Bananas

To begin my next project, a Carmen Miranda hat, I started with bananas.  They ended up to be the most fun item to knit.

Items Needed
Yellow yarn.  I used one skein of Red Heart Super Saver acrylic yarn.  It will hold its color well, and the yarn is stiff enough to hold the banana architecturally.
Size 6 needles.

Banana Pattern
Loosely cast on 24 stitches.
Row 1: Starting on the wrong side, knit 24 stitches.
Row 2: Knit 22 stitches. Place stitch marker.
Row 3: Knit 20 stitches.  Place stitch marker.
Row 4: Knit 18 stitches. Place stitch marker.
Row 5: Knit 16 stitches. Place stitch marker.
Row 6: Knit 18 stitches. Remove stitch marker as you pass it.
Row 7: Knit 20 stitches. Remove stitch marker as you pass it.
Row 8: Knit 22 stitches.  Remove stitch marker as you pass it.
Row 9: Knit 24 stitches. Remove stitch marker as you pass.  You now have a half surfboard shape.  As you complete sides, this will become a full surfboard that pulls the banana into shape.
Row 10: Purl 24 stitches.  This gives you a gentle corner. Start again at row 1 for the next side.
Repeat until you have completed 5 sides.  At row 9 of the fifth side, cast off loosely.
Seam the edges from the right side.  You will see that the banana keeps its shape with very little encouragement.
If you like, use black or brown thread to sew an end on the banana.

You can set them side-by-side to create a bunch.
These are also VERY fun to throw at your children.  They laugh a lot.