New Year, Good Old Habits
Hi my dear crafty friends! I hope you are all healthy and safe!
We have finally left the 2020 behind and I couldn’t be more ready to embrace the new year with positivity and hope for better times to come!
...but let's save the good things, like the Tuesday Free Crochet Pattern!
After few weeks of much needed rest, I'm back with a new super sweet design...let me introduce you to Benny - a lovely seal.
She's only a baby and has just started discovering the world with her big curious eyes.
Benny loves playing with her friends and when tired, cuddling next to her sweet mom!
...and if you are like me and think that seals are just adorable, you can find my previous works here below! Click on the pictures for the crochet patterns!
*** You can purchase an AD-FREE PDF of BENNY THE SEAL pattern with many step-by-step pictures on Etsy HERE.
Here's the FREE pattern!
YARN: Light (3) in Light Gray, White, Light Brown; Classic Cotton Thread in Black
MATERIALS: C2 - 2.75 mm Hook; Poly Filling; Two 9 mm Black Plastic Safety Eyes
DIMENSION: H. 6” x W. 3.5”
ABBREVIATIONS: magic ring (mr), stitch (st), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc),
back loop only (BLO), fasten off (F/O)
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner
INSTRUCTIONS: work in rounds
(join with a sl st and ch 1 at the end of each round) unless otherwise instructed.
Disclosure. Most blog posts on this website contain affiliate links. This means I get a small commission if you click-through & purchase (no additional cost to you).
MUZZLE (white yarn)
Rnd 1: 7 ch, 1 sc inc into the 2nd ch from the hook, 1 sc inc, 2 sc, 1 sc inc, 2 sc inc into the next ch, 4 sc, 1 sc inc into the last st that already contains 2 sc (18)
Rnd 2: 2 sc inc, 6 sc, 2 sc inc, 8 sc (22)
Rnd 3: working in BLO, sc even (22)
F/O and leave a long strand of white yarn to sew the muzzle to the body.
Embroider the NOSE with light brown yarn and a tapestry needle.
CAUDAL FINS (light gray yarn; make 2)
Make two:
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr (6)
Rnd 2: (2 sc, 1 sc inc) rep twice (8)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (12)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (16)
Round 5 - 6: sc even (16)
Rnd 7: (6 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (14)
Rnd 8: (5 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (12)
Rnd 9: (4 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (10)
Rnd 10: sc dec around (5)
F/O and do not stuff the fin
Do not cut the yarn once you have completed the 2nd fin
BODY (light gray yarn)
Merge the two fins together:
Rnd 11: join the yarn with a sl st to the 1st fin you crocheted, ch 1 and sc in the same st, crochet around 4 sc, then keep working on the 2nd fin, 5 sc (10)
Rnd 12: (4 sc, 1 sc inc) rep twice (12)
Rnd 13: (2 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (16)
Rnd 14: (3 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (20)
Rnd 15: (4 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (24)
Round 16 - 17: sc even (24)
Rnd 18: (5 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (28)
Rnd 19: sc even (28)
Rnd 20: (6 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (32)
Rnd 21: sc even (32)
Rnd 22: (7 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (36)
Rnd 23: (5 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (42)
Rnd 24: (6 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (48)
Round 25 - 29: sc even (48)
Rnd 30: (11 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (52)
Round 31 - 33: sc even (52)
Rnd 34: 28 sc, 8 sc inc, 16 sc (60)
Rnd 35: 28 sc, [(3 sc, 1 sc inc) rep 4 times], 16 sc (64)
Round 36 - 37: sc even (64)
Rnd 38: 28 sc, [(4 sc, 1 sc inc) rep 4 times], 16 sc (68); start stuffing
Round 39 - 41: sc even (68)
Rnd 42: 5 sc, 1 sc dec, 19 sc, 1 sc dec, 24 sc, 1 sc dec, 12 sc, 1 sc dec (64)
Round 43 - 44: sc even (64)
Rnd 45: 26 sc, [(4 sc, 1 sc dec) rep 4 times], 14 sc (60)
Rnd 46: sc even (60)
Rnd 47: (8 sc, 1 sc dec) rep 6 times (54)
Rnd 48: (7 sc, 1 sc dec) rep 6 times (48)
Rnd 49: (4 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (40)
At this point, pin the muzzle to the body in the desired position and identify the spots where you’d like the eyes to be placed (just to give you a reference, I inserted the 1st eye between rnds # 37-38 and the 2nd one between rnds # 48-49). Insert the safety eyes and secure them with the back pieces. Remove the muzzle - it will be sewn later on onto the body once completed.
Rnd 50: (3 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (32)
Rnd 51: (2 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (24)
Rnd 52: (2 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (18)
finish stuffing the body firmly
Rnd 53: (1 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (12)
Rnd 54: sc dec around (6)
F/O and wave in end
Embroider the EYEBROWS and the EYELASHES with black cotton thread.
Embroider a contour around the nose and the line below it with black cotton thread.
PECTORAL FINS (light gray yarn; make 2)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a mr (6)
Rnd 2: (2 sc, 1 sc inc) rep twice (8)
Rnd 3: (3 sc, 1 sc inc) rep twice (10)
Rnd 4: (4 sc, 1 sc inc) rep twice (12)
Rnd 5 - 6: sc even (12)
Rnd 7: (4 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (10)
Rnd 8 - 9: sc even (10)
F/O and leave a long strand of yarn to sew the fin to the main body; do not stuff the fin.
Sew the right fin between rounds # 24-30, the left one between rounds # 39-44.
If you’d like to add more details to the seal:
· apply some blush to the cheeks using a little make-up brush,
· create the whiskers inserting little strands of nylon thread into the muzzle.
I can't wait to see your version of my BENNY THE SEAL! Feel free to tag me (@elisascrochet) in your photos on Instagram or Facebook if you'd like!
Elisa
This pattern is an original pattern by Elisa Sartori of Elisa's Crochet. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute it.
You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Elisa Sartori of Elisa's Crochet. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you!