purlJam

# Grimstroke Amigurumi — The Bogatyr's Bane (Beginner Plush)

A cuddly stylized plush of the Dota 2 hero **Grimstroke**, the spectral ink-caster. He features a dark hooded cloak (worked in color), glowing yellow eyes, and quill-like feathers along his back and head. Worked seamlessly in the round in stockinette — perfect for confident beginners.

**Finished size:** Approx. 8 in (20 cm) tall.

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## Materials

- **Yarn (worsted weight, 4):**
  - Color A — Charcoal Gray or Black (main body/cloak): ~120 yd (110 m)
  - Color B — Dark Purple or Indigo (cloak accents/inner hood): ~40 yd (37 m)
  - Color C — Pale Gray or Bone White (face): ~20 yd (18 m)
  - Small amount of Yellow/Gold for embroidery accents (optional)
- **Needles:** US 6 / 4 mm — set of DPNs or one long circular for Magic Loop
  *(1–2 sizes smaller than the worsted label suggests, for a tight fabric)*
- **Notions:**
  - Polyester fiberfill stuffing — approx. **2.5–3 oz (70–85 g)** total
  - Two 9 mm safety eyes in **yellow/amber** (glowing eyes) — insert before closing head
  - Tapestry needle
  - Stitch marker
  - Optional: black and yellow embroidery floss for features

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## Gauge

**20 sts × 28 rounds = 4 in (10 cm)** in stockinette in the round on US 6 / 4 mm.

> **Gauge note:** Exact stitch count matters less than fabric density. Your fabric should be **tight enough that stuffing does not show through**. If you see gaps, drop a needle size. Work firmly and evenly.

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## Abbreviations (US)

- **k** — knit
- **kfb** — knit into front and back of stitch (1 st increased)
- **k2tog** — knit 2 together (1 st decreased)
- **ssk** — slip, slip, knit (1 st decreased)
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **rnd** — round
- **MC/CC** — main color / contrast color

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## Notes on Working in the Round

For beginners: cast the required stitches onto one DPN, then divide evenly across 3–4 needles (or slide onto a circular for Magic Loop). **Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.** Place a marker to track the start of the round. Each numbered round below ends with the total stitch count in brackets `[ ]`.

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## HEAD (make 1) — Color C for face, Color A for hood

Start with **Color C** (face).

**Cast on 8 sts.** Divide over needles and join.

- **Rnd 1:** kfb in every st. **[16]** *(8 + 8 = 16 ✓)*
- **Rnd 2:** knit.
- **Rnd 3:** *k1, kfb; rep from * around. **[24]** *(16 + 8 = 24 ✓)*
- **Rnd 4:** knit.
- **Rnd 5:** *k2, kfb; rep from * around. **[32]** *(24 + 8 = 32 ✓)*
- **Rnd 6:** knit.
- **Rnd 7:** *k3, kfb; rep from * around. **[40]** *(32 + 8 = 40 ✓)*
- **Rnds 8–14:** knit (7 rounds even). — *This is the front of the face.*

**Switch to Color A** (hood) here to create the dark cloak framing the face.

- **Rnds 15–20:** knit (6 rounds even).

**Insert safety eyes** now, centered on the Color C face, about 4 sts apart and roughly 5 rounds up from the color change. Insert glowing yellow eyes and secure washers on the inside.

Begin decreasing:

- **Rnd 21:** *k3, k2tog; rep from * around. **[32]** *(40 − 8 = 32 ✓)*
- **Rnd 22:** knit.
- **Rnd 23:** *k2, k2tog; rep from * around. **[24]** *(32 − 8 = 24 ✓)*
- **Rnd 24:** *k1, k2tog; rep from * around. **[16]** *(24 − 8 = 16 ✓)*

**Stuff the head firmly** before it closes.

- **Rnd 25:** *k2tog; rep from * around. **[8]** *(16 − 8 = 8 ✓)*

Cut yarn leaving a 10 in (25 cm) tail. Thread through remaining 8 sts, pull tight to close, and secure.

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## BODY (make 1) — Color A (cloak)

The body is worked in **Color A** throughout to represent Grimstroke's flowing dark cloak.

**Cast on 8 sts.** Join in the round.

- **Rnd 1:** kfb in every st. **[16]** *(8 + 8 = 16 ✓)*
- **Rnd 2:** *k1, kfb; rep from * around. **[24]** *(16 + 8 = 24 ✓)*
- **Rnd 3:** *k2, kfb; rep from * around. **[32]** *(24 + 8 = 32 ✓)*
- **Rnds 4–18:** knit (15 rounds even). — *Tall body for a hunched, cloaked silhouette.*

Optional: work **Rnds 10–14 in Color B** as a purple cloak band, then return to Color A.

Begin decreasing (shoulders):

- **Rnd 19:** *k2, k2tog; rep from * around. **[24]** *(32 − 8 = 24 ✓)*
- **Rnd 20:** knit.
- **Rnd 21:** *k1, k2tog; rep from * around. **[16]** *(24 − 8 = 16 ✓)*

**Stuff the body firmly** now.

- **Rnd 22:** *k2tog; rep from * around. **[8]** *(16 − 8 = 8 ✓)*

Cut yarn leaving a 10 in (25 cm) tail. Thread through remaining 8 sts, pull tight, and secure. Leave the wider cast-on end open/flat as the base so the plush sits.

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## ARMS (make 2) — Color A

**Cast on 6 sts.** Join in the round.

- **Rnd 1:** *kfb, k2; rep from * around. **[8]** *(6 + 2 = 8 ✓)*
- **Rnd 2:** *k1, kfb, k2; rep from * around. **[10]**
  *(Verify: 2 repeats of 4 sts... recount: work as `k1, kfb` repeated — see below.)*
- **Rnd 2 (corrected):** *k1, kfb; rep from * around. **[12]** *(8 + 4 = 12 ✓)*
- **Rnds 3–12:** knit (10 rounds even).

**Lightly stuff** the arm (softer than head/body so it drapes).

- **Rnd 13:** *k2tog; rep from * around. **[6]** *(12 − 6 = 6 ✓)*

Cut yarn leaving an 8 in (20 cm) tail. Thread through remaining 6 sts, pull tight, and secure. Leave the cast-on edge open for seaming to the body.

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## FEATHER-QUILLS (make 3–4) — Color A or Color B

These small triangles are knitted flat and represent Grimstroke's signature quills on his head/back.

**Cast on 8 sts** (work flat, back and forth).

- **Row 1 (RS):** knit.
- **Row 2 (WS):** purl.
- **Row 3:** ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. **[6]** *(8 − 2 = 6 ✓)*
- **Row 4:** purl.
- **Row 5:** ssk, k2tog. **[4]** *(6 − 2 = 4... note center)*
  *(With 6 sts: ssk, k2, k2tog → 4 sts ✓)*
- **Row 6:** purl.
- **Row 7:** ssk, k2tog. **[2]** *(4 − 2 = 2 ✓)*
- **Row 8:** p2tog. **[1]**

Cut yarn and pull through the last stitch. These narrow triangles form pointed quills.

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## FINISHING & ASSEMBLY

**Assembly order matters — follow in sequence:**

1. **Attach head to body.** Position the head on top of the body (Rnd 22 closed top). Pin so the face points forward. Sew all around the join with **mattress stitch**, adding a little extra stuffing at the neck if needed for a firm connection. Tilt the head slightly forward for the hunched, brooding Grimstroke pose.

2. **Attach arms symmetrically.** Pin both arms at the same round on either side of the body — **Rnd 18 (just below the shoulder decreases)**, roughly 4 sts apart from center front on each side. Confirm they are level before sewing. Seam the open cast-on edge to the body with mattress stitch. Angle them slightly forward as if casting a spell.

3. **Attach feather-quills.** Sew 2 quills to the top/back of the head and 1–2 along the upper back of the body with the pointed ends facing up and outward. Space evenly for a plumed silhouette.

4. **Facial details (optional).** If not using safety eyes, embroider two glowing yellow oval eyes on the Color C face. Add a subtle downturned mouth line in black floss for his grim expression. A few short yellow straight-stitches under the eyes suggest his ink-glow.

5. **Weave in all ends** securely on the **inside** of each piece before final closing where possible; for ends after assembly, bury them deep into the body and trim.

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## Quick Reference — Stitch Count Validation

| Piece | Cast-on | Peak sts | Closes at | Check |
|-------|---------|----------|-----------|-------|
| Head | 8 | 40 | 8 | 8→40 (+32 over 4 inc rnds = +8×4 ✓); 40→8 (−32 ✓) |
| Body | 8 | 32 | 8 | 8→32 (+24 ✓); 32→8 (−24 ✓) |
| Arm | 6 | 12 | 6 | 6→12 (+6 ✓); 12→6 (−6 ✓) |
| Quill | 8 | — | 1 | 8→1 decreasing evenly ✓ |

**Estimated stuffing:** Head ~1 oz, Body ~1.25 oz, Arms ~0.25 oz each → **~2.75 oz (78 g)** total, within the 2.5–3 oz estimate. ✓

Enjoy your grim little ink-mage! 🖤