Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT)

 Free Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Toy Knitting Pattern by Raynor Gellatly.

I have been a bit busy lately as I have always wanted to try my hand at a fantastic free pattern called Sheldon the turtle. The finished Sheldon is so sweet, plus if you knit him he can be a big daddy to the little guys knitted with my tiny turtle pattern, as I have seen some pictures of on ravelry and its adorable to see them together.

Ok whilst on the subject of turtles, I have a new pattern today. Thats right you guessed it, its for turtles (I'm just realising I have some sort of obsession with knitted turtles!). I love the little dudes that this pattern creates they are seriously cute. This pattern is a definate must to knit up if you know any fans of the 90's cult tv show/movie 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' or just purely because they are so cute. As usual I was inspired to create this pattern as a result of my total inability to crochet, so I wanted to give thanks to atsuko on craftster for her inspirational crochet version.

You can make your favourite turtle or make all four to complete the set.
**Warning I take no responsibility for their demands of lots of ice cream, peanut butter and anchovy pizza! **

Materials· Set of 3.75mm needles (UK size 9, US size 5)
· Set of 3.25mm double pointed needles (optional for I-Cord)
· Yarn needle
· Toy stuffing
· 7.5mm black toy safety eyes (optional as eyes can be embroidered on with black thread/yarn)

Yarn Colours· Light green (for head, arms and legs)
· Yellow (for body)
· Dark green (for shell)
· Red (Raphael), Blue (Leonardo), Orange (Michelangelo) or Purple (Donatello) (for mask depending on which turtle your knitting)

Yarn weight
Double knitting/ worsted weight

GaugeNot too important but make it tight so stuffing doesn’t show through

Finished measurements
Approx. 7 inches (18cm) tall

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
MaskCO 2 sts using:
*Blue yarn for Leonardo
*Red yarn for Raphael
*Orange yarn for Michelangelo
*Purple yarn for Donatello

I-cord 2sts for two inches
Next row: Kfb twice (4st)
Next row: St- St for four inches
Next row: K2tog twice (2sts)
Next row: I- cord for 2 inches
Next row: BO and weave in any loose ends

HeadWith light green yarn CO 6st
1. knit
2. purl
3. kfb every st (12sts)
4. purl
5. *k1, kfb* along row (18sts)
6. Purl
7. *k2,kfb* along row(24sts)
8. Purl
9. *k3,kfb* along row(30sts)
10. Purl
11. knit
12. purl
13. Knit
14. Purl
15. *K2tog, k3* along row (24sts)
16. purl
17. *K2tog, k2* along row(18sts)
18. Purl
19. *K2tog, k1* along row (12sts)
20. Purl
21. *K2tog * along row (6sts)
22. purl

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly and secure.
At this stage you may want to sew on the mask and add the safety eyes/embroider on the eyes. When sewing on the mask only attach the wide part of the mask leaving the I-cord ends loose so you can tie them together. Use tail to mattress stitch row ends closed stopping halfway to fill with stuffing. Continue until you reach the cast on stitches, leaving a small gap and a long yarn tail to sew the body.

BodyWith yellow yarn CO 6st
1. knit
2. purl
3. kfb every st (12sts)
4. purl
5. *k1, kfb* along row (18sts)
6. Purl
7. *k2,kfb* along row (24sts)
8. Purl
9. Knit
10. Purl
11. Knit
12. purl
13. *K2tog, k2* along row (18sts)
14. Purl
15. Knit
16. Purl
17. Knit
18. Purl
19. Knit
20. purl
21. k2tog,k4,k2tog,k2,k2tog, k4, k2tog (14sts)
22. Purl
23. Knit
24. purl
25. K2tog, k10, k2tog (12sts)
26. Purl
27. *K2tog* along row (6sts)
28. purl
29. BO leaving a long yarn tail

Arms (make 2)
With light green CO 6st
1. purl
2. kfb all st (12st)
3. purl
4. knit
5. purl
6. *k4, k2tog* repeat along row (9st)
7. Purl
8. *k3, k2tog* repeat along row (7st)
9. Purl
10. Knit
11. Purl
12. Knit
13. Purl
14. BO leaving a long yarn tail

Use the long yarn tail to mattress stitch the row ends together until you reach the cast on stitches. Draw all the cast on stitched through the yarn needle and pull tightly and secure (for a drawstring effect). Weave in any loose ends.

Legs (make 2)
Using light green CO 8st
1. purl
2. kfb into every st (16st)
3. purl
4. knit
5. purl
6. knit
7. purl
8. *k6, k2tog* repeat along row (14st)
9. Purl
10. Knit
11. Purl
12. *k5, k2tog* repeat along row (12st)
13. Purl
14. K1,k2tog,k1,k2tog , k2tog,k1,k2tog,k1(8st)
15. Purl
16. Knit
17. Purl
18. Knit
19. Purl
20. Knit
21. BO leaving a long yarn tail

Use the long yarn tail to mattress stitch the row ends together until you reach the cast on stitches. Draw all the cast on stitched through the yarn needle and pull tightly and secure (for a drawstring effect). Weave in any loose ends.

ShellUsing dark green CO 8 st
1. knit
2. purl
3. kfb into every st (16st)
4. purl
5. *k1, kfb* repeat along row (24st)
6. Purl
7. Knit
8. Purl
9. *k1, k2tog* repeat along row (16st)
10. Purl
11. *K2tog* repeat along the row (8st)
12. purl
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches, use tail to mattress stitch the row ends together until you reach the cast on stitches. (Please note: you can stuff the shell halfway through if you want a round shell, but the turtles in the photograph have unstuffed shells for a semi circle effect.)

Finishing
· Sew the arms and legs onto the body (I used Kitchener stitch)
· Use the long yellow yarn tail from the body bind off to mattress stitch the body row ends together, remembering to stop halfway and fill with toy stuffing, then continue until remaining opening is closed.
· Attach the head to the body by slotting the body bind off stitches through the small gap in the head and then sew together using the green yarn tail, just below the body bind off stitches (I used Kitchener stitch).
· Flatten the shell so it looks like a flat ball, then sew onto the back of the turtle, you can use the cast on stitches for a looser shell or use midway stitches for a flatter semi-circle shell.
· Tie the I-cord ends of the mask in a knot behind the head.

Cowabunga! You have your finished turtle.

** WARNING: I used 7.5mm toy safety eyes for the turtle shown in the photos. Please don’t use the toy safety eyes if giving the finished item to a child under 3 as they may be a choking hazard. I suggest you embroider the eyes on to make the eyes secure and irremovable to small fingers. **

♥ Raynor