Cheeky Monkeys

Cheeky Monkeys Knitted Toy

What is Being Made

Cheeky Monkeys is a downloadable knitting pattern for creating stuffed toy monkeys designed by Vicki Stewart for Hillandbenz. These are playful, handmade toys that measure approximately 15 inches tall and 7 inches wide when completed. The design includes multiple components including the main body, outer ears, and optional waistcoat accessory, making them charming handcrafted playthings or decorative items.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental and shaping techniques. The pattern uses stocking stitch as the primary fabric structure, created by alternating knit and purl rows to achieve a smooth, finished appearance. Decreasing techniques are essential throughout the pattern, including skpo (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) and k2tog (knit 2 together) to shape the toy pieces. The pattern also incorporates increasing by knitting into both the front and back loop of stitches to add fullness where needed. P2tbl (purl 2 together through back loops) is used for specific decreasing applications. The toy is constructed using the stitch holder or spare needle technique to manage stitches while working different sections.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – alternated with knit to create stocking stitch
• Skpo (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over) – a left-leaning decrease
• K2tog (knit 2 together) – a right-leaning decrease
• P2tbl (purl 2 together through back loops) – a specialized purl decrease
• Stocking stitch (St-st) – the primary fabric pattern created by alternating knit and purl rows

Materials Required

The pattern calls for specific yarn weights and quantities to achieve the proper finished size. You will need 180m of 4ply variegated yarn (A) for the main body, and 50m of 4ply plain yarn (B) specifically for the face, hands, and feet details. Additional materials include 4m of 4ply yellow yarn for the outer ears, 2m of 4ply off-white or cream yarn, and 30m of 8ply yarn in your chosen color for the optional waistcoat accessory. Construction requires 2.25mm double-pointed needles, a stitch holder or spare needle for managing active stitches, and washable toy stuffing for filling the completed pieces. For finishing details, a small amount of black 4ply yarn is included, with the option to substitute black shiny beads for the eyes to add character and dimension to the finished monkey.