Sleepy Bat

I used a worsted weight tweed yarn for the bodies of the bats and I washed and felted an old black wool sweater for the wings.  You will need this or some black felt.   Size 5 knitting needles.  Also, buttons for eyes and a hook and eye fastener.

Body:  Cast on 20 stitches.  Work in Stockinette stitch for 2 1/2 inches.  Then begin decrease rows:

Row 1:  Knit 1, knit 2 together.  Repeat till the end of the row. 

Row 2:  Purl

Row 3:  Knit 2 together. Repeat till the end of the row

Row 4:  Purl

Row 5:  Knit 2 together.  Repeat till the end of the row.

Row 6:  Purl

You should only have about 6 or 7 stiches left.  Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 inch tail.  Thread through a yarn needle and pull through all the stitches.  pull tight and secure.  You can, at this point, go ahead and sew the back seam.  Do not sew the bottom.

Ears (make two)

Cast on 6 stitches.

Rows 1-4:  Stockinette Stich

Row 5:  Knit two together, knit two, knit two together

Row 6:  Purl

Row 7:  Knit two together, Knit two together

Row 8:  Purl

Row 9:  Knitting, increase one in the first and last stitches

Row 10:  Purl

Row 11:  knitting, increase one in the first and last stitches

Row 12:  Purl

Row 13 - 16:  Stockinette Stitch

Bind off

Feet (make two)

Cast on 5 stitches

Work in Stockinette stitch for 2 inches.

Bind off.

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A bunch of bats? A bevy of bats?

Finishing:

Lightly stuff the body of the bat and sew across the bottom.  Put the two sides of the ear together and sew.  Sew ears to body (see photo).  Sew the feet to the bottom of the bat as loops so it can hang from a branch.  Cut wings out of black felt.  You might want to try cutting some out of paper first so you can get the size and shape that you want.  Sew on button eyes.  Attach a hook and eye fastener to the wings so that your bat can hang upside down and sleep!