ALAN DA{Tdesigner of knitted & fabric toys

Initial Imps

MEASUREMENTS or Primrose for tights shade; oddments of

38cm/15in tall, to tip of hat. Black and Pink; scrap of felt to contrast
with tunic shade, plus matching sewing
MATERIALS thread; pair of 3mm (U.K. no.11) knitting
For each imp you will need: Of needles; 65g of washable toy stuffing; 60g of
standard D.K. yarn: 15g in Flesh Tone; 15g PVC beanbag granules; a 20cm diameter
in each of three colours for tunic, hat and circle of muslin; red pencil, long tweezers.
shoes, chosen from Royal Blue, Yellow,
Red and Grass Green; 10g in either White

INITIAL IMPS Page 1 of 5

This pattern has been downloaded from www.alandart.co.uk - it can be printed for your personal use
but not resold or copied without permission.
All patterns and photographs © 2008 Alan Dart
TENSION Ss 3 rows.
26 sts and 36 rows to 10cm, measured 2nd dec row: (K1, K 2 tog, K1) [42 sts].
over stocking stitch worked D.K. yarn on Ss 3 rows.
3mm needles. 3rd dec row: (K1, K 2 tog) to end [28
sts].
ABBREVIATIONS P 1 row.
beg = beginning; cont = continue; dec = 4th dec row: (K 2 tog) to end [14 sts].
decrease (by working 2 stitches together); Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread
inc = increase (by working into front and through sts on needle, draw up tightly and
back of stitch); K = knit; P = purl; ss = fasten off.
stocking stitch; st(s) = stitch(es); SKPO =
slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over; HEAD make 1 piece
tog = together. With Flesh Tone cast on 16 sts for base
edge and ss 2 rows.
NOTE 1st inc row: (Inc 1) twice, K4, (inc 1)
Cast on by using the cable (two needle) four times, K4, (inc 1) twice [24 sts].
method and begin all pieces with a K row. P 1 row.
2nd inc row: (K1, inc 1, K1) to end [32
BODY make 1 piece sts].
With tunic shade cast on 24 sts for P 1 row.
shoulder edge and ss 2 rows. 3rd inc row: (K1, inc 1, K2) to end [40
Shape sides, 1st inc row: K5, (inc 1) sts].
twice, K9, (inc 1) twice, K6 [28 sts]. Ss 3 rows.
P 1 row. Shape cheeks, 4th inc row: K9, (inc
2nd inc row: K6, (inc 1) twice, K11, (inc 1) four times, K14, (inc 1) four times, K9
1) twice, K7 [32 sts]. [48 sts].
P 1 row. Ss 15 rows.
3rd inc row: K7, (inc 1) twice, K13, (inc Shape top, 1st dec row: (K1, K 2 tog,
1) twice, K8 [36 sts]. K1) to end [36 sts].
Ss 13 rows. Ss 3 rows.
Work tights: Beg with tights shade, 2nd dec row: (K1, K 2 tog) to end [24
cont in stripe sequence of 2 rows tights sts].
shade and 2 rows hat shade thus: P 1 row.
Ss 2 rows. 3rd dec row: (K 2 tog) to end [12 sts].
4th inc row: (K1, inc 1, K2) to end [45 Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread
sts]. through sts on needle, draw up tightly and
Ss 3 rows. fasten off.
5th inc row: (K2, inc 1, K2) to end [54
sts]. NECK make 1 piece
Ss 3 rows. With Flesh Tone cast on 10 sts for base
6th inc row: (K2, inc 1, K3) to end [63 edge and ss 6 rows.
sts]. Cast off for top edge.
Ss 9 rows.
Shape base, 1st dec row: (K4, K 2 EARS make 2 pieces
tog, K3) to end [56 sts]. With Flesh Tone cast on 16 sts for outside

INITIAL IMPS Page 2 of 5

This pattern has been downloaded from www.alandart.co.uk - it can be printed for your personal use
but not resold or copied without permission.
All patterns and photographs © 2008 Alan Dart
edge and K 1 row. HANDS make 2 pieces
Dec row: P2, (P 3 tog) four times, P2 [8 With Flesh Tone cast on 16 sts for wrist
sts]. edge and ss 4 rows.
Cast off. Cast on 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows for
thumb [22 sts].
NOSE make 1 piece Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows [16
With Flesh Tone cast on 6 sts for side sts].
edge and ss 4 rows. Ss 4 rows.
Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread Shape end, 1st dec row: K1, (K 2 tog,
through sts on needle, draw up tightly and K3, SKPO) twice, K1 [12 sts].
fasten off. P 1 row.
2nd dec row: K1, (K 2 tog, K1, SKPO)
LEGS make 2 pieces twice, K1 [8 sts].
With tights shade cast on 16 sts for ankle Cast off.
edge and, beg with tights shade, cont in
stripe sequence of 2 rows tights shade and WRIST AND ANKLE CUFFS make
2 rows hat shade as given for body. 4 pieces
Ss 40 rows. With shoe shade cast on 16 sts and ss 2
Cast off for top edge. rows.
Next row: K8, turn and work on these
SHOES make 2 pieces sts only.
With shoe shade cast on 28 sts for base *P 1 row.
edge and ss 2 rows. Dec 1 st at beg and end of next row.
Shape heel, 1st inc row: K12, (inc 1) Repeat the last 2 rows two more times [2
four times, K12 [32 sts]. sts].
P 1 row. Cast off.**
2nd inc row: K12, (inc 1) eight times, Rejoin yarn to remaining 8 sts and K to
K12 [40 sts]. end.
P 1 row. Work from * to ** once more.
Shape front: Cast off 3 sts at beg of
next 6 rows [22 sts]. TUNIC PEPLUM make 1 piece
Dec row: K3, (K 2 tog, K1) five times, K 2 With tunic shade cast on 64 sts for base
tog, K2 [16 sts]. edge and ss 2 rows.
P 1 row. 1st dec row: (K3, K 2 tog, K3) to end
Cast off for ankle edge. [56 sts].
Ss 2 rows.
ARMS make 2 pieces 2nd dec row: (P2, P 2 tog, P3) to end [48
With tunic shade cast on 16 sts for wrist sts].
edge and ss 20 rows. Ss 2 rows.
Shape top: Cast off 3 sts at beg of next 2 3rd dec row: (K2, K 2 tog, K2) to end
rows for underarm [10 sts]. [40 sts].
Dec 1 st at beg of next 6 rows [4 sts]. P 1 row.
Cast off for top edge. Change to Black for belt and ss 2 rows.
Cast off P wise.

INITIAL IMPS Page 3 of 5

This pattern has been downloaded from www.alandart.co.uk - it can be printed for your personal use
but not resold or copied without permission.
All patterns and photographs © 2008 Alan Dart
TUNIC COLLAR make 1 piece join.
With shoe shade cast on 16 sts. Fold base edge of head in half and join to
Cast off. form chin seam, then join back head seam,
stopping 4cm away from gathered top edge.
HAT make 1 piece
With hat shade cast on 52 sts for base edge Stuff firmly, then join remainder of seam.
and ss 10 rows. Join neck seam, then sew top edge to base
Shape top, 1st dec row: (K1, K 2 tog, of head, matching neck and head seams and
K1) to end [39 sts]. placing neck at back of chin seam. Stuff neck
Ss 3 rows. very firmly, using tweezers to push stuffing
2nd dec row: (K1, K 2 tog) to end [26 in place, then sew base edge to top of
sts]. body. Wrap tunic collar round neck, join
P 1 row. ends at centre back, then sew in place with
3rd dec row: (K 2 tog) to end [13 sts]. backstitch. Fold each shoe piece in half and
Ss 7 rows. join across base edge and up shaped front
4th dec row: K1, (K 2 tog, K1) to end [9 edge, leaving ankle edge open, then use
sts]. tweezers to stuff firmly. Join each leg seam,
Ss 5 rows. then sew ankle edges of legs and shoes
5th dec row: K1, (K 2 tog) to end [5 together, placing leg seam at centre back of
sts]. shoe. Stuff legs lightly, using tweezers to
Ss 5 rows. push stuffing into place and leaving a space
Break yarn, leaving a long end. Thread in the centre of each leg unstuffed so that
through sts on needle, draw up tightly and knees will bend. Position and sew top edge
fasten off. of each leg to front of body, placing 14
knitted rows down from waist edge of
TO MAKE UP tights, and spacing 10 knitted stitches apart.
For best results, sew seams and join pieces Fold each hand in half, join across end,
using mattress stitch, working with right down side, and round thumb, leaving wrist
side of knitting uppermost. A one stitch edge open, then use tweezers to stuff
knitted seam has been allowed on all firmly. Join seam on each arm from wrist
pieces to accommodate this method. edge up to underarm, then sew wrist edges
First make beanbag by sewing a line of large of arms and hands together, placing sleeve
running stitches round edge of muslin seam 4 knitted stitches away from hand
circle. Draw up slightly and fill with seam in line with palm. Stuff arms lightly,
granules, then gather tightly and fasten off then position and sew to sides of body,
securely. Should you prefer to omit the with top edges of sleeves in line with
beanbag, simply fill entire body with shoulder seam.
stuffing. Following instructions on ball band, press
Starting at gathered base edge, join striped tunic peplum, together with wrist and ankle
tights section of body seam, stopping at cuffs, on wrong side.
waist and inserting beanbag. Now join Wrap peplum round waist, with side edges
remainder of meeting at centre front, then join belt ends
body seam, leaving shoulder edge open. and sew in place by working Black
Stuff body, then, with seam running down backstitch over every stitch on first row of
centre back, fold shoulder edge flat and belt. Using Mustard or Primrose yarn,

INITIAL IMPS Page 4 of 5

This pattern has been downloaded from www.alandart.co.uk - it can be printed for your personal use
but not resold or copied without permission.
All patterns and photographs © 2008 Alan Dart
carefully draw out a single strand and use sew nose to head, placing just below eyes.
the remaining 2 strands to embroider a Blush cheeks with pencil, working in a
rectangle of chain stitch over belt for circular motion to gradually build up
buckle. colour.
Join hat seam, then pin to head with seam
at centre back, positioning so that front
edge is 2 knitted rows above eyes. Sew in
place by working backstitch over base edge.
Fold cast off edge of each ear in half and
join, then sew ears to sides of head, placing
5 knitted stitches away from side of mouth.
Find an initial in a newspaper or magazine
that is about 3cm tall, trace it off and cut
out from felt. The easiest method is to use
an embroidery transfer pencil, since the
design can then be ironed on to the wrong
side of the felt before cutting out. Pin initial
centrally on tunic and blanket stitch in place
with sewing thread.

Wrap wrist and ankle cuffs round arms and ALAN DART hereby asserts and gives
legs and join first 2 rows up from cast on notice of his right under section 77 of the
edge, then sew in place by backstitching Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988
over cast on edge. to be identified as the author of this
Mark eye positions with pins, placing 8 pattern.
knitted rows down from first dec row at
top of head and spacing 3 knitted stitches
apart. Now mark base point of mouth with
a pin, placing centrally and 8 knitted rows
below eyes, then mark ends of mouth with
pins, spacing 9 knitted stitches apart and
placing 4 knitted rows above mouth base
point. Using 2 strands of yarn, as given for
buckle, and fastening off ends at top of
head, embroider each eye with a tiny,
horizontal, detached chain stitch in Black.
Now embroider mouth with 2 straight
stitches in Pink, fastening off ends as for
eyes. Join nose seam, use tweezers to
stuff, then work a gathering thread through
every stitch along side edge, draw up tightly
and fasten off to form an oval shape. With
gathered edges at each side, position and

INITIAL IMPS Page 5 of 5

This pattern has been downloaded from www.alandart.co.uk - it can be printed for your personal use
but not resold or copied without permission.
All patterns and photographs © 2008 Alan Dart