Friends! I have a VERY highly requested pattern for you today! Louie the Lovebot was on Knit Picks for years but apparently has not been for awhile now. Every year starting in January I have been getting daily requests for the pattern for a couple years now. Well, I finally got by bum in gear and redesigned the pattern for you guys, huzzah! He is now knit all in one piece like my new patterns, placing stitch markers to come back to and pick up stitches for the limbs.
The best part of the new Louie? I am posting him here for free! Yeah!
I am trying something a little different this year. I know that for many people the $6-12 I charge for my patterns can be too much. I love being creative and making, it feeds my soul and brings me so much joy and I want that to be accessible to every one.
At the same time pattern writing takes TONS of times. Between knitting or sewing, typing, editing, taking photos, editing photos, and then laying out patterns they can take me anywhere from 60 to over 100 hours to create. I know some blogs cover their time with ads. I don’t know about you, but it has gotten to the point online now that I am so over pop ups and ads jumping around pages that half the pages I go on I just decide it is not worth all the ad noise and close the page. I have just had enough of so many things trying to get in my face!
So, here’s the deal. I am experimenting to see if I can offer patterns for free here on the blog, and use my Amazon and a handful of other affiliate links and a newly started Ko-Fi account to cover my materials and help cover my time. That would mean not having to add annoying ads and pop ups so that you can keep your sanity. I used to love blogs and all the creativity and friends I would find online and I am hoping to get back to that joyful feeling, and not instead feeling annoyed by 8 pop ups every 4 seconds!
Here is how you can keep patterns and tutorials coming ad free:
- You can click on my marked with a * links and order supplies. Even if you pick something other then I suggest, if you get to a website via my link I will earn a very small commission that will not cost you anything. It is a win-win: you get craft supplies delivered to your door and I earn a little bit to help me buy more supplies and cover my time and put more patterns and tutorials up for free.
- If you use this pattern and find it helpful, you can buy me a Ko-fi on my Ko-fi account. $5 is the suggested amount but even $1 would help. If everyone who knits this pattern donated $1 dollar I will be able to keep posting free patterns and tutorials! And $5 would be amazing! Or however much you feel you can give. There is even a monthly donation option if you want to support the free, ad free content idea.
- If money is tight you can still help! If you make anything from my site sharing your finished items with others and sending them to my blog is a huge help! You get to look cool for your friends and followers, and hopefully someone else can find their way to my blog.
- You can also follow me on Instagram and like my posts. Liking a post seems like such a tiny thing, but it really makes a difference for creators like me.
- You can sign up for my mailing list so that I can let you know about once a week what fun free patterns and tutorials I am sharing. This helps me able to talk to you without having to struggle with algorithms. Just content that you are interested in direct to you. There is a subscribe link to the right in the sidebar there —–> or another at the end of this post.
OK, I’m done. On to Louie!
Feeling a little down and need some extra love in your life? Louie’s your guy. This lovebot is a great knit for when you or someone you know needs a little extra cheering up.
Louie’s Story
Louie was suppose to become a cleaning robot, like Rosie on the Jetsons, but the lab he was created in had a delay in programming his cleaning code. Instead, Louie sat over a long three-day weekend and discovered a bunch of old black and white romantic movies that he watched for hours. When the scientists came back to the lab after the long weekend to program Louie, Louie’s hard drive was so full of love stories that he has never been able to be programmed correctly. Now all Louie does is try to make a romantic love story out of every daily event!
You will need:
Yarn
105-145 yards of yarn in your MC (Any weight of yarn)
50-75 yards of yarn in your CC (The same weight as you MC)
Needles
40” circular needle (for Magic Loop Method) (Chiaogoo Lace 40″ Circulars are my favorite*)
One additional circular needle, any length or style, in the same size as your main needle (for 3 Needle Bind Off)
Notions
Scissors (These are my favorite*)
Tapestry needle (Chibi’s are my go to*)
Safety eyes/buttons/scrap yarn for eyes (This set of safety eyes would give you a lot of variety*)
Stuffing (I am a new fan of wool stuffing*, but any type works)
15 removable stitch markers (I use these*)
Notes
Gauge
One of the greatest things about knitting toys is gauge doesn’t matter! For those of you who detest gauging as much as me, this is the perfect project for you. Simply use smaller needles than those recommended for your yarn to create a tighter knit fabric so that the stuffing doesn’t show through. My rule of thumb is to go down 2 or 3 needle sizes from the smallest size recommended for your yarn. This also means this pattern can be worked in any size of yarn! Try sock yarn for an extra small lovebot, or worsted for a bigger, huggable, kid-sized lovebot.
Lovebot Construction
This pattern is written so that you can have as much or as little finishing as you want, with instructions to pick up stitches for all of the limbs so that you don’t have to sew the pieces together in the end. This can be tricky, especially getting the first couple rounds going, so instructions to knit all pieces separately and sew them together in the end have also been included. If you are going to knit your lovebot in pieces, you can still add in the removable stitch-markers for placement of sewing the limbs on in the end. You can find great tutorials for knitting creatures in one piece on my old blog: www.rebeccadanger.typepad.com
Terms
You can find a complete list of the terms used in this pattern on my old blog: https://rebeccadanger.typepad.com/rebecca_danger/2012/01/knitting-pattern-terms.html
Let’s Get Knitting!
Knit The Body
Using MC and Turkish CO (How to) to CO 38 sts (19 loops) onto your circular needle. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg body using Magic Loop Method (Link):
R1: Knit loops from Turkish CO (38 total sts)
Stop and place removable stitch markers in center of CO row in sts #1, #7, #13, and #19 in CO row (this marks where legs will be picked up).
R2: (KFB, K17, KFB) twice (42 sts)
R3: Knit all sts
R4: (KFB, K19, KFB) twice (46 sts)
R5: Knit all sts
R6: (KFB, K21, KFB) twice (50 sts)
R7-R15: Knit all sts in MC
R16-R28: Work rows 1-13 of the following chart over the first 25 stitches of the rnd then knit the remaining sts of the rnd in you MC. For tips on how to do this color work in the round you can find my post on my old blog from Yuki the cookie ninja.
R29-R33: K all sts
After R33, stop and place a removable stitch marker in sts #2, #24, #28, and st #48. (These markers will be where you pick up sts for the arms)
R34: (K1, SSK, K19, K2tog, K1) twice (46 sts)
Attach removable stitch markers in its #3, 21, 26, and 44. (These markers will be where you pick up sts for the head)
Cut your yarn, leaving an 18” or longer tail. Stuff the body now. Tie up any ends from your color work that need finishing now, then use the Kitchener Stitch to close up the top of the body. You will want to add your last bits of stuffing as you finish closing up the seam.
Knit The Head
The head is worked entirely in your MC.
To Knit Separately, CO 38 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.
R1: Using MC and starting in marker from st #3 on R34 of the body, PU 19 sts, 1 per stitch to marker in st #21. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, and heading opposite direction (toward first st picked up), PU same 19 sts one st back, starting in st #26 and working towards st #44 from R34. You will now have 38 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method:
R2-R4: Knit all sts
After R4, stop and place a removable stitch marker in st #1 and st #19. (These markers will be where you pick up sts for the ear bolts)
R5-R16: Knit all sts
R17: (K1, SSK, K13, K2tog, K1) twice (34 sts)
Stuff the head and add the safety eyes now. Cut your yarn, leaving about an 18″ tail for closing. Grab your tapestry needle and use the Kitchener Stitch to close up the top of the head, adding the last bits of stuffing as you go.
Knit The Left Ear Bolt
Ear Bolts are knit entirely in your CC.
To Knit Separately, CO 12 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.
R1: Using CC and starting in marker from st #1 from R4 of the head, PU 6 sts up towards the top of the head, 1 per stitch. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, and heading opposite direction (toward first st picked up), PU same 6 sts one rnd back towards the back of the head and heading back down toward the body. You will now have 12 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method:
R2-R4: Knit all sts
Cut your yarn, leaving about an 18″ tail for closing. Grab your tapestry needle and use the Kitchener Stitch to close up the ear bolt. There is no need to stuff the ear bolts, but you can add a bit of stuffing before closing if you wish.
Knit the Right Ear Bolt
Repeat above instructions starting in marked st #19 and moving up toward the top of the head and then back down again to make the second ear bolt. The last stitch you pick up will be the first stitch of the round.
Knit The Left Arm
After the PU rnd, the arms are knit in 2 rnds MC, 2 rnds CC. You will have 3 MC rnds at the top of the arm.
To Knit Separately, CO 10 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.
R1: Using MC and starting in marker from st #48 in R33 of the body, PU 5 sts towards the front of the lovebot and marked st #2. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, and heading opposite direction (toward first st picked up), PU same 5 sts one rnd below. You will now have 10 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd, be sure it is to back of body to keep the jog in the stripes hidden to the back of the lovebot. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method:
R2-R36: Knit all sts, beginning 2 rnds MC, 2 rnds CC stripe pattern. The PU rnd is an extra MC rnd. You will end a CC stripe repeat.
R37: Switch to MC. You will remain in your MC to the end of the arm. (KFB, KFB, K1, KFB, KFB) twice (18 sts)
R38-R49: Knit all sts
R50: (K1, SSK, K3, K2tog, K1) twice (14 sts)
Stuff the hand now. Cut your yarn, leaving a generous tail for closing. Grab your tapestry needle and use Kitchener Stitch to close the hand.
Knit the Right Arm
Repeat above instructions starting in marked st #28 and moving toward marked st #24 from R33 to make the second arm.
Knit The Left Leg
To Knit Separately, CO 14 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.
R1: Using MC and starting in marker from st #1 in CO row, PU 7 sts towards the middle of the lovebot, 1 per stitch for 7 sts toward marked st #7. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, and heading opposite direction (toward first st picked up), PU same 7 sts one rnd forward. You will now have 14 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd, be sure it is to back of body for correct heel placement. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method:
R2-R45: Knit all sts in MC
Switch to CC. You will remain in your CC for the rest of the foot and leg. Begin the heel by working just the first 7 sts of rnd and holding last sts of rnd on your cable:
Row 1: Sl1, knit to end. Turn.
Row 2: Sl1, purl to end. Turn.
Repeat Row 1 and Row 2 three more times until 8 total heel rows have been worked.
R1 of foot: Knit across 7 heel sts once more. Using the same needle tip, PU 5 sts from the gusset edge(from both CC and MC sections). Flip to the other needle tip and knit the 7 held sts. Using the same needle tip, PU 5 sts from the gusset edge (again from both MC and CC sections). You’ll now have 24 total sts and a new beginning of round with the next st to be knitted, PM to indicate beginning of round.
R2: Knit all sts.
R3: K7, (K2tog) twice, K9 to last 4 sts, (SSK) twice (20 sts)
R4: Knit all sts.
R5: K6, (K2tog) twice, K6 to last 4 sts, (SSK) twice (16 sts)
R6: Knit all sts
R7: K6, (KFB) twice, K6, (KFB) twice (20 sts)
R8: Knit all sts
R9: K6, KFB, K12, KFB (22 sts)
R10-R17: Knit all sts.
R18: K2tog around (You will have to transfer one stitch from the front needle to the back needle to knit two sts together) (11 sts)
Stuff your foot now. Cut your yarn and use a tapestry needle to thread through remaining sts and close foot.
Knit the Right Leg
Repeat above instructions starting in marked st #13 and moving toward marked st #19 from the CO row to make the second leg. Again the first stitch picked up is the first stitch of the round.
Finishing:
Weave in any remaining ends and you’ve got yourself a romantic robot!
Samples
This big guy is from the original pattern and may look slightly different than this version of the pattern.
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool Of The Andes Bulky
CC: Original was Turmeric, updated version is Honey (1 Skein)*
Eyes: 24mm
Needles: Us Size 9 (5.5mm)
Size: About 20″ tall finished
This guy is also from the original pattern and may look slightly different than this version of the pattern.
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette held doubled
MC: Ash (1 Ball)
Eyes: 15mm
Needles: Us Size 3 (3.25mm)
Size: About 15″ tall finished
This guy is also from the original pattern and may look slightly different than this version of the pattern.
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted
CC: Pomegranate (1 Ball) (No longer available, Hollyberry or Rosehip might be a good swap)
Eyes: 18mm
Needles: Us Size 5 (3.75mm)
Size: About 16.5″ tall finished
This guy is also from the original pattern and may look slightly different than this version of the pattern.
Yarn: Knit Picks Crayon (This yarn is no longer available)
MC: Beach Glass (3 Balls)
CC: Fiesta (1 Ball)
Eyes: 18mm
Needles: Us Size 7 (4.5mm)
Size: About 19″ tall finished
This is my new version! He is so tiny and adorable and probably my favorite knitted item I have made in 10+ years. This was just some yarn I had lying around that I used to test the pattern and I was so happy with the result!
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal and Knit Picks Palette
MC: Stroll Tonal In Thunderhead (1 Hank)
Eyes: I think 15mm, maybe 12mm. They were unmarked unfortunately.
Needles: Us Size 1 (2.25mm)
Size: About 9.5″ tall finished
There you have it friends! I hope you make yourself a whole herd of lovebots! Be sure to use the hashtag #louielovebot and #binthestudio so I can find your creations! And thank you so much for supporting my free patterns by ordering through my affiliate links (marked with a *) and buying me a Ko-fi!
Happy Knitting-
*Links marked with * are affiliate links that I may earn a small commission from at no cost to you in order to help me keep my blog and free tutorials like this one going.
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