Speedy slothDON’T HANG AROUND, MAKE OUR

Take the next step

Ever since Planet Earth II, the nation has been obsessed with sloths. So, naturally, we thought it was time for a Let’s Get Crafting edition complete with realistic – ahem – shades of pink and purple. The arms and legs pop open with snap fasteners, so HEATHER GIBBS’ creation can flit between trees or simply take a seat somewhere comfy.

USE ALL

COLOURS!

S I X Y A R N

“All parts of the sloth are worked without joining in continuous rounds. Place the stitch marker in the

top of the first stitch to mark the start of the round”HEATHER GIBBS, DESIGNER

DID YOU KNOW?ACCORDING TO THE SAN

DIEGO ZOO, SLOTHS USED TO BE MUCH BIGGER.

ANCIENT SLOTHS COULD GROW TO BE AS LARGE AS

AN ELEPHANT! THEY ROAMED NORTH AMERICA

AND BECAME EXTINCT APPROXIMATELY 10,000

YEARS AGO.

PLUSstitch marker,

tapestry needle, two 6mm black safety eyes,

one 12mm black safety

eye, two snap fasteners,

stuffing, black embroidery

thread, 20cm of 3mm

dowel rod

SIZESloth length:

18cm

SPEEDY SLOTHfaceUsing 4mm hook and Primrose make a magic ring, work 6dc into ring. Six stsRnd 1: 2dc in each st to end. 12 stsRnd 2: (1dc, 2dc in next st) to end. 18 stsRnd 3: (2dc, 2dc in next st) to end. 24 stsRnd 4: 1dc, 3htr, 1dc, sl st in next two sts, 1dc, 3htr, 1dc, join with a sl st to next st. Ten stsFasten off, leaving a long tail

eyeMake twoUsing 4mm hook and Heather make 5chRow 1: 3dc in second ch from hook, 2dc, 3dc in next st, turn and work along opposite side of ch as folls: 2dc, join with a sl st to top of first dcFasten off, leaving a long tail

head and bodyUsing 4mm hook and Honeysuckle make a magic ring, work 6dc into

ring. Six stsRnd 1: 2dc in each st to end. 12 stsRnd 2: (1dc, 2dc in next st) to end. 18 stsRnd 3: 1dc in each st to endRnd 4: (2dc, 2dc in next st) to end. 24 stsRnds 5-6: 1dc in each st to endRnd 7: (3dc, 2dc in

next st) to end. 30 stsRnds 8-9: 1dc in each st to endRnd 10: (3dc, dc2tog) to end. 24 sts Rnd 11: (2dc, dc2tog) to end. 18 sts Rnd 12: 1dc in each st to end Rnd 13: (2dc, 2dc in next st) to end.

24 stsSew Face onto Head. Sew on Eyes, slanting downwards slightly. Insert safety eyes for eyes and nose. Lightly stuff HeadRnd 14: (3dc, 2dc in next st) to end. 30 stsRnds 15-25: 1dc in each st to endRnd 26: (3dc, dc2tog) to end. 24 stsRnd 27: (2dc, dc2tog) to end. 18 stsRnd 28: (1dc, dc2tog) to end. 12 sts StuffRnd 29: dc2tog to end. Six stsCut yarn leaving a long tail, thread tail onto tapestry needle and thread through rem sts, fasten off

USE YOUR FREE

YARN KIT

14 LETSGETCRAFTING.COM | LGC Knitting & Crochet

crochet

limbMake fourUsing 4mm hook and Heather make a magic ring, work 8dc into ring. Eight stsRnds 1-17: 1dc in each st to endFasten off

clawsMake twoNote: Pinch ends of Limb tog so there is four sts on each side. Using 4mm hook and Bluebell, insert hook through first two sts, joining two sides tog as you work, * 5ch, one sl st in second ch from hook, one sl st in each of next two sts, one sl st in same st as beg 5ch **, one sl st in next st *, rep from * to * three times (four claws made) ending on

Y A R N S H O P D A Y 2 0 1 7Pay a visit to your local participating shop on Saturday 6th May and take advantage of what’s on offer, ranging from free patterns, discounts and competitions to book signings, goodie bags and workshops. This year, Debbie Bliss has designed an exclusive blanket pattern that will be given away FREE at all participating stores, along with Rainbow the Unicorn and Coral the Mermaid mascot patterns. Special events vary from store to store, so check in with your local yarn shop to find out what’s happening.letsknit.co.uk/yarnshopday

L E T ’ S S H O PArtificial fern branches, £1.95 each, maxifleur-

artificial-plants.co.uk

** for last clawFasten off

to make upWeave in all ends. Using a tapestry needle and black thread, embroider mouth. Sew Limbs to Body. Add snap fasteners onto each Limb at base of Claws

BRANCHleafMake fourUsing 4mm hook and Cowslip, make 5ch, one sl st in second ch from hook, 1dc, 1htr, 6htr in next ch, turn and work along opposite side of ch as folls: 1htr, 1dc, join with a sl st

to first sl stFasten off, weave in ends

to make upMeas 12 76cm lengths of Forget-Me-Not, split into two sets. Fold one set in half and loop around dowel rod. Divide yarn into

three sections and plait until 10cm of yarn is left – do not tie off. Rep with other six

strands. Knot tog and trim ends to neaten. Sew Leaves randomly to plaited cord

15LETSGETCRAFTING.COM | LGC Knitting & Crochet