Knit Yourself an Assistant (Tracy's new B.A.)

Got a weird call from my sister in Winnipeg. A co-worker was having a frustrating day, having difficulty with the hiring of new staff that the superiors were expecting asap. Apparently there is a shortage of qualified B.A.'s (business analyst) for the positions. She had just had a meeting to see what the hold up was, and she explained the dilemma, and took the disapproval professionally, then vented to Sis' with a "what do they want me to do... knit a B.A.?" This of course prompted sister to call me at work with the obvious request, that being a knitted assistant, asap of course.

So here he is!

The perfect employee (if a tad bit small). Happy, loyal, well dressed, kind of cute and ready to please.

Knitted Business Man:

Yarn: scraps of Sport weight (worsted weight) yarn.

Needles: 4mm double point set of 4.

Note: K f&b: Knit into the front and the back of the same stitch, thus increasing by one stitch.

With shoe colour (black) Cast on 24 sts and divide on 3 needles[8/8/8], join without twisting and knit in the round as follows:

Knit 2 rows.

Purl 5 rows.

Last row of shoes: K6, Knit 2 together / K 2 tog, K4, K tog / K 2 tog, K6.

Change to pants colour (taupe) continue to knit in the round as set up : [7/6/7]

Knit round for 3.25 inches (8cm)

Change to white shirt, and work for 7 more rows.

Increase for upper body: K4, K f&b1, K f&b , K1/ K6 / K1, K f&b, K f&b, K4.

Work one row even.

One more increase row: K5, K f&b, Kf&b, K2 / K6 / K2, Kf&b, Kf&b, K5.

Work 2 rows even.

Decrease for shoulders: Row1: K5, K2tog, K2tog, K2 / K6 / K2, K2tog, K2tog, K5.

Row2: K4, K2tog, K2tog, K1 / K1, P4, K1 / K1, K2tog, K2tog, K4.

Row3: K3, K2tog, K2tog / P6 / K2tog, K2tog, K3

Row4: Purl one row. Should have [5/6/5] on the three needles.

Change to face beige: knit for 10 rows with no increase or decrease.

Change to hair colour. Knit 1st row. Purl the next 3 rows. Row4: [P2tog, P1] repeat across, P1.

Row5: P2tog across, P last stitch. Break off yarn with 6 inch tail and gather through remaining stitches. Secure the end.

Arms: with Face colour: Cast on 4. (work straight now on 2 needles) Row 1: Knit in the front and back of each stitch. (8 sts). Work in stocking stitch for 10 rows. Change to white shirt, Knit for 6rows. Decrease for shoulder... K2tog across, then P2tog twice for last row. Break and gather.

Tie: (also on 2 needles in garter stitch - knit every row) With red, Cast on 2, Knit front and back in both (4 sts). Knit next row. K2tog twice. Next row: Knit front and back again (4sts). Now knit ever row for 1.5 inches. Next row k2tog twice. Then K2tog, and break a secure tip of tie.

Belt: Crochet a single chain string of black long enough to circle waist.

Assembly: Embroider the face the way the finger puppets were done. (see here). Then stuff lightly the body from the top down, watching he is even and not lumpy. At the feet, gather and stitch up the bottom of the feet, and pass a few big stitches around the outside of the feet, to define and separate the 2 feet. Using the pant colour, run stitches up the center of the legs to define the 2 legs, stopping (please) just below the crotch. Thread the belt through evenly spaced stitches to mimic belt loops and secure behind the little fella. Sew the arm seams and lightly stuff to the armpits, then sew in place on the shoulders. Stitch on the tie at the collar. You have now made a perfect little man.