Crochy The Crochet Caterpillar.

 If you live in the UK I cannot imagine that you have missed all the kerfuffle about some supermarket Caterpillar cakes.

I say we should embrace ALL of the caterpillars, so I have made a cuddly one that you can keep forever.  He won't melt, go mouldy, make the kids sick..... he's just completely huggable.

I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn in Dark Brown, with scraps of cream for the face and feet, and tiny scraps of whatever colours for the sweeties on the top.

You can stuff him with regular toy stuffing, but I used some wadding that came in one of those monthly food boxes, I rolled it into a tight roll and it worked well.

So, here is the pattern for you.   Enjoy  :)

Stitches explained:

Chain Stitch (CH)- Yarn around hook (from the back) and pull the new yarn through the loop on your hook.  This is ONE chain.  Repeat as needed.

Double Crochet (DC) Put hook through work and draw yarn back through (2 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 2 loops on hook.

Half Treble Crochet (HTR) Yarn around hook (from the back) put hook through work and draw yarn back through (3 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 3 loops on hook.

Treble Crochet (TR)- Yarn around hook (from the back) put hook through work and draw yarn back through (3 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 2 loops on hook, yarn around hook, draw through 2 loops on hook.

Double Treble Crochet (DTR)- Yarn around hook twice (from the back) put hook through work and draw yarn back through (4 loops on hook) yarn around hook, draw through 2 loops on hook (3 times).

Slip Stitch (SS)- Put hook through work and pull yarn through both work and stitch on your hoo

Special Stitches explained:

Front Post Double Crochet (DC) Put hook around the stitch, bringing the hook back to the front and finish the DC as normal.

BODY  (Brown)

Round 1. 6 DC into a Magic Ring.   OR…. CH 2, then work 6 x DC's into the 2nd CH from your hook. (6 st)   Pull up a length of scrap yarn into the last stitch (to use as a stitch marker)

Round 2. Work 2 x DC's into EACH of the 6 stitches  (12 st)  Pull the scrap yarn up through the last stitch.  DO THIS AT THE END OF EVERY ROW TO MARK YOUR PLACE.

Round 3. (DC 1 into next stitch, 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (18 st) 

Round 4. (DC 1 into next 2 stitches, 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (24 st)

Round 5. (DC 1 into next 3 stitches, 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (30 st)

Round 6. (DC 1 into next 4 stitches, 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (36 st)

Round 7. (DC 1 into next 5 stitches, 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (42 st)

Round 8. (DC 1 into next 6 stitches, 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (48 st)

Round 9. (DC 1 into next 7 stitches, 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (56 st)

Round 10. Working into the BACK LOOPS of the stitch only, DC into every stitch. (56 st)

Round 11-15. For 5 more rows - working into the FULL STITCH, DC into every stitch. (56 st)

Round 16-19. For 4 rows – Work a DC front post stitch  (56 st)

Round 20-25. For 6 rows – (back to working a regular DC) DC into every stitch. (56 st)

Round 26-29. For 4 rows – Work a DC front post stitch  (56 st)

Round 30-35. For 6 rows – (back to working a regular DC) DC into every stitch. (56 st)

Round 36-39. For 4 rows – Work a DC front post stitch  (56 st)

Round 40-45. For 6 rows – (back to working a regular DC) DC into every stitch. (56 st)

Round 46-49. For 4 rows – Work a DC front post stitch  (56 st)

Round 50-55. For 6 rows – (back to working a regular DC) DC into every stitch. (56 st)

Round 56-59. For 4 rows – Work a DC front post stitch  (56 st)

Round 60-65. For 6 rows – (back to working a regular DC) DC into every stitch. (56 st)

SS into the next stitch, end yarn leaving a long tail for sewing up, remove marker.

 

 

BUM END  (Brown)

Work Rounds 1-9 from the body, (56 st) SS into the next stitch and end yarn.

 

FACE  (Cream)

Work Rounds 1-8 from the body, (48 st) ... carry on straight away from this stitch to shape the ears..

Ch 1,  (TR, DTR, TR, HTR) in the next stitch, DC in next, SS in next 3, DC in next, (HTR, TR, DTR, TR, HTR) in next, DC in next, SS in next and end yarn.  Leave a long tail for sewing.

 

EYES  (Brown – make 2)

Work Rounds 1-2 from the body, (12 st) SS into the next stitch and end yarn.  Leave a long tail for sewing.

 

TONGUE  (Pink)

Round 1. (DC, TR, HTR, DTR, TR, HTR, DC)  into a Magic Ring.   OR…. CH 2, then work (DC, TR, HTR, DTR, TR, HTR, DC)   into the 2nd CH from your hook. (7 st)   SS into the first stitch, end yarn. Leave a tail for sewing.

 

SWEETIES  (Mixed colours – make 10)

Round 1. 8 HTR into a Magic Ring.   OR…. CH 2, then work 8 x HTR's into the 2nd CH from your hook. (8 st)    )   SS into the first stitch, end yarn. Leave a tail for sewing.

 

 

FEET  (Cream – make 6)

Row 1. CH 5, DC into the  3^rd CH from the hook, DC 2 (4 st) TURN

Row 2-4. For 3 rows  - CH 1, DC 4 (4 st) TURN

Row 5. CH 4, DC into the 3^rd CH from the hook, DC into the next st, then DC 4 across the main piece (7 st) TURN

Row 6-8. For 3 rows  - CH 1, DC 7 (7 st) TURN

 

ASSEMBLY

Stuff your tube, then using the BACK LOOPS only sew your Bum End in place at the bottom of the tube.

Sew your eye and tongue onto the face, then sew the face onto the end of your tube.

Position the feet so that they touch the surface, then sew them in place, three on each side.

Sew the sweeties on as shown in the photo.

 

I hope you have enjoyed making this caterpillar...I am not on anyone's side in this debate and I think all Caterpillars should just learn to get along and live with each other  :)

Send me a photo if you make one, would love to see it  :)