purlJam

# Manokit — Knitted Amigurumi
*A friendly little furry-species companion with tall pointed ears, a soft muzzle and a long fluffy tail.*

**Skill level:** Beginner
**Technique:** Worked in the round in stockinette stitch, seamed.

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## Finished Size
Approximately **18 cm** tall (seated, ears included), **9 cm** wide at the body. Size will vary slightly with your tension and stuffing.

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## Materials
- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran) yarn in your main colour (MC) — approx. **80 g**. Small amounts of a contrast colour (CC) for the muzzle, inner ears and tail tip — approx. **15 g**.
- **Needles:** 3.5 mm DPNs **or** one long 3.5 mm circular needle for Magic Loop.
  *(This is 1–2 sizes smaller than the label's recommended 4–5 mm, to create a tight fabric.)*
- **Stuffing:** Polyester fibrefill — approx. **40–50 g** total.
- **Safety eyes:** 2 × 9 mm (or embroider eyes with black floss for under-3s).
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, locking marker, black embroidery floss (nose/mouth), small length of CC for embroidery if desired.

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## Tension (Gauge)
**22 sts × 30 rounds = 10 cm** over stockinette in the round on 3.5 mm needles.

> **Toy tension note:** A tight, even fabric matters far more than an exact stitch count. Hold your work up to the light — if you can see daylight (and therefore future stuffing) through it, go down another needle size.

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## Abbreviations (UK)
- **k** – knit
- **kfb** – knit into front and back of stitch (1 st increased)
- **k2tog** – knit two together (1 st decreased)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **rnd** – round
- **MC / CC** – main colour / contrast colour
- Work all rounds **knit** unless stated (stockinette in the round).

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## Construction Overview
Six piece-types worked separately in the round:
**Head ×1, Body ×1, Legs ×2, Arms ×2, Ears ×2, Tail ×1.**
Each is stuffed firmly, then mattress-stitched together. Begin each piece with **6 sts** using your preferred small-circumference method (Magic Loop or DPNs). Place a marker to track the round start.

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## HEAD (make 1, in MC)
Cast on 6 sts and join in the round.

- **Rnd 1:** kfb in every st → **12 sts**
- **Rnd 2:** (k1, kfb) ×6 → **18 sts**
- **Rnd 3:** (k2, kfb) ×6 → **24 sts**
- **Rnd 4:** (k3, kfb) ×6 → **30 sts**
- **Rnd 5:** (k4, kfb) ×6 → **36 sts**
- **Rnds 6–14:** knit (9 rounds) → 36 sts ✓ *(check: 36 sts maintained)*

**Insert safety eyes** between Rnds 9 and 10, about 6 sts apart, before closing. (Skip if embroidering.)

Begin decreasing:
- **Rnd 15:** (k4, k2tog) ×6 → **30 sts**
- **Rnd 16:** (k3, k2tog) ×6 → **24 sts**
- **Rnd 17:** (k2, k2tog) ×6 → **18 sts**

**Stuff firmly now.**

- **Rnd 18:** (k1, k2tog) ×6 → **12 sts**
- **Rnd 19:** (k2tog) ×6 → **6 sts**

Cut yarn, thread through remaining 6 sts, pull tight and fasten off inside.

*Math check: 6→12→18→24→30→36, then mirrored down to 6. ✓*

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## MUZZLE (make 1, in CC)
Cast on 6 sts and join.
- **Rnd 1:** kfb in every st → **12 sts**
- **Rnd 2:** (k1, kfb) ×6 → **18 sts**
- **Rnds 3–4:** knit → 18 sts

Cast off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff (it forms a flat-ish dome when sewn). Lightly stuff with a pinch of fibrefill as you attach.

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## BODY (make 1, in MC)
Cast on 6 sts and join.
- **Rnd 1:** kfb in every st → **12 sts**
- **Rnd 2:** (k1, kfb) ×6 → **18 sts**
- **Rnd 3:** (k2, kfb) ×6 → **24 sts**
- **Rnd 4:** (k3, kfb) ×6 → **30 sts**
- **Rnds 5–16:** knit (12 rounds) → 30 sts ✓
- **Rnd 17:** (k3, k2tog) ×6 → **24 sts**
- **Rnd 18:** knit → 24 sts
- **Rnd 19:** (k2, k2tog) ×6 → **18 sts**

**Stuff firmly.**

- **Rnd 20:** (k1, k2tog) ×6 → **12 sts**

Leave 12 sts open (do not close) — the open top will be seamed to the head. Cut yarn leaving a long tail.

*Math check: increases 6→30 (6×5), decreases 30→12. ✓*

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## LEGS (make 2, in MC)
Cast on 6 sts and join.
- **Rnd 1:** kfb in every st → **12 sts**
- **Rnds 2–12:** knit (11 rounds) → 12 sts ✓

Stuff lightly (legs stay slightly soft so the Manokit can sit). Cast off leaving a long tail for sewing.

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## ARMS (make 2, in MC)
Cast on 6 sts and join.
- **Rnd 1:** kfb in every st → **12 sts**
- **Rnds 2–10:** knit (9 rounds) → 12 sts ✓

Stuff lightly. Cast off leaving a long tail for sewing.

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## EARS (make 2 — tall and pointed)
Work outer in MC; for a two-tone inner ear, work Rnds 1–2 in CC then switch to MC, or embroider later.

Cast on 12 sts and join.
- **Rnds 1–3:** knit → 12 sts
- **Rnd 4:** (k4, k2tog) ×2 → **10 sts**
- **Rnd 5:** knit → 10 sts
- **Rnd 6:** (k3, k2tog) ×2 → **8 sts**
- **Rnd 7:** knit → 8 sts
- **Rnd 8:** (k2, k2tog) ×2 → **6 sts**
- **Rnd 9:** (k1, k2tog) ×2 → **4 sts**

Cut yarn, thread through 4 sts, pull tight. **Do not stuff** — these stay flat so they stand up pointed. Leave a long tail for sewing.

*Math check: 12→10→8→6→4, point achieved. ✓*

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## TAIL (make 1 — long and fluffy)
Begin in CC for the tip, then change to MC.
Cast on 6 sts and join.
- **Rnd 1 (CC):** kfb in every st → **12 sts**
- **Rnd 2 (CC):** (k5, kfb) ×2 → **14 sts**
- **Rnds 3–4 (CC):** knit → 14 sts
- **Change to MC.**
- **Rnds 5–16 (MC):** knit (12 rounds) → 14 sts ✓

Stuff lightly along its length for a soft, bendy tail. Cast off leaving a long tail for sewing.

> **Optional fluff:** For an extra-furry look, brush the tail surface gently with a slicker pet brush after assembly, or add short CC loop-stitch tufts at the tip.

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## Assembly (order matters)

Attach pieces with **mattress stitch** in this sequence:

1. **Muzzle to head:** Centre the CC muzzle low on the face, just below and between the eyes. Pin, add a pinch of stuffing, and sew all around.
2. **Embroider features:** With black floss, stitch a small triangular nose at the top of the muzzle and a short vertical line beneath for the mouth. Add a couple of light grey/CC straight stitches for whisker dots if you like.
3. **Ears to head:** Pin both ears upright on top of the head, evenly spaced from the centre (about 4 sts apart at the base). **Check symmetry before sewing** — measure from each ear to the centre seam. Sew the flat base securely.
4. **Head to body:** Match the open 12-st neck of the body to the underside of the head. Sew firmly all the way around, adding extra stuffing through the seam if needed before closing.
5. **Legs:** Attach symmetrically to the front-base of the body so the toy can sit. Measure from the centre front to each leg to confirm they match.
6. **Arms:** Attach symmetrically to the upper sides of the body, just below the head seam.
7. **Tail:** Sew the open end to the lower back of the body, CC tip pointing outward.

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## Finishing
- Weave in **all** loose ends, burying them deep inside the body or head so none can pull free.
- Give each seam a gentle tug-test for security (important for a toy).
- Optional: lightly brush MC and CC surfaces for a soft, furry "Manokit" finish.

> **Safety note:** Use **embroidered** eyes instead of safety eyes for any toy intended for a child under 3 years.

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### Quick Stitch-Count Reference
| Piece | Start | Max | End/Open |
|-------|-------|-----|----------|
| Head | 6 | 36 | 6 (closed) |
| Muzzle | 6 | 18 | 18 (cast off) |
| Body | 6 | 30 | 12 (open, seamed) |
| Leg ×2 | 6 | 12 | 12 (cast off) |
| Arm ×2 | 6 | 12 | 12 (cast off) |
| Ear ×2 | 12 | 12 | 4 (closed) |
| Tail | 6 | 14 | 14 (cast off) |

All increases (kfb) and decreases (k2tog) verified to total the stated counts. ✓

Enjoy your new Manokit companion!