This single bed machine knitting pattern came about by accident one day when I was trying out different MK techniques in swatch form. One thing led to another and I thought: “Huh. That kind of looks like a face.” I was curious who else was knitting faces, and found Katarina Brieditis’s generous free hand knitting pattern, “Do you want to knit a face?” This pattern is an interpretation of hers and is written to be knit on a mid gauge single bed knitting machine.*

Although the instructions are detailed, the 13 page PDF pattern is meant to be your guide - a “recipe,” if you will. Please keep in mind, you need not adhere to the numbers of stitches, rows, and needles listed in these instructions. After you knit a couple faces, you will be inspired to increase and/or decrease the number of stitches and short rows in the mouth, nose, eyes, eyebrows, etc. to create different personalities. Add a tongue! Add a mustache! Let the friendly faces YOU knit take on a life of their own!

I have written these instructions with the expectation that you know the idiosyncrasies of your machine as well as basic MK maneuvers (cast-on, knit, latch up, short row shaping (also called partial knitting), bind-off, free pass, etc.).

I typically use worsted weight (equivalent to UK aran) acrylic and/or vintage “mothproof” wool (aka my “garage sale stash”). Consider using six colors as follows:

A main yarn color for the face and assorted scraps in contrast colors for the lips (CC1), sclera (CC2), pupil (CC3), eyebrows (CC4), hair (CC5)

Have fun with color and even go a little (or a lot) WILD! This project is a great opportunity for some stash busting!

I’d love to see WHO you knit! Use #machineknitfaces on Instagram and tag me @rebeccayaker

Although the faces shown here were all knit on a Mid Gauge single bed machine (Brother KX-355, 7.0mm), any mid gauge single bed machine will do! You can certainly re-envision the scale for fine, standard, and bulky gauge machines too.*