Amiga Penguin

*This pattern has been tested, thanks to the lovely Kathy B from CrochetTalk forum. Comments, concerns, and suggestions are all welcome.*

Amiga Penguin

Materials needed:

small amount of 4 ply (ww) yarn, black for body and wings, white for the body panel, orange for the beak, and and reddish for the feet feet (I used Yarn Bee's Cameo black for the body and wings referred to in pattern as main color, Yarn Bee's Cameo ivory for the body panel, Caron Simply Soft mango for the beak and a scrap of reddish color Caron Simply Soft for the feet)

"G" hook

"F" hook

stitch markers

Darning needle

2 post eyes (I used the snap on post and back type eyes, don't know what they're typically called.)

fiberfill for stuffing

Abbreviations used:

sc = single crochet

st = stitch

ss = slip stitch

inc = increase (do 2 single crochets in one stitch)

dec = decrease ( insert hook into first stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through the two loops on your hook)

Body: (make one)

As amigurumi is made in spirals, do not join rounds. Use a stitch marker or a piece of thread or yarn to mark the end of your rounds.

With "G" hook, and main color:

Start 8 sc in a magic ring. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc (inc) in second st* repeat from * to * around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: *1 sc in first 2 st, 2 sc (inc) in third st* repeat from * to * around.  (16 sc)

Rnd 4: *1 sc in first 3 st, 2 sc (inc) in fourth st* repeat from * to * around.  (20 sc)

Rnd 5: *1 sc in first 4 st, 2 sc (inc) in fifth st* repeat from * to * around.  (24 sc)

Rnd 6: *1 sc in first 5 st, 2 sc (inc) in sixth st* repeat from * to * around.  (28 sc)

Rnd 7: *1 sc in first 6 st, 2 sc (inc) in seventh st* repeat from * to * around.  (32 sc)

Rnd 8: *1 sc in first 7 st, 2 sc (inc) in eighth st* repeat from * to * around.  (36 sc)

Rnd 9: *1 sc in first 8 st, 2 sc (inc) in nineth st* repeat from * to * around.  (40 sc)

Rnds 10 - 12: work even (40 sc)

Rnd 13: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next 3 st* repeat from * to * around ( 32 sc)

Rnd 14: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next 2 st* repeat from * to * around ( 24 sc)

Rnd 15: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next st* repeat from * to * around ( 16 sc)

Rnd 16: *sc first 2 st together (dec)* repeat from * to * around. (8 sc) ss in next st and fasten off, leaving a long tail for closing and sewing.

Wings: (make two)

With "G" hook, and main color:

Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc (inc) in second st* repeat from * to * around. (9 sc)

Rnd 3 - 5: Work even around (9 sc)

Rnd 6: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next st* repeat from * to * around ( 6 sc) ss into next st, and fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing and weaving.

Beak: (make 1)

With "F" hook, and orange yarn:

Make 4 sc in a magic ring.

Rnd 2: *sc in first st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 6 sc)

Rnd 3: *sc in first 2 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 8 sc)

Rnd 4: *sc in first 3 st, 2 sc in next st (inc)* repeat from * to * around. ( 10 sc)

Rnd 5: Work even (10 sc) ss into next st and fasten off, leaving long tail for weaving and sewing. 

Feet: (make 2)

With "F" hook, and 'feet' color yarn:

Start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc (inc) in second st* repeat from * to * around. (9 sc)

Rnd 3 - 5: Work even around (9 sc)

Rnd 6: *sc first 2 st together (dec), sc in the next st* repeat from * to * around ( 6 sc) ss into next st, and fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing and weaving.

Body Panel:

Using white yarn and "G" hook:

(This is the lone exception to the 'amigurumi spiral'. *you could also make a body panel from white felt, and sew it into place)

Ch 3, turn

Rnd 1: sc in second st from hook and each st across (2 sc) ch 1 and turn

Rnd 2: 2 sc in first st (inc) and 2 sc in second st(inc) ch 1 and turn (4 sc)

Rnd 3: 2 sc in first st (inc) sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in last st(inc) (6 sc) ch 1 and turn

Rnd 4: 2 sc in first st (inc) sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in last st(inc) (8 sc) ch 1 and turn

Rnd 5: ss in first st, sc in the next 5 st, sc2tog (6sc) ch 1 and turn

Rnd 6: ss in first st, sc in the next 2 st, sc2tog twice (4sc) ch 1 and turn

Rnd 7: sc2 tog in each st across (2 sc) fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing

Assembly Instructions:

I find it easiest to sew the beak and the body panel onto the body before stuffing it and sewing it closed. Refering to photo, sew beak  and body panel in place. Attach the eye posts.

Stuff the body, and weave the lang tail through the last row of stitches, pull tight to close, and sew the tail to secure. Bury thread through the center of the body.

Sew the wings onto each side of the body. Stuff the feet, and sew to bottom of the penguin

Make a small tassel using the black yarn, and sew into place on the top of the penguins head.

Notes:

It's also easiest for me to pin my body parts into place before sewing them, to make sure they're balanced and in the correct position.

A good tutorial for making a magic ring can be found here:

http://crochetme.com/Dec_Jan_0405/reads_round.html

If you're not comfortable with using a magic ring, you can also start with the traditional method (chain two and work appropriate numbers of sc into second chain from the hook) but I find it leaves too big a hole for my tastes.