These little toadstools were made for a fairy tree display at the Long Island Fairy Festival in Port Washington, NY. Pink Flamingo Arts & Crafts put a call out for knit and crochet items to be part of the fairy tree, and I thought it would be fun to make some toadstools. I had trouble finding an existing free pattern, though, that was the size and look I wanted. And thus, here is what I came up with.
This pattern is worked on double pointed needles. I like knitting the stem flat and the cap in the round. I find it easier to work with the smaller number of stem stitches, and it also is helpful for stuffing from the bottom at the end. Alternatively, if you work the stem in the round, you could add stuffing from the top as you go.
Materials:
Four US 3 double pointed needles
DK or sport-weight yarn in preferred colors (e.g. red and white)
Tapestry needle
Fiberfill and/or scrap yarn for stuffing
Begin with two of the double pointed needles, working the piece flat.
CO 3 stitches in White.
Row 1 (RS): kfb all (6 sts)
Row 2 (WS): purl all
Row 3: kfb all (12 sts)
Row 4: purl all
Row 5: knit all
Row 6: purl all
Repeat rows 5 & 6 one more time.
Transition to working in the round by distributing stitches onto three double pointed needles (4 sts per needle). The right side of the work should face out.
Switch to Red. Knit all in red unless a stitch is indicated otherwise (creates spots on the toadstool).
Round 1: kfb all (24 sts)
Round 2: kfb all (48 sts)
Round 3: knit all
Round 4: *k2, k2tog, k1 in white, k1, k2tog, repeat from * to the end, six times.
Round 5: knit all
Round 6: *k1 in white, k2tog, k2, k2tog in white, k3, k2tog, repeat from * to the end, three times.
Round 7: knit all
Round 8: *k2, k2tog, k2, k1 in white, k2tog, repeat from * to the end, three times.
Round 9: *k2tog, k2, repeat from * to the last stitch, k1.
Round 10: k1 in white, k1, k2tog, k2, k1 in white, k2tog, k2, k2tog in white, k2, k2tog in white.
Round 11: *k2tog, k2, repeat from * to the end, three times.
Break white and sew in end. Break red, leaving a ~4 inch tail. With a tapestry needle, draw the yarn end through the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the top of the cap. Sew closed.
To finish, stuff the cap from the bottom with fiberfill and/or scrap yarn. Sew the stem closed, adding some stuffing to it as you go. All ends can be drawn through the toadstool to hide them. As a finishing touch, I like to weave several inches of the stem-colored yarn around the based of the cap. Then I pull it tight (without breaking the yarn), tie it, and hide the ends. This band at the base helps add more definition between the stem and cap.
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