WIP INSANITY PATTERNS

copyright 2012 kathleen sperling

I regularly watch the Round the Twist knitting video podcast by Carin Boelman (roundthetwistwithcarin.blogspot.com), who is quite the Doctor Who fan. Things got very interesting when she started talking about a new guy she was dating that she thought was a keeper. She eventually announced her engagement, and began discussing wedding plans! In episode 138, she revealed that shed love to have mini amigurumi cupcakes as decorations for all the tables or favours for guests. But (to her credit), she realised that she didnt really have the time to do them all herself, so if any of her viewers would like to help out by knitting cupcakes, she would love that. Being grateful for the entertainment Carins podcast always provides, and being very happy for her upcoming nuptuals, I wanted to get in on the cupcake-making action. And what better sort of cupcake to make for this couples wedding than one which honours her fangeekery? The first cupcake I made looked like a Jayne Cobb hat (from Firefly), but for my second cupcake I thought, how about honouring her Doctor Who love by doing a Dalek cupcake? This pattern is the result. Silly, but fun. Enjoy!

DALEK CUPCAKE

SIZES
One size; but smaller or larger cupcakes can be achieved by going down or up in needle size

MATERIALS
fingering weight yarn in three colours o colour A: brown/beige/white (cupcake wrapper); model used a little more than 3yds of Sandnes Garn Lanett, 213yds/195m/50g, 100% merino, colour #1001 o colour B: black (icing bulge and spots); model used about 7yds of Elann Sock It to Me 4 Ply, 229yds/209m/50g, 75% superwash wool/25% nylon, colour Black o colour C: grey (icing background); model used about 3.5yds Patons Kroy Socks 4 Ply, 166yds/50g, 75% superwash wool/25% nylon, colour #54048 Silver Fox set of 2.5mm double-pointed needles stitch marker, or whatever you use to mark the beginning of rounds enough stuffing to fill a mini toy cupcake (see finished measurements) (optional) crochet hook no bigger than 2.5mm

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 1 5/8 wide at widest point and 1 3/8 high (not including the cherry on top)

GAUGE
Approximately 32 sts and 40 rows to 4 in stocking stitch; but its not essential to get exact gauge

NOTES CAST-ON
The cast-on recommended for this pattern is Judys Magic Cast-On, the instructions for which can be found online at http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html . However, any method which enables you to cast on for a closed tube in the round such as a figure-8 cast-on or Turkish cast-on will work fine.

ABBREVIATIONS
() surround a small set of instructions to be repeated K: knit K2tog: knit 2 sts together K6tog: knit 6 sts together; if thats too awful to do with knitting needles, use a crochet hook Ktbl: knit through the back loop LN: left needle P: purl rem: remaining rep: repeat SKP: sl1, K1, PSSO (although if you prefer another left-leaning decrease, such as SSK, feel free to use that instead) st: stitch; plural: sts

PATTERN
Using Judys Magic Cast-On and colour A, cast on 8 sts. Mark for beginning of rounds and begin: Round 1: K. Round 2: *(K1, K1tbl) into next st, rep from * to end of round. 16 sts on the needles. Round 3: K. Round 4: *(K1, K1tbl) into next st, K1, rep from * to end of round. 24 sts on the needles. Round 5: K. Round 6: P. Round 7: (K1, P1) 12 times. Repeat Round 7 three more times. Turn work inside-out so that the purl side is now showing on the bottom. Break colour A and weave the tail in on the inside of the work. Thread the remaining tail of colour A (located in the centre of the bottom) through to the inside of the work and weave in. All future tails of yarn made when joining in or breaking off colours are to be kept sticking out of the cupcake through the opening at the top, even when the opening gets really small. Join in colour B, leaving an 8 tail, and work as follows: Round 11: *(K1, K1tbl) into next st, K2, rep from * to end of round. 32 sts on the needles. Rounds 12-17: K.

WIP INSANITY PATTERNS

DALEK CUPCAKE

wipinsanity.blogspot.com

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Join in colour C (do not break colour B yet), leaving an 8 tail, and work as follows: Round 18: *Pick up the st which is 6 rounds below the next st on the LN by going to the inside of the work and picking up the back of the st; place it on the LN and K it together with the next st on the LN; rep from * to end of round. This creates a ridge of colour B which is the icing bulge. Stuff the cupcake as much as you can up to this point. From this point on, stuff as you go. Round 19: (K1 with colour B, K1 with colour C) 16 times. Round 20: K with colour C. Round 21: (K2tog with colour C, K1 with colour B, K1 with colour C) 8 times. 24 sts on the needles. Round 22: K with colour C. Round 23: (K2tog with colour B, K1 with colour C) 8 times. 16 sts on the needles. Round 24: K with colour C. Round 25: (K2tog with colour B, K2tog with colour C) 4 times. 8 sts on the needles. Round 26: SKP with colour C four times. 4 sts on the needles. Cupcake should be fully stuffed by this point. Break colour B, leaving an 8 tail. Pull all three tails (2 of colour B, 1 of colour C) snugly and tie them very securely in an overhand knot at the top of the cupcake. Trim knot ends to about 1cm. Continue on with colour C only: Round 27: *(K1, K1tbl, K1) into next st, rep from * to end of round. 12 sts on the needles. Round 28: K loosely. Round 29: K6tog twice. 2 sts on the needles. Break colour C and run the tail through rem 2 sts. Hide colour C tail within the cupcake. Squish into shape. Admire the combination of geekery and cuteness.

WIP INSANITY PATTERNS

DALEK CUPCAKE

wipinsanity.blogspot.com