A wonderfully unusual knitted tarantula with eight poseable legs, striped markings and a brushed, slightly hairy finish that gives this spider plenty of character.
Quick Pattern Information
- Project: Knitted tarantula / spider toy
- Finished Size: Body approx. 14cm (5½in) long
- Yarn Weight: DK
- Yarn Used: Rowan Cashsoft DK and Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic DK
- Colours: Black and burnt orange
- Needles: 3mm double-pointed needles and 3mm straight needles
- Construction: Body and head knitted in the round; legs and feelers knitted separately
- Tension: 22 sts × 32 rows = 10cm in stocking stitch
- Techniques: Knitting in the round, stocking stitch, increasing, decreasing, colour changes, seaming and stuffing
- Pattern: Spider knitting pattern
Safety note: This toy contains wire inside the legs and is not suitable for small children.
About the Tarantula
The body and head are knitted as one piece on double-pointed needles, with shaping used to create the rounded abdomen and smaller front section.
Eight separately knitted legs use alternating black and burnt-orange sections to create the tarantula’s distinctive markings. Pipe cleaners are inserted into the finished legs so they can be bent into a realistic spider pose.
One of the nicest finishing details is the brushed leg texture. The knitted fabric is gently brushed with a wire brush or teasel to produce the slightly hairy appearance associated with a tarantula.
Two small knitted feelers are attached beside the shaped jaws to complete the spider.
Knitting Bee Pattern Notes
Best for: Knitters looking for something very different from the usual knitted teddy bears and farm animals.
Difficulty: Intermediate. The knitting itself uses familiar increases, decreases and stocking stitch, but working on DPNs and assembling eight wired legs makes this a more involved toy project.
What makes it different: The poseable legs and brushed yarn transform a relatively simple knitted construction into a surprisingly convincing tarantula.
For more unusual animals and creatures, browse our free toy knitting patterns.