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Here are some tips and tricks from testers and other knitters to help you personalise your lobster onesie – including adding sleeves, making a size for a child and adapting it for a costume!
I will update this from time to time with new tips as they come in :)
Adding sleeves
As the onesie is already quite warm, I left sleeves off and opted for arm holes with the large claw pillows as separate pieces. However if you want to be extra cosy, testers @Dr.blahblahgeology and @theoceandoesnttalkback both made their own adjustments to add them.
Here's how Zerin @theoceandoesnttalkback did it!
"To make the sleeve I used these instructions, following the magic loop method:
"Cast 40 sts (loosely) onto 9mm 40 cm circular needles. (note adjust your stitch count to line up with the circumference of your own arm holes, depending on the size!)
"Bring the two needles together and start knitting in the round.
1st rnd: *K4, Kfb** repeat * to ** for the entire rnd (48 sts)
Knit 24 rnds.
26th rnd: *K1, K2 tog** repeat *to ** for the entire rnd (36 sts)
27th rnd: *K1, Kfb** repeat * to ** for the entire rnd (48 sts)
Knit 24 rnds.
52nd rnd: *K1, K2 tog** repeat * to ** for the entire rnd (36 sts)
53rd rnd: *K1, Kfb** repeat * to ** for the entire rnd (48 sts)
Knit 24 rnds.
78th rnd: *K1, K2 tog** repeat *to ** for the entire rnd (36 sts)
"For the cuff I ribbed 5 rounds and bound off with a ribbed sewn bind off.
"Once i finished both sleeves I kitchnered them both around the sleeve holes. I used markers to pin the sleeve around the garter stitch to hide it before i sewed it on.
"I actually suggest not knitting the garter stitch around the sleeve holes if you want to add sleeves!"
Both of these knitters also then did not knit the "arm" part of the claw and instead following the instructions from the 54th round by casting on 36 sts and following from there :)
Child size lobster onesie
The xs size in my pattern would suit an older, taller child (around 10 years).
Martina @martinas_yarn_magic followed the adult small size to create a smaller onesie for younger children!
Martina's measurements for a onesie to fit a 4-5 year old. With some tension adjustments, as listed below, this can also easily fit a 6-7 year-old.
Materials:
895 grams Stylecraft Special Chunky (or a similar wool that is around 157yds (144m)/100g)
5.5mm circular needles for a size to suit a 4-5 year-old or 6mm for a 6-7 year-old
600g stuffing
Tension notes:
"My tension was 15 sts x 22 rows, this will fit a 4–5-year-old child. Knitting alike with the tension indicated on the yarn balls (14 sts x 20 rows), this would fit a 6–7-year-old child."
(note to achieve this tension for the larger child size I recommend moving up to 6mm needles).
Small tail fins:
Make 2x following the adult onesie pattern
Large pocket tail fin:
Cast on 80 sts, knit 35 rounds, decreases as for small tail fins + 1 rnd: k1, k2tog (20 sts)
Tail
Cast on 88 sts, but I proceeded as follows: Cast on 2 sts, pick up and knit 40 sts from the large tail fin, cast on 46 sts (88 sts) (avoids sewing)
"From here on, I followed the S size adult pattern.
"Increase the first tail section, then knit 18 rnds – purl 2 rnds
"After the 5th tail stripe":
Knit 3 rnds, then 2 rnds increases following S size
Knit 30 rounds then split into 3 pieces for armholes and hood (I added selvage stitches on each edge).
Knit 40 rows then reconfigure on a single needle (NOTE when using this finer yarn, the adult pattern count is much too short for armholes, even for the child version so add these additional rows)
Hood decreases made as per adult pattern
Martina followed the claw pattern the same as in the adult, but suggests that if you knit loosely you should use even smaller needles (e.g. 4.5mm) to help make your stitches tighter and avoid any stuffing coming out!
Moving legs
For a bit of fun, Mallory @Malgal42 thread some fishing line through her walking legs and left enough hanging at the top so she can hold the line in her hands and move the legs like a marionette as she walks! It's a super cute way to animate the piece (especially if you are planning on wearing as a costume) though please don't add these if a child will be wearing :)
Other costume adjustments
A few knitters who wanted to wear the onesie as a costume made some other suggestions:
Attach the tail to the back (instead of front) so that it is easier to walk
Instead of making sleeves, add "straps" onto the pillows so you can strap your arms into them (e.g knit strips and sew them onto the pillow at a few intervals so you can put your arms in and hold the pillows)
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