How to Knit Stuffed Toy Bats

A couple years ago my son found a stuffed bat he just loved at a garage sale. Well, he lost it which was just a tragedy for a four year old. So I cruised around the internet, got some ideas and knit one for him as a replacement. Once I was done with the brown one his twin brother, of course, wanted one of his own so I made him the red and blue one. I let them pick out their colors and tell me what kind of details (fangs, eyes) that they wanted. It was a nice little artistic collaboration.








I even made it so the bats could "sleep" upside down with their wings buttoned closed. As you can probably tell by the photos they have been well loved..and stretched out!

A few of my crafty friends asked if I had a pattern for them. By no means am I an expert knitter but I was able to write this pattern up and I think it is something even a beginning knitter could accomplish.

If any of you expert knitters out there find a mistake in this pattern or has a suggestion to make it better, please...let me know!!


I used cheap acrylic worsted that someone gave me a ton of from an auction but I am sure any type would work.
Body
Cast on 5 st. on dpn. i used #5
Increase 5 st. every other round until you have 40 st.
Knit for 5 more inches.
Next row decrease 5 st.
and the next row decrease 5 st.
slide tapestry needle through stitches but do not pull tight.
Embroidery facial features, then stuff and then pull tight stiches and weave in ends.

Feet - Make 2
Cast on 12 st.
Stockinette St. for 6 rows. Bind off. Sew in a loop so cast on and off edges are on the side of feet and sew onto body of bat.

Ears - Make 2
cast on 6 st.
slip first st. of every row
stockinette st. for 6 rows.
Row 1 - slip st, ssk, k2tog, k1
Row 2 - purl
row 3 - slip st, k2tog, k1
row 4 - purl
cast off
sew on to head

Wings - Make 2
cast on 20 st.
knit for 6 rows in garter stitch
Row A - knit to last 3 st., k2tog, k1
Row B - k1, ssk, knit to end
Repeat A
Repeat B
Repeat A
Repeat B
knit two rows
Row C - k1, ssk, knit to last 2, inc. 1 st, k1
Row D - k1, inc 1 st, knit to end
Repeat C
Repeat D
knit two rows
Row E - k1, ssk, knit to last 3, k2tog, k1
Row F - k1, ssk, knit to end
Repeat E
Repeat F
Repeat E
Repeat F
knit 2 rows
Row G - k1, ssk, knit to last 2, inc. 1 st, k1
Row H - k1, inc 1st, knit to end
Repeat G
Repeat H
knit 2 rows
Repeat E
Repeat F
Repeat E

* from this point each wing will be different. The following will go on wing 1, for a buttonhole

Row I - k2, yo, k2
Row J - knit
Row K - k1, ssk, k2
Row L - k1, ssk, k1
Cast off

** For wing 2 knit the same as wing 1 until the *
Row I - k1, ssk, k1
Row J - knit
Row K - knit
Row L - k1, ssk, k1
cast off

Sew wings to body and add button to wing where needed.

I would love to see any that you create!