Mad as a boks of frogs

Note to self: do not expect to painlessly publish PDFs whilst doing anything else at all (particularly if it involves small children and/or having a head cold, and especially not if it’s the first PDF you’ve ever attempted).

Several updates (and much swearing at OpenOffice/tables/the missing keys on my laptop) later, I finally have a Bokaclava pattern PDF that resembles the one in this post.

I also have the small (18-20″) version of the pattern completed, and PDF’d. It’s the same construction, just a few alterations to stitch and row counts, but from what I’ve read, ravelry would rather I listed child-sized versions of patterns separately. (Only the second version, too – the stitch count initially for the wrapped stitch/saved stitch bit of the short row eyebrows was out, I just noticed – it’s not, now.)

—>Click here to download the PDF<—

Bokaclava Jr – fits 18-20″ head circ.

Pattern

Gauge: 19sts/27 rows over 4″ with 4mm needles.
Yarn : Any wool blend that gives the right gauge and creates a fairly stiff fabric with 4mm needles, but is soft enough to wear against the face, is suitable – eg RYC Cashsoft Aran, Sirdar Bonus Aran.

With 4mm needles, cast on 64 sts. Join, being careful not to twist; work 3×1 rib in the round for 13 rows.
Knit stocking stitch for the next 19 rows.

Make mouth and nose opening

Next row – knit 10 sts. Break yarn; knit next 12 sts with scrap yarn to make mouth later. Rejoin yarn and knit to end.
Knit 6 rows in stocking stitch.
Next row: knit 12 sts; break yarn, knit 8 sts with scrap yarn, rejoin – knit 12 sts. Place next 32 sts on stitch holder – these stitches will be the back, and are worked separately. Turn work and purl back across first 32 sts.
Knit 10 rows stocking stitch, flat.

Make eyeholes –

Next row (right side) –
k6, CO7, k6, CO7, k5.
Next row (wrong side) –
p6, m7, p6, m7, p6.
Knit 4 rows stocking stitch.

Short row eyebrows

1st eyebrow –
Row 1 : k15; slip last stitch, wrap and turn (as in short row technique).
Row 2 : p14. Save last stitch on stitch holder, unwrapped.
Row 3 : k to last unwrapped stitch, wrap and turn.
Row 4 : p to last unsaved stitch; save last stitch on stitch holder.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 4 sts remain ‘live’, 6 are wrapped, and 6 are on stitch holder.
Next row (right side) : knit across the 4 live stitches; pick up and knit into back of wrapped stitches until all are live again.
2nd eyebrow –
Row 1 : Knit across to last stitch; save last stitch on stitch holder. Turn but do not wrap.
Row 2 : p14, wrap next stitch and turn.
Row 3 : k to last stitch; save on stitch holder. Turn.
Row 4 : p to last unwrapped stitch; wrap and turn.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 4 sts remain live, 6 are wrapped and 6 on stitch holder.
Next (right side) row – k4.
Next row – k across to wrapped stitches; pick up and knit to bridge of nose. Knit across first eyebrow, thus creating garter stitch ‘eyebrows’.
Knit 2 rows in stocking stitch for forehead. Break yarn.
Rejoin yarn beside first saved stitch to the right of the first eyebrow, to knit 2×2 rib forehead (as you knit across them, pick up 7 stitches between these, and a further 7 between the corresponding saved stitches on other stitch holder upon reaching them) knit 10 rows of 2×2 rib across all stitches (46 sts). Cast off.

Side ribbing

Pick up six stitches at side of head leading up to forehead ribbing (see photos). Work 14 rows in 2×2 rib, cast off.

BACK

Rejoin yarn; knit 50 rows in stocking stitch.

Make holes for horns

With RS facing – k8; break yarn, k4 on scrap yarn; rejoin yarn, k8; break yarn, k4 on scrap yarn; rejoin yarn, k8.
Next row (WS) : p8; break yarn, p4 on scrap yarn; rejoin yarn, p8; break yarn, p4 on scrap yarn; rejoin yarn, p8.
Knit 8 more rows stocking stitch and cast off.

Mattress stitch side ribs to side of forehead rib.
Sew top of forehead ribbing to back of knitting along the cast off edge and down the sides with a flat seam (see photos).

Make mouth and tongue

Undo scrap yarn and using 4mm DPNs pick up stitches either side (24 sts). Knit 5 rows stst.
Dec 1 stitch either side until 12 sts remain.
Knit 4 rows stocking stitch.
Dec 1 stitch either side until 6 sts remain. Graft remaining 6 sts together.
Create mouth and tongue by pushing all but the last 13 rows back into the mouth opening and sewing down.

Nose

Undo scrap yarn. Cast off lower stitches. Dec 1 stitch at each end of each row of upper stitches to make a point, and fasten off, use tail end of yarn to sew down just above mouth.

Make horns

Undo all scrap yarn; put 4 live stitches from each edge onto DPNs, and pick up 2 sts from rows at either side of hole – 12 stitches. Knit 12 rounds.
Next row : k2, k2tog; repeat until 9 stitches remain.
Knit five rounds.
Next row : k7, k2tog (8 sts).
Graft ends.

Ears

Left ear –

Cast on 3 sts and knit stocking stitch for 2 rows.
k1; m1; k2 (4sts)
Next row: purl.
k1; m1; k2; m1; k1 (6 sts)
Next row: purl.
k1; m1; knit to last st; m1; k1 (8 sts)
Next row: purl.
k1; m1; k to end (9 sts)
Next row: purl.
k1; m1; k to last stitch; m1; k1 (11 sts)
Next row: purl.
Knit to last st; m1; k1 (12 sts)
Next row: purl.
k1; m1; knit to last stitch; m1; k1 (14 sts)
Next row: purl.
k1; m1; knit to end (15 sts)
Next row: purl.
k1; m1; knit to last stitch; m1; k1 (17 sts)
Next row: purl.
k to last stitch; m1; k1 (18 sts)
~~~~~
Make 54 stitches, join taking care not to twist (72 sts)
Knit round these 72 sts.
Next row: k4, k2tog; repeat (60 sts)
Knit two rows.
Next row: k1, k2tog; repeat (40 sts)
Knit two rows.
Next row: k2tog; repeat (20 sts)
Knit two rows.
Next row: k2tog; repeat (10sts)
Last row as above (5 sts)

Right ear –

Reverse instructions to ~~~~~~ then continue as for left ear.

Making up

Attaching ears

The ears are knit so that the tops of the points are to be folded over on themselves, adding thickness, creating a ‘back’ to the ear and making them more three dimensional.

This is done as follows –
Sew the part of the ear where the circular knitting begins to the top of the ribbed edge section of the opening created for the ear.
Sew up edge of point along side of head, until 1” from end of point. Fold point down on itself, and stitch down. Sew seam between other edge of point and side seam of the back of the balaclava, until you reach the circular part of the ear. Sew circular part to rest of opening.
Run a few stitches through upper ear to add definition.

Weave in ends.

Handwash and dry flat; shape while drying.

This pattern is free for personal use, and not to be reproduced, used or knit for resale or profit.

Now, where did I put that darkened room?