Crocheted Ewok!

     One of my biggest New Years resolutions this year was to really start trying to selling my creations. I have always been hesitant to really put myself out there, as many of you other crafters can identify with, I wasn't sure if what I was creating was "good" enough. Well, after a lot of pushing from friends and family, and some success at small festivals, I have decided to go for it! I mean if I LOVE my stuff other folks most likely will right?

     This was the first "Large" crocheted toy I have ever made and I am officially HOOKED! I have been making small/medium toys for over a year now, so I felt pretty comfortable creating one on a larger scale. I had the BEST time making this little Ewok. I already have several orders for more! I am also currently working on the pattern that I plan on selling at my soon to exist Etsy shop (along with the finished product). I'm hoping to have a number of things ready when I begin my shop so I will keep you all posted when I do! I'm aiming for sometime in February!

Anyway .... here he is in all his splendor!

 This little Ewok is pretty soft and very very snuggly! His "furry" face, ears and tummy are nice and fluffy! You can see his ruffly belly! 

 Relaxing here in his native habitat ... the forest!

                         His hat is removable, so I wanted to share a few shots of the Ewok in the buff!

I can't really express how much fun it was making this guy ... He was very, Very, VERY difficult to part with! I can attest to his cuddle factor as I caught myself snuggling him like a teddy bear more than once!

Simple Mangosteen Crochet Pattern

A Mangosteen is a type of fruit I first tasted in Southeast Asia. It seems to have received a lot of attention the past decade as an ingredient in “health” drinks and supplements. I can’t say how true the claims that mangosteen is “good” for your health, but it is a fruit and it is delicious so it’s got that going for it.  There is a pretty comprehensive website about mangosteens if you want to learn more. www.mangosteen.com

The pattern below is very simple, but the stem may be a bit tricky for beginners.

 

Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn – purples (body) & greens (stem) – I went with very bright purple and green … obviously not the most realistic of colors – but hey – it’s a crocheted fruit – give me a break! Anyway, any colors you pick in those families will do just nicely. 
• Hook - G/4.00mm
• Stitch Maker (I like to use safety pins)
• Fiber filling (I use polyfil)
• Needle for stitching and darning

Stitches & Techniques you need to know:

• Magic Ring
• Crocheting in Continuous Rounds (Amigurumi style)
• Slip Stitch  (SLST)
• Single Crochet (SC)
• Half Double Crochet (HDC)
• Double Crochet (DC)
• Single Crochet 2 Together (SC2TOG)
• Repeat Between **

THE BODY:

USING YOUR PURPLE YARN MAKE MAGIC CIRCLE, THEN CH1

ROUND 1: SC 6 INTO CIRCLE, PULL TIGHT

ROUND 2: SC 2 IN EACH SC (you are now crocheting in the round, you do not need to slip stitch in the first stitch from the first round – you simply start the next round in that stitch, get it?) Use your stitch marker after you have made your first SC so you know where your next round will begin. 

ROUND 3: *SC 2 IN FIRST SC, THEN SC IN NEXT*

ROUND 4: *SC 2 IN FIRST SC, THEN SC IN NEXT 2*

ROUND 5: *SC 2 IN FIRST SC, THEN SC IN NEXT 3*

ROUND 6: *SC 2 IN FIRST SC, THEN SC IN NEXT 4*

ROUND 7: *SC 2 IN FIRST SC, THEN SC IN NEXT 5*

ROUND 8: *SC 2 IN FIRST SC, THEN SC IN NEXT 6*

ROUND 9-12: SC IN EACH STITCH

ROUND 13: *SC2TOG, SC IN 6*

ROUND 14: *SC2TOG, SC IN 5*

ROUND 15: *SC2TOG, SC IN 4*

ROUND 16: *SC2TOG, SC IN 3*

ROUND 17: *SC2TOG, SC IN 2*

ROUND 18: SC2TO, SC*

ROUND 19: SC2TOG

FINISHING THE BODY: LEAVE A LONG TAIL!!! THREAD THROUGH REMAINING STITCHES AND PULL TIGHT. WITH THE REMAINING TAIL PUSH YOUR NEEDLE THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE BODY UP THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE FIRST ROUND (SMALL HOLE). PULL THE YARN TIGHT SO IT CREATES A SORT OF INDENTION IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY. THIS WILL ALLOW THE FRUIT TO SIT FLATLY ON A SURFACE AND NOT TOPPLE OVER. WHEN FINISHED TIE OFF AND WEAVE IN ENDS.

STEM:

MAKE MAGIC CIRCLE, CH 1

ROUND1: CROCHET 4 SC LOOSELY IN MAGIC RING, PULL RIGHT TIGHT

ROUND2-4: SC IN EACH SC

ROUND 5: CROCHET THROUGH FRONT LOOP ONLY!

YOU ARE NOW MAKING THE "PETALS" AT THE BASE OF THE STEM. EACH OF THE 4 SC WILL BECOME A “PETAL."

IN FIRST SC: SLST, HDC, DC, DC, HDC, SC

IN SECOND SC: SLST, HDC, DC, DC, HDC, SC                  

IN THIRD SC: SLST, HDC, DC, DC, HDC, SC

IN FOURTH SC: SLST, HDC, DC, DC, HDC, SC – SLST IN THE FIRST PETAL AND TIGHT OFF … LEAVE LONG TAIL FOR SEWING.

FINISHING THE STEM: SEW THE STEM TO THE TOP OF THE BODY. WITH THE REMAINING GREEN THREAD PUSH YOUR NEEDLE DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE  FRUIT AND EMBROIDER A LITTLE BOTTOM.

Hope you found my pattern easy! It shouldn't take very long to make one of these. What I like about this pattern is that it can be a base for so many other types of things! You are pretty much making a ball for the body. Change the colors and you could make a tomato, pumpkin ...etc. 

Please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions at all, I would also love to see your finished mangosteen if you have one to share! 

** I will add that I hope to make another Mangosteen that has been opened to show off the white pulpy deliciousness that is inside! **