Charity Fish

I made up a knitting pattern for a cute little fish to donate to the SPCA. Spinnity wanted to make one, so I've decided to post the pattern here for the short term. I'll make it a shiny link in the pattern page soon, but not tonight, as it's getting late.

Any yarn and any needles, I used size 8 DPNs (3, one for each side and one for knitting with) and Caron Simply Soft.

Use a figure 8 cast on and CO 13 sts on each side (26 total).

Knit around the figure 8 CO once, tighten the CO sts. Knit another full round of 26 sts.

K1, K2tog, K7, SSK, K2, K2tog, K7, SSK, K1 (22 sts remain).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, K2tog, K5, SSK, K2, K2tog, K5, SSK, K1 (18 sts remain).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, K2tog, K3, SSK, K2, K2tog, K3, SSK, K1 (14 sts remain).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, K2tog, K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, K1, SSK, K1 (10 sts remain).
Knit 2 rounds even.
K1, M1R*, K3, M1L*, K2, M1R*, K3, M1L*, K1 (14 sts).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, M1R*, K5, M1L*, K2, M1R*, K5, M1L*, K1 (18 sts).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, M1R*, K7, M1L*, K2, M1R*, K7, M1L*, K1 (22 sts).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, M1R, K9, M1L, K2, M1R, K9, M1L, K1 (26 sts).
Knit 3 rounds even.
K1, K2tog, K7, SSK, K2, K2tog, K7, SSK, K1 (22 sts remain).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, K2tog, K5, SSK, K2, K2tog, K5, SSK, K1 (18 sts remain).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, K2tog, K3, SSK, K2, K2tog, K3, SSK, K1 (14 sts remain).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, K2tog, K1, SSK, K2, K2tog, K1, SSK, K1 (10 sts remain).
Knit 1 round even.
K1, Dec3**, K2, Dec3**, K1.
K2tog 3 times.
Cut yarn and pull through 3 remaing sts. Thread into the body, fish is complete, no seams!
*M1R & M1L - make 1 by picking up the yarn between the sts and twisting it to make a stitch, R means it twists so the right side of the twisted stitch is in the back and L means it twists so the left side of the twisted stitch is in the back.
**Dec3 - slip 2 sts as if to knit from the left needle to the right needle, move the new outer stitch from the right needle back to the left needle (this means the stitch that was originally #2 on the left needle is now out on the right needle and #1 is back on the left needle), K2tog (#1 and what would have been #3, but is now #2, on the left needle), pass the slipped stitch (old #2) over this new stitch, one stitch remains from the original 3.

I know this is the worst pattern at the moment, but I promise it will be prettier when I clean it up. I've given my current complete fish to Spinnity, so you'll have to wait until I complete a few more before you can see pictures of the finished product.