A Critter - Free Pattern

Made this up for a Ravelry friend, so she can take part of our traveling critters group.

A Critter

Materials

Worsted Weight Yarn

Hook size E

Yarn needle

10mm safety eyes

tiny amount of yarn for facial features if wanted

Abbreviations

sc = single crochet

INC = increase (2 single crochet in same stitch)

DEC = decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together through front loops)

BLO = back loops only

rnd(s) = round(s)

Pattern

Special Instructions: Repeat instructions inside ( ) as many times as indicated for round

You can substitute (ch 2, work into 2^nd chain from hook) for beginning rnds if that is how you are more comfortable working your beginning spiral rnds.

Head

Rnd 1: Work 6 sc into magic circle or adjustable ring (6 st)

Rnd 2: INC 6 times around (12 st)

Rnd 3: (sc, INC) x6 around (18 st)

Rnd 4: (sc in 2, INC) x6 around (24 st)

Rnd 5: (sc in 3, INC) x6 around (30 st)

Rnd 6: (sc in 4, INC) x6 around (36 st)

Rnd 7: (sc in 5, INC) x6 around (42 st)

Rnds 8 – 12: sc in each sc around (42 st)

Rnd 13: (sc in 5, DEC) x6 around (36 st)

Rnd 14: (sc in 4, DEC) x6 around (30 st)

Rnd 15: (sc in 3, DEC) x6 around (24 st)

Rnd 16: (sc in 2, DEC) x6 around (18 st)

FO, leaving long tail for sewing

Add safety eyes, and facial features. Stuff head.

Legs (x2)

Rnd 1: Work 6sc into magic circle or adjustable ring (6 st)

Rnd 2: INC 6 times around (12 st)

Rnd 3: (sc, INC) x6 around (18 st)

Rnd 4: BLO – sc around (18 st)

Rnds 5 – 16: sc in each sc around (18 st)

(1^st leg, FO, leave a tail for sewing)

(2^nd leg, pause, do not FO. Use tail from 1^st leg to attach the two legs together by stitching through both layers for 4 stitches, beginning where you stopped on leg 2. FO tail. Resume stitching on 2^nd leg, by working sc in next st on 2^nd leg, then sc into closest st on 1^st leg. Continue working sc in each sc around 1^st leg until you reach the join on opposite side, move to 2^nd leg and continue working sc in each sc around..) This joins the two legs together. Mark the spot where the legs join as the center of the back, and continue for direction for body.

Stuff legs

Body

Rnds 1 – 12: sc in each sc around (you should have 32 st around. If not, inc or dec over the first two rnds to get to 32 st per rnd.

Rnd 13: Press body flat, and locate sides of body. Mark the center of the 4 stitches on each side. Sc in each sc until 2 st before your center mark. DEC one time before mark, and one time after the mark. (These two DEC will be right beside each other), continue working sc around until you reach the other side, and repeat the process of two DEC on either side of center mark of opposite side. Sc back to center back mark. (28 st)

Rnd 14: using same center side marks sc around, DEC 2 times each side of both marks for a total of 4 DEC each side, and rnd total of 8 DEC (20 st)

Rnd 15: sc around, DEC one more time at each side mark for a total of 2 DEC for rnd. FO.

Stuff body

Line up 18 stitches from head, with 18 stitches from body, and sew head and body together.

Arms (x2)

Rnd 1: work 6 sc into magic circle or adjustable ring (6 st)

Rnd 2: INC 6 times around (12 st)

Rnd 3: BLO sc in each sc around (12 st)

Rnds 4 – 12: sc in each sc around (12 st)

Stuff arms, position and attach to body

Ears (x2)

Rnd 1: work 4 sc into magic circle or adjustable ring (4 st)

Rnd 2: INC 4 times around (8 st)

Rnd 3: (sc, INC) x4 around (12 st)

Fold ears flat, lining up the stitches

Row 4: work 6sc through both layers (6 st)

FO, leave tail for sewing, and attach ears to head.