Roly-poly, pillbug, wood louse, sow bug, potato bug: whatever you call them, they’re not bugs OR insects. Isopods are the order, but these little ones are in the family of Armadillidiidae (arm-a-dill-uh-DEE-uh-dee)!! You can impress your friends with your knowledge of Latin nomenclature AND your ability to knit pillbugs with short rows.

As with my related Army of Caterpillars pattern, purl ridges create the segments and knitted bobbles are the legs. In this pattern, short rows on the bobble rows curve the isopod into a curled posture. Trust yourself, remember holes are the enemy, and you’ll have a new little friend in about two hours.

The pattern is knit in the round on DPNs--purl ridges create the segmented abdomens, and knitted bobbles form the tiny legs.