stitch with a garter stitch border.

Though the original pattern has you working all in one piece across the blanket, and in a single color, this design got me thinking about lots of different ways you could work it.

Of course you could still work it in one piece and either add horizontal stripes of color. Just change colors at the end of a section of pattern blocks (and work a knit row all the way across on the first row of the new color to keep the color changes crisp) and you’ll have a different look. Or use two colors and change colors in the middle.

You could also make vertical stripes of color using intarisa. In that case I’d probably knit the border in a single color and then start the stripes after.

If intarsia isn’t your thing, you could also work the project in individual panels of 16 or 32 stitches and then sew them together by hand. In that case you’d want to work the border after the project is knit and seamed. And then you can easily make it bigger, too, by working more columns and making them longer.

And while you’re changing colors with abandon, if you’re working in panels you could also change colors every block to give it a patchwork look and use up all your leftover yarn. (If you don’t have lots of chunky leftovers try holding two strands of worsted weight together.)

Whatever way you knit it, this blanket looks to be a cozy addition to your home for fall and winter. Grab the free pattern from Mama in a Stitch.

[Photo: Mama in a Stitch]

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