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Time: 4h00

Knit Your Own Zombie
With a rope and spade, the zombie gravedigger ?is a specialist at freeing up the undead. Well someone’s got to do the job! The monochrome colours and green, maggoty eye may not be immediately enchanting, but she still enjoys her accessories – her hat is decorated with the once-beautiful flowers from some poor soul’s grave.

Posted by Ivy Press • Published 25th October 2012 • See Ivy Press's 15 projects »

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Step 1
The Doll
Head
Make 2 pieces
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 10 sts in dark grey.
Work 8 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Next row: K2, M1, K to last ?2 sts, M1, K2. (12 sts)
Next row: P.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. ?(16 sts)
Work 10 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
Next row: K2, k2tog, K8, ssk, K2. (14 sts)
Next row: P2tog, P10, p2tog. ?(12 sts)
Cast off.
Step 2
Upper body
The upper body is knitted from the top to the bottom.
Front
Make 1
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 14 sts in dark grey.
Work 6 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Next row: Cast on 4 sts, K to end. (18 sts)
Next row: Cast on 4 sts, P to end. (22 sts)
Work 23 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
Next row: P4, K14, P4.
Next row: Cast off 4 sts, K to last 4 sts, cast off 4 sts. (14 sts)
Break yarn and rejoin it to WS of work.
Work 5 rows in st st, beg with ?a P row.
Cast off.
Step 3
Back
Make 1
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 14 sts in dark grey.
Work 24 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
Cast off.
Step 4
Lower body
Front
Make 1
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 14 sts in dark grey.
Work 6 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Next row: Cast on 4 sts, K to end. (18 sts)
Next row: Cast on 4 sts, P to end. (22 sts)
Work 7 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Next row: P4, K14, P4.
Next row: Cast off 4 sts, K to last 4 sts, cast off 4 sts. (14 sts)
Break yarn and rejoin it to WS of work.
Work 5 rows in st st, beg with ?a P row.
Cast off.
Step 5
Back
Make 1
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 14 sts in dark grey.
Work 8 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Cast off.
Step 6
Legs
Make 2
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 30 sts in dark grey.
Work 6 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Next row: K6, cast off 18 sts, ?K to end. (12 sts)
Work 23 rows in st st, beg with a P row.
Cast off.
Step 7
Arms
Make 2
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 4 sts in dark grey.
Work 4 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Next row: Cast on 3 sts, K to end. (7 sts)
Next row: Cast on 3 sts, P to end. (10 sts)
Work 28 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
Next row: K1, k2tog, K4, ssk, K1. (8 sts)
Next row: P2tog, P4, p2tog. ?(6 sts)
Break yarn, thread it through rem sts and secure.
Step 8
Maggots
Make 3
Using the crochet hook, work ?a 1-cm (3/8-in) crochet chain ?for each maggot, using pale green yarn.
Step 9
Making up ?& decorating
Sew the head, body arms and legs together as outlined in the instructions on page 17.

Using cream yarn, embroider ?the bones, ribs and skull in ?chain stitch, using both the ?main photo and the body parts close-ups (above) to guide you. The knee caps are formed from a small circle of chain stitches. Add straight stitches to the spine to represent the vertebrae and across the beginning of the foot.

Work one eye socket in chain stitch, using cream yarn. Thread the yarn tail at one end of each maggot up through the crochet chain and pull slightly to make the maggot curl. Use the yarn tails to secure the maggots to the eye socket. Attach the glass bead for the second eye and work a few rows of chain stitch around the eye, using cream yarn. Work three straight stitches in cream yarn to form a triangle for the nose. Work a straight stitch in cream yarn for the mouth and attach the three white teardrop beads for the teeth.
Step 10
Hat
Side & rim
Make 1
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 35 sts in lilac.
Work 14 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
Cast off.
With RS facing, pick up ?and knit 35 sts along cast-on edge.
Next row: P.
Next row: K1, [inc1] 33 times, K1. (68 sts)
Work 2 rows in st st, beg with ?a P row.
Cast off kwise.

Tip
Make 1
Using 3 mm (US 2/3) needles, cast on 7 sts in lilac.
1st row: Inc1, K4, inc1, K1. ?(9 sts)
Next row: P.
Next row: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1. (11 sts)
Next row: P.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. ?(15 sts)
Next row: K1, k2tog, K to last ?3 sts, ssk, K1. (13 sts)
Next row: P.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. ?(9 sts)
Next row: K1, k2tog, K3, ssk, K1. (7 sts)
Cast off pwise.

Making up
Join the back seam of the ?side and rim of the hat, using mattress stitch. Oversew ?the tip of the hat to the sides, working from the inside. Wrap the mid-pink yarn around the hat to represent the hatband ?and secure. Wrap the wired ?stem of the flower around ?the yarn hatband.
Step 11
Spade
Blade
Make 2 pieces
Using 2.75 mm (US 2) needles, cast on 14 sts in metallic silver crochet yarn.
Work 10 rows in st st, beg with a K row.
Next row: K1, k2tog, K8, ssk, k1. (12 sts)
Next row: P.
Next row: K1, k2tog, K6, ssk, K1. (10 sts)
Next row: P2tog, P6, p2tog. ?(8 sts)
Next row: K1, k2tog, K2, ssk, K1. (6 sts)
Next row: P2tog, K2, p2tog. ?(4 sts)
Next row: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Next row: P2tog.
Break yarn and pull through rem st.

Handle
Make 1
Using 2.75 mm (US 2) needles, cast on 28 sts in teal.
Work 3 rows in st st, beg with ?a K row.
Cast off kwise.
Step 12
Rope
Make 1
Using the crochet hook, work a 60-cm (2-ft) crochet chain, using flecked light brown yarn.
Step 13
Making up
Place the two blade pieces together, with the right sides facing outwards. Oversew the two sides, leaving the top edge open. Cut a piece of card, using the template shown to the right. Cut the drinking straw into a 10-cm (4-in) length. Trim the last 1 cm (3/8 in) of the end of the drinking straw into a V-shaped point and make two 1-cm (3/8-in) slits from the sides of the point. Place the card blade between the pointed ends of the straw and secure with sticky tape. Insert the card into the knitted blade and sew the top edges up to the sides of the handle. Wrap the knitted handle around the straw, so that the reverse of the stocking stitch is on the outside, and oversew the long seam, starting from the top end. Secure the handle to the top of the blade with teal yarn and work a long V shape on each side of the blade, using chain stitch. Fill in with a few straight stitches.