Businesses across the country are beginning to open again, and people are returning to work. Do you have a little one who is returning to day care? Benjamin Turtle would be the perfect companion. He’s a cute plush toy that unfolds to reveal a toddler blanket for naptime.
I hope you enjoy making him as much as I enjoyed designing him. Thanks to also to tester Sharon Reid who provided me the beautiful photos.
Materials
I Love This Yarn worsted weight
21 oz. Dark Olive
6 oz. Mild Green
5 oz. Toasted Almond
2 oz. Sungold
Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Fiberfil
Yarn needle
Two 8-mm black safety eyes
Three 3/4” buttons
Blanket Directions:
Row 1: With Dark Olive yarn, ch 101, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in remaining chs (100 hdc).
Rows 2-10: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st.
Rows 11-12: Ch 1, turn, switch to Mild Green yarn and hdc in each st.
Repeat stripe pattern of 10 rows Dark Olive and 2 rows Mild Green 9 times. Then work another 10 rows of Dark Olive hdc.
Edging:
With Dark Olive yarn, ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across top with 3 hdc in corner. Turn to work down side, work hdc with approximately 3 sts for every 2 rows. Lay work on a table occasionally to make sure it is laying flat; adjust sts as necessary. Turn to work across bottom with 3 hdc in corner, hdc in each unused loop of starting ch, 3 hdc in corner. Turn to work up next side using the same number of sts as the other side. Join with sl st in 1st hdc.
Okay, the easy part is done. Stay tuned for part 2 to make the turtle shell which will hold the blanket. Pattern PDF is available for download at My Fingers Fly. Please feel free to share photos on Instagram or Facebook.
With the country just beginning to open back up, travel is still on hold for us. In the meantime, I’ve been working on my next book – Halloween crochet. This week I’m offering a simple pattern for sugar skull jewelry. If you have some cotton thread to use up, this is a great project. I normally prefer working with worsted yarn, but lately I have come to love using thread to make earrings.
Materials:
Aunt Lydia’s Cotton–
15 yards ivory
Few yards of a few bright colors for skull decorations
Size 1.5 mm steel crochet hook
Needle
Directions:
Row 1: With ivory thread, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 5 ch (6 sc).
Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, inc, sc across to last st, inc in last st (12 sc at end of Row 4).
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Leave loop hanging. Using separate piece of yarn, go back to Row 4. Skip 6 sts, sc in each of last 3 sts.
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Ch 6, join with sl st in first section of Row 6. Fasten off. Pick up loop on Row 6, sc across 3 sts.
Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc across all sts & chs (12 sc).
Rows 9-10: Repeat Row 2 (16 sc).
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Row 12: Repeat Row 2 (18 sc).
Rows 13-14: Repeat Row 11.
Row 15: Ch 1, turn, sc in 4 sts.
Row 16: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 2 sts (3 sc).
Row 17: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.
Row 18: Ch 1, turn, inc, sc in next 2 sts (4 sc). Leave loop hanging. With separate piece of yarn, sk 3 sts on Row 14. Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, ch 1, turn, dec twice. Ch 1, turn, sc in 2 sts. Ch 1, turn, inc twice. Ch 3, sl st in 1st st of Row 18. Fasten off.
Go back to Row 14. Sk 3 sts, ch 1, sc in last 4 sts. Ch 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, dec (3 sc). Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Ch 1, turn, sc in 2 sts, inc next st (4 sc). Ch 1, sl st in middle section of Row 18. Fasten off.
Row 19: Pick up loop on first section of Row 18. Ch 1, sc in each st and ch (18 sc).
Rows 20-22: Ch 1, turn, dec first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec last 2 sts (12 sc).
Row 23: Dec, sc next 8 sts, dec, continue down side, sc around entire skull. Join with sl st in 1st sc of Row 23. Stop here for single-color skull.
To make multicolored skull, continue with adding colors.
With pink yarn, sc around both eye openings.
Heart:
With pink yarn, ch 3. In 3rd ch from hook, work 2 dc, 4 hdc, ch 1, 4 hdc, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st in same ch. Fasten off leaving 12” length and sew to forehead of skull.
Nose:
With purple yarn, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, sl st in 3rd ch. Fasten off leaving 6” length and sew to center of face.
Attach jump ring and necklace chain or earring hooks.
This PDF pattern is available to download on Ravelry, separately or included in the Sugar Skull Crochet Patterns ebook. If you prefer, it is also available on Amazon as a Kindle download or paperback.
Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy, World Turtle Day
Next month I will start the first CAL for My Fingers Fly, Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy. The toddler blanket folds up after naptime and is stored in Benjamin’s shell, giving your child a plush toy the rest of the day. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn with a simple striped blanket and the African flower motif for the turtle. The pattern will be published in stages throughout June 2020, and I hope you will share your progress photos on Facebook and Instagram.
Finished blanket measures approximately 50″ long by 28” wide (with instructions to make it longer if necessary). When rolled up, Benjamin measures approximately 18” long by 10” wide by 7” tall.
Materials you will need:
Worsted weight yarn (I used I Love This Yarn)
21 oz. dark olive
6 oz. light green
5 oz. tan
2 oz. gold
Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Fiberfil
Yarn needle
Two 10-mm black safety eyes
Three 7/8”-1” buttons
To celebrate June, each day will have a different animal or fish pattern on sale on Ravelry. I will post a calendar by June 1 with more details.
Rattlesnake Wreath
This week I completed another pattern which will go into my Halloween crochet book, Rattlesnake Wreath. For this weekend only, it is introductory priced at 50% off. Already well on its way, but I still have a list of patterns to make for this book. Is there a Halloween pattern you would like to see included?
Now that restaurants are opening up, I’m off to have lunch with the hubby. Happy crocheting everyone! Stay safe.
