BURGER BOY

Get the ketchup out – Emma Lyons' crochet build-a-burger is here just in time for BBQ season

MATERIALS

Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK, 100% cotton, 100g/184m per ball, one ball each in Ivory (3665) (Yarn A), Sunflower (3662) (Yarn B), Tropical Jade (3676) (Yarn C), Poppy (3672) (Yarn D), White (3660) (Yarn E), Lavender (3673) (Yarn F) Drops Muskat, 100% cotton, 50g/100m per ball, one ball each in Dark Brown (75) (Yarn G), Beige (23) (Yarn H)

QOddments of black yarn for mouth. Q 3.5mm (UK 9, US E/4) crochet hook Q Two 7.5mm safety eyes Q Soft toy stuffing Q Yarn needle Q Stitch markers Q Scissors

TENSION

Tension isn’t important for this project but make sure your stitches are dense enough to ensure the stuffing is not visible

ABBREVIATIONS (UK)

st(s) stitch(es) ch chain ss slip stitch dc double crochet htr half treble tr treble inc increase by working 2dc into same st Magic ring Hold thread in your hand and wrap working yarn around forefinger twice to create a ring, slip the ring off your finger and insert hook to pick up the first st, ch1, then work the necessary sts for Round 1 and close the ring tightly by pulling the loose end.

FINISHED SIZE

Your finished burger will measure approx. 10cm (4") tall and 10cm (4") wide Whether you like them meat or veggie; stacked up with toppings or simple and classic, this smiley build-your-own burger can cater to any taste. Ours comes with lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese (our favourites), but you could also make extras out of felt – we’re thinking bacon and avocado. Sew him together for a cute kawaiiinspired decoration, or keep him cutomisable – kids will love taking him apart and putting him back together. He’s definitely the tastiest treat on our BBQ spread this year.

Instructions

This amigurumi burger is made mostly in continuous spiral rounds (do not join at the end of each round). Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round to help you keep track of the where each round starts and ends. This pattern uses concise crochet style – so for example, 2dc means work 1dc into each of the next 2 sts, 6dc means work 1dc in each of the next 6 sts and so on.

Inner bun circle (make two)

Using Yarn A, make a magic ring, then work as follows: Round 1 6dc into ring, pull ring tight [6sts] Round 2 inc 6 times [12sts] Round 3 (inc, 1dc) 6 times [18sts] Round 4 (1dc, inc, 1dc) 6 times [24sts] Round 5 (inc, 3dc) 6 times [30sts] Round 6 (2dc, inc, 2dc) 6 times [36sts] Round 7 (inc, 5dc) 6 times [42sts] Round 8 (3dc, inc, 3dc) 6 times [48sts] Round 9 (inc, 7dc) 6 times [54sts] Round 10 (4dc, inc, 4dc) 6 times [60sts] Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in yarn tail.

Top bun

Rounds 1-10 Using Yarn H, follow Rounds 1-10 given in Step 1 Rounds 11-15 1dc in each st around [60sts]

Top bun edge

Round 16 ss into each st around [60sts] This ss round creates a neat border edge. Insert stitch marker in loop on hook and do not cut yarn, you will carry on working this yarn at Step 6.

Top bun eyes and mouth

Attach a pair of safety eyes between Rounds 11 and 12, spaced approximately 6 sts apart. Using black yarn, embroider a smiley mouth over Round 14 of the top bun, using the image as a guide. Make sure it stays in place by adding a tiny stitch at the bottom.

Top bun sesame seeds Secure a long strand of Yarn A (about 2m long) on the inside of the top bun. Starting in the centre and working in a spiral, embroider sesame seeds all over it, using the image as a guide.

Top bun finishing

Round 17 Remove the stitch marker and continue working with Yarn H from Step 3, join top bun to inner bun circle (made in Step 1). Do this by inserting hook into the back loops of last dc round worked (Round 15, you can see these dc stitches sat just behind the ss round) and also into both loops of the last round of your completed inner bun circle (Round 10). Work 1dc all around, fill with toy stuffing as you go. Don’t stuff too firmly – your burger won’t balance if he’s too full! Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in yarn tail.

Bottom bun Rounds 1-10 Using Yarn H, follow Rounds 1-10 given in Step 1. Rounds 11-12 1dc in each st around [60sts] Round 13 ss into each st around [60sts] Round 14 Join bottom bun to inner bun circle (using the same method as for the top bun, as detailed in Round 17 of Step 6 and stuffing the bun as you go). Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in yarn tail.

Burger circle (make two)

Rounds 1-10 Using Yarn G, follow Rounds 1-10 given in Step 1. Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in yarn tail on first burger circle. Make second burger circle but leave yarn attached. Join the two burger circles together (wrong sides facing each other) by inserting the hook into both dc

stitches of each circle (4 loops) and work 1dc all around. Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in yarn tail.

Cheese

To make the cheese square you need to work in a continuous spiral, but you will create the corners by working 3 stitches (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) into each of the 4 corners each round. Using Yarn B, make a magic ring, then work as follows: Round 1 6dc into ring, pull ring tight [6sts] Round 2 (inc) 6 times [12sts] Round 3 (1dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 1dc) 4 times [20sts] Round 4 (2dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 2dc) 4 times [28sts] Round 5 (3dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 3dc) 4 times [36sts] Round 6 (4dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 4dc) 4 times [44sts] Round 7 (5dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 5dc) 4 times [52sts] Round 8 (6dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 6dc) 4 times [60sts] Round 9 (7dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 7dc) 4 times [68sts] Round 10 (8dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 8dc) 4 times [76sts] Round 11 (9dc, (1dc, 1htr, 1dc) in next st, 9dc) 4 times [84sts] Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in tail.

Lettuce

Using Yarn C, follow Rounds 1-10 given in Step 1. Round 11 Work 3dc into each st around [180sts] Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in yarn tail.

Rounds 1-10

Tomato (make two)

Using Yarn D, make a magic ring, then work as follows: Round 1 9dc into ring [9sts] Round 2 (inc) 9 times [18sts] Round 3 ch3 (counts as 1tr), 1tr in next st, (ch4, miss next st, 1tr into each of next 2 sts) 5 times, ch4, ss into 3rd ch of original ch3 [36sts] Round 4 Work 1dc all around (into each ch and also into tops of tr sts from previous round) [36sts] Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in yarn tail.

Onion rings (make two)

Round 1 Using Yarn E, ch32, ss into first ch to form ring [32sts] Round 2 (inc, 4dc) 6 times, inc, dc [39sts] Round 3 Change to Yarn F and work 1dc in each stitch around. Cut yarn, fasten off and sew in tail.

Finishing

Assemble your burger, using the image as a guide. You may sew the pieces together if you wish, or leave it so you can stack and un-stack them.

Emma Lyons Emma became totally hooked on crochet after discovering the world of amigurumi, and now she can’t stop creating cute creatures, dolls and animals. When not crocheting, she also loves knitting and creating fancy dress costumes for her two kids. www.amiemma.etsy.com