Sam, the slug

Sam, the Slug: Knitted Toy by Stana D. Sortor

What Is Being Made

Sam, the slug is a small knitted toy designed by Stana D. Sortor. This finished project measures approximately 5 inches (13 centimeters) in length, making it an ideal size for a decorative toy, gift, or collectible handmade item. The slug features characteristic details including eyes and lips, created with contrasting yarn colors to bring the character to life.

Yarn and Materials

This knitting project requires minimal yarn, using less than a single ball of worsted weight yarn—approximately 20 yards total for the main body. Additional small amounts of black yarn are needed for the eyes and red yarn for the lips. The toy is stuffed with polyester fiberfill, requiring one small bag of filling material to achieve the finished three-dimensional shape.

Needles and Notions

The pattern calls for double-pointed needles (DPN) in US size 3 (3.25mm), using a set of four needles for working in the round. Knitters may substitute their preferred needles for circular knitting if desired. Additional notions required include a yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends, scissors, a stitch marker to track the beginning of rounds, and polyester fiberfill for stuffing.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Sam, the slug is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners to intermediate knitters. The toy is worked in the round using double-pointed needles, a method that creates seamless, tubular fabric ideal for three-dimensional projects.

• Knit Stitch: The foundation stitch used throughout the body of the slug, creating smooth stockinette fabric
• KFB (Knit Front and Back): An increase technique that creates two stitches from one stitch by knitting into both the front and back loops of the same stitch. This technique is used strategically to shape the slug's body
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): A left-leaning decrease that reduces two stitches to one stitch, used for shaping as the toy is constructed
• Working in the Round: The entire toy is worked circularly using stitch markers to identify the beginning of each round, eliminating the need for seaming along the body

Construction Method

The pattern uses a bottom-up construction method, beginning with a small cast-on of 6 stitches distributed across three double-pointed needles (2 stitches per needle). The body is built through a series of increase rounds using the KFB technique, expanding from 6 stitches to 9 stitches, then to 12 stitches as the slug takes shape. Stockinette rows worked between increase rounds create the smooth fabric surface. Once the body reaches its full dimensions, the toy is stuffed with polyester fiberfill and closed, then embellished with black yarn eyes and red yarn lips to complete the character.