Blanket EZ Panda Pillow

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Bernat® Alize Blanket-EZ™:
• 3 balls Contrast A Cream
• 2 balls Contrast B Black
• Safety Pin
• 2 pillow forms, 20"x 20"
• Polyfil®
• Tapestry needle


• GAUGE: 5 stitches = 4".


• MEASUREMENTS: Approx 14" diameter x 20" tall.
• Notes:
• Right side of project is facing at all times. Do not turn work at end of rows.
• “Working yarn" is held behind sts throughout work.
• Loops from working yarn are always pulled through sts from back to front of work.

DIRECTIONS:

Cut first loop of yarn close to base to create a yarn “tail". Count next 4 loops for foundation round. Tie tail to yarn between 4th and 5th loops to create ring. Place ring on a flat surface with loops pointing outward.
1st round: Working counter-clockwise, pull first 2 loop from working yarn up through first loop of round (first loop to the left of tie) creating 2 knit sts. *Pull next 2 loops from working yarn up through next loop of foundation round. Rep from * twice more. Place safety pin between first and last sts of round to mark end of round. 4 sts increased. 8 sts at end of round.
2nd round: Pull first 2 loops from working yarn up through first st of round - increase 1 st in next st made. *Pull next 2 loops from working yarn up through next st of round - increase 1 st in next st made. Rep from * 6 times more. 8 sts increased. 16 sts at end of round.
3rd round: *Increase 1 st in next st. Pull next loop from working yarn up through next st. Rep from * around. 8 sts increased. 24 sts at end of round.
4th round: *Increase 1 st in next st. (Pull next loop from working yarn up through next st) twice. Rep from * around. 8 sts increased. 32 sts at end of round.
5th round: *Increase 1 st in next st. (Pull next loop from working yarn up through next st) 3 times. Rep from * around. 8 sts increased. 40 sts at end of round.
6th round: *Increase 1 st in next st. (Pull next loop from working yarn up through next st) 4 times. Rep from * around. 8 sts increased. 48 sts at end of round.
7th round: *Increase 1 st in next st. (Pull next loop from working yarn up through next st) 5 times. Rep from * around. 8 sts increased. 56 sts at end of round.
8th round: Pull first loop from working yarn up through first st. Pull next loop from working yarn up through next st. Continue in this manner to end of round.
9th to 13th rounds: As 8th round.
Break A. Join B.
14th to 17th rounds: With B, as 9th round.
Break B at end of 17th round. Join A.
18th and 19th rounds: With A, as 8th round.
20th round: Place first loop of round on top of second loop creating double loop - treat this double loop as 1 st. Pull next loop from working yarn up through double stitch - knit 2 sts together decrease made. Work next 5 sts as usual. *Knit 2 sts together decrease. Work 5 sts as usual. Rep from * around. 8 sts decreased. 48 sts remain.
21st round: As 8th round.
22nd round: *Knit 2 sts together decrease. Work 4 sts as usual. Rep from * around. 8 sts decreased. 40 sts remain.
Insert pillow forms.
23rd round: *Knit 2 sts together decrease. Work 3 sts as usual. Rep from * around. 8 sts decreased. 32 sts remain.
24th round: *Knit 2 sts together decrease. Work 2 sts as usual. Rep from * around. 8 sts decreased. 24 sts remain.
25th round: *Knit 2 sts together decrease. Work next st as usual. Rep from * around. 8 sts decreased. 16 sts remain.
26th round: *Knit 2 sts together decrease. Repfrom * around. 8 sts decreased. 8 sts remain.
Close bottom: Cut between 2nd and 3rd loops of working yarn. Cut bases of 1st and 2nd sts of working yarn close to base to create a tail approx 6" long. Pull tail through remaining 4 sts and close bottom. Use tapestry needle to weave in tail.

EYES (Make 2)
With B, cut first loop of yarn close to base to create a yarn “tail". Count next 4 loops for foundation round. Tie tail to yarn between 4th and 5th loops to create ring. Place ring on a flat surface with loops pointing outward.
1st round: Working counter-clockwise, pull first 2 loops from working yarn up through first loop of round (first loop to the left of tie) creating 2 knit sts. *Pull next 2 loops from working yarn up through next loop of foundation round. Rep from * twice more. Place safety pin between 1st and last sts of round to mark end of round. 4 sts increased. 8 sts at end of round.
2nd round: Pull first 2 loops from working yarn up through first st of round - increase 1 st in next st made. *Pull next 2 loops from working yarn up through next st of round - increase 1 st in next st made. Rep from * 6 times more. 8 sts increased. 16 sts at end of round.
Bind off round: Pull 2nd st through 1st st. Pull 3rd st through 2nd st. Pull 4th st through 3rd st. Continue in this manner to end of round.
Cut thread at base of next 5 loops of working yarn. Draw this length through last loop (remaining yarn will be used to sew Eye to Pillow).
Cut length of A 8" [20.5 cm] long. Cut thread at base of loops. Using this yarn, embroider pupils on Eyes as shown in photo.

EARS (Make 2)
With B, **cut first loop of yarn close to base to create a yarn “tail". Count next 4 loops for foundation round. Tie tail to yarn between 4th and 5th loops to create ring. Place ring on a flat surface with loops pointing outward.
1st round: Working counter-clockwise, pull first 2 loops from working yarn up through first loop of round (first loop to the left of tie) creating 2 knit sts. *Pull next 2 loops from working yarn up through next loop of foundation round. Rep from * twice more. Place safety pin between first and last sts of round to mark end of round. 4 sts increased. 8 sts at end of round.
2nd round: Pull first 2 loops from working yarn up through first st of round - increase 1 st in next st made. *Pull next 2 loops from working yarn up through next st of round - increase 1 st in next st made. Rep from * 6 times more. 8 sts increased. 16 sts at end of round.
3rd round: Pull first loop from working yarn up through 1st st. Pull next loop from working yarn up through next st. Continue in this manner to end of round.
Bind off round: Pull 2nd st through 1st st. Pull 3rd st through 2nd st. Pull 4th st through 3rd st. Continue in this manner to end of rnd.**
Cut thread at base of next 5 loops of working yarn. Draw this length through last loop (remaining yarn will be used to sew Ear to Pillow).

MUZZLE
With A, work from ** to ** as given for Ears.
Cut thread at base of next 8 loops of working yarn. Draw this length through last loop (remaining yarn will be used to sew Muzzle to Pillow).

Cut length of B 8" long. Cut thread at base of loops. Using this yarn, embroider nose and mouth on Muzzle as shown in photo.

FINISHING
Stuff Muzzle lightly. Using smooth lengths of yarn, sew Eyes, Muzzle and Ears to Pillow as shown in photo.


ABBREVIATIONS
Approx = Approximately
Rep = Repeat
St(s) = Stitch(es)