A unique pattern inspired by a fascinating creature, Horatio the Nautilus is the perfect project for the adventurous knitter. His striped shell, elegant tentacles, and protective hood offer a fun knitting challenge that yields a very special creation.

Horatio is worked in three parts – shell, tentacles, and hood. The shell is worked in garter stitch with wrap-and-turn short rows, the layers of tentacles are worked as i-cord from a flat base, and the hood is worked in stockinette stitch with twin-wrap (shadow wrap) short rows.

Nautiluses are members of the cephalopod family. Horatio’s knitted cephalopod family includes Opus, Opal and Opie the Octopuses, Inkling the Squid, and Tako the Bobtail Squid

Important note: Horatio is for decorative purposes only. This item is not a toy, and the design does not meet any safety standards for toys. The kit and pattern are sold on an “as is” basis, therefore the risk of the quality and performance of the design is with the buyer.

Skill Level: Advanced.

Skills Needed: Intermediate knitting skills, plus increases (m1, kfb) decreases (ssk, k2tog, p2tog, p2togtbl), wrap and turn short rows, twin-wrap short rows / shadow wrap short rows, i-cord.

Finished Size: Main body 16 in. / 40 cm long (including tentacles), 9 in. / 23 cm tall, 5 in. / 13 cm wide.

Yarn: Infinite Twist Helix, 276 g / 825 y total. As shown, project uses 400 y in Badlands, 225 y in Shreveport, and 200 y in Red Devil. Yarn is held double throughout the project, in four color combinations.

• Shell, Main Color (MC): Helix, held double in Badlands, 125 g / 400 y total.
• Shell, Stripes (CC): Helix, held double in Shreveport, 40 g / 135 y total.
• Tentacles (CC2): Helix, held double, one strand Red Devil, one strand Shreveport, 30 g/ 90 y each, 60 g / 180 y total.
• Hood (CC3): Helix held double, Red Devil, 35 g / 110 y total

Needles:

• U.S. size 6 / 4.0 mm double pointed needles,
• U.S. size 4 / 3.5 mm double pointed needles,
• U.S. size 6 / 4.0 mm 32 in. / 80 cm circular needle.

Gauge:

• Shell: 15 sts /32 rows over 4 in. / 10 cm in garter stitch
• Hood: 18 sts / 32 rows over 4 in. / 10 cm in stockinette stitch
• Tentacles: 24 rows over 4 in. / 10 cm in i-cord.

Your gauge should be slightly tighter than normal for a knitted garment, but not so tight that it’s difficult to knit. Slightly denser-than-normal gauge and holding yarn double help create a dense fabric that prevents the stuffing from showing through on your finished creature.

Notions:

• 14 oz / 400 grams wool stuffing or 7 oz / 200 grams polyfill
• Two (2) 24 mm cat pupil plastic safety eyes
• Locking stitch markers in two colors
• Yarn needle
• Sewing pins