Comfort Monster
Recommended yarn:
Cotton, merino, alpaca etc. 150-200 g depending on yarn. Remnants of cotton yarn, black, white and any colour for pocket.
Other supplies:
Wadding Granules Canvas fabric, 10 cm
Crochet hooks:
Sizes 5 and 3½ mm. Stitch markers
Tension:
13 dc and 14 rows tightly crocheted with hook size 5 mm = 10 x 10 cm.
The cuddly monster is worked from the bottom up and in one piece. Start every rnd with 1 ch. This ch does not count as a stitch. To end each rnd: 1 sl st into the first st.
Legs
Foundation row: Using crochet hook size 5mm, make 4 ch. Rnd 1: 1 ch, work 3 dc into 4th ch in foundation row, work 1 dc into 3rd and 2nd ch, work 3 dc into the 1st ch. Continue, working on the other side of the ch in foundation row, work 1 dc into 2nd and 3rd ch, end rd. Ssm to mark start of rnd. Rnd 2: 1 ch, 2 dc into 1st dc, 1 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 2 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc, 2 dc into next dc, end rnd. (14 sts) Rnd 3: 1 ch, 2 dc into 1st dc, 1 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 2 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 2 dc, end rnd. Rnd 4: 2 dc, 2 dc into 3rd dc, 2 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 6 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 2 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 4 dc, end rnd. (24 sts) Rnds 5 – 8: 24 dc. Rnd 9: Work 4th and 5th st tog, work 6th and 7th tog, work other sts dc. (22 sts) Rnd 10: Work 5th and 6th st tog, work 7th and 8th tog, work other sts dc. (20 sts) Rnds 11 – 17: Work dc, no inc or dec. Break yarn. The first leg is completed. Make a second leg identical with the first.
Work a triangle (gusset):
Work in rows (back and forth). Cast-on row: Make 2 ch, work 3 ch into the 1st ch. Now inc 1 dc at the start of each row until there are 12 dc. (10 rows) Do not break yarn.
Body
Rnd 1: To attach the gusset, work 1 dc into the 4th dc on left leg (start of rnd), work dc all around the leg,
work 12 dc across the gusset, attach the right leg (NB: make sure that both legs point the same way – see drawing), work dc all around the right leg until you reach the gusset, work 9 dc along the side of gusset, 3 dc into 1 st at point of gusset, 9 dc along the other side of the gusset and back to start of rnd. Ssm. (73 sts) Rnd 2: Work dc, 3 dc into the centre st at point of gusset. (75 sts) Rnd 3: as Rnd 2. (77 sts) Rnds 4 – 7: Work dc, no inc or dec. Rd 8: 8 dc, work 9th and 10th dc tog, 12 dc, 2 dc tog, 5 dc, 2 dc tog, 12 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (73 sts) Rnd 9: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 10: 20 dc, 2 dc tog, 7 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (71 sts) Rnd 11: 9 dc, 2 dc tog, 9 dc, 2 dc tog, 6 dc, 2 dc tog, 9 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (67 sts) Rnd 12: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 13: 8 dc, 2 dc tog, 13 dc, 2 dc tog, 13 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (64 sts) Rnd 14: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 15: 12 dc, 2 dc tog, 16 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (62 sts) Rnd 16: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 17: 15 dc, 2 dc tog, 5 dc, 2 dc tog, 5 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (59 sts) Rnd 18: 20 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (58 sts) Rnd 19: 8 dc, 2 dc tog, 5 dc, 2 dc tog, 8 dc, 2 dc tog, 5 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (54 sts) Rnd 20: Pocket slit 13 dc, 12 ch, skip 12 dc, 1 dc into 13th dc, dc to end of rnd. Rnd 21: 6 dc, 2 dc tog, dc until chains, 12 dc into chains, 5 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (52 sts) Rnd 22: 10 dc, 2 dc tog, 15 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (50 sts) Rnd 23: 7 dc, 2 dc tog, 16 dc, 2 dc tog, dc to end of rnd. (48 sts) Rnds 24 – 27: Work dc, no inc or dec.
Start arms
Rnd 28: Lay body flat with slit pocket at centre. Set st marker at side sts. 6 dc (1st side st), 16 ch, 1 turning ch, 16 dc across chains, work dc
until 2nd side st, 16 ch, 1 turning ch, 16 dc across chains, dc to end of rnd. Rnd 29: 6 dc, work 16 dc into lower loop of chains, 2 dc at point, 16 dc across dcs from rnd 28, continue working dc and work across the other arm in the same way. (116 sts) Rnd 30: dc to first fingertip (end of the arm), work sl sts into next three ch tog working these with the last three ch (separately). The first finger is now complete. Continue, working dc across to the next arm, work the fingertip in the same way, dc to end of rnd.
Rnd 31: dc to gathered fingertip, * 1 ch, work 1 ch into the lateral (side) loops of the last dc *, repeat from * to * twice more, work 3 dc into the lower edge of the 3 ch just worked, dc to the other fingertip. Work a finger in the same way. Work dc to end of rnd. Rnd 32: Work dc until the fingertip, 1 dc at fingertip, work dc until the 2nd fingertip and work this in the same way, dc to end of rnd. Rnds 33 – 34: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 35: Work dc until the fingertip, work as first finger, dc to 2nd fingertip and work this in the same way, dc to end of rnd. Rnd 36: as Rnd 31. Rnd 37: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 38: Work dc until the fingertip, join in with sl st, continue working across arm and shoulder (these are also joined in with sl sts), work dc across the centre 16 sts on the body for the front neck. Work dc to the other fingertip, work finger, arm and shoulder as before, and work dc across the centre 16 sts on the body for the back neck. Rnd 39: 32 dc. On the back, work an opening for stuffing: Make 12 ch from the right shoulder. End rnd with 1 sl st. Rnd 40: 1 dc, 2 dc into 1st st, 1 dc, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc, 2 dc into next st, 5 dc, 2 dc into next st, 5 dc, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc, 2 dc into next st (continue over chains), 1 dc, 2 dc into next st, 5 dc, 2 dc into next st, dc to end of rnd. (40 sts) Rnd 41: 2 dc, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc, 2 dc into next st, 2 dc, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 12 dc, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc, 2 dc into next st, 2 dc, 2 dc into next st, 1 dc, 2 dc into next st, dc to end of rnd. (48 sts)
Rnds 42 – 43: Work dc, no inc or dec. Rnd 44: 4 dc, 2 dc into next st, 3 dc, 2 dc into next st, 9 dc, 2 dc into next st, 9 dc, 2 dc into next st, 3 dc, 2 dc into next st, 9 dc, 2 dc into next dc, 5 dc. (54 sts) Rnd 45: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 46: 16 dc, 2 dc into next st, 9 dc, 2 dc into next st, 16 dc, 2 dc into next st, 9 dc, 2 dc into next st. (58 sts)
Rnd 47: dc to end of rnd. Now divide work for ear slits: From
here on, you work forwards only. The texture of the work is different than when you crochet back and forth. Begin every row from the right-hand side. At the end of each row, break yarn and start again from the right-hand side. Work over the yarn tail at row start. Weave in yarn tail at row end. Work over 28 sts – on the back and front. Do not work edge stitches. Work 4 rs and then continue as follows:
Rnd 52: Start rnd from 5th st from left side of back as follows: 1 sl st into 5th st, 1 ch, 1 dc into the same st, 4 dc, 1 ch (for side st), 28 dc (front of head), 1 ch (the other side st), 23 dc (back of head). (58 sts)
Rnd 53: Start to dec: 14 dc, 2 dc tog, 9 dc, 2 dc tog, 16 dc, 2 dc tog, 9 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc. (54 sts) Rnd 54: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 55: 4 dc, * 2 dc tog, 4 dc, 2 dc tog, 5 dc *, repeat from * to * twice more, 2 dc tog, 4 dc, 2 dc tog, 3 dc. (46 sts)
Rnd 56: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 57: 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 12 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 11 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc. (38 sts)
Rnds 58 – 59: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 60: 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 3 dc, 2 dc tog, 3 dc, 2 dc tog, 3 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 3 dc, 2 dc tog, 3 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc. (30 sts) Rnd 61: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 62: * 2 dc tog, 2 dc *, repeat from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 63: * 1 dc, 2 dc tog *, repeat from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 64: 2 dc tog to end of rnd. Finally, pull the yarn tightly through the stitches until the hole is closed. Break yarn.
Ears
Work rows (back and forth): Make 10 ch, 1 turning ch. Rows 1 – -7: 10 dc. Row 8: 1 dc into 2nd dc, 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc, work last 2 dc tog. Row 9: 1 dc into 2nd dc, 1 dc, 2 dc tog, work last 2 dc tog. Row 10: 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc. Make a second ear identical with the first.
Ears (in cotton yarn)
Using a coloured cotton yarn and crochet hook size 3½ mm: Make 14 ch, 1 turning ch. Rows 1 – -10: 14 dc Row 11: 1 dc into 2nd dc, 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 2 dc, work last 2 dc tog. Row 12: 1 dc into 2nd dc, 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, 2 dc tog, 1 dc, work last 2 dc tog. Row 13: 2 dc, 2 dc tog, 3 dc. Row 14: 1 dc into 2nd dc, 2 dc, work last 2 dc tog. Break yarn. Make second ear identical with the
first. Sew the 2 parts for ears together. Turn the ear right side out. Sew the lower ear edge.
Horns
Using a white cotton yarn and crochet hook size 3½ mm: Make 16 ch and form a ring with a sl st. Rnds 1 – 7: 16 dc. Rnd 8: * 2 dc, 2 dc tog *, repeat from * to * 3 times more. (12 sts) Rnd 9: * 1 dc, 2 dc tog *, repeat from * to * 3 times more. (8 sts) Rnd 10: Work 2 dc tog, 4 times. (4 sts) Pull the yarn through the sts and pull tight. Make a second horn identical with the first.
Claws
Using a white cotton yarn and crochet hook size 3½ mm: There is just 1 r of picot edging = claws. 1 ch, 4 ch, 1 dc into the 1st of the 4 ch (picot), 3 ch, 4 ch, 1 dc into the 1st of the 4 ch, 3 ch, 4 ch, 1 dc into the 1st of the 4 ch, 1 ch. Break yarn. Work a second row of claws in the same way. Turn the feet outwards. Sew the claws from the inside of the foot and outwards in the chains between picots so the claws stick out. Sew them on equidistantly.
Pocket lining
Using a coloured cotton yarn and crochet hook size 3½ mm: Work the pocket lining directly into the monster. Rnd 1: Work into the back loop of sts on the lower edge of the opening from the right-hand side: * 1 dc, 2 dc into the next st loop *, repeat to end of rnd. (42 sts) Rnds 2 – 11: dc to end of rnd. Rnd 12: Crochet the pocket lining together with sl sts.
Mouth
Using a black cotton yarn and crochet hook size 3½ mm: Make 46 ch, 1 turning ch. 46 dc. Break yarn, leaving a tail long enough to sew the mouth on with.
Row 1: Fangs
Make 4 ch. Work 1 dc into 2nd st from hook, 1 tr into the next 2 sts. Break yarn, leaving a tail long enough to sew the fang on with. Work a second fang in the same way.
Granules – filling for legs and arms
Cut 4 x rectangular pieces of canvas (each about 10.5 x 5.5 cm). Fold each fabric piece in the middle and make 4 bags (finished measurements about 5 x 5 cm). Fill about 1 dessertspoon of granules into each bag. The bag should not be full, the granules should move around. Sew bags and insert them into the monster’s arms and legs. Stuff the rest of the monster’s body with wadding – not too firmly. Sew on ears. Stuff the head – more firmly than the body. Do not sew yet. Pin on the mouth. Sew the top and bottom edge firmly to the head. Embroider eyes with black yarn. Sew on fangs. Stuff horns and sew them to the top of the monster’s head. If necessary, stuff the head with more wadding. Close the gap in the head using mattress stitch.