Mini Crochet Creatures - Wee Sheepie

Happy Easter! I've just written up a few patterns to make some tiny little crochet animals - a little sheep, a tiny turtle, and two versions of a baby octopus. Below are a list of abbreviations and some general instructions that will help with all the patterns, and then the pattern to make a Wee Sheepie. I'll put the patterns for the other animals in the following posts.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
dc = double crochet (US), treble crochet (UK)
hdc = half double crochet (US), half treble crochet (UK)
BLO = back loop only
FLO = front loop only
tog = together
sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together
FO = fasten off

General instructions:
Work in rounds unless otherwise stated and do not join rounds unless told to. Use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do. To start a round, you can use the magic ring method, but I prefer (ch2, work 6 sc into 1^st ch). If you work the 6 sc over the tail of yarn as well you can use that to pull the hole tight.

Work through both loops of stitches unless otherwise indicated.

 

Wee Sheepie

You will need:

Small amount of cream yarn.

Small amount of black yarn.

Small amount of stuffing.

3.5mm (E) hook.

Special stitch instructions:

4 dc pop: popcorn stitch for ears and legs. Work 4 dc into 1 st, take hook out leaving loop, put hook through 1st dc & pull loop through.

Start using black yarn.

Round 1: Ch 2, work 6 sc into 1^st ch - 6 st.
Round 2: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 3 times – 9 st.

Round 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st] 3 times – 12 st.

Round 4: Sc in each st around - 12 st.

Round 5: Sc in next 4 st, 4 dc pop in next st, sc in next 3 st, 4 dc pop in next st, sc in next 3 st – 12 st.

Round 6: [Sc2tog, sc in next 2 st] 3 times – 9 st.

Change to cream yarn.

Round 7: 2 sc in each st around - 18 st.

Round 8: Sc in each st around - 18 st.

Change to black yarn.

Round 9: 4 dc pop in next st, (change to cream yarn) sc in next 2 st, (black) 4 dc pop in next st, (cream) sc in next 14 st – 18 st.

Round 10 - 11: (2 rounds) Sc in each st around - 18 st.

Round 12: Sc in next st, (black) 4 dc pop in next st, (cream) sc in next 2 st, (black) 4 dc pop in next st, (cream) sc in next 13 st – 18 st.

Round 13: Sc in each st around - 18 st.

Round 14: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 6 times – 12 st.

Round 15: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 6 st.

FO, leaving lengths of black and cream yarn.

Embroider the eyes making patches using cream yarn with a dot of black yarn on top. Stuff and use length of cream yarn to sew up hole at bottom.

Woolly Jumpers! Rabbit and Lamb amigurumis

I was asked to make some toys for our school's Easter raffle and so I picked two of the animals I most associate with spring - rabbits and lambs. I've been wanting to come up with a pattern for animal toys wearing clothes, so this was a good opportunity to give it a try. I started with a boy rabbit wearing a jumper (or sweater), then made the boy lamb with a really stripy jumper (I love stripes!).

Since I have boys I don't usually make girly toys, but I thought I'd give it a go this time and made a girl rabbit and lamb wearing little dresses, which made a nice change for me.

When I started making them the weather was still quite wintery, but but by the time I got round to photographing them it was getting much more spring-like, and I was pleased to be able to use some daffodils and primula as a backdrop.

The pattern, which gives instructions on how to make all the variations, is available in my Etsy shop.