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Eyeballs (R3)

soft and squidgy knitted eyeballs

Soft and squishy eyeballs are the perfect Halloween decoration. Use embroidery to add a few lifelike details to really freak out your friends.

A printable version of this pattern is available.

You will need:

  • yarn leftovers (double knit)
  • toy stuffing
  • 4 x double ended knitting needles (2.75mm)
  • tapestry needle
  • scissors

Pattern:

Eyeball

Cast on 6 stitches in red. Divide them between three needles and join into a round.

(A list of abbreviations is available.)

  1. Round 1: [kfb] x 6 (12)
  2. Round 2: k –
  3. Round 3: [kfb, k1] x 6 (18)
  4. Round 4: [k1, kfb, k1] x 6 (24)
  5. Round 5: [sl1, k1] x 12 (24)

Knit 9 rounds straight.

Change to eye coloured yarn.

  1. Round 16: k –
  2. Round 17: [k2tog, k2togtbl] x 6 (12)
  3. Round 18: k –

Change to black yarn.

  1. Round 19: [k2tog] x 6 (6)
  2. Round 20: k –

Stuff the eye. Cut the yarn (leaving a long tail for sewing up), thread through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Optic Nerve

  1. Using red yarn cast on 2 stitches.
  2. Work 6cm i-cord.
  3. Cut yarn (leaving a long tail for sewing up), thread through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Making Up:

Diagram showing the eyeballs as knitted, before embroidery.

First close the opening at the centre of the pupil by over-sewing it with the tail of black yarn. Thread the yarn through the black stitches to the edge of the pupil and then sew around the circumference using backstitch or similar to make the edge less ragged. Hide the loose end inside the eye.

Next embroider around the edge of the iris. This looks best if you use a darker yarn than was used for the main eye colour. Hide the loose end.

Attach the optic nerve to the centre of the red part of the eye. Embroider some extra veins to give the eye a bloodshot appearance. Sew in any remaining loose ends to finish.

Diagram showing embroidered details

Notes:

Needle/Yarn Size

As with most ODDknit patterns the yarn and needle sizes in the "you will need" section are just a guide. Feel free to improvise with whatever needles and yarn you have lying around - that's half the fun!