Cookie Monster choc orange cover / toy

Cookie Monster Chocolate Orange Cover or 15cm Toy by Andrew Lucas

What is Being Made

This is a beginner-friendly knitted toy or decorative cover designed by Andrew Lucas, featuring a Cookie Monster character. The finished piece measures approximately 15 centimeters and can function either as a standalone stuffed toy or as a cover for a chocolate orange. The design captures the iconic blue character with contrasting details, making it an accessible project for knitters new to toy construction.

Craft and Technique Overview

This project uses knitting as the primary technique, employing fundamental stitches and shaping methods suitable for beginners. The construction method builds the toy from bottom to top, starting with the body, progressing through the shoulders, and finishing with the head. Strategic increases and decreases create the three-dimensional form, while the use of stocking stitch provides a smooth, even fabric ideal for a finished toy appearance.

Stitches and Shaping Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch (st st) – alternating knit and purl rows to create a smooth, flat fabric that forms the main body of the toy
• Garter stitch (gs) – knit every row for textured areas
• Increases (inc) – used to expand stitch count, particularly for creating the head and initial body shaping
• Decreases (dec) – knit two stitches together (k2tog) and purl two stitches together (p2tog) to reduce stitch count and shape the shoulders and head
• Bind and tie (B and T) – a finishing technique where remaining stitches are threaded onto a tapestry needle, drawn up tightly, and secured to close the top of the head

Construction Sequence

The toy is constructed in three main sections. The body begins by casting on 25 stitches, then increasing in every stitch to create 50 stitches for width. Stocking stitch is worked for 21 rows to establish the main body length. The shoulders are shaped by knitting two stitches together across the row to reduce back to 25 stitches. The head is created by increasing stitches to 37, then working stocking stitch for 17 rows before decreasing progressively to close the top. The final stitches are threaded and pulled tight to complete the head.

Materials and Tools

• Needles: 3.25mm knitting needles
• Yarn: Double knitting wool in five colors – blue (primary body color), white, black, light brown, and dark brown for facial features and details
• Additional materials: Small amount of polyester stuffing to fill the toy, tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in ends

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, this design introduces toy knitting fundamentals without overwhelming complexity. Knitters will practice basic increases and decreases, color changes for features, and simple finishing techniques. The straightforward stitch patterns and clear progression make it ideal for those new to amigurumi-style construction.