Showing posts with label pattern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pattern. Show all posts

Friday, 23 October 2015

Tiny Penguin Pattern

I've been getting a lot of requests for penguins on my stall recently, and I've never been happy with any of the penguin patterns I've found out there - the best looking are a bit large for me - I like tiny and super cute!  So I decided to design my own, and here he is! 



He comes out about about 5cm tall with basic DK yarn and a 2.5mm hook, but obviously that will vary if you use different yarn or hook size.

On to the pattern (written in US terms even though I am British -  I've got so used to them I find it hard to think in UK crochet terms!)  All pieces are worked in the traditional Amigurumi way, in a spiral - don't join rounds.


Materials

Two 6mm black safety eyes
2.5mm crochet hook
Black DK yarn
White DK yarn
Yellow DK Yarn
Yarn needle
Small amount of fibrefill stuffing



Abbreviations


slip = Slip Stitch
sc = Single Crochet  (Double Crochet in UK)
dc = Double Crochet (Treble Crochet in UK)
ch = Chain
inc = Increase - Crochet 2 stitches into one stitch
dec = Decrease - Crochet 2 stitches together
FLO = Front Loop Only
FO = Fasten off.

Examples:

10sc = sc in each of the next 10 stitches
[sc, inc] round = repeat the contents of the brackets round - in this case - single crochet in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in next stitch, 2 single crochet in next etc until you reach row stitch count.



Eyes


You need to make these first because you will need to put them on while making the body.

With White:
1) 6 sc into Magic Ring & FO - don't slip to join into a circle and don't pull tight yet!
2) Insert safety eyes into centre of ring - carefully pull tight around eye to form a semi circle.



Tummy


With White:
1) 6 sc into Magic Ring (6)
2) inc round (12)
3) [sc, inc] round (18)
FO leaving long tail for sewing on.



Feet


With Yellow:
1) 6sc into Magic Ring (6)
2) sc round (6)
FO leaving long tail for sewing.

Flatten them as shown in the second photo. Do not stuff.


 

Body


With Black:
1) 6 sc into Magic Ring (6)
2) inc round (12)
3) [sc, inc] round (18)
4) sc round (18)
5) sc round (18)
6) [sc, inc, inc] round (24)
7) [slip, ch 1, dc] in FLO of next stitch, [dc, ch 1, slip] in FLO of next stitch - (makes wing), 10sc (in both loops), [slip, ch 1, dc] in FLO of next stitch, [dc, ch 1, slip] in FLO of next stitch - (makes wing), 10 sc (in both loops) (24)
8) sc round (crochet into the spare back loops where the wings are) (24)
9) sc round (24)
10) sc round (24)

At this point insert your eyes (with white semi-circles) between rows 5 & 6, with 2 holes (between stitches) between them, or wherever the white semi-circles touch or almost touch.  Don't sew on yet, but do put the backs on the eyes to lock them in place.  Don't over tighten the safety eyes - remember you are going through two layers of crochet - if you do them too tight the eyes sink into the white and don't look very good.



11) [sc, sc, dec] round (18)
12) [sc, dec] round (12)

Stuff, not too firmly but enough to hold the shape.

13) [dec] round (6)
FO and sew base shut.


Making Up


You can now sew the white eyes in place - keep them at a slight angle at the bottom to match the curve of the tummy circle.

Sew on the tummy circle, as close to the bottom of the eyes as possible.  You can tuck the stitches of the tummy under the eyes if you are careful for a neat finish.

Flatten the base of your penguin and make sure he sits OK.  Flatten the feet and sew on along the bottom front edge either side of the tummy circle.




Finally sew his beak - I do 2 stitches to form a V shape, then 2 or 3 to fill in the middle and finish with a horizontal stitch across the top to make it look neat.






And your cute tiny penguin is complete!










Please note: You can sell the finished product in small quantities at local craft shows etc (with credit to me as designer), but not on the internet.  The written pattern must not be sold in any form or used on any other website or in hardcopy/print without my permission.

Thursday, 3 July 2014

Rilakkuma

I discovered recently that a friend of mine is a huge fan of the insanely cute Japanese character Rilakkuma, whose name means 'Relax Bear'.

 
Of course I knew immediately that I had to make an amigurumi Rilakkuma for him.  He loved it so much that he took it to work and a colleague saw it and adored it too.  He has now commissioned me to make another to give to her as a gift.

Since I made the original up as I went along I didn't keep a note of the pattern, so to make another I had to create it from scratch again.  That said, I think the second one has come out even better than the first, and this time I wrote down the pattern!


It's my first pattern, so I hope it makes sense.  I've used standard US crochet terms (despite being in the UK as I am more used to them. If you prefer UK terminology, just substitute sc (single crochet) for dc (double crochet).


Rilakkuma Amigurumi

You will need:

  • 3mm crochet hook
  • Bright Yellow yarn (I used DK)
  • Gingery Brown yarn (I used DK)
  • Yarn needle
  • A pair of 6mm Safety Eyes (or black beads if preferred)
  • Polyfill Toy Stuffing

 

Head (Make 1)


Using brown:

Round 1 - 6sc into Magic Ring (6)
Round 2 - inc in each (12)
Round 3 - 3 inc, 3sc, 3inc, 3sc (18)
Round 4 - 3sc, 3inc, 6sc, 3inc, 3sc (24)
Round 5 - (3sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Round 6 - (4sc, inc) x 6 (36)
Round 7-12 -  sc round (36)

If using safety eyes, insert now between rows 9 & 10, 6 empty stitches between them.

Round 13 - (4sc, dec) x 6 (30)
Round 14 - (3sc, dec) x6 (24)
Round 15 - (2sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Round 16 - (sc, dec) x6 (12)
Stuff firmly
Round 17 - dec round (6)
Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.


Muzzle (Make 1)


Using white:

Round 1 - 6sc into magic ring (6)
Round 2 - sc, 2 inc, sc, 2inc (10)
Round 3 - sc, inc, 2sc, inc, sc, inc, 2sc, inc (14)
Slip stitch into next stitch and fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Embroider nose and mouth with black yarn and sew muzzle in place between and just below the eyes (see photo for placement)


Ears (Make 2)


With yellow (inner ear):

Round 1 - 8sc into magic ring (8)
Pull tightish, keeping a flat edge on the open side (making a semicircle).
Round 2 - ch 1, turn, sc across (8)
Bind off.

With brown (outer ear):

Repeat rounds 1 and 2, DO NOT BIND OFF after round 2.

Round 3  - ch 1, turn
Round 4 - Hold the yellow piece against the brown piece, back to back. sc though back loop of yellow and front loop of brown (the loop of each colour in the middle nearest each other) across, joining the two pieces together. 

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Fold a couple of millimetres of the edge of ear over (one left and one right) and sew in place.  Sew ears into sides of head.  See photo for positioning.


Body & Legs (Make 1)


Begin with first leg:

With yellow:

Round 1 - 6sc into magic ring. (6)

Change to brown:

Round 2 - Back loops only, (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Round 3-5 - sc round (9)
Slip stitch to next stitch and bind off.

Second leg - repeat Rounds 1 to 5 of first leg - DO NOT bind off.

Round 6 - sc into next stitch after slip stitch on first leg and continue round, connecting both legs in a figure of 8 shape. (18)
Round 7 - sc round (18)
Stuff legs

Round 7 - 4sc, inc, 8sc, inc, 4sc (20)
Round 8-13 - sc round (20)
Round 14 - (sc, dec) x 6, 2sc (14)
Round 15 - (sc, dec) x 4, 2sc (10)
Stuff firmly.
Round 16 - dec x 5 (5)
Slip Stitch into next stitch and bind off.

Sew head to body.


Tummy Patch (Make 1)


With white:

Round 1 - 6sc into a magic ring (6)
Round 2 - sc, 2 inc, sc, 2inc (10)
Round 3 - (sc, inc) x5 (15)
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing up.

Sew tummy patch to the front of body.


Tail (Make 1)


With brown:

Round 1 - 6sc into magic ring (6)
Round 2 - inc round (12)
Fasten off, leaving long tail.

Weave yarn tail through the 12 stitches and pull tight like a drawstring. 

Stuff lightly as it gathers into make a nice ball. 

Sew into rear of body just above the legs.


Arms (Make 2)


With brown:

Round 1 - 6sc into magic ring (6)
Round 2-7 - 6sc round (6)

Stuff lightly.
Sew open end shut flat and sew each to body in the crook between body and head.

Embroider pads on the paws with yellow yarn.


The character Rilakkuma is copyright San-X 2003. Rilakkuma's Homepage (Japanese)






Please note: You can sell the finished product in small quantities at local craft shows etc (with credit to me as designer), but not on the internet.  The written pattern must not be sold in any form or used on any other website or in hardcopy/print without my permission.