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Monster Love Bugs Meet the Love Bugs! This is another one of those "design by accident" patterns.. you can read all about it here. Anyway, after getting the doll made and sewn together I was completely stumped for a couple days on how to do the face and finally ended up just going with a very simple look. After that was done I had an even tougher time trying to capture their cuteness in a photo. I don't know why but every photo I took just made them look weird but in person they are the cutest little creatures, honest! Well these ones you're looking at aren't that bad but believe me this took me days to get good photos, lol. Then I couldn't decide if they should have antennae or just the horns.. I tried both which meant more photos, oy vey! It's just crazy how these two have kept me undecided and made me work extra hard to get a good photo.. they are truly monsters!
The majority of people on facebook decided they should be Monsters so that's how I decided on the cover photo. But the questions still remains, with or without the antennae? I'm torn so I'll leave it up to you. It's your choice to add the antennae or not. I've included the instructions below :)
*Please note this is not a pattern for a beginner. Please read through the supplies list and also the assembly section before making and sewing the doll together.
Read me ~> Work in continuous rounds, do not join. Have any questions or if you come across a mistake in the pattern please leave a message in the comment section below.
Read me ~> How to read the rows: Each row has a sequence as given below. Example: 1sc then 2sc in next st means repeat that sequence 1sc then 2sc in next st followed by 1sc then 2sc in next st over and over to the end of that particular row. The number inside the parentheses ( ~ ) is the number of stitches you should have at the end of that particular row.
Read me ~> Add in a marker at the end of row 2 and move that marker at the end of every row. I just use a short length of yarn and pull it through the last stitch I put in at the end of every row. Supplies: worsted weight acrylic yarn in colors of your choice for the monster itself. White for the horns. Red for the hearts. You will use less than one skein of each color.
1 package of Bernat Sparkle Fur *please be aware that you will use every last inch of this package. I made 3 monsters, one package per monster and the 3rd one I actually ran out before I was done. I don't know if it was a package someone had used some of and returned to the store or what but the first 2 worked out beautifully and I had just enough. If you can, buy 2 packages just to be safe then return one if you don't use it. 4.5 mm hook *Don't use a larger hook if you buy only one package of sparkle fur blunt end yarn needle for sewing scissors 100% polyester stuffing you can use buttons or felt eyes. I used 10mm safety eyes that I glued in place with white felt behind them. Glue for the felt and also the eyes. I used regular tacky glue and it works very well. You can also use fabric glue pipe cleaners
Abbreviations: st = stitch sc = single crochet 2tog = crochet 2 stitches together f/o = finish off
*please note this is not a pattern for the beginner. You will not be able to see your stitches for the most part, they will be hidden in fur. *The body is the only piece you hold 2 strands together. All other parts are made using one strand of worsted weight yarn. For the black monster I used all black. For the white monster I used white and white sparkle fu r together then all the other pieces I made with an off white color. Body holding the ww yarn and the novelty yarn together: 1) magic circle or adjustable loop with 6st (6) 2) 2sc in each (12) 3) 1sc then 2sc in next st (18) 4) 1sc in next 2st then 2sc in next st (24) 5) 1sc in next 3st then 2sc in next st (30) 6) 1sc in next 4st then 2sc in next st (36) 7-11) 1sc in each st for 5 rows 12) 1sc in next 4st then 2tog (30) 13) 1sc in next 3st then 2tog (24) 14) 1sc in next 2st then 2tog (18) 15) 1sc then 2tog (12) *stop and turn the piece inside out. You'll notice the wrong side is way fluffier! You can use the right side but I think you'll agree inside out is better. Now firmly stuff and shape. 16) 1sc then 2tog (8) * add more stuffing f/o leaving a tail for closing up the gap. Weave in and out of the remaining stitches and pull tight to close. Knot off and hide yarn tails in the body. Using your blunt end yarn needle, run it along the body now to pull up any fur that has been caught inside the stitching.
Legs: 1) magic circle or adjustable loop with 6st (6) 2) 2sc in each (12) 3) 1sc then 2sc in next st (18) 4) 1sc in next 2st then 2sc in next st (24) 5-7) 1sc in each st for 3 rows 8) (1sc then 2tog repeat 4 times) 1sc in next 12st (20) 9) (1sc then 2tog repeat 4 times) 1sc in next 8st (16) 10) (1sc then 2tog repeat 4 times) 1sc in next 4st (12) 11-14) 1sc in each st for 4 rows f/o leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff and shape the foot then stuff the leg Arms: 1) magic circle or adjustable loop with 6st (6) 2) 2sc in each (12) 3) 1sc in next 3st then 2sc in next st (15) 4-6) 1sc in each st for 3 rows 7) 1sc in next 3st then 2tog (12) 8-11) 1sc in each st for 4 rows 12) 1sc in next 4st then 2tog (10) 13) 1sc in each st for 1 row f/o leaving a long tail for sewing. Thumb: * the thumb is optional insert yarn in between the 5th and 6th row up from the loop you began with. Ch1 and put 4dc into one st. f/o use the yarn tail to sew the thumb in place. Knot off and hide yarns tails in the arm Stuff and shape the hand, lightly stuff the arm Antennae: These are optional. Look at the photos and decide what looks best to you 1) magic circle or adjustable loop with 6st (6) 2) 2sc in each (12) 3-4) 1sc in each st for 2 rows 5) 1sc then 2tog (8) * stuff the ball 6-15) 1sc in each st for 10 rows f/o leaving a tail for sewing. You can stuff the stem or push in a folded pipe cleaner.
Horns: white white 1) magic circle or adjustable loop with 6st (6) 2) 1sc in each st for 1 row 3) 1sc in next 2st then 2sc in next st (8) 4-5) 1sc in each st for 2 rows you can stop here if you like this length and f/o leaving a tail for sewing. Lightly stuff. If you'd prefer longer horns like the ones pictured on the black bug then continue on with row 6. 6) 1sc in next 3st then 2sc in the next st (10) 7) 1sc in next 4st then 2sc in the next st (12) 8) 1sc in each st for 1 row f/o leaving a tail for sewing. Lightly stuff. Nose: This is optional. The white monster has no nose or mouth while the black one does. It's whatever you prefer. 1) magic circle or adjustable loop with 6st (6)
2) 1sc in next 2st then 2sc in next st (8) 3) 1sc in each st for 1 row f/o leaving a tail for sewing The heart balloons I made using my own pattern found here with a 4.5mm hook. Make 6 pieces for 3 balloons. Place the wrong sides together and whip stitch the BLO together. Before stitching it completely closed stuff the heart. I used scrap strands of red yarn to stuff mine and that worked great but you can also use regular stuffing. The "string" of each balloon is a pipe cleaner folded in half and twisted. I pushed the bend part of the pipe cleaner through the point of the heart. The larger heart I made using another one of my patterns found here. I used a 4.5mm hook and made 2 pieces and assembled it the same way as the balloon hearts.
Monster Assembly: 1) Turn the body on it's side. The loop of 6st you began with will be the front of the doll in the middle and the loop you closed up when you finished will be the back side of the doll in the middle. As you sew the doll together make sure to pull up any fur that gets sewn down, use a blunt end yarn needle to do this. 2) Sew the legs on first. pin them in place then sew them in. 3) Sew the arms on in line with the legs. The bottom of the hand should reach to or about the 7th row of the leg 4) pin the horns and if you made antennae pin those in place as well. Make sure you are happy with the placement before sewing anything in place 5) It's impossible to tell you what row to put the eyes o n so you need to try out different spots until you are happy with how the doll looks. I used 10mm safety eyes and I place white felt behind them to make the eyes stand out more. I used regular tacky glue and glued the pieces in. You can trim away some of the fur to make gluing in a little easier. On the black monster I made a little mouth with white felt and glued it in place. I added 2 felt fangs as well. Determine where you will put the mouth and cut away the fur from this area. Don't cut away too much, you only need just enough space to glue the mouth on. If you made a nose, ew it on centered just under the eyes. Once you are done sewing it all together go around one more time and pull up any fur that's been sewn down. The doll will fluff up so much more if you take the time to do this! Enjoy your Monster Love Bug! And please post pictures on my facebook page, I'd love to see :) This pattern was courtesy of Sharon Ojala of Amigurumi To Go. Free for all to enjoy! You may sell finished products. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated and help keep the patterns free. Happy Crafting everyone!