I made a pair of grumpybums monster longies from the tales of the Wandering Lady blog. They turned out well and are quite adorable. I wanted to make a second pair right away with a few touches of my own to make the knitting go even faster. So I used her pattern as the base and stitched the eyes and teeth into the pants using the intarsia method as opposed to using the duplicate stitch method that she uses. Using the duplicate stitch does give you more freedom in placement once the pants are knitted; however, it takes quite a bit more time and it adds bulk. Also if you're not good at it (me!), you are able to see the base color underneath the duplicate stitches.
This is the first time I've written out a pattern, so if you discover any mistakes, please let me know! The pattern is in 1 size for now. I hope to add a larger size once I have a chance to make it. This pattern is for 6 months-1.5 years. I have made them, and they are quite generous on my 8 month old. They are very stretchy side to side. If you have a petite 18 mo old, you could make these and just add length to the legs.
Needles: Size 6 (4mm) double point needles or circular needles
Yarn: Any yarn for size 6 needles. I used an acrylic yarn for washability, but I think wool would stitch up very nicely. Base Color (BC)- 1 skein, 1 skein of each stripe color (C1/C2), about 20 yards of white and 3 yards of black
Gauge: 20 stitches- 4 inches
Glossary:
K = Knit
P = Purl
CO = Cast on
yo = yarn over
P2tog = Purl two stitches together
K2tog= Knit two stitches together
PM = Place marker
BO = Bind off
BC = Base color
C1 = Color 1
C2 = Color 2
W = White
B = Black
Monster Pants
Using BC, CO 92 stitches. Join the round, being careful not to twist. PM at the beginning of round.
Ribbing.
*P2, K2* Repeat for 6 rounds to create ribbing.
Round 7- *yo, P2tog, yo, K2* Repeat - total 115 sts.
Round 8- *P2tog, P1, K2* Repeat - Total 92 sts.
Knit 5 rounds of ribbing.
Knit 2 rounds
On the next round you will need 2 small balls of White (W) yarn to start the eyes. If you are unfamiliar with the intarsia method, please google it and you will find very good websites and videos dedicated to teaching you how to do it. It is not hard at all, it is just learning how to manage the extra yarn.
You can find the chart for the eyes and teeth here. I find it easier to verify and count with the chart in hand. It helps you know what you will create in the end with all of the upcoming color switches.
Round 3- BC K12, W K5, BC K11, W K5, BC K remaining stitches
Round 4- BC K11, W K7, BC K9, W K7, BC K remaining stitches
Round 5- *Prepare 2 small black balls- BC K10, W K6, B K1, W K2, BC K7, W K2, B K1, W K6, BC K remaining stitches
Round 6- BC K 9, W K6, B K3, W K2, BC K5, W K2, B K3, W K6, BC K remaining stitches
Round 7- BC K 9, W K6, B K3, W K2, BC K5, W K2, B K3, W K6, BC K remaining stitches
Round 8- BC K9, W K7, B K1, W K3, BC K5, W K3, B K1, W K7 BC K remaining stitches
Round 9- BC K 9, W K11, BC K5, W K11, BC K remaining stitches
Round 10- BC K 9, W K11, BC K5, W K11, BC K remaining stitches
Round 11- BC K 10, W K9, BC K7, W K9, BC K remaining stitches
Round 12- BC K11, W K7, BC K9, W K7 BC K remaining stitches
Round 13- BC K12, W K5, BC K11, W K5, BC K remaining stitches
Knit 4 rounds with BC
For mouth:
-Change to C1, K 4 rounds
*Prepare 2 small white balls
- Change to C2, K17, change to W K5, C2 K6, W K5, C2 K remaining stitches
- C2 K17, W K5, C2 K6, W K5, C2 K remaining stitches
- C2 K18, W K3, C2 K8, W K3, C2 K1 wrap and turn
- C2 P2, W P1, C2 P10, W P1, C2 P6 wrap and turn
- C2 K23 wrap and turn
-C2 P26 wrap and turn
-C2 K29 wrap and turn
-C2 P32 wrap and turn
-C2 K10, W K1, C2 K14, W K1, C2 K9 wrap and turn
-C2 P8, W P3, C2 P12, W P3, C2 P12 wrap and turn
-C2 K12, W K3, C2 K12, W K3, C2 K12 wrap and turn
-C2 P11, W P5, C2 P10, W P5, C2 P15 wrap and turn
-C2 K15, W K5, C2 K10, W K5, C2 Knit remaining stitches
-C2 K15, W K5, C2 K10, W K5, C2 Knit remaining stitches
Change back to C1.
Knit 4 rounds. On the last round PM "A" after 21 stitches. PM "B" after 4 stitches. PM "C" after 42 stitches and PM "D: after 4 stitches.
Crotch:
Change back to BC.
K to A, increase 1 st before M, K to B, increase 1 st. after M, K to end of round. Repeat 5 more rounds. Total 104 sts.
Next round, K to A, increase 1 st, before M, K to B, increase 1 st after M, K to C, increase 1 st before M, K to D, increase 1 st after M, K to end of round. Repeat 5 more rounds. Total 128 sts.
Next round. K to A. Cut the yarn, leave a 50 cm long tail. Using the kitchener stitch, sew the four middle sts front and back together. Place the stitches of one leg on a stitch holder.
Pick up 2 sts in the join (where the front of the leg meets the back of the leg in the crotch) to avoid a hole. 62 sts total on one leg.
K 5 rounds
*Change to C1, K 5 rounds
*Change to BC, K 5 rounds
*Change to C2, K 5 rounds
*Change to BC, K 5 rounds
*Change to C1 K 5 rounds
*Change to BC, K 5 rounds
*Knit stripes until legs are the desired length.
On the last round, K2tog* Repeat all the way around decreasing to 32 sts.
Knit ribbing K2, P2 for 12 rounds. BO loosely.
Repeat for other leg matching the number of stripes.
Work in all of the ends.
I-cord
In one of the contrasting colors- CO 3 sts, K3, Don't turn, but slide the stitches to the other side of the needle and continue to knit. Repeat until desired length, about 27-35 inches long.
