Lichen Banded Bat Beanbag Knit Free Pattern
Introduction
This little bat is the perfect project for anyone who has knitted a hat or two and wants to try a toy. Worked in soft DK cotton, the round body is a simple stockinette ball with a few easy increases and decreases, and the belly is brightened by horizontal fair isle bands in moss, lichen and charcoal. Two flat garter-stitch wings and two tiny pointed ears are knitted separately and sewn on, so there is no fiddly shaping to worry about. Filled with fiberfill and a small weighted pouch, it sits happily on a shelf, a desk or a windowsill and feels lovely and squishy in the hand.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: DK weight (light worsted) cotton, approx 125 yd / 50 g per ball.
- Color A (moss green): 1 ball, approx 90 yd
- Color B (lichen / pale sage): 1 ball, approx 55 yd
- Color C (deep moss / charcoal): 1 ball, approx 25 yd
- Needles: 3.75 mm (US 5) circular needle, 40 cm, for magic loop, or a set of 4 double-pointed needles; 3.5 mm (US 4) needles for the wings and ears.
- Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle, polyester fiberfill, a small fabric bag filled with approx 80 g dried rice or plastic pellets, a small amount of black embroidery floss for the eyes, scissors.
- Finished size: body approx 20 cm / 8 in diameter; wings approx 12 cm / 4.75 in long each; ears approx 4 cm / 1.5 in tall; overall wingspan approx 32 cm / 12.5 in.
Abbreviations
- CO – cast on
- k – knit
- k2tog – knit two stitches together (a decrease)
- k3tog – knit three stitches together (a double decrease)
- m1L – make one left: lift the bar between stitches and knit it through the back loop (an increase)
- pm – place marker
- rem – remaining
- BO – bind off
- WS – wrong side
- R / Rnd – row / round
- sts – stitches
Gauge
22 sts and 30 rows = 10 cm / 4 in in stockinette stitch on 3.75 mm needles. Knit a small swatch in the round, measure it flat, and change needle size if your stitch count is off.
Tips Before You Start
- Carry the unused color loosely up the wrong side as you work the belly bands, and never strand tighter than 5 stitches, or the body will pucker.
- Stuff the body firmly but not rock hard, and add the weighted pouch just before you draw the final opening closed so it sits at the base.
- Work the wings and ears in garter stitch (every row knit) so they stay flat and hold their shape when sewn on.
- Pin the wings and ears in place and check the placement in a mirror before you sew, since the eyes are embroidered last and set the character.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Body
Worked in the round from the top down, then stuffed and closed. Using 3.75 mm needles and Color A, CO 8 sts. Join to work in the round, pm.
Rnd 1: k8 (8 sts).
Rnd 2: [k1, m1L] x8 (16 sts).
Rnd 3: k (16 sts).
Rnd 4: [k2, m1L] x8 (24 sts).
Rnd 5: k (24 sts).
Rnd 6: [k3, m1L] x8 (32 sts).
Rnd 7: k (32 sts).
Rnd 8: [k4, m1L] x8 (40 sts).
Rnd 9: k (40 sts).
Rnd 10: [k5, m1L] x8 (48 sts).
Rnd 11: k (48 sts).
Rnd 12: [k6, m1L] x8 (56 sts).
Rnd 13: k (56 sts).
Rnd 14: [k7, m1L] x8 (64 sts).
Rnd 15: k (64 sts).
Rnd 16: [k8, m1L] x8 (72 sts).
Rnd 17: k (72 sts).
Rnd 18: [k9, m1L] x8 (80 sts).
Rnd 19: k (80 sts).
Rnd 20: [k10, m1L] x8 (88 sts).
Rnd 21: k (88 sts).
Rnd 22: [k11, m1L] x8 (96 sts).
Rnd 23: k (96 sts).
Rnd 24: [k12, m1L] x8 (104 sts).
Rnd 25: k (104 sts).
Rnd 26: [k13, m1L] x8 (112 sts).
Rnd 27: k (112 sts).
Rnd 28: [k14, m1L] x8 (120 sts).
Rnd 29: k (120 sts).
Rnd 30: [k15, m1L] x8 (128 sts).
Rnds 31-34: k (128 sts).
Fair Isle Belly Bands
Work in stockinette, carrying the unused color loosely up the wrong side.
Rnd 35: with B, k (128 sts).
Rnd 36: with A, k (128 sts).
Rnd 37: with B, k (128 sts).
Rnd 38: with C, k (128 sts).
Rnd 39: with B, k (128 sts).
Rnd 40: with A, k (128 sts).
Rnd 41: with B, k (128 sts).
Rnd 42: with C, k (128 sts).
Rnd 43: with B, k (128 sts).
Rnd 44: with A, k (128 sts).
Rnd 45: with B, k (128 sts).
Rnd 46: with C, k (128 sts).
Rnd 47: with B, k (128 sts).
Rnd 48: with A, k (128 sts).
Rnds 49-52: with A, k (128 sts).
Shape Bottom
Rnd 53: [k14, k2tog] x8 (120 sts).
Rnd 54: k (120 sts).
Rnd 55: [k13, k2tog] x8 (112 sts).
Rnd 56: k (112 sts).
Rnd 57: [k12, k2tog] x8 (104 sts).
Rnd 58: k (104 sts).
Rnd 59: [k11, k2tog] x8 (96 sts).
Rnd 60: k (96 sts).
Rnd 61: [k10, k2tog] x8 (88 sts).
Rnd 62: k (88 sts).
Rnd 63: [k9, k2tog] x8 (80 sts).
Rnd 64: k (80 sts).
Rnd 65: [k8, k2tog] x8 (72 sts).
Rnd 66: k (72 sts).
Rnd 67: [k7, k2tog] x8 (64 sts).
Rnd 68: k (64 sts).
Rnd 69: [k6, k2tog] x8 (56 sts).
Rnd 70: k (56 sts).
Rnd 71: [k5, k2tog] x8 (48 sts).
Rnd 72: k (48 sts).
Rnd 73: [k4, k2tog] x8 (40 sts).
Rnd 74: k (40 sts).
Rnd 75: [k3, k2tog] x8 (32 sts).
Rnd 76: k (32 sts).
Rnd 77: [k2, k2tog] x8 (24 sts).
Rnd 78: k (24 sts).
Rnd 79: [k1, k2tog] x8 (16 sts).
Rnd 80: k (16 sts).
Rnd 81: [k2tog] x8 (8 sts).
Break yarn leaving a 20 cm tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 8 sts and pull snug. Before closing, stuff the body firmly with polyester fiberfill and add the weighted pouch (approx 80 g dried rice or plastic pellets in a tied fabric bag) through the final opening. Draw closed.
Wings (make 2)
Worked flat in garter stitch with Color A on 3.5 mm needles. CO 3 sts.
Row 1: k3 (3 sts).
Row 2: k1, m1L, k1, m1L, k1 (5 sts).
Row 3: k (5 sts).
Row 4: k1, m1L, k3, m1L, k1 (7 sts).
Row 5: k (7 sts).
Row 6: k1, m1L, k5, m1L, k1 (9 sts).
Row 7: k (9 sts).
Row 8: k1, m1L, k7, m1L, k1 (11 sts).
Row 9: k (11 sts).
Row 10: k1, m1L, k9, m1L, k1 (13 sts).
Row 11: k (13 sts).
Row 12: k1, m1L, k11, m1L, k1 (15 sts).
Row 13: k (15 sts).
Row 14: k1, m1L, k13, m1L, k1 (17 sts).
Row 15: k (17 sts).
Row 16: k1, m1L, k15, m1L, k1 (19 sts).
Row 17: k (19 sts).
Row 18: k1, m1L, k17, m1L, k1 (21 sts).
Row 19: k (21 sts).
Row 20: k1, m1L, k19, m1L, k1 (23 sts).
Rows 21-24: k (23 sts).
Row 25: k2tog, k19, k2tog (21 sts).
Row 26: k (21 sts).
Row 27: k2tog, k17, k2tog (19 sts).
Row 28: k (19 sts).
Row 29: k2tog, k15, k2tog (17 sts).
Row 30: k (17 sts).
Row 31: k2tog, k13, k2tog (15 sts).
Row 32: k (15 sts).
Row 33: k2tog, k11, k2tog (13 sts).
Row 34: k (13 sts).
Row 35: k2tog, k9, k2tog (11 sts).
Row 36: k (11 sts).
Row 37: k2tog, k7, k2tog (9 sts).
Row 38: k (9 sts).
Row 39: k2tog, k5, k2tog (7 sts).
Row 40: k (7 sts).
Row 41: k2tog, k3, k2tog (5 sts).
Row 42: k (5 sts).
Row 43: k2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts).
Row 44: k (3 sts).
Row 45: k3tog (1 st).
Break yarn and pull through the last st. Make the second wing the same way.
Ears (make 2)
Worked flat in garter stitch with Color C on 3.5 mm needles. CO 5 sts.
Row 1: k5 (5 sts).
Row 2: k1, m1L, k3, m1L, k1 (7 sts).
Row 3: k (7 sts).
Row 4: k1, m1L, k5, m1L, k1 (9 sts).
Row 5: k (9 sts).
Row 6: k1, m1L, k7, m1L, k1 (11 sts).
Rows 7-9: k (11 sts).
Row 10: k2tog, k7, k2tog (9 sts).
Row 11: k (9 sts).
Row 12: k2tog, k5, k2tog (7 sts).
Row 13: k (7 sts).
Row 14: k2tog, k3, k2tog (5 sts).
Row 15: k (5 sts).
Row 16: k2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts).
Row 17: k3tog (1 st).
Break yarn and pull through the last st. Make the second ear the same way.
Optional Edging
With 3.5 mm needles and Color B, pick up and knit along the outer edge of each wing, approx 40 sts, and BO loosely. Repeat for each ear, picking up approx 16 sts.
Assembly and Finishing
Block the wings and ears lightly to measurements. Pin the wings to the sides of the body at Rnds 35-40, with the straight edge against the body and the points angled slightly down and outward, then whipstitch in place with Color A. Pin the ears to the top of the head approx 4 cm apart, centered over Rnds 8-14, and whipstitch in place with Color C. Embroider the eyes with black floss using satin stitch at Rnds 20-22, approx 5 cm apart and 1 cm wide. Weave in all ends and give the finished bat a final light steam or damp block, reshaping the wings and ears while it dries.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the belly band sequence for any three colors you love, keeping the same 14-round rhythm so the stripes stay even.
- For a heavier, more grounded beanbag, use a slightly larger pouch of plastic pellets, but keep the fiberfill layer around it so the pellets never show through.
- Add a small hanging loop of Color C at the top between the ears to turn the bat into a pram or shelf charm.
