Introduction
George the
turtle came about when I wanted to make a small toy for my then one year old –
we’d been to the aquarium and had been fascinated by them. I couldn’t find a
small, quick pattern I liked so I made George.
Notes
Dc2tog is a decrease over
2sts – I suggest using an invisible decrease (so first part through front
loops only)
2dc into same
stitch – this is the increase
Number in
brackets at end of round is the number of stitches you should have.
This pattern is worked in a spiral, with no turning or
joining at ends of rounds, so using a marker
helps to keep track of rounds.
When using magic circles, after closing sew in the ends
securely so they won’t come undone.
Abbreviations
Dc
- double crochet
tog
- together
St(s)
- stitch(es)
UK terms are used throughout the pattern
Materials
Small amount of
wool – I’ve used leftover DK
Appropriate hook
(largest size that doesn’t leave holes) – I’ve used a 3mm
Small amount of
toy stuffing
Stitch marker or
different colour thread to keep track of the rounds
Noise maker
(optional – if you want it to rattle)
Needle
for sewing
Scissors
Body
Starting
with a magic circle, at the base of the body
Round 1 – Work
6dc into the magic circle (6)
Round 2 – 2dc into each
st (12)
Round 3 – (Dc in next
st, 2dc into next st) x 6 (18)
Round 4 – (Dc
in next 2sts, 2dc in next st) x6 (24)
Round 5 – (Dc
in next 3sts, 2dc in next st) x6 (30)
Round 6 – (Dc
in next 4sts, 2dc in next st) x6 (36)
Round 7 – Dc in
each st, working into back loops only (36)
Rounds 8 -10 – Dc in
each st, (three rounds) (36)
Round 11 – (Dc in next 4sts,
dc2tog) x 6 (30)
Round 12 – Dc in each st (30)
Round 13– (Dc in next 3sts,
dc2tog) x 6 (24)
Round 14– Dc in each st (24)
Round 15– (Dc in next 2sts,
dc2tog) x 6 (18)
Stuff and insert
noise maker (if used) here – continue stuffing as you work
Round 16– (Dc2tog) x 9
(9)
Round 17– Dc into next
st, (dc2tog) x 4 (5)
Fasten off leaving
a long tail, add more toy stuffing if required and gather stitches
to close – this will be the top of the body
Head
Starting
with a magic circle
Round 1 – Work
6dc into the magic circle (6)
Round 2– 2dc into each
st (12)
Round 3– (Dc in next st,
2dc into next stitch) x 6 (18)
Round 4– (Dc
in next 2sts, 2dc in next st) x6 (24)
Rounds 5 to 7– Dc in each st (three rounds) (24)
Start inserting
stuffing, and continue stuffing as you work
Round 8– (Dc in next 2sts,
dc2tog) x 6 (18)
Round 9– (Dc in next st,
dc2tog) x 6 (12)
Round 10– (Dc2tog) x 6
(6)
Fasten off leaving
a long tail, finish stuffing and gather stitches to close
Front
flippers (make 2)
Starting
with a magic circle
Round 1 – Work
6dc into the magic circle (6)
Round 2– 2dc into each
st (12)
Round 3– (Dc in next
st, 2dc into next st) x 6 (18)
Round 4– (Dc
in next 2sts, 2dc in next st) x6 (24)
Fold in half with
wrong sides together, ch1 and working through both tops
of sts together, dc around the
semi-circle edge created to close (can also be sewn if preferred) (12)
Fasten off
leaving a long tail for attaching to body
Back flippers
(make 2)
Starting
with a magic circle
Round 1 – Work
6dc into the magic circle (6)
Round 2– 2dc into each
st (12)
Round 3– (Dc in next
st, 2dc into next st) x 6 (18)
Fold in half with
wrong sides together, ch1 and working through both tops
of sts together, dc around the
semi-circle edge created to close (can also be sewn if preferred) (9)
Fasten off
leaving a long tail for attaching to body
Assembling
Sew head onto
body with the first round facing up – small tip: don’t sew it too high up as
otherwise it will unbalance the body, it should sit a few rounds above the back
loop only round, as you can see in the photo below.
Sew flippers in
place on underside – this is the first 6 rounds, edged by the back loop only
stitches in round 7 of the body – see photo below.
For the flippers
it is nice if they are mirrored, that means that for one front flipper and one
back flipper the tail thread is on the wrong side, so you have to weave the
tail through to the other side of the flipper. This is up to you, as you can
see in the photo I didn’t do that with mine.
Add face by
embroidering eyes and mouth, using the
picture at the top as a guide.
Here’s a top
view to help with sewing up:
Thank you for
joining me on this mini crochet along, and I hope you’ve enjoyed making George
the turtle as much as I did designing him.
© 2018 Samantha Boreham
All
rights reserved.
The
pattern may not be reproduced, distributed or resold. Items made from this
pattern and handmade by yourself may be sold in limited number, please give
credit to the designer. Pattern and photos may not be used for commercial
purpose without permission.
