Ninja Amigurumi (Free Knitting Pattern)

My son Drew is constantly begging me to knit something for him. My daughter has an endless collection of handmade toys but I’ve always found it far more challenging to come up with ideas suitable for a 10-year-old boy. One afternoon while watching Drew practice his ninja moves on his little sister, inspiration hit.

Excerpted with permission from "Knitwits" by Katie Boyette, published by Sellers Publishing. Image by Katie Boyette.

Materials:

-2 skeins (300 yds) Cascade 220 number 8555 (black) or Cascade 220 number 8895 (red)
-1 set US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles
-Toy stuffing
-1 piece white felt 3 x 5 in.
-1 piece black felt 1 x 10 inches plus 1 piece black felt 2 x 2 in.
-2 pieces gray felt 1 x 1 in.
-Red, gray, black, and white thread

GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS:

-CO cast on
-dpn double-pointed needles(s)
-k knit
-k2tog knit two together
-kfb knit into front and back of stitch
-p purl
-pm place marker
-ssk slip slip knit. Increase by knitting into the front and then back of a stitch
-st[s] stitch[es]

Step 1

Zoom Image

BODY

Round 1: K2, kfb, k3, kfb, k2, kfb, k3, kfb. 18 sts
Round 2: K2, kfb, k5, kfb, k2, kfb, k5, kfb. 22 sts
Round 3: K2, kfb, k7, kfb, k2, kfb, k7, kfb. 26 sts
Round 4: K2, kfb, k9, kfb, k2, kfb, k9, kfb. 30 sts
Round 5: K2, kfb, k11, kfb, k2, kfb, k11, kfb 34 sts
Round 6: K2, kfb, k13, kfb, k2, kfb, k13, kfb. 38 sts
Round 7: K2, kfb, k15, kfb, k2, kfb, k15, kfb. 42 sts
Round 8: K2, kfb, k17, kfb, k2, kfb, k17, kfb. 46 sts
Round 9: K2, kfb, k19, kfb, k2, kfb, k19, kfb. 50 sts
Round 10: K2, kfb, k21, kfb, k2, kfb, k21, kfb. 54 sts
Round 11: K2, kfb, k23, kfb, k2, kfb, k23, kfb. 58 sts
Round 12: Knit.
Round 13: K2, kfb, k25, kfb, k2, kfb, k25, kfb. 62 sts
Round 14: Knit.
Round 15: K2, kfb, k27, kfb, k2, kfb, k27, kfb. 66 sts
Round 16: Knit.
Round 17: K2, kfb, k29, kfb, k2, kfb, k29, kfb. 70 sts
Rounds 18-35: Knit.
Round 36: K2, k2tog, k29, ssk, k2, k2tog, k29, ssk. 66 sts
Round 37: Knit.
Row 38: K2, k2tog, k27, ssk, k2, k2tog, k27, ssk. 62 sts
Round 39: Knit.
Round 40: K2, k2tog, k25, ssk, k2, k2tog, k25, ssk. 58 sts
Round 41: Knit.
Round 42: K2, k2tog, k23, ssk, k2, k2tog, k23, ssk. 54 sts
Round 43: K2, k2tog, k21, ssk, k2, k2tog, k21, ssk. 50 sts
Round 44: K2, k2tog, k19, ssk, k2, k2tog, k19, ssk. 46 sts
Round 45: K2, k2tog, k17, ssk, k2, k2tog, k17, ssk. 42 sts
Round 46: K2, k2tog, k15, ssk, k2, k2tog, k15, ssk. 38 sts

Pause and stuff head nearly full.

Round 47: Knit.
Round 48: K2, kfb, k15, kfb, k2, kfb, k15, kfb. 42 sts
Round 49: Knit.
Round 50: K2, kfb, k17, kfb, k2, kfb, k17, kfb. 46 sts
Round 51-57: Knit.
Round 58: K2, k2tog, k17, ssk, k2, k2tog, k17, ssk. 42 sts
Round 59: Knit.
Round 60: K2, k2tog, k15, ssk, k2, k2tog, k15, ssk. 38 sts
Round 61: Knit.
Round 62: K2, k2tog, k13, ssk, k2, k2tog, k13, ssk. 34 sts
Round 63: K2, k2tog, k11, ssk, k2, k2tog, k11, ssk. 30 sts
Round 64: K2, k2tog, k9, ssk, k2, k2tog, k9, ssk. 26 sts
Round 65: K2, k2tog, k7, ssk, k2, k2tog, k7, ssk. 22 sts
Pause and stuff body nearly full.
Round 66: K2, k2tog, k5, ssk, k2, k2tog,k5, ssk. 18 sts
Round 67: K2, k2tog, k3, ssk, k2, k2tog, k3, ssk. 14 sts
Round 68: K2, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk. 10 sts
Round 69: K2tog 5 times. 5 sts

Cut yarn and pull tail through remaining stitches. Stuff body completely full. Pull stitches tight, knot, and pull knot to inside of toy. Use a piece of yarn and a yarn needle to sew up the hole in the top of the head.

Step 2

ARMS (make 2)

Round 1: Kfb, k1, kfb twice, k1, kfb. 10 sts
Round 2: Kfb, k3, kfb twice, k3, kfb. 14 sts
Rounds 3-4: Knit.
Round 5: K2tog, k3, ssk, k2tog, k3, ssk. 10 sts
Rounds 6-9: Knit.
Round 10: Kfb, k3, kfb twice, k3, kfb. 14 sts
Round 11: Knit.
Round 12: Kfb, k5, kfb twice, k5, kfb. 18 sts
Bind off.

Step 3

Zoom Image

LEGS (make 2)

Round 1: Kfb, k1, kfb twice, k1, kfb. 10 sts
Round 2: Kfb, k3, kfb twice, k3, kfb. 14 sts
Round 3: Kfb, k5, kfb twice, k5, kfb. 18 sts
Rounds 4-6: Knit.
Round 7: K2tog, k5, ssk, k2tog, k5, ssk. 14 sts
Rounds 8-12: Knit.
Round 13: Kfb, k5, kfb twice, k5, kfb. 18 sts
Round 14 : Knit.
Round 15: Kfb, k7, kfb twice, k7, kfb. 22 sts
Round 16: Knit.
Round 17 Kfb, k9, kfb twice, k9, kfb. 26 sts
Bind off.

Step 4

ASSEMBLY:

Stuff arms and legs firmly. Beginning with the arms, sew each to side of body using ladder stitch and black yarn. Align legs just under arms. Attach using ladder stitch. Cut all pieces out of felt. Center white felt rectangle on center of head. Attach using red thread and a blanket stitch. Attach eyes with black thread. Wrap black belt diagonally around body. Pin in place, then secure with blanket stitch. Carefully pin ninja stars on belt, and secure with blanket stitch.