crochetguideKnow these stitches: magic ring, single crochet, single crochet decrease, crochet increase, chain, slip stitch
Materials and yarn planning
Yarns we’ve reviewed that suit it: Bernat Softee Cotton yarn, Knit Picks Dishie Cone yarn, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK yarn. For the hook, choose by size and handle.
Yarn estimate from the stitch counts: about 8 m of yellow, 8 m of black, 2 m of white. That allows about 4 cm of yarn per tight single crochet, plus a quarter for tails and sewing. One 50 g ball of a light or medium yarn holds about 80 m or more, so one ball of each color is enough.
Finished size and gauge
If S single crochets measure 10 cm in your tight swatch, the widest round of 24 stitches is 24 × 10 ÷ S cm around, so the body is about 24 × 10 ÷ (S × 3.14) cm across. These are calculations from the counts, not a measured sample.
The gauge calculator compares your swatch with the pattern. A stitch name you do not know is in the abbreviation chart; a UK pattern’s names are in the US/UK term reference.
The pattern
Count rows for this patternAntennae: make them first
- With black, chain 6 and fasten off, leaving both tails about 10 cm long. Make a second. You attach them while the body is still open.
Body
- Colors: yellow for Rounds 1–6, black for Rounds 7–8, yellow for Rounds 9–10, black from Round 11 to the end. To change color, work the last pull-through of the round before the new color with the new color, and carry the unused strand inside.
- Round 1: make a magic ring and work 6 sc in it. Mark the first stitch and work in a spiral without joining (6 stitches).
- Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 stitches).
- Round 3: [sc in the next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch] 6 times (18 stitches).
- Round 4: [sc in the next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch] 6 times (24 stitches).
- Check the fabric now: hold it up to the light. If you can see gaps between the stitches, stuffing will show through them; start again with a hook 0.5 mm smaller.
- Rounds 5–6: sc in each stitch, in yellow (24 stitches).
- Attach the antennae now, while the inside is open: thread both tails of one antenna through the top of the head, two stitches either side of the center ring, and knot them together inside. Repeat for the second, about 4 stitches away.
- Place the safety eyes in the yellow head, between Rounds 5 and 6, about 5 stitches apart. Safety eyes and other small parts can come loose: for a toy meant for a baby or a child under 3, embroider the eyes with yarn instead.
- Rounds 7–8: sc in each stitch, in black (24 stitches).
- Rounds 9–10: sc in each stitch, in yellow (24 stitches).
- Rounds 11–12: sc in each stitch, in black (24 stitches).
- Round 13: [sc in the next 2 stitches, invisible decrease] 6 times (18 stitches).
- Round 14: [sc in the next stitch, invisible decrease] 6 times (12 stitches). Stuff firmly.
- Round 15: invisible decrease 6 times (6 stitches). Fasten off, thread the tail through the front loops of the last round and pull it closed.
Wings: make 2 in white
- Round 1: make a magic ring and work 6 sc in it (6 stitches).
- Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch (12 stitches). Join with a slip stitch and fasten off, leaving a tail.
- Fold each circle in half and sew the fold to the back of the body, side by side, over Round 8.
Check the work
Body totals: 6, 12, 18, 24, then 24 for eight rounds, then 18, 12 and 6. Yellow: Rounds 1–6 and 9–10; black: Rounds 7–8 and 11–15. Each wing: 6, 12.
- If the color change leaves a step, slip stitch the first stitch of the new color loosely; the spiral jog is normal.
- If the black shows through yellow, carry the black strand inside, not on the outside.
Updated . Stitch counts checked row by row; we haven’t crocheted a sample of this one yet. How the patterns are checked. Keep your yarn label, hook and swatch on the printable project worksheet.