Critter Bits Crochet Toy Pattern

Meet the Critter Bits, the yarn busting gang! I've fallen in love with them and they make me smile. I hope they do the same for you! These guys have a full video tutorial to go along with the written pattern. They are mostly crocheted in the flat and not in the round.. read here about how the Critter Bits began.

As you can see by their photo you can add bits of fabric, button eyes, a raggedy patch or 2 and they only get cuter! I think there might be more characters added soon because they are addicting to make.



Special notes: When working in the round I worked in continuous rounds with a 3.75mm hook and worsted weight acrylic yarn. Have any questions or if you come across a mistake in the pattern please leave a message in the comment section below. This pattern will give you a doll about 6 inches tall depending on your choice of yarn and hook size.

Supplies used:
3.7mm hook
different colors of acrylic worsted weight medium #4
yarn needle
polyester stuffing
optional supplies
pieces of fabric
buttons
felt
fabric glue
7.5mm eyes
4.5mm eyes

Abbreviation Chart
sc = single crochet
2tog = crochet 2 stitches together
hdc = half double crochet
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
f/o = finish off

How to read the rows: Each row has a sequence as given below. For example 1sc then 2sc in next st means repeat that sequence 1sc then 2sc in next st followed by 1sc then 2sc in next st over and over to the end of that particular row. The number inside the parentheses ( ~ ) is the number of stitches you should have at the end of that particular row.

Click here for full video tutorial
Critter Bits body in two colors (Make 2 )Top of body with color of your choice:
1) ch12
2) starting with the 2nd ch from the hook 1sc in each ch (11)
3-12) 1sc in each st for 10 rows. Remember to ch1 and turn at the end of every row
13) 1sc in each st, switch colors on last st (start with a long tail you will use for sewing the body pieces together )

Bottom of the body with a different color
1) ch1 and sc across 12 times. There are no real stitches to work in so you will be creating the st as you crochet across this row. (12)
2-9) 1sc in each st for 8 rows. Remember to ch1 and turn at the end of every row.
f/o




Arms with same color as top of body:
1) ch8 (begin with a long yarn tail, you will use this to sew the arm together).
2) starting with the 2nd ch from the hook 1sc in each ch (7)
3-5) 1sc in each st for 3 rows. ch1 and turn at the end of every row
6) ch2 and 1hdc 4times working across the top edge. There are no real stitches to work in so you will be creating the st as you crochet across this row.
f/o leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold in half and whip stitch the arm closed up to where the hdc's start (see leg pictured below)


Legs starting with color used for top of body:
1) ch7 (begin with a long yarn tail, you will use this to sew the arm together).
2) starting with the 2nd ch from the hook 1sc in each ch (6)
3-4) 1sc in each st for 2 rows. ch1 and turn at the end of every row
5) ch1 and turn, 1sc in each st switching colors on last st
6) ch2 and 1hdc 4times working across the top edge. There are no real stitches to work in so you will be creating the st as you crochet across this row.
7) ch2 and turn, 1hdc in each st
f/o leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold in half and whip stitch the leg closed up to where the hdc's start




Bear Ears ~ make 2
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12)
3) 1sc in each st
sl st next st and f/o leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff. Sew in place after the body is stuffed and closed. Place on top of the head to cover the corner and whip stitch the bottom edge of ear to body ~ going all the way around the ear, making sure to leave no gaps.

Bear Tail: with same color used for upper part of body
1) magic circle with 6sc(6)
2) 1sc then 2sc in next st (9)
3) 1sc in each st
sl st next st and f/o, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew to the bottom half of one of the body pieces. This can be done before the body pieces are sewn together. After the tail is partly sewn in place lightly stuff it.

Frog Eye Pieces ~ make 2
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12)
3-5) 1sc in each st for 3 rows
sl st next st and f/o leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the eye pieces. Sew in place after the body has been stuffed and closed. If you are putting in safety eyes then do that before sewing the piece to the head.

Bunny Ears ~ make 2
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 1sc then 2sc in next st (9)
3-5) 1sc in each st for 3 rows
6) 1sc then 2tog (6)
7-8) 1sc in each st for 2 rows
sl st next st and f/o leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the ears. Sew in place after the body has been stuffed and closed. Place just on the top corners of the head (hold the ear in with a pin) and whip stitch the bottom edge of the ear to the body making sure to leave no gaps.


Bunny Tail: with same color used for upper part of body
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 1sc then 2sc in next st (9)
3) 1sc in each st
sl st next st and f/o, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew to the bottom half of one of the body pieces. This can be done before the body pieces are sewn together . After the tail is partly sewn in place lightly stuff it.

Mouse Ears ~ make 2
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12) *work the starting tail into this round. I show how to do this in the video
3) 1sc in next 2st then 2sc in next st (16)
f/o. See assembly instructions below

Mouse Tail: with same color used for upper part of body
1) ch about 13 or so.. make the tail as long as you want
f/o and weave one of the yarn tail in and out each of chains. The yarn tails should now be at the same end. Sew to the bottom half of one of the body pieces. This can be done before the body pieces are sewn together .

Moose Antlers: Larger piece make 2
1) ch8 (begin with a long yarn tail for sewing)
2) starting with the 2nd ch from the hook 1sc in each ch (7)
3-4) 1sc in each st for 2 rows. ch1 and turn at the end of every row
f/o leaving a long tail for sewing

Smaller Piece make 3-4 (the number of smaller antler pieces is a matter of preference. I chose to add 3 smaller ones as pictured but you may want to even it out and add 4)
1) depending on length you want ch4 or ch5 (begin with a long yarn tail for sewing)
2) starting with the 2nd ch from the hook 1sc in each ch (3 or 4)
3-4) 1sc in each st for 2 rows. ch1 and turn at the end of every row
f/o leaving a long tail for sewing

sew the smaller antlers together to form a tube then sew those in place while the larger antler piece is still flat. Once you have all the smaller pieces sewn in then sew the larger antler to form the tube then sew to the top of the head.


Moose Tail:
1) ch4
2) staring with the 2nd ch from the hook, 1sc in next 2 ch then sl st last ch (3)
f/o and sew to the bottom half of one of the body pieces

Assembly:
Do not stuff body until the limbs are sewn in place

You can put the eyes and face in before sewing the 2 body pieces together OR do this step after the whole Critter is stuffed and closed. I do the latter and show how to do this in the video.

Put the 2 body pieces together, begin from where you joined the colors working from one side of the bottom half whip stitching all the way around to the other side. Knot off when finished the bottom half and tuck the yarn tail inside.







The top half will be sewn closed a bit differently depending on which animal you are making.
Moose, Frog, Bunny and Bear:

work from each side going up, whip stitch closed up and around the top corners leaving a gap in the middle for stuffing. Sew the arms and legs on before stuffing the body. After stuffing, whip stitch the remaining gap closed, knot off then hide yarn tails in body

Sewing the legs and arms in place.
stretch out the open part of the arm a bit with your fingers, wrap the open part of the arm around the side of the body just above the change in colors. Sew around, f/o and hide yarn tail in body

stretch out the open part of the leg a bit with your fingers, wrap the open part of the leg around the side of the body, the bottom corner of the body will be siting inside the flap of the leg. Sew around, f/o and hide yarn tail inside body.

Mouse:
work from each side going up, whip stitch closed and stop about 3st from the top corner, put the ear in between the 2 body pieces. Now continue sewing through the body and the ear. Once the ear is sewn in continue on whip stitching the top leaving a gap for stuffing. Sew the arms and legs on before stuffing the body. After stuffing, whip stitch the remaining gap closed, f/o then hide yarn tails in body.

I hope you enjoyed the pattern!

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