Easy-Squeezy Unicorn Jelly Plushie

(Shown: a Uni plushie and a Baby Jelly [done with sport yarn on size 6 needles with 36 stitches] plushie)

pattern by Ribby

based on the comic strip Unicorn Jelly by Jennifer Diane Reitz

Ever wish you had your own cute, cuddly Uni to confide in, play with, or hug when you go to bed?  Well, if you can knit (or know someone nice who does,) now you can make your very own Unicorn Jelly plushie!

The pattern I developed makes a plushie about 2 3/4 inches wide by 2 inches high, but if you wish you can use different yarns and needles to make plushies that are smaller or larger.  You can also add stitches to the pattern (in multiples of 6.)

This is a very easy knitting pattern for double pointed needles.  Double pointed needles are used to knit mittens and socks and come in sets of 4 or 5.  You'll only need 4 needles to make this project.

MATERIALS

1 skein yarn (you will have a TON left over) in white (for Uni), or any other color (for a Biideogeemu Jelly) (I used Red Heart knitting worsted)

One set of double-pointed needles, size 6 (or size to make gauge; can vary if you want your plushie bigger or smaller)

Small amount of black yarn for embroidery 

Stiff felt or cardboard 

Stuffing (cotton, poly-fill, shredded plastic grocery bags, dryer sheets, etc.) 

Tapestry needle (a plastic or metal needle with a large eye, used for sewing with yarn) 

A fork 

Scissors 

GAUGE

(For a 2 3/4" by 2" plushie--change yarn, needles, stitch number or gauge to make larger or smaller)

4 1/2 stitches = 1"

6 rows = 1"

To save time, take time to...yadda, yadda, yadda.

ABBREVIATIONS

K = Knit

K(X) = Knit this many number of stitches

K(X) tog = Knit this many number of stitches together

* = denotes an instruction that is to be repeated

NOTES:

1. If you want to make the pattern smaller or bigger, you can increase or decrease the number of stitches that you cast on by a multiple of 6.  If you do increase the number of stitches, then before the decreases, K 6 rows + (number of stitches you added ÷ 6) rows.  So if you added on 12 stitches, K 8 rows before beginning the decreases.  During the decrease rows, add 2 x (number of stitches you added ÷ 3) stitches to the amount of stitches indicated between the decreases.  So if you added on 12 stitches, on the first decrease round K2 tog, k 16, K2 tog.

If the total number of stitches is over 60, then you should possibly consider using a size 6 circular needle instead.  Be sure to adapt the other instructions to fit your specifications.

2. Every needle should ALWAYS have an EVEN number of stitches.  If your needle has an odd number, chances are you forgot to work a decrease.  It's OK--during a K row, just K2 together in the middle, and everything will work out.

INSTRUCTIONS (For a 2 3/4" by 2" plushie--change specs to make larger or smaller)

1. Cast on 42 stitches, divided 14/14/14 on three needles.

2. K 7 rounds.

BEGIN DECREASE ROUNDS

3. *K2 tog, k 10, K2 tog, repeat from * around.

4. (and every even round): K.

5. *K2 tog, k 8, K2 tog, repeat from * around.

7. *K2 tog, k 6, K2 tog, repeat from * around.

9. *K2 tog, k 4, K2 tog, repeat from * around.

11. *K2 tog, k 2, K2 tog, repeat from * around.

13. *K2 tog, repeat from * around.  Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.  Thread through a tapestry needle.  Thread all the stitches through the yarn and pull through, fastening stitches securely.  Weave ends into work.

HORN (For Uni only)

The horn is an I-cord knitted on 2 double pointed needles.

1. Cast on 3 stitches.

2. *K to end, slide stitches to the end of the needle, DO NOT turn, repeat from * until the I-cord measures 1 inch.  (You're basically making a little 3-stitch tube of knitting.)

3. K3 tog.  Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.  Thread through a tapestry needle.  Thread all of the stitches through the yarn.  Thread the needle through the I-cord and pull through, fastening stitches securely (yarn should be coming out at the cast-on edge of the I-cord.)

TAIL (For Uni only)

1. Cut 3 lengths of yarn 3 inches long, and make a simple braid.  Leave 1 end unknotted.  Thread the braid through a tapestry needle and then thread the braid through the plushie, knotting the loose ends on the inside so the tail comes out cleanly.

2. Make a small pom-pom by wrapping about 1 foot of yarn around the prongs of a fork (it must be 4-pronged.)  Tie about 6 inches of yarn in the center of the wrapped yarn tightly (a double-knot works best) and cut the yarn at the sides of the two outer prongs.  Trim the pom-pom so that it's somewhat round and fuzzy.

3. Using the long yarn, tie the pom-pom around the end of the tail outside of Uni in a double knot.  Cut the yarn close to the pom-pom so it blends in.

MAKING UP

1. Attach the horn with the yarn about 1/2 inch away from the gathered cast-off edge.  Make sure you stitch the horn securely or it will be floppy and not stay in place.  It should stand straight up.

2. Use the black yarn to embroider eyes using the lazy-daisy stitch:

        -Bring needle up through to the outside.

        -Make a small loop with the yarn and hold it in place as you bring the needle down in the 

        same place you brought it up.

        -On the inside of the loop near the bottom, bring the needle up, then bring it down, over  

        the yarn, so that the stitch holds the loop in place.

3. Fill with stuffing until the stuffing reaches about 1" from the top.

4. Cut a circle out of cardboard or stiff felt 2 1/2" in diameter.  Place it inside, over the stuffing, so that the stuffing is completely covered.

5. Thread about 1 1/2 feet of yarn through the needle, then using a running stitch and going through the cast-on loops, weave the yarn through the cast-on stitches in a circle.

6. Pull both ends taut so that the knitting is gathered in the center of the circle.  The knitting should completely cover the circle with a bit of puckering.  If there is a lot of puckering, add more stuffing; if there is too little, adjust the size of the circle.

7. When the cast-on edge is gathered, tie it tightly in a double knot and weave the ends in with the tapestry needle.

And there you go!

VARIATIONS:

-Fancy Schmancy Uni: Make with cashmere or angora yarn.  Ooh, la la!

-Sparkly Warkley Uni: Use a white yarn with an interwoven band of silver, gold or iridescent fiber.

-Itchy Scritchy Uni: Make with wool.  Hey, at least it's all-natural.

-Stripey Wipey Uni: Use two colors--K 2 rows one color, K 2 rows another color, and use both colors in the pom-pom, braid, and horn.  A split personality!

-Hippie Dippie Uni: Make with variegated yarn (rainbow colors work best.)  Or use a 100% natural fiber yarn (like cotton) and use a bit of different colored dyes to give it a tie-dye look.  Groovy, baby!

-Lumpy Bumpy Uni: Instead of knitting every row, you can knit one row, purl one row so that Uni's surface resembles garter stitch (which is knit every row on straight needles.)  In that case, if your number of stitches divided by 6 equals an odd number, work an extra row BEFORE you do the decreasing.

-Crinkley Wrinkley Uni: Use shredded grocery bags for stuffing, and stuff LOOSELY so that Uni makes a crinkley sound when you squeeze him.  Great for little munchkins, but make sure that the stitching is secure enough so no little bits of plastic get through.

-Kitty Fitty Uni: Add a bit of catnip to the stuffing.  Meow!

-Doggie Woggie Uni: Put a jingle bell inside Uni--make sure the stuffing is soft and not packed too densely.  Then play fetch!

-Fluffy Wuffy Uni: Stuff sparingly with something soft (cotton, poly-fill, down) and leave out the cardboard or felt insert.  Be sure you stuff sparingly, or you'll end up with Roly Poly Uni (see below.)  If you are able to find some really nice fancy textured yarn, it'll feel even nicer!

-Roly Poly Uni: Add about 5 rows before the decreases. Leave out the cardboard and stuff with poly-fill, then gather the cast-on edge.  Boing!

-Scrubby Dubby Uni: Make a Lumpy Bumpy Uni with 100% cotton yarn.  Instead of stuffing it, stick one of those round soaps (like the ones you get at fancy hotels or at beauty supply stores such as Bath and Body Works and The Body Shop) inside before you gather, and use in the tub.  Luxurious!

-Dishy Wishy Uni: Make a Scrubby Dubby Uni, but instead of the soap, stuff Uni with a sponge (synthetic) cut in a circle before you gather.  Add a squirt of dish soap and let Uni go to work in the kitchen!

-Smelly Welly Uni: Put a pinch of potpourri inside of Uni when you stuff it, then put it wherever you think needs to smell nice.  Mmmm!

-Teeny Beany Uni: Instead of stuffing, make a small fabric beanbag and put it inside before you gather the edges (omit the cardboard.)  Somebody call Ty!

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This pattern is ©2003 Rebecca A. Rudeen.  The names Unicorn Jelly, Uni and Biideogeemu Jelly are © Jennifer Diane Reitz.  Permission is granted to make copies of this pattern for personal use.  If you wish to make these plush toys for sale, please note that these characters are copyrighted and you must ask for permission from the original copyright holder (Jennifer Diane Reitz) first.