Back in 2019 my husband and I had the chance to spot this cute animals into the wild while on short cruise in Alaska.
I remember all this adorable otters floating on the water, laying on their back, and either massaging their faces or holding some fish!
Everyone on the cruise was amazed by their cuteness! I tried to capture the moment taking as much closer pictures as I could...and that day I promised myself I would sometime crochet my very own otter...
...and here it comes Gilbert!
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Here's the FREE pattern!
YARN: Light (3) - Beige, Brown, Gray, Light Blue; Cotton Thread in Black
MATERIALS: 3.5 mm Hook; Poly Filling; Two 6 mm Black Plastic Safety Eyes
DIMENSION: 6.5” x 2.5”
ABBREVIATIONS: magic ring (mr), stitch (st), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), front loop only (FLO), 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.
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HEAD, BODY and TAIL (beige and brown yarn)
Rnd 1: starting off with beige yarn, 8 sc in a mr (8)
Rnd 2: sc inc around (16)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (24)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (32)
Rnd 5: (3 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (40)
Rnd 6 - 13: sc even (40)
Place the safety eyes between rnds # 9-10, 9 stitches apart.
Rnd 14: (3 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (32)
Rnd 15: switch to brown yarn, sc even (32)
Rnd 16: keep working with brown yarn, 12 sc, switch to beige yarn, 8 sc, switch to brown yarn, 12 sc (32)
Rnd 17: rep rnd #16 (32)
Rnd 18: keep working with brown yarn, (2 sc, 1 sc inc) rep 4 times, switch to beige yarn, 8 sc, switch to brown yarn (2 sc, 1 sc inc) rep 4 times (40)
Rnd 19: keep working with brown yarn, 16 sc, switch to beige yarn, 8 sc, switch to brown yarn, 16 sc (40); start stuffing the body
Rnd 20 - 28: rep rnd #19 (40)
Rnd 29: keep working with brown yarn, 17 sc, switch to beige yarn, 6 sc, switch to brown yarn, 17 sc (40)
Rnd 30: working with brown yarn only, sc even (40)
Rnd 31: sc even (40)
Rnd 32: (3 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (32)
Rnd 33: (2 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (24)
Rnd 34: (2 sc, 1 sc dec) rep around (18)
Rnd 35: (1 sc, 1 sc inc) rep around (12)
Rnd 36: working in FLO, sc even (12)
Rnd 37: working in both loops now, 2 sc, 2 sc dec, 6 sc (10)
Rnd 38: 1 sc, 2 sc dec, 2 sc, 2 sc inc, 1 sc (10)
Rnd 39: 2 sc dec, 3 sc, 2 sc inc, 1 sc (10)
Rnd 40: 1 sc dec, 6 sc, 1 sc dec (8); keep stuffing as you go
Rnd 41: 1 sc dec, 2 sc, 2 sc inc, 1 sc dec (8)
Rnd 42: 1 sc dec, 2 sc, 2 sc inc, 1 sc dec (8)
Rnd 43: 1 sc dec, 4 sc, 1 sc dec (6)
Rnd 44: 1 sc dec, 2 sc inc, 1 sc dec (6); finish stuffing the body firmly
Rnd 45: 1 sc dec, 2 sc, 1 sc dec (4)
F/O, cut the yarn, close the hole and wave in end.
Embroider the NOSE with black cotton thread, between rnds # 9-11.
Embroider the VERTICAL LINE with black cotton thread, between rnds # 11-14.
Embroider the EYEBROWS with black cotton thread, between rnds # 6-8, 7 sts apart.
Embroider the WHISKERS with black cotton thread, between rnds # 11-15.
Add some color to the CHEEKS applying pink blush with a make-up brush.
EARS (beige yarn; make two)
Rnd 1: 8 sc in a mr (8)
Rnd 2: sc even (8); do not stuff the ear, flatten it instead
F/O and leave a long strand of yarn to sew the ears onto the head, between rnds # 5-9.
ARMS (brown yarn; make two)
Rnd 1: 8 sc in a mr (8)
Rnd 2 - 4: sc even (8)
Rnd 5: (2 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (6)
Rnd 6 - 8: sc even (6)
F/O and leave a long strand of yarn to sew the arms to the side of the body, between rnds # 17-21. Stuff the arms lightly.
FEET (brown yarn; make two)
Rnd 1: 5 ch, 2 sc into the 2nd ch from the hook, 2 sc, 2 sc inc into the last ch, keep working on the opposite side of the foundation ch, 2 sc, 1 sc inc into the last ch that already contains 2 sc (12)
Rnd 2: (4 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (10)
Rnd 3: (3 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (8)
Rnd 4: sc even (8)
Rnd 5: (2 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (6); do not stuff the foot
F/O, close the hole and leave a long strand of yarn to sew the heel of the foot to the body, between rnds # 30-31.
FISH (gray and light blue yarn)
Rnd 1: starting off with gray yarn, 8 sc in a mr (8)
Rnd 2: (3 sc, 1 sc inc) rep twice (10)
Rnd 3: sc even (10)
Rnd 4: switch to light blue yarn, (4 sc, 1 sc inc) rep twice (12)
Rnd 5 - 7: sc even (12)
Rnd 8: (4 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (10)
Rnd 9: (3 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (8)
Rnd 10: (2 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (6)
Rnd 11: (1 sc, 1 sc dec) rep twice (4)
Rnd 12: switch back to gray yarn, working through both layers now, crochet 3 hdc in each one of the two sts (6)
F/O, cut the yarn and wave in ends.
Embroider the EYES with black cotton thread, between rnds # 2-4.
Using a long strand of brown yarn, secure the fish in between the otter’s arms.
I can't wait to see your version of my GILBERT THE OTTER! 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!