Hi my friends!
I have been designing amigurumis for the past 7 years, and my crocheting skills has definitely improved over time.
If I go back to my first projects I can easily spot flaws and mistakes, little details that I would design differently now. Nice stitches definition and good yarn tension, cute color combinations, more neat sewing lines are easier to obtain now... just to mention a few things...
That's why once in a while I like to do a little "makeover" of my very first amis.
This time I decided to review the pattern of my Irina the Hippo Ballerina!
Irina has received a lot of appreciation since the day I released it...and I hope you're gonna love this new version too!
Here's the FREE pattern!
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner
YARN: Worsted Medium Yarn (Lace 4) in Gray, Red Clay and Black
HOOK SIZES: 2.5 mm hook.
STITCHES USED and ABBREVIATIONS: magic ring (mr), chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), back loop only (BLO), front loop only (FLO), decrease (dec), increase (inc), fasten off (F/O).
INSTRUCTIONS: work in rounds (join with a sl st and ch1 at the end of each round), unless otherwise instructed.
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HEAD (gray yarn)
1) 6 sc in a mr (6)
2) sc inc around (12)
3) *1 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (18)
4) *2 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (24)
5) *3 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (30)
6) *4 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (36)
7) *5 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (42)
8) *6 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (48)
9) *7 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (54)
10-16) sc even (54)
17) *7 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (48)
18) *6 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (42)
19) *5 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (36)
20) *4 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (30)
21) *4 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (36)
22) *5 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (42)
23-26) sc even (42); start stuffing the head
27) *5 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (36)
28) sc even (36)
29) *4 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (30)
30) *3 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (24)
31) *2 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (18)
30) *1 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (12); finish stuffing the head firmly
31) sc dec around (6); F/O and cut the yarn.
EARS (gray yarn; make two)
1) 6 sc in a mr (6)
2) sc inc around (12)
3-5) sc even (12)
6) *4 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** twice (10)
7) *3 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** twice (8); F/O and leave a long tail of yarn.
Flatten the ear and sew them to the top of the head between rounds # 28-30.
Embroider the NOSTRILS with gray yarn (wrap the gray yarn around 4 stitches), between rounds # 10-11, 8 stitches apart.
BODY (light gray yarn)
1) 8 sc in a mr (8)
2) sc inc around (16)
3) *1 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (24)
4) *2 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (32)
5) *3 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (40)
6-7) sc even (40)
8) *4 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** around (48)
9-11) sc even (48)
12) working in BLO, sc even (48)
13) working in both loops now, sc even (48)
14) *6 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (42)
15) sc even (42)
16) *5 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (36)
17) *4 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (30)
18) sc even (30)
19) *3 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (24)
20) sc even (24)
21) *2 sc, 1 sc dec*, repeat ** around (18); F/O and leave a long tail of yarn to attach the body to the head between rounds # 23-28.
Stuff the body firmly before attaching it.
TUTU (red clay yarn)
1) join the yarn to the FLO of the 1st st of round #11 of the body, working in FLO, crochet 3 dc in each st around (144)
2) dc even (144); F/O and hide the yarn
Embroider the MOUTH (between rounds # 5-12) and the EYES (between rounds #22-25, 8 stitches apart) with black yarn.
LEGS (red clay and gray yarn; make two)
1) starting off with red clay yarn, 6 sc in a mr (6)
2) *2 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** twice (8)
3) *3 sc, 1 sc inc*, repeat ** twice (10)
4) sc even (10)
5) switch to gray yarn, working in BLO, sc even (10)
6-10) working in both loops, sc even (10); F/O and leave a long tail of yarn to sew the leg to the bottom part of the body.
Stuff the legs lightly before attaching it.
ARMS (gray yarn; make two)
1) 6 sc in a mr (6)
2) *2 sc, inc*, repeat ** twice (8)
3-6) sc even (8); F/O and leave a long tail for sewing the arm to the side of the body.
Stuff the arm lightly before attaching it between rounds # 16-19.
Do not cut the yarn once the last arm is attached, use it to create the tail.
TAIL (gray yarn)
1) using the yarn left from the arm, insert the needle into the body and then pull it out in the lower back between rounds # 9-10. Cut the yarn (1.5” long), make a knot 0.5” from the body, and then adjust the length of the tail.
I can't wait to see your version of my cute IRINA! 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!