This cute, pin-eating monster will keep your pins safely within reach -- and it is a great way to use up leftovers.

It can be made with any yarn weight -- and if your kids demand one big enough to cuddle, you could even use bulky weight yarn and whip up a plushie for them in one afternoon.

The body is knit with double-knit in one colour, which sounds more complicated than it really is. Even if you’ve never used this technique before, a small project like this would be the perfect test.

I’m giving stitch and row counts for the sample monsters I’ve knit up, but you can really make it any size you want.

And when you’re done knitting, sew buttons on, embroider a face, add embellishments to your liking -- the possibilities are endless. And I can’t wait to see all the adorable monsters you will create, I bet each and every one will be unique and beautiful (or maybe horrible, it’s a monster after all).

You will need about 30 - 50 yds of fingering to worsted weight yarn for a pincushion sized monster. Thicker yarn should probably only be used for plushies and you will of course need more yarn then.