Baby Tortoise Pattern

 

Baby Tortoise Pattern:

Index:

-ML: Magic loop (magic ring, magic circle)

-Ch: Chain

-St: Stitch

-Sc: Single crochet

-Inc: Increase

-Dec: Decrease

-[ ]: Repeat

-BLO: Back loop only

Work in continuous rounds for this project. When decreasing use an invisible decrease to not see gaps in the pattern when it is stuffed. I used Bernat Fleece Finer yarn for this project because I was making it for a friends toddler.

Materials:

-Bernat Fleece Finer yarn

-14 mm safety eyes (if you're making this for a child under 4 it's best to embroider the eyes on instead of using safety eyes)

-Fiberfill

-Weighted poly pellets (these are optional, I like my amigurumi to have a little extra weight to them)

-(If using poly pellets) Panty hoes 

-Size 4mm (G) crochet hook

-Embroidery needle  

Parts:

Top of shell

Bottom of shell

Head

Legs (x4)

Tail

Top of shell:

Round 1: Sc 8 into ML (8)

R2: [inc around] x 8 (16)

R3: [inc, sc] x 8 (24)

R4: [inc, 2 sc] x 8 (32)

R5: [inc, 3 sc] x 8 (40)

R6: [inc, 4 sc] x 8 (48)

R7: sc around (48)

R8: [inc, 5 sc] x 8 (56)

R9: [inc, 6 sc] x 8 (64)

R10: [inc, 7 sc] x 8 (72)

R11-23: sc around (72)

R24-28: sc around (72) Since these round will make up the rim of the shell I normally crochet “backwards” to keep the stitches looking the same when it is inverted. Since we'll be sewing the bottom of the shell back onto itself invisible slip stitch into the first stitch of the previous round to finish row.

Finish off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Making the rim:

Flip the bottom of the shell up and line up the last round with round 24. Sew the final round to the rest of the shell, stuffing with small amounts of fiberfill as you work. Leave about 6 stitch-length unstuffed to attach the head later. It should sort of look like a goofy hat at this point.

Bottom of the shell:

Round 1: Sc 8 into ML (8)

R2: [inc around] x 8 (16)

R3: [inc, sc] x 8 (24)

R4: [inc, 2 sc] x 8 (32)

R5: [inc, 3 sc] x 8 (40)

R6: [inc, 4 sc] x 8 (48)

R7: sc around (48)

R8: [inc, 5 sc] x 8 (56)

R9: [inc, 6 sc] x 8 (64)

R10: [inc, 7 sc] x 8 (72)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing the rest of the shell.

Before we sew the top and bottom shell pieces together, we'll want to make the head since we'll be sewing the top of the shell and the bottom of the shell around the neck to join.

Head:

R1: sc 6 into ML (6)

R2: [inc around] x 6 (12)

R3: [inc, sc] x 6 (18)

R4: [inc, 2 sc] x 6 (24)

R5: [inc, 3 sc] x6 (30)

R6-11: sc around (30)

R12: [dec, 3 sc] x 6 (24)

R13: sc around (24)

R14: [dec, 2 sc] x 6 (18)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Place safety eyes between R7 and R8, approx. 8 stitches apart and stuff head. Feel free to use embroidery thread to add a mouth as well, I just like it better without.

Legs (make 4):

R1: sc 8 into ML (8)

R2: [inc around] x 8 (16)

R3: [inc, 2 sc] x 8 (24)

R4: sc BLO around (24)

R5-R7: sc around (24)

R8: [dec, 2 sc] x 8 (16)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff legs with fiberfill (if you want to use poly beads that works as well) and set aside.

Tail:

R1: sc 6 into ML (6)

R2: sc around

R3: [inc, sc] x 6 (12)

R4: sc around (12)

R5: [inc, 2 sc] x 6 (18)

R6-7: sc around (18)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff tail with fiberfill and set aside.

Joining everything together:

Begin joining the bottom of the shell to the top of the shell, lining up with where we sewed the rim of the shell in earlier. Use the same round as a marker of where to sew the bottom piece in, and begin sewing in the next stitch after where we left a tiny bit of the rim of the shell unstuffed, this is where the head will go and we'll take care of that last. Since both pieces have 72 stitches it should be a fairly easy sew. About halfway through start stuffing the body (this is where I normally use poly beads. I make a little baggie out of the pantie hoes and sort of wrap it with fiberfill so it sits in the center of all the stuffing. I just like the weightiness but this step is completely optional.) Stop joining when 9 stitches remain, this is where we'll sew in the head. Finish stuffing the body and shaping.

Line up the mostly joined body with the head, the rim of the shell should be unstuffed in this area so the head doesn't droop downward too much. Begin with sewing the top of the shell to the top 9 stitches of the neck. Make sure that your eyes are centered and that the head isn't turned (though it does give the tortoise a cute questioning look either way). Once you've reached your final stitch the top of the shell shouldn't have any extra unjoined stitches. Begin sewing the last 9 stitches of the next into the bottom of the shell. The neck should connect to the top and bottom of the shell, you may need to stuff a little extra fiberfill in the neck as your work as well so it doesn't wobble.  

Now all that's left to do is sew the legs and the tail to the body! I don't really have a specific placement for these parts, simply join them with the body wherever you feel they look best.

Thank you for trying out my pattern! This is the first pattern I've ever made so it's really simple but I still had a lot of fun making it and I think it's pretty cute :) I'm hoping I'll be able to keep learning more and posting more original patterns in the future!