Rocket Ship

Rocket Ship

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Height 12 inches
Width 6 inches

MATERIALS
[MC] Berroco Ultra Alpaca [50% alpaca 50% Peruvian highland wool; 215 yd/198 m per 100g skein]; color: Moonshadow; 1 skein
[CC1] Berroco Ultra Alpaca [50% alpaca 50% Peruvian highland wool; 215 yd/198 m per 100g skein]; color: Winter White; 1 skein
[CC2] Berroco Ultra Alpaca [50% alpaca 50% Peruvian highland wool; 215 yd/198 m per 100g skein]; color: Blueberry Mix; 1 skein
[CC3] Berroco Ultra Alpaca [50% alpaca 50% Peruvian highland wool; 215 yd/198 m per 100g skein]; color: Chianti; 1 skein
(note: This project uses a very small amount of each skein, and makes a great project for using up scraps of any worsted weight yarn)

1 set US #6/4.25mm double-point needles

notions required [list all]
Stitch markers
Yarn needle
Embroidery needle
3 inch x 2 inch piece of red craft felt
2.5 inch x 1.5 inch piece of white craft felt
.5 inch x .25 inch piece white craft felt for rocket man’s helmet
Blue thread
Toy stuffing

GAUGE
26 sts/24 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
Gauge is not crucial to this pattern.  Changing the size and weight of the yarn will simply give you a smaller or larger rocket

PATTERN
Main body
Using CC 1, CO 6 sts, pm, join to knit in the round, dividing stitches evenly between 3 needles.
Round 1: Kfb 6 times.  12 sts
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3 : K1, pm, kfb twice, pm, k2, pm, kfb twice, pm, k2, pm, kfb twice, pm, k1.  18 sts
From this point you will always knit the 2 sts between each set of markers.
Rounds 4-5: Knit.
Round 6: K1, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k1.  24 sts
Rounds 7-8: Knit.
Round 9: K1, kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k1.  30 sts
Rounds 10-11:  Knit.
Round 12: K1, kfb, k6, kfb, k2, kfb, k6, kfb, k2, kfb, k6, kfb, k1.  36 sts
Change to CC 2.
Rounds 13-14: Knit.
Continue to increase 1 st before and after each set of markers every 3^rd row, 3 times, then every 5^th row , 3 times.  72 sts.
Change to MC.
Rounds 42-52: Knit.
Round 53: K1, k2tog, k18, ssk, k2, , k2tog, k18, ssk, k2, , k2tog, k18, ssk, k1.  66 sts
Continue to decrease in this manner before and after each set of markers, every 6^th row, 3 more times.  48 sts
Round 71-80: Knit.
Switch to CC 2.
Rounds 81-83: Knit.
Switch back to MC.
Rounds 84-89: Knit.
Pause at this point to stuff rocket until nearly full.  It will take a lot of poking and prodding to get the desired shape, but the effort is well worth it.
Round 90: K1, k2tog, k10, ssk, k2, k2tog, k10, ssk, k2, k2tog, k10, ssk, k1.  42 sts
Continue to decrease in this manner until you have 12 sts remaining. 
K2tog 6 times.  6 sts  Stuff end firmly.
Cut yarn.  Pull tail through remaining stitches, knot, pull knot to inside of toy.


Propulsion pods (make 3)
Using CC 3, CO 6 sts, divide between 3 needles, pm, join to knit in the round.
Round 1: Kfb 6 times.  12 sts
Round 2: (Kfb, k1) 6 times.  18 sts
Round 3: (Kfb, k2) 6 times.  24 sts
Round 4: (Kfb, k3) 6 times.  30 sts
Round 5: (Kfb, k4) 6 times.  36 sts
Round 6: Knit.
Change to MC
Round 7: Knit.
Round 8: (K2tog, k4) 6 times.  30 sts
Round 9: Knit.
Round 10: (K2tog, k3) 6 times.  24 sts
Round 11: Knit.
Round 12: (K2tog, k2) 6 times.  18 sts
Round 13: Knit.
Bind off, leaving an 8” tail.  Stuff pods firmly. 

Fins (make 3)
Using CC 2, CO 6, divide between 2 needles, pm, join to knit in the round.
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Kfb, k4, kfb.  8 sts
Rounds 3-5: Knit.
Round 6: Kfb, k6, kfb.  10 sts
Rounds 7-9: Knit.
Round 10: Kfb, k8, kfb.  12 sts
Rounds 11-12: Knit.
Round 13: Kfb, k10, kfb.  14 sts
Rounds 14-15: Knit.
Round 16: Kfb, k12, kfb.  16 sts
Round 17: Knit.
Round 18: Kfb, k14, kfb.  18 sts
Round 19: Knit.
Round 20: Kfb, k16, kfb.  20 sts
Round 21: Kfb, k7, ssk, k2tog, k7, kfb.
Round 22: Kfb, k18, kfb.  22 sts
Round 23: Kfb, k20, kfb.  24 sts
Round 24: Kfb, k9, ssk, k2tog, k9, kfb. 
Rounds 25-26: Knit.
Round 27: K10, ssk, k2tog, k10.  22 sts
Rounds 28-29: Knit.
Round 30: K9, ssk, k2tog, k9.  20 sts
Round 31: Knit.
Round 32: K8, ssk, k2tog, k8.  18 sts
Pause and stuff fin about ¾ full, packing stuffing firmly into the tip.
Round 33: Knit.
Round 34: K7, ssk, k2tog, k7.  16 sts
Round 35: Knit.
Round 36: K6, ssk, k2tog, k6.  14 sts
Round 37: K5, ssk, k2tog, k5.  12 sts
Round 38: K4, ssk, k2tog, k4.  10 sts
Round 39: K3, ssk, k2tog, k3.  8 sts
Stuff rest of fin.
Round 40: K2, ssk, k2tog, k2.  6 sts
Round 41: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1.  4 sts
Cut yarn, pull through remaining stitched.  Leave an 8” tail.

Rocket man
Using CC 3, CO 8, divide between 2 needles, pm, join to knit in the round.
Round 1: Kfb, k2, kfb twice, k2, kfb.  12 sts
Round 2: Kfb, k4, kfb twice, k4, kfb.  16 sts
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4:  Kfb, k6, kfb twice, k6, kfb.  20 sts
Round 5: Knit.
Round 6: K2tog, k6, ssk, k2tog, k6, ssk.  16 sts
Round 7: Knit.
Round 8:  K2tog, k4, ssk, k2tog, k4, ssk.  12 sts
Round 9: K2tog, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, ssk.  8 sts
Stuff head.
Change to MC.
Knit 8 rounds even.
Stuff body.
K2tog 4 times.  Cut yarn, pull tail through remaining stitches, knot, pull into fabric.
For the arms, knit 2 1 inch pieces of i-cord.  Sew onto sides of body.

FINISHING
Line up propulsion pods with the  decrease/ increase lines along side of rocket.  Attach to the bottom using ladder stitch.  Stand rocket upright.  Pin fins to side of rocket so that the rocket stands straight.  Attach to edges using ladder stitch..  Line up the red felt 2 inches from the bottom of the rocket.  Sew into place using blue thread and a blanket stitch.  To create a pocket for rocket man, cut a 1 inch slit halfway up the larger piece of white felt.  Center white rectangle over red, and attach using blanket stitch.  Attach small piece of white felt to roacket man’s helmet using white thread.  Insert man into pocket.  Blast off!!