Toni Rexroat is the editor of Crochet Me, and the former assistant editor of Interweave Crochet. She blogs about new and traditional crochet techniques, inspiring crochet projects, and crochet news at CrochetMe.com. As a passionate enthusiast of all projects fiber related, she also knits, sews, spins, and weaves. Toni has two projects: Frog Charming and Primary Hat (with Susan Hazel Rich).
“I love yarn in all of its varieties and types—milk fiber yarn, banana yarn, yak and bison yarns, silk, wool, cotton, alpaca, and acrylic yarn. Each yarn has its own story just waiting for you to tell; each creates a fabric with its own drape, texture, and unique properties. I love the crisp feel of cotton, and a silk or silk blend project is a must at least once in your life. But on a cold morning, nothing can beat the warmth of a wool sweater.”
Frog Charming
Originally published in Interweave Crochet, Winter 2009. In the story of the Frog Prince, a spoiled princess loses her favorite ball down a well.
It is retrieved by a frog prince in exchange for becoming the princess’s playmate—to eat with her,
play with her, and sleep on her pillow at night. One morning the princess awakens to discover that
the frog has been transformed into a handsome prince. Now you can make a frog prince for your
own princess. Download more free whimsical amigurumi patterns at CrochetMe.com
By Toni Rexroat
CrochetMe.com
What You’ll Need
Yarn:
Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton (100% organically grown cotton; 150 yd [137 m]/ 3½ oz [100 g]; ): #602 honeydew (A), 2 skeins; #613 ink (B), #614 drift (C), #636 jasper (D), and #638 dandelion (E), 1 skein each.
Hook Size G/6 (4 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Yarn needle
sewing needle
matching thread
cornbased or polyester stuffing.
Finished Measurements
Circumference: Approx 20.5"/52cm
Height: Approx 8.5"/21.5cm
Gauge
15 sts and 7 rows = 4" in dc.
Remember to check gauge for best results!
Abbreviations
Double Crochet (dc) *Yarn over, insert hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through stitch (three loops on hook; Figure 1), yarn over and draw it through two loops
(Figure 2), yarn over and draw it through the remaining two loops (Figure 3). Repeat from *.
Double Crochet Two Together (dc2tog)
[Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through two loops] two times, yarn over, draw through all loops on hook—one stitch decreased.
Notes
Beg stuffing body, legs, and head just after beg dec. Unless otherwise noted, pieces are worked in a spiral without joining rnds.
Body
With A, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 13 dc in ring, do not join, place marker (pm) in first st to mark beg of rnd—14 dc.
Rnd 2: 2 dc in each dc around—28 dc.
Rnd 3: *Dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * around—42 dc.
Rnd 4: *Dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * around—56 dc.
Rnds 5–10: Dc in each dc around.
Rnd 11: *Dc in next 2 dc, dc2tog (see page 3); rep from * around—42 dc.
Rnd 12: Dc in each st around.
Rnd 13: *Dc in next dc, dc2tog; rep from * around—28 dc.
Rnd 14: Dc2tog to m—14 dc.
Rnd 15: Dc2tog to m, hdc in next st, sc in next st—7 st. Fasten off.
Head
Work as for body through Rnd 4.
Rnd 5: *Dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; rep from * around—70 dc.
Shape mouth:
Rnd 6: Pm in 24th st, *2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc; rep from * to m, move m up, dc to end—78 dc.
Rnd 7: *Dc2tog, dc in next 2 dc; rep from * to m, dc to end—70 dc.
Rnd 8: *Dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog; rep from * around—56 dc.
Rnd 9: *Dc in next 2 dc, dc2tog; rep from * around—42 dc. Stuff head.
Rnd 10: *Dc in next dc, dc2tog; rep from * around—28 dc.
Rnd 11: Dc2tog around—14 dc. Fasten off.
Eye (make 2)
Note: Eyes are worked in joined rnds. With B, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (counts as dc), 7 dc in ring, sl st in beg ch-2 changing to C in last st—8 dc.
Rnd 2: Ch 2, dc in first dc, 2 dc in each dc around, sl st in beg ch-2 to join—16 dc.
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in first dc, dc2tog around, sl st in beg ch-2 to join—8 dc. Stuff eye.
Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc2tog around, sl st in beg ch-2 to join—4 dc.
Fasten off.
Arm (make 2)
Hand
With A, ch 10.
Rnd 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (3 skipped chs do not count as dc), dc in next 5 ch, 4 dc in last ch, working across back of chain, dc in next 5 back ridge lps, 3 dc in last ch, pm in first dc to mark beg of rnd—18 dc.
Rnd 2: Dc in next 7 dc, dc2tog, dc in next 7 dc, dc2tog—16 dc.
Rnd 3: Dc2tog, dc in next 4 dc, dc2tog 2 times, dc in next 4 dc, dc2tog—12 dc.
Arm
Dc in each dc until arm measures 7". Stuff arm. Next rnd: Dc2tog around. Next rnd: Dc2tog to last dc, dc in last dc. Fasten
off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Leg (make 2)
With A, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1: (RS) Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, do not join, pm in first dc—12 dc. Work even in dc until leg measures 6½", do not fasten off.
Foot:
Rnd 1: *2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc; rep from * around—18 dc.
Rnd 2: 2 dc in each of next 7 dc, dc in next 11 dc—25 dc. Stuff leg.
Rnd 3: Dc2tog, 4 dc in next dc, *dc4tog (see Glossary), 4 dc in next dc; rep from *, dc2tog, dc in next 10 dc—26 dc.
Rnd 4: Dc2tog around—13 dc.
Rnd 5: Dc2tog to last dc, dc in last dc. Fasten off.
Primary Hat
By Toni Rexroat and Susan Hazel Rich
CrochetMe.com
This simple hat is the perfect canvas on which to attach elegant flowers. Inspired by a fabric flower design, this easy and eye-catching bloom can easily be modified in size by working more petal rows. Download more free flower patterns at CrochetMe.com
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Debbie Macomber Blossom Street Collection Rosebud (100% superwash extrafine merino; 137 yd [125 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]): #504 petunia (dark purple; MC) and #503 lilac (light purple; CC), 1 ball each. Yarn distributed by Universal Yarn.
Hook: Size 7 (4.5 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Yarn needle.
Finished Size
15½ (18, 20, 22)" head circumference to fit baby (child, woman, man). Hat shown measures 15½".
Gauge
19 sc and 21 rows = 4" in sc.
Crown:
With MC, make adjustable lp.
Rnd 1: Work 8 sc in adjustable lp, place marker (pm) in first sc to mark beg of rnd.
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around—16 sc.
Rnd 3: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * around—24 sc.
Rnd 4: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc; rep from * around—32 sc.
Rnd 5: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc; rep from * around—40 sc.
Rnd 6: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc; rep from * around—48 sc.
Rnd 7: Work 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc; rep from * around—56 sc.
Cont in the est pattern, working 1 more sc between inc of 2 sc in same sc, until diameter of crown is 4¾ (6, 6½, 7)".
Next rnd: Sc in each sc around. Rep last rnd until length of hat is 6 (8, 8½, 9)". Sl st in next sc. Fasten off and weave in loose ends.
Flower
Petal (make 4)
With CC, ch 4, sl st in first sc to join.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 8 sc in ring, place marker (pm) in first sc to mark beg of rnd.
Rnds 2–7: Rep Rnds 2–7 of hat. Sl st in next sc. Fasten off and weave in loose ends.
Assemble flower:
Fold each petal in half 2 times. Place all 4 triangles with long edges together and stitch pointed ends together. Attach flower to hat using photo as a guide.