Turtles

TURTLES the P A T T E R N :

Shy the Tortoise by Karissa Cole 2013 promo2

Shy the Tortoise by Karissa Cole 2013 Sides1

MATE R IALS :

• Small amounts of worsted wight yarn in three colors: (1) Main color used for body, head, tail, and legs – “Chocolate” (brown) (2) Secondary colors used for upper shell – “Earth” (ombre) (3) Tertiary color used for lower shell – “Warm Brown”

[I used both Loops & Threads Impeccable and Red Heart Super Saver]

• 8mm safety eyes [1 pair] • Fiberfill stuffing • Sewing supplies (scissors, pins, needles, thread) • Craft pipe cleaners (any color – optional)

• G/7 4.5MM crochet hook

A B B R E V I A T I O N S:

MC – magic circle (magic loop/magic ring) sc – single crochet(s) IBL – in back loops inc – increase dec – decrease ch – chain *actions in asterisks should be repeated until round completion or to the indicated stopping point in the round* (number in parentheses indicates total number of stitches after round/row completion) FO – fasten off RND – Round; worked in a spiral RW – Row; worked back and forth ** a note about this pattern: This pattern is a little unlike some of my others. I freeformed this entire thing and wrote down what I did. I tried out a few ‘techniques’ I haven’t used in a pattern yet, so I do not recommend this project for a beginner. I’ve done my best to explain what I did and how, but I’m not too sure if it is all clear. I don’t want to scare you off though! I just want it to be noted that this pattern has not been fully tested so your results may vary. Any questions regarding the pattern or assembly just let me know and I will be happy to help :] **

Shy the Tortoise by Karissa Cole 2013 promo 3

I suggest reading through all the instructions before you begin.

HEAD

MC 6 RND 1) *inc* (12) RND 2) *3inc, 3sc* (18) RND 3) *3inc, 6sc* (24) RNDs 4-6) *sc* RND 7) *3sc, dec* (18) [attach eyes] RND 8) *2sc, dec* (12)

Little mistake in the original rounds 7 and 8. (Sorry about that!) They should read as follows:

RND 7) *2sc, dec* (18) [attach eyes] RND 8) *sc, dec* (12) RNDs 9-10) *sc* FO. I suggest leaving a long enough tail for sewing head to body.

Stuff lightly and shape.

Here I flattened out the front of the face and the bottom of the head a little. I also pinched the open end to make a little neck. Here I flattened out the front of the face and the bottom of the head a little. I also pinched the open end to make a little neck. L E G S (x4)

MC 6 RND 1) *inc* (12) RND 2) *sc, inc* (18) RND 3) *sc* RND 4) 6dec, 6sc (12)

RNDs 5-8) *sc* RND 9) 6sc, 3dec (6) RNDs 10-11) *sc* FO

Shy the Tortoise by Karissa Cole 2013 legs Legs (head, body and lower shell also included in shot) TAI L

Ch 6 RW 1) starting in second ch from hook: 5sc FO

B O D Y [the body is what we will attach the head, legs, and tail to; it

will end up being encased in our upper and lower shell later]

MC 6 RND 1) *inc* (12) RND 2) *sc, inc* (18) RND 3) *2sc, inc* (24) RND 4) *3sc, inc* (30) RND 5) *4sc, inc* (36) RND 6) *5sc, inc* (42) RND 7) *6sc, inc* (48) RNDs 8-14) [7 rounds] *sc* RND 15) *IBL: 6sc, dec* (42)

Because the point of this inner body is to more accurately portray the way a tortoise looks, all squidgy and happy encased in a hard protective shell, one could very well stop here and fasten off. Since almost all of this body will end up being hidden away inside our upper and lower shell pieces (instructions for which follow), not finishing the rest of the body will in no way affect the final, outer appearance of the tortoise. You can at this point sew on the legs, head, and tail, then stuff the body. (Stuffing will probably pop out the bottom, but attaching the lower shell later will take care of this.) However, hard-core tortoise makers (and those amigurumi makers who are well aquainted with OCD and could not live with the fact that somewhere inside their adorable finished reptile there was something someone could classify as unfinished) can continue as follows:

RND 16) *5sc, dec* RND 17) *4sc, dec* RND 18) *3sc, dec* [Stuff firmly now if you haven't already] RND 19) *2sc, dec* RND 20) *sc, dec* RND 21) *dec* FO

Attach the head, tail, and legs. Below are photos of the finished tortoise showing the basic placements of each piece. Use these as a guide now for placing the head, tail, and legs. (We haven’t made the upper of lower shells yet, so keep in mind the limbs will be sewn onto the body you just made. The shells will come in later! I just didn’t have the camera with me when I sewed on the legs and stuff ;])

I sewed the head and front legs near each other on the body, then attached the tail and back legs I sewed the head and front legs near each other on the body, then attached the tail and back legs LOWER SHELL

MC 6 RND 1) *inc* (12) RND 2) *sc, inc* (18) RND 3) *2sc, inc* (24) RND 4) *3sc, inc* (30) RND 5) *4sc, inc* (36) RND 6) *5sc, inc* (42) RND 7) *6sc, inc* (48) RND 8) *7sc, inc* (54) RND 9) *sc* FO

Pin the U P P E R S H E L L this covers the tortoise body from the top; we will crochet the upper shell and the lower shell together right

around the tortoise body]

MC 6 RND 1) *inc* (12) RND 2) *sc, inc* (18) RND 3) *2sc, inc* (24) RND 4) *3sc, inc* (30) RND 5) *4sc, inc* (36) RND 6) *5sc, inc* (42) RND 7) *6sc, inc* (48) RND 8) *7sc, inc* (54) RNDs 9-13) [5 rounds] *sc*

Don’t fasten off yet. Instead, take the body (complete with nicely fastened head, tail, and limbs) and place it inside the upper shell. Then, take the lower shell, place it under the body/upper shell and pin into place. Be sure to position the upper shell so that the yarn is as shown in the following photo:

Pin the upper shell and lower shell into place around the body Pin the upper shell and lower shell into place around the body Since we didn’t fasten off the upper shell, we’re going to crochet the two shells together right around the body. **This can be a little difficult, but as I really don’t like sewing, I opted for this method. Theoretically, sewing the pieces could work, although I haven’t tested how this would work with the rim we add later.**

Picking up where I left off on the upper shell, I crocheted the two shells together, encasing the body. (For those who haven’t crocheted two things together: Instead of inserting my hook through one stitch, I inserted it through the upper shell’s stitch AND the lower shell’s stitch, and then completed a sc like normal.)

When I came to the stitches around the back legs I simply crocheted only in the upper shell’s stitches. When I got past the leg (I ended up doing about 7 stitches just in the top shell around the leg) I continued crocheting the shells together. I repeated the process for the tail, the other back leg and the front legs and head.

Crochet the shells together around the body. I held the turtle upper shell up and started at the left front leg. (I paused and turned the tortoise upside-down for some photos to show how the pieces looked crocheted together) Crochet the shells together around the body. I held the turtle upper shell up and started at the left front leg. (I paused and turned the tortoise upside-down for some photos to show how the pieces looked crocheted together)

When crocheting the shell pieces together, I worked counterclockwise starting with the upper shell up, starting at the left front leg When crocheting the shell pieces together, I worked counterclockwise with the upper shell up, starting at the left front leg

Once you’ve crocheted all the way around, your tortoise body should be sitting snugly inside its new shell. But don’t fasten off yet: Next, I added a rim around the shell by crocheting 3 stitches in each stitch around. (For less of a frilly rim, only do 2 stitches in each stitch around.)

I did a second round of sc around the shells, this time doing 3sc in each stitch I did a second round of sc around the shells, this time doing 3sc in each stitch When you finish this round you’re done! Fasted off and weave in ends.

Done!

Done! You’ve now got your very own all-knowing tortoise. Enjoy!

** Please be sure to note that this is an original design and pattern. I believe in the free sharing of techniques and ideas. Please do not abuse my desire to share with others. You are not permitted to sell any products made as the result of this pattern and/or design, nor are you permitted to sell the pattern or design. Please, if you do use my work in part or in whole, give credit where credit is due: direct others to this original posting so that they too can benefit.**

Pattern, design, photos, and story copyright Karissa Cole 2013. All rights reserved.

Look at that face. He totally wants a hug from you. Look at that face. He totally wants a hug from you.