Monsters!

I've been wanting to rebel a little against all the unicorns that seem to have taken over, by creating some friendly monsters.

Yes - I know how daft this sentence sounds, but just stick with me until the men in white coats arrive to take me away.

I first tried amigurumi about six months ago and loved the quirky little characters that you can create quite quickly and simply. I haven't tried anything too complicated yet, but there are a few patterns on my to-do list that look seriously challenging.

These friendly monsters were made for ME AND MY FRIEND - The Soft Toy Project. This group aims to distribute handmade toys to children who have very little, and who could do with a little token of love and comfort. Check them out on Facebook.

We got a little camera shy at one point

Purple Monster

I wanted a butternut shaped body with big hands and feet. Feel free to personalise your monster as you wish - add some more eyes, toss in a few stripes, how about some horns or even a tail?

I used double knit wool and a 4mm hook. This pattern is worked in the round.

Body
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: SC 6 sts (6 sts)
Round 2: Incr in every stitch (12 sts)
Round 3: *SC 1, incr in next st* to end (18 sts)
Round 4: *SC 2, incr in next st* to end (24 sts)
Round 5: *SC 3, incr in next st* to end (30 sts)
Round 6 - 9: SC in every stitch (30 sts)
Round 10: *SC 3, decr* to end (24 sts)
Round 11: *SC 3, incr in next st* to end (30 sts)
Round 12: *SC 4, incr in next st* to end (36 sts)
Round 13: *SC 5, incr in next st* to end (42 sts)
Round 14 - 19: SC in every stitch (42 sts)
Stuff as you go.
Round 20: *SC 5, decr* to end (36 sts)
Round 21: *SC 4, decr* to end (30 sts)
Round 22: *SC 3, decr* to end (24 sts)
Round 23: *SC 2, decr* to end (18 sts)
Round 24: *SC 1, decr* to end (12 sts)
Round 25: Decr in every stitch (6 sts)
Finish off.

Arms and legs
Make 4
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: SC 6 sts (6 sts)
Round 2: Incr in every stitch (12 sts)
Round 3: *SC 1, incr in next st* to end (18 sts)
Stuff as you go.
Round 4 - 5: SC in every stitch (18 sts)
Round 6: *SC 1, decr* to end (12 sts)
Round 7: *SC 2, decr* to end (9 sts)
Change colour if you wish.
Round 8 - 13: SC in every stitch (9 sts)
Finish off.

Sew on arms and legs, add eyes, and any other embellishments.

Pink Monster

This pretty little girlie monster started off egg shaped. She has become my favourite even though I had no idea how she would end up as I was making her. Feel free to personalise your monster by perhaps adding long hair, use stripes instead of the tummy medallion, or what about some bright felt spots everywhere?

I used double knit wool and a 4mm hook. This pattern is worked in the round.

Body
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: SC 6 sts (6 sts)
Round 2: Incr in every stitch (12 sts)
Round 3: *SC 1, incr in next st* to end (18 sts)
Round 4: SC in every stitch (18 sts)
Round 5: *SC 2, incr in next st* to end (24 sts)
Round 6: *SC 3, incr in next st* to end (30 sts)
Round 7: SC in every stitch (30 sts)
Round 8: *SC 4, incr in next st* to end (36 sts)
Round 9 - 10: SC in every stitch (36 sts)
Round 11: *SC 5, incr in next st* to end (42 sts)
Round 12: SC in every stitch (48 sts)
Round 13: *SC 6, incr in next st* to end (48 sts)
Round 14: *SC 7, incr in next st* to end (54 sts)
Round 15 - 19: SC in every stitch (54 sts)
Round 20: *SC 7, decr* to end (48 sts)
Round 21: *SC 6, decr* to end (42 sts)
Round 22: *SC 5, decr* to end (36 sts)
Round 23: *SC 4, decr* to end (30 sts)
Round 24: *SC 3, decr* to end (24 sts)
Round 25: *SC 2, decr* to end (18 sts)
Round 26: *SC 1, decr* to end (12 sts)
Round 27: Decr in every stitch (6 sts)
Finish off.

Arms
Make 2
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: SC 6 sts (6 sts)
Round 2: Incr in every stitch (12 sts)
Round 3: *SC 1, incr in next st* to end (18 sts)
Stuff as you go.
Round 4 - 5: SC in every stitch (18 sts)
Round 6: *SC 1, decr* to end (12 sts)
Change colour if you wish.
Round 7 - 18: SC in every stitch (12 sts)
Finish off.
Stuff hand firmly and leave the arm unstuffed.

Legs
Make 2
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: SC 6 sts (6 sts)
Round 2: Incr in every stitch (12 sts)
Round 3: *SC 1, incr in next st* to end (18 sts)
Round 4: *SC 2, incr in next st* to end (24 sts)
Round 5 - 7: SC in every stitch (24 sts)
Round 8: *SC 2, decr* to end (18 sts)
Round 9: *SC 1, decr* to end (12 sts)
Change colours if you wish
Round 10 - 25: SC in every stitch (12 sts)
Finish off.
Stuff whole leg firmly.

Tummy Medallion
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: SC 6 sts (6 sts)
Round 2: Incr in every stitch (12 sts)
Round 3: *SC 1, incr in next st* to end (18 sts)
Round 4: *SC 2, incr in next st* to end (24 sts)
Round 5: *SC 3, incr in next st* to end (30 sts)

Sew on arms and legs, add eyes, and any other embellishments.

Playing hide-and-seek