AMIGURUMI HERMIT CRAB
Hook up this happy homebody in a pinch. Designed by Irene Strange
Kermit the hermit loves a day at the beach, but won’t go without his home comforts – or even his home. We can all relate! This is a great time to master the invisible decrease – a simple adaptation that make decreases barely detectable on tightly curved shapes.
NOTES
The Crab is made up of separate pieces, which are joined together at the end.
This pattern is worked using the amigurumi method. Work in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a slip stitch. You may find it helpful to place a marker in the first st of each round, moving it up as you work. Work standard decreases on Shell, and invisible decreases (inv dec – see Abbreviations) on all other pieces.
HERMIT CRAB SHELL
Using Yarn B, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 6dc into the loop. [6 dc]
Round 2 Dc in each st around.
Round 3 (1dc, 2dc in next st) 3 times. [9 dc]
Round 4 Change to Yarn C, (2dc, 2dc in next st) 3 times. [12 dc]
Round 5 Change to Yarn D, (3dc, 2dc in next st) 3 times. [15 dc]
Round 6 Change to Yarn B, (4dc, 2dc in next st) 3 times. [18 dc]
Rounds 7-8 As Round 2.
Round 9 (5dc, 2dc in next st) 3 times. [21 dc]
Round 10 As Round 2.
Round 11 Change to Yarn C, (6dc, 2dc in next st) 3 times. [24 dc]
Round 12 Change to Yarn D, as Round 2.
Round 13 Change to Yarn B, ss in each st around.
Round 14 Working into ss, (dc in next st, 2dc in next st) 12 times. [36 dc]
Round 15 As Round 2.
Round 16 Change to Yarn C, (5dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [42 dc]
Round 17 Change to Yarn D, (6dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [48 dc]
Rounds 18-21 Change to Yarn B, as Round 2.
Round 22 Change to Yarn D, (6dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [42 sts]
Round 23 Change to Yarn C, (5dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [36 sts]
Round 24 Change to Yarn B, as Round 13.
Round 25 Working into ss, (2dc, 2dc in next st) 12 times. [48 dc]
Round 26 Change to Yarn C, (7dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [54 dc]
Round 27 Change to Yarn D, (8dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [60 dc]
Rounds 28-32 Change to Yarn B, as Round 2.
Round 33 Change to Yarn D, (8dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [54 sts]
Round 34 Change to Yarn C, (7dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [48 sts]
Round 35 Change to Yarn B, (6dc, dc2tog) 6 times. [42 sts]
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing Shell to Body.
BOBBLES
Using Yarn E, and using the image as a guide, add bobbles around the surface of the Shell over the Yarn B rounds, evenly spaced. Fasten off and weave in ends.
BODY
Using Yarn A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1, 7dc into the loop. [7dc]
Round 2 2dc in each st around. [14 dc]
Round 3 (Dc, 2dc in next st) 7 times. [21 dc]
Round 4 (2dc, 2dc in next st) 7 times. [28 dc]
Round 5 (3dc, 2dc in next st) 7 times. [35 dc]
Round 6 (4dc, 2dc in next st) 7 times. [42 dc]
Rounds 7-9 Dc in each st around.
Round 10 (4dc, inv dec) 7 times. [35 sts]
Round 11 (3dc, inv dec) 7 times. [28 sts]
Round 12 (2dc, inv dec) 7 times. [21 sts] Stuff firmly.
Round 13 (Dc, inv dec) 7 times. [14 sts]
Round 14 (Inv dec) 7 times. [7 sts]
Fasten off, thread tail through front loop of each st of final round and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in ends.
EYES !MAKE 2"
With Yarn A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1, 6dc into the loop. [6 dc]
Round 2 2dc in each st around. [12 dc]
Rounds 3-7 Dc in each st around.
Add a safety eye between Rounds 4-5.
Rounds 8-11 As Round 3.
Round 12 2dc in next 3 sts, dc, (inv dec) 3 times, 2dc. [12 sts]
Rounds 13-14 As Round 3.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing Eyes to Body.
CLAWS !MAKE 2"
Snip off a 25cm length of Yarn A; this will be used to sew the Claw into shape before you stuff and finish the Claw.
With Yarn A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1, 6dc into the loop. [6 dc]
Round 2 2dc in each st around. [12 dc] Round 3 Dc in each st around.
Round 4 (Dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [18 dc]
Round 5 As Round 3.
Round 6 (2dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [24 dc]
Round 7 As Round 3.
Round 8 (3dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [30 dc]
Rounds 9-13 As Round 3.
Round 14 (3dc, inv dec) 6 times. [24 sts]
Round 15 (2dc, inv dec) 6 times. [18 sts]
Fold Claw flat and, using the strand of Yarn A, backstitch a line from Round 1 to Round 14, one-third from side of Claw, to create claw shape. Add stuffing to both sections.
Round 16 (Dc, inv dec) 6 times. [12 sts]
Rounds 17-22 As Round 3.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing Claw to Body.
LEGS !MAKE 6"
Using Yarn A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1, 7dc into the loop. [7 dc]
Rounds 2-5 Dc in each st around.
Round 6 3dc in first st, 6dc. [9 dc]
Rounds 7-10 Dc around.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing Legs to Body.
TO MAKE UP
Stuff Shell. Place Shell over Body at an angle so it covers more of one side, then sew in place.
For a tidy seam, sew Shell around the posts, rather than loops, of stitches from final round. Add stuffing to Eyes and sew to front of Body, on opposite side from where Shell is angled. Top up stuffing in Claws and sew them to sides of Body, close to, but behind the Eyes.
Add a little stuffing to Legs and sew to Body, 3 per side, behind the Claws.
Using Yarn D, embroider 2 cheeks between Eyes and Claws. Using brown stranded cotton, embroider a smile below the Eyes. Weave in all ends.