Tadpole Submarine

TADPOLE

by Katie Boyette

» photos: Brandy Fortune

I actually stole the design for this submarine directly from my little brother. At 6 feet tall, he’s not so little anymore. As a kid, Wesley created an impressive portfolio of military vehicle designs, including everything from jet planes and submarines, to aircraft carriers. He made elaborate sketches, complete with specs and even maps of their locations. Best of all were the names he gave them, such as USS Brown Barbarian, Rockin’ Starfish, or my favorite, a tiny submarine called Spy Cod. 

He was imaginative, to say the least. These days he is a bio fuels engineer, creating jet fuel from lollipops, or something like that. I’m not sure about the specifics. Apparently, it’s top secret.

Size

7 inches long, 5½ inches tall

Materials

Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers [100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards/200 meters per 3.5 ounce/100 gram hank]; 

#9561 aqua (MC); 1 hank
#9468 blue (CC1), 1 hank
#9473 dark gray (CC2), 1 hank

Recommended needle sizes

US #5/3.75 mm double pointed needles (set of 4)

Notions

White craft felt
Yarn needle
Embroidery needle
Stitch markers
Embroidery floss in white, gray, and black
Stuffing

Gauge

20 sts and 28 rows = 4 inches in St st

Pattern Notes

The body of the sub is knitted in the round, with the exterior parts knitted separately.

Skills Required

Knitting on dpns

 

Body

Using CC1, cast on 6 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist.
Rnd 1: Kfb 6 times: 12 sts.
Rnds 2 and 3: Knit around.
Rnd 4: (Kfb, k1) 6 times: 18 sts.
Rnd 5: Knit around.
Break yarn. Join MC.
Rnd 6: Knit around.
Rnd 7: (Kfb, k2) 6 times. 24 sts

Rnd 8 and all even rounds through Rnd 16: Knit around.

Rnd 9: (Kfb, k3) 6 times: 30 sts.
Rnd 11: (Kfb, k4) 6 times: 36 sts.
Rnd 13: (Kfb, k5) 6 times: 42 sts.
Rnd 15: (Kfb, k6) 6 times: 48 sts.
Rnd 17: (Kfb, k7) 6 times: 54 sts.
Rnds 18-21: Knit around.
Rnd 22: (K2tog, k7) 6 times: 48 sts.
Rnds 23-28: Knit around.
Rnd 29: (K2tog, k6) 6 times: 42 sts.
Rnds 30-35: Knit around.
Rnd 36: (K2tog, k5) 6 times: 36 sts.
Rnds 37-46: Knit around.
Stuff sub.

Rnd 47: (K2tog, k4) 6 times: 30 sts
Rnd 48 and all remaining even numbered rounds: Knit around.
Rnd 49: (K2tog, k3) 6 times: 24 sts
Rnd 51: (K2tog, k2) 6 times: 18 sts
Rnd 53: (K2tog, k1) 6 times: 12 sts
Rnd 54: K2tog 6 times: 6 sts
Break yarn; weave tail through remaining sts. Stuff remainder of toy. Pull sts tightly closed, knot and pull knot to inside of fabric.

Fins (make 2)

Using CC1, cast on 20 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist.
Rnd 1: Knit around.
Rnd 2: Ssk, k16, k2tog: 18 sts.
Rnd 3: Ssk, k14, k2tog: 16 sts.
Rnd 4: Ssk, k12, k2tog: 14 sts.
Continue in this manner, decreasing 1 st at the beginning and end of each row until 4 sts remain. Break yarn, weave tail through remaining sts. Pull sts tightly closed, knot and pull tail to inside of fabric. Do not stuff.

Periscope Bottom

Using CC2, cast on 12 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist.
Rnds 1-10: Knit around.
Rnd 11: K12, turn, begin knitting straight.
Rnd 12: P2tog, p8, p2tog: 10 sts.
Rnd 13: Ssk, k6, k2tog: 8 sts.
Rnd 14: P2tog, p4, p2tog: 6 sts.
Rnd 15: Ssk, k2, k2tog: 4 sts.
Bind off remaining sts.

Periscope Top 

Using CC2, cast on 12 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist.
Rnds 1-5: Knit around.
Rnd 6: K12, turn, begin knitting straight.
Rnd 7: P2tog, p8, p2tog: 10 sts.
Rnd 8: Ssk, k6, k2tog: 8 sts.
Rnd 9: P2tog, p4, p2tog: 6 sts.
Rnd 10: Ssk, k2, k2tog: 4 sts.
Bind off. Leave a 10 inch tail for seaming.

Periscope Base

Using CC1, cast on 18 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist.
Rnd 1: (Kfb, k2) 6 times. 24 sts
Rnds 2-5: Knit around.
Bind off.  Leave a 10 inch tail for seaming.

FINISHING

All seaming uses a ladder stitch.
Center the fins on the top and bottom of sub, centered between lines of decreases. Seam into place as shown. 

Line up the diagonal edges of the periscope, so that it forms a right angle. Seam those edges together using tail.

Stuff periscope firmly. Cut felt insert using template. Push into periscope opening, and sew around perimeter using gray thread.

Place periscope on top of sub, centering with top fin. Seam in place. Slide blue base over top. Seam around upper edge using blue yarn. Sew bottom of base to top of sub, stuffing lightly as you go.

Use black embroidery floss to sew black cross lines over opening of periscope.

Cut portholes from white felt using template. Use white thread and a whipstitch to sew to sides of sub, spacing portholes ¼ inch apart. 

Outline each porthole in CC2, by laying a length of yarn along edge of circle, and securing into place using gray thread. This is also known as couching.