Bart Simpson choc orange cover / toy

Bart Simpson Chocolate Orange Cover or 15cm Toy

What Is Being Made

This is a knitted Bart Simpson character cover designed to fit over a chocolate orange or function as a standalone 15 centimetre toy. The design captures the iconic animated character through color blocking and simple shaping, making it an appealing project for fans of the character and beginners to knitting alike.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project uses knitting as the primary craft method. The pattern is designed with beginner-level difficulty, making it accessible to knitters who are new to garment or toy construction. The design relies on fundamental knitting techniques combined with basic shaping methods to create a three-dimensional character form.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The pattern employs several essential knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stocking stitch (abbreviated st st) – the primary stitch throughout most of the project, created by alternating knit rows and purl rows to produce a smooth, classic fabric
• Garter stitch (abbreviated gs) – created by knitting every row, though this is referenced in the abbreviations
• Knit stitch (k) – the fundamental stitch used in most rows
• Purl stitch (p) – used to create the reverse side of stocking stitch
• Increases (inc) – used to expand stitch counts, particularly for shaping the head and creating volume in the body
• Decreases (dec) – used to reduce stitch counts and shape the shoulders
• Yarn round needle (yrn) – used in combination with knit two together to create decorative picot holes for the hair spikes detail
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a decrease technique used both for shaping and as part of the picot row for hair texture
• Bind and tie (B and T) – the finishing technique where wool ends are threaded on a tapestry needle and passed through stitches to close and secure the piece

Construction Method and Shaping

The toy is constructed in distinct color-blocked sections that build the character from bottom to top. The body begins with a cast-on of 25 stitches in blue wool, immediately increased to 50 stitches in the first row to create volume. Stocking stitch is worked for 7 rows, followed by transition rows. The piece then changes to red wool for 12 rows of stocking stitch, representing Bart's shirt. Shoulder shaping is achieved by knitting two stitches together across the entire row, reducing the stitch count back to 25. The head section begins in yellow wool with increases worked at intervals to expand to 30 stitches, then stocking stitch is continued for 27 rows to create the head height. A decorative picot row using yarn round needle and knit two together creates the characteristic spiky hair effect.

Materials Required

This project requires minimal materials, making it economical and accessible:

• Needles: 3.25mm knitting needles
• Yarn: Double knitting weight wool in multiple colors – yellow, blue, red, white, and black in small amounts (oddments or leftover yarns work well)
• Notions: Small amount of stuffing for filling the toy to create dimension, and a tapestry needle for binding off and finishing

Designer Information

This pattern was designed by Andrew Lucas as part of the dolls and dolls accessories project collection. It is offered as a downloadable PDF by an independent designer.