How To Crochet a Stuffie

It’s all in the details - By Julia Madill

What’s the difference between a pig and unicorn? Turns out, not a heck of a lot!

Lately my pattern writing to-do list has included a lot of toys and I’m loving it. Crochet is the perfect craft to turn my goofy doodles into squishy three-dimensional reality!

I was recently challenged to create two more toys similar to my Bernat Fat Cat Crochet Stuffie pattern. After a few quick sketches exploring different animal designs, I settled on a pig and a unicorn. Why? Laziness Cleverness. Now, if these toys were to look hyper-realistic, a pig and unicorn would look nothing alike and would require two very different patterns. In my twisted vision, the two designs could share almost all the same pieces; change the shades, add a horn and a mane and voila! Pig becomes unicorn.

If you’d like to try your hand at making your own Bernat Crochet Pig Stuffie or Bernat Crochet Unicorn Stuffie (or pigicorn? Unipig?), here are a few tips:

Step 1: The Cloven Hoof

Sounds like the title of a Sherlock Holmes mystery! A true hoof shape could be achieved with more complex shaping, but why make things more difficult? I chose to make a simple, round, flat-bottomed foot shape, then cinched it after-the-fact to make it appear more hoof-like. Here’s how-to:

Thread a yarn needle with the same shade yarn as the foot, then draw it into the inside of the (stuffed) foot and out through the centre of the first round of foot stitches. I secured my yarn by looping it into a knot around a stitch in the first round.

Then bring the needle down into the foot at the point where the color changes and out again through the same centre spot at the base of the foot.

Repeat this two or three times, pulling the yarn to cinch the foot. Be careful not to pull too tight! Chenille yarns like Bernat Baby Velvet Yarn might snap under too much pressure (though they are perfectly strong when stitched up).

Secure your yarn with another knot and hide the end inside the foot. Voila!

Step 2: The Tufted Snout

I’m not sure I’d read that Sherlock mystery. If there’s one thing a pig needs to look like a pig, it’s that big ‘ole sniffer. A snout shape is simple enough, but I thought I’d try something new (to me) and see if I could make 3-D nostrils. Turns out, it’s a cinch! (pun intended).

After sewing the Snout to the Body, thread your yarn needle with another length of the main color to create the nostrils. Bring the needle up through the end of the snout at the point you want your first nostril. Secure the yarn around a stitch with a knot.

Push the needle back into the snout at the same point, then up again at the place you want your second nostril. What you’re looking to do is catch some stuffing before bringing the yarn back up the other side.

Repeat this, going back in the second nostril and up through the first (ew!) and secure your thread with another knot before finishing. Hide your end inside the snout (tee-hee!).

Have fun putting your own spin on these patterns and remember to share your creations using #LetsStitchTogether and #Yarnspirations!

Cute Kidlet Bonus shot!