Crochet Pet Turtle Toy

Skill Level: intermediate

Size: One size, approximately 6.5” wide by 8” long

Materials:

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton
• Colors & Approx Yardage:
• #89 Camel, 75 yds (Main color (MC))
• #64 Olive, 50 yds (Color A)
• #52 Light Sage, 20 yds (Color B)
• #11 Sunburst, 30 yds (Color C)
• Hook: US G/6 (4.25 mm)
• Notions: Yarn needle, fiberfill stuffing ; optional: 1 jingle bell

Gauge: 16 sts and 16 rows = 4”/10 cm in single crochet on size G/6 (4.25 mm) hook

Pattern notes:

Turtle is worked in two pieces beginning with circular shell body. Head, legs and tail are attached by working back and forth in rows. Upper and lower body pieces are slip stitched together, with stuffing inserted before closure.

Yarn ends can be left hanging to be worked over and stuffed inside when pieces are joined.

For child and pet safety, eyes are embroidered.

Stitches used:

• Chain (ch)
• Slip Stitch (sl st)
• Single Crochet (sc)
• Single Crochet two (three) together (sc2(3)tog)

Special techniques:

Magic loop beginning ring: wind yarn around finger once, hold circle of yarn as you insert hook into it, yo and pull loop through, ch 1, work first round over strands of circle. After first two rounds are complete, pull on yarn tail gently to close center of ring.

Turtle

Upper shell

Note: upper shell is worked in two colors in rounds which are joined with slip stitch.

Round 1: With Color A, make beginning ring (either by traditional ch 4, join into ring method or by magic loop method described above). Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring, join with sl st (6 sc).

Round 2 (inc rnd): Ch 1, work 2 sc in ea sc around, join with sl st (12 sc). Join Color C, drop

Color A but do not cut it.

Round 3 (inc rnd): With Color C, ch 1, work 2 sc in ea sc around, join with sl st (24 sc).

Change to Color A, drop Color C but do not cut it.

Round 4 (inc rnd): With Color A, ch 1, work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, rep from * around, join with sl st (36 sc). Change to Color C, drop Color A but do not cut it.

Round 5: With Color C, ch 1, sc in ea sc around, join with sl st (36 sc). Change to Color A, cut Color C, leaving 6” tail to stuff inside later.

Round 6 (inc rnd): With Color A, ch 1, work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, rep from * around, join with sl st (48 sc)

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in ea sc around, join with sl st and fasten off (48 sc)

Lower shell

Note: lower shell is worked in one color in spiral crochet method.

Round 1: With Color B, make beg ring as on upper shell. Ch 1, work 6 sc in ring (6 sc). Do not join but continue in spiral single crochet. Place thread marker to note beg of rnds and move it up as you work.

Round 2 (inc rnd): Work 2 sc in ea sc around (12 sc)

Round 3 (inc rnd): Work 2 sc in ea sc around (24 sc)

Round 4 (inc rnd): Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, rep from * around (36 sc)

Round 5: Sc in ea sc around (36 sc)

Round 6 (inc rnd): Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, rep from * around, join with sl st and fasten off (48 sc)

Round 7: Sc in ea sc around, join with sl st and fasten off (48 sc)

Appendages

Note: work on upper shell piece first, then repeat same instructions on lower shell piece. You will be working around outside of circular piece in this order: head, skip 4 sc to left, first leg, skip 4 sc to left, second leg, skip 4 sc to left, tail, skip 4 sc to left, third leg, skip 4 sc to left, fourth leg.

Head

Row 1: Attach MC to any st on last rnd of shell. Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 4 sc, turn (5 sc)

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sc in ea sc across, turn (5 sc)

Row 5 (inc row): Ch 1, work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn (7 sc)

Row 6 (dec row): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog, turn (5 sc)

Row 7 (dec row): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next sc, sc2tog (3 sc). Fasten off.

First Leg

Row 1: Skip next 4 sts to left on shell, attach MC in next sc. Ch 1, sc in same sc, sc in next 3 sc, turn (4 sc)

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sc in ea sc across, turn (4 sc). At end of Row 4, fasten off.

Second Leg

Rep Rows 1-4 of first leg.

Tail

Row 1: Skip next 4 sts to left on shell, attach MC in next sc. Ch 1, sc in same sc, sc in next 2 sc, turn (3 sc)

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sc in ea sc across, turn (3 sc)

Row 5 (dec row): Ch 1, sc3tog (1 sc). Fasten off.

Third Leg

Rep Rows 1-4 of first leg.

Fourth Leg

Rep Rows 1-4 of first leg.

Repeat head, legs & tail on other shell piece.

Finishing

Upper body edging:

Attach MC to any sc on body. Ch 1, sc evenly all around piece, placing sc in ea sc on body and working evenly around head, legs and tail, working around corners with 3 sc in ea corner and 3 sc at point of tail. Work over yarn ends as you go or lay them in center of piece to be stuffed inside later. Join with sl st to beg sc and fasten off (approx. 120 sc)

Lower body edging:

Rep upper body edging instructions.

Join upper and lower body:

Hold pieces with wrong sides tog, matching head, tail and legs. Working through inner loops only of ea sc, attach Color C through both thicknesses in any sc between tail and leg. Sl st through inner loops of ea st around, leaving tail sts unworked until stuffing has been inserted.

Stuff with fiberfill (inserting optional jingle bell in center of stuffing if desired), then sl st rem sts tog to close.

With Color A, embroider two French knots for eyes as shown. Bury all yarn tails inside stuffed body.