Tucker the monkey
This appealing little monkey, with a heart-shaped face, is full of charm. He's curious about life and dressed for adventure in a snazzy vest and scarf. Tucker is full of mischief and great fun to have around.

Materials
• Worsted yarn: 8 oz. [226 g] brown, 2 oz. [56 g] fawn, 2 oz. [56 g] red, 2 oz. [56 g] green
• Black embroidery thread for eyes, nose and mouth
• Needles: size 2-3 [3 - 3.25 mm]
• Double-pointed needles: 2 x size 2-3 [3 - 3.25 mm]
• Toy stuffing

* Yarn to be used doubled (apart from ears)

Instructions
BODY - BACK
Use brown.
Using the yarn doubled, cast on 12 sts.
Work 2 rows in stocking stitch.
Next row: Continuing in stocking stitch, increase 1 st at each end of this and every following 4th row until there are 20 sts.
Work 26 rows without shaping.

SHAPE TOP OF BODY BACK
Decrease 1 st at each end of next and every following alt row until there are 6 sts.
Work 1 row.
Bind off.

BODY - FRONT (2 PIECES)
Use brown.

SIDE 1
Using the yarn doubled, cast on 6 sts.
Work 2 rows in stocking stitch.
Next row: Continuing in stocking stitch, increase 1 st at each end of this and every following 4th row until there are 12 sts. Work 26 rows without further shaping**.
Next row: With RS facing, decrease 1 st at END of next row and at the END of every following 4th row until there are 8 sts.
Work 1 row.
Next row: Decrease 1 st at each end of this and every following alt row until 2 sts remain.
Bind off.

SIDE 2
Work as side 1 until **.
Decrease at BEGINNING of next row and at the BEGINNING of every following 4th row until there are 8 sts.
Work 1 row.
Next row: Decrease 1 st at each end of this and every following alt row until there are 2 sts.
Bind off.

LEGS
Use brown.
Using the yarn doubled, cast on 20 sts.
Work in stocking stitch, continuing until work measures 8 ins/20 cm (approx. 70 rows).
Bind off.
Make another leg to match.

ARMS
Use brown.
Using the yarn doubled, cast on 16 sts.
Work in stocking stitch, continuing until work measures 6-1/4 ins/16 cm (approx. 56 rows).

SHAPE TOP OF ARM
K1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1 (13 sts).
Purl.
K1, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k1 (11 sts).
Purl.
K1, k2tog, k1, k3tog, k1, k2tog, k1 (7 sts).
Purl.
K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1 (5 sts).
Purl.
Bind off.
Make another arm to match.

HEAD
Use brown.
Using the yarn doubled, cast on 9 sts.
Work 2 rows in stocking stitch.
Next row: Continuing in stocking stitch, increase 1 st at each end of this and every following alt row until there are 21 sts.
Work a further 20 rows without shaping.
Next row: Decrease 1 st at each end of this and every following row until there are 9 sts.
Bind off.
Make another piece to match.

TAIL
Use brown, using the yarn doubled.
Using double-pointed needles, cast on 7 sts.
Knit to end. Instead of turning work, slide from one end of the needle to the other, keeping right side facing at all times, and continue to knit. This forms a tube.
Work until tail measures 13-1/2 ins/34 cm.
Bind off.

HANDS AND FEET - 2 PIECES FOR EACH
Use fawn.
Cast on 20 sts and work in garter stitch (every row knit) for 20 rows.
Break yarn and draw through stitches.
Fasten off.

FACE
Use fawn.
Cast on 8 sts and work in stocking stitch.
K 1 row.
Next row: K1, P to last st, k1.
Next row: Increase 1 st at each end of this and every following row until there are 20 sts, then on following 4th row to make 22 sts.
Work 9 rows without further shaping.
Decrease 1 st at each end of next and 2 following alt rows (16 sts).
Work 1 row.
Next row: K8, turn work, k1, P to the last st, k1.
Working on these stitches only, decrease 1 st at each end of next and every following alt row (4 sts).
K1, P to last st, k1.
Next row: K.
Next row: P.
K2tog twice (2 sts).
Break yarn and draw through.
Fasten off.
Rejoin yarn to remaining 8 sts and complete to match first side.

EARS
Use brown.
Using yarn single, cast on 10 sts and work in garter stitch.
K 4 rows.
Next row: K2tog, k6, k2tog (8 sts).
Work 3 rows without shaping.
Next row: K2tog, k4, k2tog (6 sts).
Next row: K2tog, k2, k2tog (4 sts).
Next row: K2tog twice (2 sts).
Break yarn and draw through.
Fasten off.
Make another ear to match.

VEST
Use green.
Cast on 30 sts.
Work in garter stitch.
K 1 row.
Next row: Increase 1 st at each end of row (32 sts).
Work 8 rows without shaping.
Shape armholes:
K7, bind off 2 sts, k10, bind off 2 sts. Working on next 7 sts only, k 9 rows.
Next row: Bind off 1 st, work to end.
K 1 row.
Next row: Bind off 1 st, work to end.
Work 3 rows.
Bind off.
Rejoin yarn to central 10 sts. Work 14 rows in garter stitch.
Bind off.
Rejoin yarn to remaining 7 sts, reverse shaping to match first side.

SCARF
Use red.
Using yarn doubled, cast on 6 sts.
Work in garter stitch until scarf measures approx 10 ins/25 cm.
Bind off.

TO MAKE UP MONKEY
Darn in all loose ends. Join centre seams of body fronts and attach to back with mattress stitch. Stuff firmly. Sew head pieces together and attach face. Sew arm and leg seams using mattress stitch and attach hands and feet. Using illustration as a guide, attach all body pieces. Sew on tail. Sew shoulders together on vest and tie scarf loosely around neck. Embroider facial features.

Find more toy craft patterns here.

 

Excerpted from Toys to Knit by Tracy Chapman. Copyright 2006 by Collins & Brown Ltd. Text copyright 2006 by Tracy Chapman. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.