Thursday, 19 April 2012

Mr & Mrs Tashe

For the last few years I've been noticing this super cute moustache trend with handmade items. It seems that adding a moustache to anything makes it super cute and rather trendy. So it appears the idea of a hairy upper lip had stuck in my mind as a few days ago I was doodling and then these guys appeared on the page. I love them and they make the perfect couple. I might even need to make a pattern for a little tashy baby to complete the family!

Mr. Tashe
Mrs. Tashe


Materials
• Set of  4 mm needles (UK size 8, US size 6)
• Yarn needle
• Stitch holder (or spare needle)
• Toy stuffing
• 7mm black safety eyes
• Scrap of Black Felt


Yarn colours
• Grey
• Pink

Yarn weight: Double knitting/ worsted weight

Gauge: not important but make it tight so stuffing doesn’t show through

Finished measurements: approx 4.5" tall and 4" wide (including arms)

Click here for my abbreviation list

TOY SAFETY
Remember never use toy safety eyes on a toy intended for a child under 3 years old, they are a potential choking hazard, please embroider on any features so they cannot be easily removed by little fingers or gnashers!

Please click here for my copyright info

Legs & Body
CO 12 in grey yarn

1-8. (Begin with purl) St-St 8 rows
9. Place a row marker on the last stitch of row 8
10. Cut the yarn leaving a long yarn tail for sewing up later and place the stitches on a spare needle or a stitch holder.
11-18. Cast on another 12 st and repeat steps 1-9
19. Join the two pieces together on the one needle with the wrong side (purl side) face up and purl along the row (24sts)
20- 35. St-st for 16 rows
36. *k2tog, k2* along (18sts)
37. Purl
38. *k2tog, k1* along (12sts)
39. purl
40. *k2tog* along (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly and secure. Use tail to mattress stitch row ends closed stopping  once you reach the row markers. St this point you may want to embroider on eyes or add safety toy eyes. At this point split your rows into two legs and continue to mattress stitch down one side until you reach the cast on stitches. Repeat on the other side  using the long tail end from step 10 to mattress stitch down the leg until you reach the cast on stitches. At this point you can fill the toy with stuffing until you reach the desired fullness. Close remaining openings on each leg by whip stitching the two cast on ends together and secure any loose yarn ends.

Arms (make 2)
CO 3 in grey
1-10. St-St 10 rows
BO

Bind off leaving a long yarn tail. Fold the arm in half length ways so the cast on stitches meet the bind off stitches and whip stich along the open edges to close them off. Use the CO/BO edge and attach the arm to the body just above the legs.

Hairbow
CO 4 in Pink (leave a long yarn tail)
1-3. Garter stitch 3 rows
4. *k2tog* along (2st)
5. k2tog (1st)
6. Kfb (2sts)
7. *kfb* along (4sts)
8-9 Garter stitch 2 rows 
10. BO (leave a ling yarn tail)

Use the long yarn tail on each side to attach the bow onto the side of the head.

Choosing your Tashe
Copyright of Pink Moustache


For the moustache I free hand cut out a little 'ring master' moustache from black felt. This may be easier if you fold the piece in half to it is symmetrical once unfolded. However if you would like an alternate to the 'ring master' style or would like a template then I have found an awesome bunch of free moustache vectors available for free from 'Pink Moustache' which you can download here.

I would love to see these guys in a variety of colours so let me see what you can come up with.
Happy Knitting
 ♥ Raynor

EDIT:
Awesome Mrs Moustashe was featured on Cuteable!

4 comments:

SUSSEXMOUSE said...

Very cute :)

pippa moore said...

oh he's so sweet love to make onexxx

Unknown said...

wana make one

Anonymous said...

They're lovely!! Put a link to your blog on my blog http://www.lifeinpinkpyjamas.com/ because I'm going to knit them for Movember :)Hope you don't mind they're SO cute...love your other knitted toys as well :)