purlJam

# Pattern: Specimen 5 ("The Star-Walker")

**Difficulty Level:** Advanced
**Description:** An anatomically detailed extraterrestrial figure featuring articulated knee and elbow shaping, elongated limbs, and a classic bulbous cranium.

### Materials
*   **Yarn:** Worsted (Aran) weight yarn. Approx 180g in Pale Grey or Neon Green. Small amount of Black for the eyes.
*   **Hook:** 3.5mm (Metric). *Note: This is smaller than the standard for this yarn weight to create a tight fabric that holds stuffing firmly.*
*   **Notions:** Toy stuffing (high density polyester fibre), tapestry needle, stitch markers, 15cm pipe cleaner or wire (optional for poseable fingers/neck support).

### Tension (Gauge)
22 double crochet x 26 rows = 10 x 10 cm.
*It is critical that your tension is tight to prevent the stuffing from showing through.*

### Terminology & Abbreviations (UK English)
*   **ch:** chain
*   **dc:** double crochet (equivalent to US single crochet)
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **inc:** increase (2 dc in one st)
*   **inv dec:** invisible decrease (insert hook into front loop of next st, then front loop of following st, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through remaining 2 loops).
*   **htr:** half treble crochet (US hdc)
*   **BLO:** back loop only
*   **(...) x N:** repeat instructions in brackets N times.

---

### INSTRUCTIONS

#### Section 1: The Legs (Make 2)
*We begin with the feet, shaping the ankles and creating a realistic knee bend using short shaping.*

**Rnd 1:** Magic ring, 6 dc into ring. `[6 sts]`
**Rnd 2:** (inc) x 6. `[6 sts + 6 inc = 12 sts]`
**Rnd 3:** (1 dc, inc) x 6. `[12 sts + 6 inc = 18 sts]`
**Rnd 4-6:** 1 dc in each st around (3 rounds). `[18 sts]`
**Rnd 7 (Ankle Dec):** (1 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[18 sts - 6 dec = 12 sts]`
**Rnd 8-15:** 1 dc in each st around (8 rounds). `[12 sts]`

**Creating the Knee (Shaping):**
**Rnd 16:** 4 dc, 4 htr, 4 dc. `[12 sts]`
**Rnd 17:** 4 dc, 4 inv dec (working tightly over the htr), 4 dc. `[12 sts - 4 sts + 4 sts (math complex: we are decreasing 4 sts but we need to reclaim sts to maintain leg width. Actually, for a knee bulge, we do: 4 dc, 4 inc (htr), 4 dc = 16 sts)]`.
*Correction for Rnd 17:* 4 dc, (inc) x 4, 4 dc. `[12 sts + 4 sts = 16 sts]`
**Rnd 18:** 4 dc, 8 dc (across the increases), 4 dc. `[16 sts]`
**Rnd 19 (Knee cap definition):** 4 dc, (inv dec) x 4, 4 dc. `[16 sts - 4 sts = 12 sts]`
*Stuff the lower leg firmly now.*

**Rnd 20-28:** 1 dc in each st around (9 rounds). `[12 sts]`
**Rnd 29 (Thigh Widening):** (3 dc, inc) x 3. `[12 sts + 3 inc = 15 sts]`
**Rnd 30:** 1 dc in each st around. `[15 sts]`

*Fasten off the First Leg. Do NOT fasten off the Second Leg. Continue to Body.*

#### Section 2: Body Connection & Torso
*We join the legs to create the hips.*

**Rnd 31 (Joining):** With Second Leg on hook, ch 3. Join to First Leg with a dc. Dc in remaining 14 sts of First Leg. Dc in one loop of each of the 3 ch. Dc in 15 sts of Second Leg. Dc in remaining loops of the 3 ch.
`[15 (Leg 1) + 3 (Chain) + 15 (Leg 2) + 3 (Chain Back) = 36 sts]`

**Rnd 32:** (5 dc, inc) x 6. `[36 sts + 6 inc = 42 sts]`
**Rnd 33-38:** 1 dc in each st around (6 rounds). `[42 sts]`
**Rnd 39 (Waist Dec):** (5 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[42 sts - 6 dec = 36 sts]`
**Rnd 40-42:** 1 dc in each st around. `[36 sts]`
**Rnd 43:** (4 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[36 sts - 6 dec = 30 sts]`
**Rnd 44-50:** 1 dc in each st around (elongated torso). `[30 sts]`
**Rnd 51 (Chest Expansion):** (4 dc, inc) x 6. `[30 sts + 6 inc = 36 sts]`
**Rnd 52-54:** 1 dc in each st around. `[36 sts]`
**Rnd 55 (Shoulder/Neck Dec):** (4 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[36 sts - 6 dec = 30 sts]`
**Rnd 56:** (3 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[30 sts - 6 dec = 24 sts]`
**Rnd 57:** (2 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[24 sts - 6 dec = 18 sts]`
**Rnd 58 (Neck):** (4 dc, inv dec) x 3. `[18 sts - 3 dec = 15 sts]`
**Rnd 59-62:** 1 dc in each st around (High neck for support). `[15 sts]`
*Fasten off, leaving a very long tail for sewing.*
*Stuff body firmly. Ensure the neck area is packed very densely, or insert a cylinder of rolled felt/craft wire for support.*

#### Section 3: The Head
*The head is an inverted teardrop shape, worked from top down.*

**Rnd 1:** Magic ring, 6 dc. `[6 sts]`
**Rnd 2:** (inc) x 6. `[6 sts + 6 inc = 12 sts]`
**Rnd 3:** (1 dc, inc) x 6. `[12 sts + 6 inc = 18 sts]`
**Rnd 4:** (2 dc, inc) x 6. `[18 sts + 6 inc = 24 sts]`
**Rnd 5:** (3 dc, inc) x 6. `[24 sts + 6 inc = 30 sts]`
**Rnd 6:** (4 dc, inc) x 6. `[30 sts + 6 inc = 36 sts]`
**Rnd 7:** (5 dc, inc) x 6. `[36 sts + 6 inc = 42 sts]`
**Rnd 8:** (6 dc, inc) x 6. `[42 sts + 6 inc = 48 sts]`
**Rnd 9:** (7 dc, inc) x 6. `[48 sts + 6 inc = 54 sts]`
**Rnd 10-18:** 1 dc in each st around (9 rounds). `[54 sts]`
*This creates the wide cranium.*

**Rnd 19 (Chin taper starts):** (7 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[54 sts - 6 dec = 48 sts]`
**Rnd 20:** 1 dc in each st around. `[48 sts]`
**Rnd 21:** (6 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[48 sts - 6 dec = 42 sts]`
**Rnd 22:** (5 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[42 sts - 6 dec = 36 sts]`
**Rnd 23:** 1 dc in each st around. `[36 sts]`
**Rnd 24:** (4 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[36 sts - 6 dec = 30 sts]`
**Rnd 25:** (3 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[30 sts - 6 dec = 24 sts]`
**Rnd 26:** (2 dc, inv dec) x 6. `[24 sts - 6 dec = 18 sts]`
**Rnd 27:** (4 dc, inv dec) x 3. `[18 sts - 3 dec = 15 sts]`
**Rnd 28:** 1 dc in each st around. `[15 sts]`
*Fasten off. Stuff head. The opening should match the body's neck opening.*

#### Section 4: Elongated Arms (Make 2)
*Arms are thin and spindly. No stuffing is needed in the forearm if tension is tight.*

**Rnd 1:** Magic ring, 5 dc. `[5 sts]`
**Rnd 2:** (inc) x 5. `[5 sts + 5 inc = 10 sts]`
**Rnd 3-12:** 1 dc in each st around. `[10 sts]`

**Creating the Elbow (Bend):**
**Rnd 13:** 3 dc, 4 htr, 3 dc. `[10 sts]`
**Rnd 14:** 3 dc, 4 inv dec (over htr), 3 dc. `[Need math check: 3 + 2 + 3 = 8 sts. Actually, we want to maintain count. Let's do: 3 dc, 2 inv dec, 3 dc = 8 sts, then inc next row.]`
*Revised Rnd 14:* 3 dc, 4 dc, 3 dc. `[10 sts]`
*For a simpler elbow hinge at this scale:*
**Rnd 13:** 5 dc, 5 sl st. `[10 sts]`
**Rnd 14:** 5 dc, 5 sl st. `[10 sts]` (The slip stitches create the inner fold of the elbow).

**Rnd 15-25:** 1 dc in each st around. `[10 sts]`
**Rnd 26:** (inc) x 2, 8 dc. `[10 sts + 2 inc = 12 sts]` (Shoulder muscle).
**Rnd 27:** 1 dc in each st around. `[12 sts]`
*Fasten off, leave tail for sewing.*

#### Section 5: The Eyes (Make 2)
*Large almond shapes made in Black.*

1.  Ch 9.
2.  Dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 htr in next, 1 tr in next 3 chs, 1 htr in next, 1 dc in next, 3 dc in last ch.
3.  Rotate to work along the other side of chain: 1 dc, 1 htr, 1 tr in next 3 sts, 1 htr, 1 dc in last.
4.  Join with sl st.
5.  Fasten off, leave tail for sewing.

### Assembly & Finishing

1.  **Neck Join (Crucial):** Insert the neck of the body into the opening of the head. Pin in place. Whipstitch firmly using the yarn tail. If the head wobbles, you did not stuff the neck firmly enough—add more fibre before closing the last few stitches.
2.  **Arms:** Sew arms to Rnd 54 of the body (just below the shoulder decrease).
3.  **Face:** Sew the black eye patches onto the widest part of the head (approx Rnds 12-18), angled slightly downwards towards the nose area for a "menacing" look.
4.  **Details:** Using White or lighter Grey yarn, embroider a small "reflection" dot on the black eyes to give them life.