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Bokaclava! A devilish balaclavaBy way of a brief explanation - Bok is a

gargoyle/demon in a classic Doctor Who storycalled The Daemons. My partner, mereweeks after we first met, asked me if it wouldbe possible to knit a bokaclava, complete withsticky out tongue.

(The answer to that is yes, obviously)

Adult size - fits 20 - 23 head circumference.

Pattern

Gauge: 19sts/27 rows over 4 with 4mm needles.

Yarn : Any wool blend that gives the right gauge and creates a fairly stiff fabric with 4mmneedles, but is soft enough to wear against the face, is suitable - eg RYC Cashsoft Aran, SirdarBonus Aran.

With 4mm needles, cast on 72 sts. Join, being carefulnot to twist; work 31 rib in the round for 13 rows.

Knit stocking stitch for the next 22 rows.

Make mouth and nose opening

Next row - knit 12 sts. Break yarn; knit next 12 sts

with scrap yarn to make mouth later. Rejoin yarn andknit to end.

Knit 7 rows in stocking stitch.

Next row: knit 14 sts; break yarn, knit 8 sts withscrap yarn, rejoin - knit 14 sts. Place next 36 sts onstitch holder - these stitches will be the back, and areworked separately. Turn work and purl back acrossfirst 36 sts.

Knit 12 rows stocking stitch, flat.

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Make eyeholes -

Next row (right side) -

k7, CO8, k6, CO8, k6.

Next row (wrong side) -

p7, m8, p6, m8, p7.Knit 4 rows stocking stitch.

Short row eyebrows

1st eyebrow -

Row 1 : k17; slip last stitch, wrap and turn (as inshort row technique).Row 2 : p16. Save last stitch on stitch holder,unwrapped.Row 3 : k to last unwrapped stitch, wrap and turn.

Row 4 : p to last unsaved stitch; save last stitch onstitch holder.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 4 sts remain live, 7 arewrapped, and 7 are on stitch holder.

Next row (right side) : knit across the 4 live stitches;pick up and knit into back of wrapped stitches until allare live again.

2nd eyebrow -

Row 1 : Knit across to last stitch; save last stitch onstitch holder. Turn but do not wrap.

Row 2 : p16, wrap next stitch and turn.

Row 3 : k to last stitch; save on stitch holder. Turn.

Row 4 : p to last unwrapped stitch; wrap and turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 4 sts remain live, 7 arewrapped and 7 on stitch holder.

Next (right side) row k4.

Next row - k across to wrapped stitches; pick up andknit to bridge of nose. Knit across first eyebrow, thuscreating garter stitch eyebrows.

Knit 2 rows in stocking stitch for forehead. Breakyarn.

Rejoin yarn beside first saved stitch to the right of thefirst eyebrow, to knit 2x2 rib forehead (as you knitacross them, pick up 8 stitches between these, and afurther 8 between the corresponding saved stitches on

other stitch holder upon reaching them) knit 12 rowsof 22 rib across all stitches (52 sts). Cast off.

Side ribbing

Pick up six stitches at side of head leading up toforehead ribbing (see photos). Work 14 rows in 22rib, cast off.

BACK

Rejoin yarn; knit 58 rows in stocking stitch.

Make holes for horns

With RS facing - k10; break yarn, k4 on scrap yarn;rejoin yarn, k8; break yarn, k4 on scrap yarn; rejoinyarn, k10.

Next row (WS) : p10; break yarn, p4 on scrap yarn;

rejoin yarn, p8; break yarn, p4.

Knit 10 rows stocking stitch; cast off.

Mattress stitch side ribs to side of foreheadrib.Sew top of forehead ribbing to back ofknitting along the cast off edge and down thesides with a flat seam (see photos).

Make mouth and tongue

Undo scrap yarn and using 4mm DPNs pick upstitches either side (24 sts). Knit 5 rows stst.

Dec 1 stitch either side until 12 sts remain.

Knit 4 rows stocking stitch.

Dec 1 stitch either side until 6 sts remain. Graftremaining 6 sts together.

Create mouth and tongue by pushing all but the last13 rows back into the mouth opening and sewingdown.

Nose

Undo scrap yarn. Cast off lower stitches. Dec 1 stitchat each end of each row of upper stitches to make apoint, and fasten off, use tail end of yarn to sew down

just above mouth.Loop yarn through last 5 sts and fasten off.

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Make horns

Undo all scrap yarn; put 4 live stitches from each edgeonto DPNs, and pick up 2 sts from rows at either sideof hole - 12 stitches. Knit 12 rounds.

Next row : k2, k2tog; repeat until 9 stitches remain.

Knit five rounds.

Next row : k7, k2tog (8 sts).

Graft ends.

Ears

Left ear -

Cast on 3 sts and knit stocking stitch for 2 rows.

k1; m1; k2 (4sts)Next row: purl.

k1; m1; k2; m1; k1 (6 sts)Next row: purl.

k1; m1; knit to last st; m1; k1 (8 sts)Next row: purl.

k1; m1; k to end (9 sts)Next row: purl.

k1; m1; k to last stitch; m1; k1 (11 sts)Next row: purl.

Knit to last st; m1; k1 (12 sts)Next row: purl.

k1; m1; knit to last stitch; m1; k1 (14 sts)Next row: purl.

k1; m1; knit to end (15 sts)Next row: purl.

k1; m1; knit to last stitch; m1; k1 (17 sts)Next row: purl.

k to last stitch; m1; k1 (18 sts)

~~~~~~

Next row: purl.

Make 54 stitches, join taking care not to twist (72 sts)

Knit round these 72 sts.

Next row: k4, k2tog; repeat (60 sts)Knit two rows.Next row: k1, k2tog; repeat (40 sts)Knit two rows.Next row: k2tog; repeat (20 sts)

Knit two rows.Next row: k2tog; repeat (10sts)Last row as above (5 sts)

Right ear -

Reverse instructions to ~~~~~~ then continue asfor left ear.

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Making up

Attaching ears

The ears are knit so that the tops of the points are to

be folded over on themselves, adding thickness,creating a back to the ear and making them morethree dimensional.

This is done as follows -

Sew the part of the ear where the circular knittingbegins to the top of the ribbed edge section of theopening created for the ear.

Sew up edge of point along side of head, until 1 fromend of point. Fold point down on itself, and stitchdown. Sew seam between other edge of point and sideseam of the back of the balaclava, until you reach thecircular part of the ear. Sew circular part to rest ofopening.

Run a few stitches through upper ear to adddefinition.

Weave in ends.

Handwash and dry flat; shape while drying.

This pattern is free for personal use, and notto be reproduced, used or knit for resale orprofit.

Contact aminspace@gmail.com for furtherinformation.

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