Tuesday 1 August 2017

The Starfish and The Squid

Theres something fishy going on here today ...
Awwww, how sweet. Two little sea creatures having fun together.
As it's the summer time here in the UK, I fancied a new project. and as I haven't made any amigurumi for a while, I decided on some little ocean characters. 

They're the perfect stash-busting project, as each only uses about 20g of yarn - cotton DK is my preference, but you can use whatever you have to hand.

Patterns are in UK terms first, US below.
Enjoy!

Squid Pattern UK terms

Did you know that we squids have ten appendages? We have eight arms and two longer tentacles.


You will need:
Approx 20g of dk yarn and hook to match - I used leftovers of Debbie Bliss Cotton DK and a 4mm hook
Toy stuffing
2 x 6mm eyes
Black embroidery thread and needle

Pattern
Work in continuous rounds for the body and rows for the arms and tentacles. 
Stuff as you go.

Rnd 1: 5dc in magic ring OR ch2, make 5dc in 2nd ch from hook. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: 1dc in each st around.  

Rnd 3: (1dc, 2dc in next st) twice, 1dc in last st. (7)
Rnd 4: (2dc, 2dc in next st) twice, 1dc in last st. (9)
Rnd 5: 1dc in each st around.

Rnd 6: (2dc, 2dc in next st) repeat around. (12)
Rnd 7: (3dc, 2dc in next st) repeat around. (15)
Rnd 8: (4dc, 2dc in next st) repeat around. (18)
Rnd 9: (5dc, 2dc in next st) repeat around. (21)
Rnd 10: (6dc, 2dc in next st) repeat around. (24)
Rnd 11: 1dc in each st around.

Rnd 12: (5dc, 2dc in next st) repeat around. (28)
Rnds 13 - 16: 1dc in each st around.

Rnd 17: (5dc, dc2tog) repeat around. (24) 
Rnds 18 - 20: 1dc in each st around.
Rnd 21: (4dc, dc2tog) repeat around. (20) 
Rnd 22: (3dc, dc2tog) repeat around. (16) 
Rnd 23: 1dc in each st around.

Insert eyes and stitch mouth, using pictures as a guide.

Rnd 24: dc2tog x 3, 4dc, dc2tog x 3 (10)

The arms and tentacles are made into the front loops only (FLO) of the stitches from rnd 24. Make sure that the longer tentacles are at the front of your squid.

Rnd 25: (shorter arms x 8) sl st into FLO of next st. *11ch, (now work into chain stitches, beginning in 2nd ch from hook) 2dc, 8htr, sl st into FLO of next st; repeat from *

(longer tentacles x 2) sl st into FLO of next st. *16ch, (now work into chain stitches, beginning in 2nd ch from hook) 3dc, 12htr, sl st into FLO of next st; repeat from *

Rnd 26: sl st into unused back loops from rnd 24, dc2tog around in BLO. (5)

Sew closed and fasten off.

Starfish Pattern UK Terms
 
Did you know that we starfish are found in oceans all over the world, from tropical to polar waters.


The starfish is made of two pieces which are crocheted together. I made the front and back in two different colours because I only had small amounts of yarn.

You will need:
Approx 20g of dk yarn and hook to match - I used leftovers of Debbie Bliss Cotton DK and a 4mm hook
Toy stuffing
2 x 6mm eyes
Black embroidery thread and needle

Pattern
Work in continuous rounds for the body, then in rows to make the arms. 
Stuff just before closing.

Body
Rnd 1: 5dc in magic ring OR ch2, make 5dc in 2nd ch from hook. (5 sts)
Rnds 2 - 3: 2dc in each st around (20)
Rnd 4: 1dc in each st around.
Rnd 5: (3dc, 2dc in next st) repeat around. (25)

Arms
Row 6: 1dc in next 5 sts, turn. (5)
Rows 7 - 8: 1ch, 1dc in each st, turn.
Row 9: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc, dc2tog, turn. (3)
Rows 10 - 11: 1ch, 1dc in each st, turn.
Row 12: 1ch, dc2tog, 1dc, turn (2)
Row 13: 1ch, 1dc in each st.
Fasten off

Repeat rows 6 - 13 around rnd 5 to make 5 arms in total


To make up

Insert eyes and stitch mouth onto front piece, using pictures as a guide.
With both pieces together WS facing, use yarn of your choice and dc the edges closed, stuffing firmly before finishing.
Fasten off.

Squid Pattern US Terms

 
Did you know that we squids have ten appendages? We have eight arms and two longer tentacles.

You will need:
Approx 20g of dk or sportweight yarn and hook to match - I used leftovers of Debbie Bliss Cotton DK and a 4mm hook
Toy stuffing
2 x 6mm eyes
Black embroidery thread and needle

Pattern
Work in continuous rounds for the body and rows for the arms and tentacles. 
Stuff as you go.

Rnd 1: 5sc in magic ring OR ch2, make 5sc in 2nd ch from hook. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: 1sc in each st around.  

Rnd 3: (1sc, 2sc in next st) twice, 1sc in last st. (7)
Rnd 4: (2sc, 2sc in next st) twice, 1sc in last st. (9)
Rnd 5: 1sc in each st around.

Rnd 6: (2sc, 2sc in next st) repeat around. (12)
Rnd 7: (3sc, 2sc in next st) repeat around. (15)
Rnd 8: (4sc, 2sc in next st) repeat around. (18)
Rnd 9: (5sc, 2sc in next st) repeat around. (21)
Rnd 10: (6sc, 2sc in next st) repeat around. (24)
Rnd 11: 1sc in each st around.

Rnd 12: (5sc, 2sc in next st) repeat around. (28)
Rnds 13 - 16: 1sc in each st around.

Rnd 17: (5sc, sc2tog) repeat around. (24) 
Rnds 18 - 20: 1sc in each st around.
Rnd 21: (4sc, sc2tog) repeat around. (20) 
Rnd 22: (3sc, sc2tog) repeat around. (16) 
Rnd 23: 1sc in each st around.

Insert eyes and stitch mouth, using pictures as a guide.

Rnd 24: sc2tog x 3, 4sc, sc2tog x 3 (10)

The arms and tentacles are made into the front loops only (FLO) of the stitches from rnd 24. Make sure that the longer tentacles are at the front of your squid.

Rnd 25: (shorter arms x 8) sl st into FLO of next st. *11ch, (now work into chain stitches, beginning in 2nd ch from hook) 2sc, 8hdc, sl st into FLO of next st; repeat from *

(longer tentacles x 2) sl st into FLO of next st. *16ch, (now work into chain stitches, beginning in 2nd ch from hook) 3sc, 12hdc, sl st into FLO of next st; repeat from *

Rnd 26: sl st into unused back loops from rnd 24, sc2tog around in BLO. (5)

Sew closed and fasten off.



 Starfish Pattern US Terms



Did you know that we starfish are found in oceans all over the world, from tropical to polar waters.

The starfish is made of two pieces which are crocheted together. I made the front and back in two different colours because I only had small amounts of yarn.

You will need:
Approx 20g of dk or sportweight yarn and hook to match - I used leftovers of Debbie Bliss Cotton DK and a 4mm hook
Toy stuffing
2 x 6mm eyes
Black embroidery thread and needle

Pattern
Work in continuous rounds for the body, then in rows to make the arms. 
Stuff just before closing.

Body
Rnd 1: 5sc in magic ring OR ch2, make 5sc in 2nd ch from hook. (5 sts)
Rnds 2 - 3: 2sc in each st around (20)
Rnd 4: 1sc in each st around.
Rnd 5: (3sc, 2sc in next st) repeat around. (25)

Arms
Row 6: 1sc in next 5 sts, turn. (5)
Rows 7 - 8: 1ch, 1sc in each st, turn.
Row 9: 1ch, sc2tog, 1sc, sc2tog, turn. (3)
Rows 10 - 11: 1ch, 1sc in each st, turn.
Row 12: 1ch, sc2tog, 1sc, turn (2)
Row 13: 1ch, 1sc in each st.
Fasten off

Repeat rows 6 - 13 around rnd 5 to make 5 arms in total


To make up

Insert eyes and stitch mouth onto front piece, using pictures as a guide.
With both pieces together WS facing, use yarn of your choice and sc the edges closed, stuffing firmly before finishing.
Fasten off.


Enjoy!

Sarah xx


6 comments:

  1. These are so cute. I love their little faces!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bekki!
      I think adding the faces is the best bit!!
      Sarah x

      Delete
  2. Sarah, thank you so much for these darling sea creatures! I have grandchildren but I will be making them for ME!!! LOL! The older I get the more playful I become and I want to give them a place in my bathroom....they are so precious and you are so talented. I feel lucky if I can follow a pattern much less create one! Hats off to you dear lady for sharing your talents so freely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sam!
      What a lovely comment - you've made my day!! So glad to share these with you all.
      Mine are also in my bathroom, although I suspect the kids will 'acquire' them at some stage ...
      Enjoy your week,
      Sarah xx

      Delete
  3. I love sea creatures and yours are so cute. You have gone to a lot of trouble to provide your patterns in both UK & US terms. That will be appreciated by many. Enjoy your summertime.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, thanks Jodie!
      I hope everyone enjoys making these little creatures as much as I did!
      Sarah xx

      Delete

I'd love to hear from you, so leave a comment or ask a question and l'll reply to you right here.
Have a fab day.
Sarah Xx