Monkey knitting pattern
Follow this simple knitting pattern and create this cheeky monkey toy, for your little monkeys
Knit this cheeky monkey eating a banana for your little monkeys - he's bound to put a grin on their faces.
Monkey knitting pattern
Measurements:
Height: 32cm/12.5in
Materials you'll need:
- DK yarn: 100g brown (A), 50g biscuit (B), 25g yellow (C), 25g cream (D), oddment of black for features. Note: amounts are generous but approximate
- A pair of 3.25mm (US3:UK10) needlesAcrylic toy stuffing
- Plastic-headed marker pins
- Tweezers for stuffing small parts (optional)
Tension:
26 stiches x 34 rows measure 4in (10cm) square over stocking-stitch using 3.25mm needles before stuffing
Knitting pattern abbreviations:
Alt = alternate Beg = beginning CM = centimetres MM = millimetres Cont = continue Dec = decrease Foll = following K = knit K2tog = knit two stitches together: if these are the very last in the row, then work together through back of loops M1 = make one stitch: pick up horizontal loop between the needles and work into the back of it P = purl Rep = repeat Rem = remaining St(s)= stitch(es) Stocking-stitch = knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side
Follow the pattern below to make the monkey.
For the body (make 2 pieces):
Beg at lower edge using the thumb method and A, cast on 24 sts. First and next foll 3 alt rows: P. Inc row: K5, m1, k14, m1, k5 (26 sts). Inc row: K6, m1, k14, m1, k6 (28 sts). Inc row: K7, m1, k14, m1, k7 (30 sts). Inc row: K8, m1, k14, m1, k8 (32 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 19 rows. Dec row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog tbl. Next row: P. Rep last 2 rows 8 times more (14 sts). Cast off.
For the base:
Using the thumb method and A, cast on 14 sts. First row: P. Inc row: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1. Rep first 2 rows 2 more times (20 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 5 rows. Dec row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog tbl. P 1 row. Rep last 2 rows twice more (14 sts). Cast off.
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
For the head:
Beg at lower edge using the thumb method and A, cast on 9 sts. First and next 4 foll alt rows: P. Inc row: (Inc) to end (18 sts). Inc row: (K1, inc) to end (27 sts). Inc row: (K2, inc) to end (36 sts). Inc row: (K3, inc) to end (45 sts). Inc row: (K4, inc) to end (54 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 17 rows.
Shape top of head:
Dec row: (K4, k2tog) to end (45 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 3 rows. Dec row: (K3, k2tog) to end (36 sts). Next and next 2 foll alt rows: P. Dec row: (K2, k2tog) to end (27 sts). Dec row: (K1, k2tog) to end (18 sts). Dec row: (K2tog) to end (9 sts). Thread yarn through rem sts, pull tight and secure.
Muzzle:
Using the thumb method and B, cast on 28 sts. P 1 row. Inc row: K1, (m1, k2) to last st, m1, k1 (42 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 3 rows. Dec row: K2, (k2tog, k2) to end (32 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 3 rows. Dec row: K2, (k2tog) 6 times, k4, (k2tog) 6 times, k2, (20 sts). P 1 row. Cast off.
For the eye piece:
Beg at lower edge using the thumb method and B, cast on 12 sts. P 1 row. Inc row: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1 (14 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 3 rows. Next row: K7. Turn and work on these 7 sts. P 1 row. Dec row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog tbl (5 sts). Dec row: P2tog tbl, p1, p2tog (3 sts). Break yarn and thread through sts, pull tight and secure. Rejoin yarn to rem sts and k 1 row (7 sts). Complete to match first side.
For the ears (make 2):
Using the thumb method and B, cast on 12 sts. Beg with a p row, stocking-st 5 rows. Dec row: (K2tog) to end (6 sts). Thread yarn through rem sts, pull tight and secure.
For the legs and feet (make 2):
For the legs (make 2):
Using the thumb method and A, cast on 20 sts. Beg with a p row, stocking-st 45 rows. Cast off.
For the feet (make 2):
Using the thumb method and B, cast on 18 sts. P 1 row. Inc row: K2, (m1, k2) to end (26 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 5 rows. Inc row: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1 (28 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 7 rows
Shape big toe:
Cast off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows (20 sts). Stocking-st 4 rows. Dec row: (K2tog) to end (10 sts). P 1 row. Dec row: (K2tog) to end (5 sts). Thread yarn through rem sts, pull tight and secure.
For the hands and arms (make 2):
Beg at shoulder using the thumb method and A, cast on 12 sts. Beg with a p row, stocking-st 5 rows. Inc row: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1. Rep last 6 rows 3 times more (20 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 9 rows. Inc row: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1. Rep last 10 rows once (24 sts). P 1 row. Change to B for hand. Stocking-st 2 rows. Inc row: K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1 (26 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 5 rows.
Shape thumb:
Cast off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows (18 sts). Stocking-st 4 rows. Dec row: (K1, k2tog) to end (12 sts). Dec row: (P2tog) to end (6 sts). Thread yarn through rem sts, pull tight and secure.
For the tail:
Using B, cast on 8 sts.
Work in stocking-st until tail measures
91⁄2in (24cm).
Thread yarn through sts, pull tight and secure.
For the banana:
Beg at lower edge using the thumb method and C, cast on 6 sts. First and next 2 foll alt rows: P. Inc row: (K1, inc) to end (9 sts). Inc row: (K2, inc) to end (12 sts). Inc row: (K3, inc) to end (15 sts). Beg with a p row, stocking-st 7 rows. Change to D and stocking-st 6 rows. Dec row: (K3, k2tog) to end (12 sts). Next and next foll alt row: P. Dec row: (K2, k2tog) to end (9 sts). Dec row: (K1, k2tog) to end (6 sts). Thread yarn through rem sts, pull tight and secure.
For the skins (make 3):
Using the thumb method and C, cast on 8 sts. Beg with a p row, stocking-st 3 rows. Dec row: K2, (k2tog) twice, k2 (6 sts). Next and next foll alt row: P. Dec row: K1, (k2tog) twice, k1 (4 sts). Dec row: K2tog, k2tog tbl (2 sts). Thread yarn through rem sts, pull tight and secure.
For the skin linings (make 3):
Using the thumb method and D, cast on 6 sts. Beg with a p row, stocking-st 3 rows. Dec row: K1, (k2tog) twice, k1 (4 sts). P 1 row. Dec row: K2tog, k2tog tbl (2 sts). Thread yarn through rem sts, pull tight and secure.
Making up
Body:
Place the two halves of body together matching all edges and join row-ends. Stuff body leaving neck and lower edge open.
Base:
Pin base to lower edge of body and sew base to body all the way round, adding more stuffing to base if needed.
Head:
Gather round cast-on sts of head, pull tight and secure. Join row-ends leaving a gap, stuff and close gap. Pin head to body, adding more stuffing to neck if needed, and stitch head in place by taking a small horizontal st from head and then a small horizontal st from body and doing this alternately all the way round.
Legs and feet:
Join row ends of legs and stuff. Fold feet in half and join row-ends and stuff. Over-sew cast-on sts of feet and sew feet to legs with both big toes pointing inwards. Sew legs to body.
Hands and arms:
Fold cast-off sts of hands in half and join row-ends of hands and sew round thumb. Stuff hands. Fold cast-on sts of arms in half and over-sew. Join row-ends of arms, starting at shoulder using mattress-stitch, stuffing as you go. With thumbs pointing forwards, sew top of arms to 4th row below neck at either side.
Muzzle:
Join row-ends of muzzle and with this seam at centre of underneath, join cast-off sts. Stuff, then pin and sew muzzle to lower half of head at centre front.
Eye piece:
Sew eye piece to head, sitting it on top of muzzle, using back-stitch around outside edge.
Ears:
Join row-ends of ears and with seam at centre back. Sew ears to head halfway down.
Tail:
Join row-ends of tail on right side using mattress-stitch. Sew tail to body.
Banana:
Gather round cast-on sts of banana and join row-ends, leaving a gap in the middle. Stuff, pushing stuffing into both ends with tweezers or the tip of scissors. Close gap and sew a running st along seam and pull tight and secure to make bend in banana.
Banana skins and skin linings:
With wrong sides together, place a skin and a lining together matching all the edges and slip-stitch row-ends together. Do this for 3 skins. Place skins in a row and join row-ends of cast-on sts to form a ring around the banana. Position skins halfway up banana and sew cast-on sts of skin linings and skins to banana all the way round.
Embroidering the features:
To make eyes, tie a knot in two lengths of black yarn winding the yarn round 6 times to make each knot. Check that the knots are the same size. Tie eyes to head, with 5 clear knitted sts in between and run ends into head.
Embroider nose in black taking a straight st over 2 sts and for mouth, a curved line in back-stitch with a straight st at each end. To begin and fasten off invisibly for the embroidery, tie a knot in end of yarn and take a big st through work, coming up to start embroidery. Allow knot to disappear through knitting and be caught in stuffing. To fasten off, take a few sts back and forth through work, inserting the needle where yarn comes out.
This knitting pattern is extracted from the Knitted Wild Animals book by Sarah Keen, published by GMC Publications.
Where to next?
Trusted, informative, and empathetic – GoodToKnow is the ultimate online destination for parents. At GoodtoKnow, our mission is 'simple': we're trying to make sense of parenthood. On the site, you'll find everything you need for a happy, healthy family life. Our huge archive of content includes more than 18,000 articles and 1,500 how-to videos. These include expert-backed advice features on parenting, dealing with relationship changes after having a baby, self-care for mums and managing your family finances. We also feature tried-and-tested product reviews and buying recommendations for every stage of family life - from prams and Moses baskets to birthday gifts and top toys.
