Earthworms Wearing Sunhats


Meet the Worms,
A happy little bunch they are!  I actually wrote this pattern up in 2017 while recovering from an illness and after a phone call from my Dad that triggered a childhood memory. If you're interested in reading that story go here.

I forgot about them until this year when I found the draft while going through old posts on my blog. I'm happy to get this pattern published finally. I hope you enjoy!

Size of the worm,
The ones pictured are between  7 and 12 inches long. You can adjust the length of the worms by adding or eliminating rows. I do give instructions for the long and a short worm in the pattern.

The 2 inch mushroom pictured is a free pattern here 

Supplies:
medium to heavy worsted weight yarn in beige or pink for worms
same weight yarn as worm in color of your choice for hats
same weight yarn as worm  in brown for dirt and green for grass
black yarn or embroidery thread for eyes and mouth
4mm hook
blunt end yarn needle for sewing
scissors
small amount of polyester stuffing
4 pipe cleaners per worm - the ends are fixed so that there are no sharp points and they are also stitched in place so they will not slide up and down inside the body making them safer for play and  display. However, these worms, as with all amigurumi or other handmade toys, are not safe for babies or toddlers due to choking hazard.


Abbreviations:
st = stitch
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
BLO = Back loops only
FLO = Front loops only
hdc = half double crochet
ch = chain
f/o = finish off

Magic ring:
Parts of this amigurumi begin with a magic ring. I have 2 short video tutorials that will show you 2 different methods of making a magic ring. Use the one that is easiest for you. View 1st method here and 2nd method here.

How to read the rows:
Add a maker at the end of row 2 and move that marker each time you finish a row. Each row has a sequence. 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 row. When you land on the marker you should be putting in 2sc. If it is a decreasing row then you should be crocheting 2tog when you land on the marker. The number inside the parentheses ( ~ ) is the number of stitches you should have at the end of that particular row.

How to print the pattern:
Click here to find out how to print it off for free.

~> Before starting the worm cut a strand of yarn (same yarn you will use for worm's body) about 24 inches long and set aside. We will use this to add a nose. Before starting the pattern be sure you read "How to read rows" just above this, it's important!

Worm: starting at the top of the head 
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12)
3) 1sc in next 5st then 2sc in next st (14)
4-7) 1sc in each st for 4 rows
8) 1sc in next 5st then 2tog (12)
9) 1sc in the next 4st then 2tog (10)

Let's add a face now. Pull out your last stitch into a big loop so you don't loose it, turn the head so that the big loop is in the back, work on the front. I used a blunt end yarn needle (size 13) for the face details.

Nose: 
Bring the strand of yarn inside the head and then out in between the 5th and 6th row, wrap the yarn horizontally, a stitch wide, between 10 and 15 times. Once done, knot the yarn tails inside the head twice. Cut shorter and hide yarn tails inside head.

Eyes: Using embroidery thread or split a strand of black yarn
Bring the thread inside the head and out in between the 4th and 5th row. Wrap the thread vertically over the 5th row until you are happy with the look. Wrap slowly and guide the thread into place before pulling all the way. Once done carry the thread over and do the next eye. Once done the eyes carry the thread down to make the mouth.

Mouth:
Come out in between the 7th and 8th row, shape mouth as desired. Look at the cover photo for the different mouths I gave each worm. Once done knot the thread tails off inside the head, cut short.




10) 1sc in each st for 1 row
Stuff the head firmly to row 9
11) 1sc in next 3st then 2tog (8)

Long Worm: 12-36) 1sc in each st for 25 rows (8)
Short Worm: 12-29) 1sc in each st for 18 rows (8)

You can adjust the length of the worm by eliminating rows between 12 and 36 as I did for the short worm. Feel free to adjust the length to your own liking.



Install the pipe cleaners now for both the long and short worm:
Twist the ends of 4 pipe cleaners together, bend the twisted end over twice to create a little ball. Push the ball inside the worm and up until you get to the stuffing. If it gets stuck along the way use the back end of a pencil to help guide it. Once the ball is touching the stuffing you should have a fair bit sticking out the tail.

Long Worm: Twist the loose ends together tightly then bend them over in half, the tips should now be touching the edge of row 36. Twist again tightly, squeeze the bend to thin it out then continue on crocheting around them.
37-41) 1sc in each st for 5 rows or until you have covered the tip of the pipe cleaners and a bit further, at least a row beyond the end of the pipe cleaners. f/o leaving a long enough tail to close up the gap and also for stitching in the pipe cleaners.

Short Worm: Cut the majority of the pipe cleaners that is sticking out the end off then twist the ends and bend the tip over then twist again tightly, squeeze the bend to thin it out.
30-32) 1sc in each st for 3 rows or until you have covered the tip of the pipe cleaners and a bit further, at least a row beyond the end of the pipe cleaners. f/o leaving a long enough tail to close up the gap and also for stitching in the pipe cleaners.



Weave in and out of the FLO then pull the yarn tail to close up the gap. Knot off then carry the yarn tail up through the inside of the worm and out through a stitch hole part way up the body. See photo below. Knot off, use the remaining yarn tail to stitch the pipe cleaners to the body.

Stitch the pipe cleaners in place:

Bring the needle back into the body and out the other side through a stitch hole, come back through the same stitch hole but this time make sure to bring the needle around the pipe cleaners (you have to feel your way around it) then out through a stitch hole, pull tight to suck the pipe cleaners right up the one side of the body, do this step one more time to add another wrap around the pipe cleaners, pull tight then knot off, this will keep the pipe cleaners from sliding up or down inside the body.  Knot off  and hide yarn tail in body.


Hat: with color of your choice
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12) - If you used the double loop magic ring then crochet around the starting yarn tail to hide it.
3) 1sc in next 5st then 2sc in next st (14)
4) 1sc in each st (14)
5) 2sc in the FLO (28)
7) 1sc in each st (28)
sl st next st and f/o. Weave the yarn tail up and out in between the 3rd and 4th row. Place hat onto worm's head and use the yarn tail to stitch the hat to the head. Knot off when done then hide yarn tail inside head.

Scarf: with color of your choice - this is optional, there's no need to add a scarf.
1) ch21
2) starting in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in next 5ch, 1hdc in next 10ch, 1sc in next 4ch, sl st last ch
f/o weave in yarn tails to hide them.

Wrap scarf around the worm, pull one end in between the stitch posts of  hdc's, pull until the scarf is firmly in place.


Dirt Patch: with brown
1) ch26
2) starting in 2nd ch, 1sc in each ch (25) ch2 and turn
3-10) skip ch, 1hdc in each st for 8 rows (25) {ch2 at the end of each row, skip ch at the start of each row} At the end of row 10 ch1 and turn
11) skip ch, 1sc in each of the BLO (25) ch2 and turn
12-16) skip ch, 1hdc in each st for 5 rows (25){ch2 at the end of each row, skip ch at the start of each row} At the end of row 16 ch1 and turn
17) skip ch, 1sc in each of the BLO (25) ch2 and turn
18-25) skip ch, 1hdc in each st for 8 rows (25) {ch2 at the end of each row, skip ch at the start of each row} At the end of row 25 f/o leaving a long tail for sewing.


There are 3 sections that make up the Dirt Patch, the bottom and 2 sides. Place the Dirt Patch on the table and hold the sides up as pictured. You can sew the edges completely closed or leave little gaps in them for the worm tails to poke through.



Grassy Edge:
Insert green yarn anywhere, ch2 and hdc in next st then 1sc in next 2 st, ch2 then 1hdc in next st, 1sc in next 2 st. Repeat all the way around. Once around, f/o and weave in yarn tail.
You don't have to edge it the same way as I did, feel free to do this edge to your own liking.


You can leave this edge as is but if you want to take it one step further,
Tie in individual green strands on the top edge to make it look more grassy. Tie them tight then cut to desired length. Twist the strands to unravel them then pull the threads apart, this will give more of a grassy look. I only added this extra step to one side.



Enjoy your worms!



Copyright 2020 Author: Sharon Ojala - Amigurumi To Go  All rights reserved

Comments

  1. Awww, your patterns are always so cute! Even if I can't follow each and every one of them, I still love to browse through them. The photos and the stories are so heartwarming <3

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  2. I absolutely love following your patterns. Theres so many videos I watch and get frustrated by, but yours are so simple to follow and tour stuff comes out lovely! I don't follow any other videos or sites. Anyld your worm story is lovely. Its lovely to have those memories and inside moments. Be safe and keep well.

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