Pear
This is a sweet, fruity pincushion that is knitted in the round. The worsted weight yarn and no seaming means that it knits up quickly. Top with a stalk and a leaf or two for a pincushion that will look great in your kitchen fruit bowl.
Tools & Materials
Worsted weight wool:
Green: 10yds (9.25m)
Light worsted wool:
Dark green: 18in (45.75cm)
Brown: 18in (45.75cm)
Knitting needles:
Size 2/3 (3mm) straight needles
Set of four size 6 (4mm) double pointed needles
Two size 1/2 (2.5mm) double pointed needles
Polyester fiberfill
Yellow felt—optional
Pear
Using worsted weight green and size 6 (tom) knitting needles, cast on 4 sts, divide over three needles. Mark first stitch on each row.
Row 1: Knit, starting with the first st on the left hand needle. Pull the first stitch tightly to avoid making a gap.
Row 2: Kfb in each st. (8 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Kfb in each st. (16 sts)
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Kfb in each st. (32 sts)
Row 7-12: Knit.
Row 13: (K1, k2tog) to last 2 sts, k2tog. (21 sts)
Row 14: Knit.
Row 15: (K1, k2tog) to end. (14 sts)
Row 16: Knit.
Row 17: (K1, k2tog) to last 2 sts, k2tog. (9 sts)
Row 18-24: Knit.
Row 25: (K1, k2tog) to end. (6 sts)
Thread wool through rem sts.
Leaf
Using green and size 2/3 (3mm) knitting needles, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Kfb, k1, m1b, k1. (5 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Skpo, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Sk2po.
Fasten off.
Stalk
Using brown and size 1/2 (2.5mm) double pointed needles, cast on 2 sts and make an i-cord as follows:
Row 1: Knit, slide sts to other end of needle, keep thread behind the work ready to knit next row.
Rep this row for 1in (2.5cm). Bind off.
Assembly and finishing
Stuff the pear before pulling the yarn tight. Sometimes knitters new to using double pointed needles may not pull the yarn tightly enough when working the change of needles. If this has happened and gaps have appeared use an unsewn tube of toning felt as a casing for the stuffing.
Sew the stem and leaf in place before weaving in the ends.
