How to Knit a Spider

You might not want a real one of these in your house, but a knitted one is pretty harmless.

If you are just getting started with knitting animal toys, a spider is a good place to start, because it's relatively easy. It also makes a good Halloween decoration, and a fun toy for a kid to play with around Halloween. If you knit it in black or brown yarn, it will look real enough to frighten people, as it is about the size of a real tarantula.

Things You'll Need

• Black fingering weight yarn
• Size 1 double pointed needles
• Yarn needle
• Pipe cleaners for legs
• Polyester stuffing
• Beads

Instructions

Knitting the Body

1. Cast on eight stitches and join into a circle, being careful not to twist the cast-on edge. On the first round, knit one and increase one in each stitch: knit one front and back. In other words, knit one stitch through the front of the stitch as usual, but don't pull it off the needle. Instead, knit another one in the back of the stitch. Do this all the way around: 16 stitches.

2. Knit one round plain. Now make another increase round by knitting in the front and back of each stitch, all the way around. Now you have 32 stitches. Knit two rounds plain. On the next round, knit six, knit two together all the way around: 28 stitches. Knit one round plain. On the next round, knit five, knit two together: 24 stitches. Knit one round plain. Next round: knit four, knit two together around: 18 stitches. Knit one round plain. Next round: knit two, then knit three, knit two together all the way around: 14 stitches. The head is finished.

3. Start the body: knit one round plain, then begin increasing on the next round. Knit one in the front and back of each stitch all the way around: 28 stitches. Knit one round plain. On the next round, *knit six, knit one through the front and the back*, repeat from asterisk around: 32 stitches. Knit one round plain. Next increase round: *knit seven, knit one through the front and back around*, repeat from asterisk: 36 stitches. Knit one round plain. Next increase round: *knit eight, knit one through the front and back*, repeat from asterisk: 40 stitches. Knit two rounds plain.

4. Start the decreases for the body. On the next round, *knit eight, knit two together*, all the way around: 36 stitches. Knit one round plain. Next decrease round: *knit seven, knit two together* around: 32 stitches. Knit one round plain. Decrease round: *knit six, knit two together* around: 28 stitches. Knit one round plain. Decrease round: *knit five, knit two together* around: 24 stitches. Knit one round plain. Decrease round: *knit four, knit two together* around: 18 stitches. Knit two together all the way around on the next round to end the body.

5. Break off the yarn and thread it through the yarn needle. Draw the tail through the last nine stitches, but don't pull it tight yet. Stuff the spider's head and body with polyester batting, and then pull the last nine stitches up tight. Tuck the yarn tail into the body of the spider.

Knitting the Legs

1. Knit the legs in I-cord. To make an I-cord leg, cast on seven stitches onto one double pointed needle. Knit those seven stitches with another needle. Now slide all seven newly-knitted stitches to the other end of that needle. Pull the yarn tight across the back of the knitting, and knit the stitches again with a second needle.

2. Slide the stitches to the other end of the right-hand needle, put the needle in your left hand, and knit off the stitches again. Each time, pull the yarn tightly across the back of the knitting. Knit the I-cord leg until it is about two inches long; cast off. Make five more legs in the same manner.

3. Insert wire or pipe cleaners into the I-cord legs. Sew the legs onto the body of the spider. You can bend the legs if you want to, or have them lie out straight. Sew beads onto the head for eyes.

References

• ChemKnits: Spiders Away!
• Knitting Workshop; Elizabeth Zimmerman