Supertato & Mr Pea

Ever had a book that just captures your little ones imagination? One that has them jumping from their beds with excitement and joy? Well this one does for our boy! He absolutely loves it. My daughter does too, but I think my son even more. He goes nuts when you read it to him. I think he becomes Supertato and he starts zooming around the place with his fist in front of him! Then within one swift motion, he will switch to a rather convincing Evil Pea and laugh historically!! So funny. It was only a matter of time before I designed and made him his very own Supertato and Evil Pea. They went down a treat. Bless him.

So without further a do, here’s the pattern. Hope you like this one. Would be great for a present for a little someone to accompany one of the Supertato books.

Level – Moderate. It has few new stitches and is a little fiddly. For this pattern you will work in both rounds and rows.

Supplies –

So I have used a mixture of cotton and wool double knit yarn, but you can choose whatever yarn you would like. Now you are going to need a 3mm crochet hook. (The reason we use a smaller hook size to the yarn, is so that the weave is smaller, thus making sure no toy stuffing comes out.) So for the double knit yarn – you will need about 30g of each colour, but you won’t need it all. So the colours are golden/beige for Supertato, red for the capes and belt, green for Evil Pea and black for the belt, mask, eyes, eyebrows and mouth. And a little yellow for Supertato’s buckle. You will also need an arms length of white for the eyes and some black thin silk thread for the S in Supertato’s buckle. Don’t forget your scissors, toy stuffing and blunt ended tapestry needle and a normal needle for you silk black thread.

Stitches –

Magic Ring – Fold over the yarn to make the loop. Insert your hook through the loop and grab the working yarn (long piece) and pull through the loop. Hold the tail and the working yarn and pull so that the knot tightens, but you still have a loop. This has created a magic ring. Here’s a video clip on how to make a magic ring.

Here’s a video clip on how to crochet into a magic ring.

Slip stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

Chain (ch) – To make a chain, place the yarn over the hook then pull it through the loop on your hook.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Double Crochet Decrease (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. So insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert again through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Now yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches, so you will then have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops. And there is your 2dctog. (Basically 2 double crochet stitches crocheted together.)

Half treble (htr) – A half treble crochet is basically one less movement than a treble. So yarn over hook, insert through space/stitch, yarn over hook, pull back through space/stitch. There should be 3 loops on your hook. Then yarn over hook and pull through all 3 loops.

Foundation Chain – A foundation chain is required when you are starting your crocheting project with rows or creating a ring. Now that you have created your slip knot, you can make the chain. Wrap your yarn over your hook and pull back through the loop. This will create the first chain. Now pull the yarn over the hook and pull through again to make the second chain. Repeat this process till you have the amount of chains that you require. Now you are ready to start your crocheted rows.

Here’s a couple of videos that can help you if you are starting out with crocheting.

Ok so off we go…

Evil Pea –

Body – use your green yarn. You are working in the round for the body.

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then dc6 into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

6 – *4dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

7 – 11 (5 rounds) For each round, work 1dc in each stitch. (36)

12 – *4dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (30)

13 – *3dc, then 2dctog. Work ** 6 times. (24)

14 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times.(18)

15 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times.(12)

Now it’s time to stuff your body with toy stuffing,

16 – Work *2dctog.* Work this ** 6 times. (6)

Now sew up and fasten off your body using a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Evil Pea’s Cape –

So for the cape, attach your red yarn onto the pea by inserting your hook into the pea’s body. (You are working in rows for the cape.)

Then pull the red yarn through with your hook. Then chain 1 and work 1dc in the first stitch on the pea.

Then work 1dc in each of the 7 stitches on the existing stitches. (8)

*Then turn your work, ch1 and work 1dc. Then work 1dc in the next 7 stitches. (8)* Work this ** 2 times. (2 rows of 8)

Turn, ch1 and work 2dc in the first stitch. Work 6dc stitches. Then work 2dc in the last stitch. (10)

*Turn your work, ch1 then 1dc in each stitch. (10)* Work this ** 2 times. (2 rows of 10)

Turn your work, ch1. Work 2dc in the first stitch. Work 8dc stitches. Then work 2dc in the last stitch. (12)

*Turn your work, ch1 then 1dc in each stitch. (12)* Work this ** 3 times. (3 rows of 12)

Turn, ch1 *Work 1dc in the first stitch, then 2tr in the next and then 1dc in the next stitch.* Work ** 4 times. (16)

Now fasten off and sew both ends into the cape.

Supertato –

Supertato’s Body –

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then dc6 into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

6 – *4dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

7 – *5dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (42)

8 – 17 (10 rounds)  For each round, 1dc in each stitch. (42)

18 – *5dc, then 2dctog*. Work ** 6 times. (See stitches explanation above if you are unsure of 2dctog.) (36)

19 – *4dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (30)

20 – *3dc, then 2dctog. Work ** 6 times. (24)

21 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

22 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

Now it’s time to stuff your body with toy stuffing,

23 – Work *2dctog.* Work this ** 6 times. (6)

Now sew up and fasten off your body using a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Supertato’s Cape –

So for the cape, attach your red yarn by inserting your hook and pulling it through. (You are using the same method as the Evil Pea Cape.) Then chain 1 and work 1dc in the first stitch on the body. Then work 1dc in the next 9 stitches on the existing body stitches. (10)

Then turn your work, ch1 and work 1dc. Then work 1dc in the next 9 stitches. (10)

*Turn your work, ch1, then work 1dc in each stitch. (10)* Work this ** 2 times. (2 rows of 10)

Turn, ch1, Work 2dc in the first stitch. Work 8dc stitches. Then work 2dc in the last stitch. (12)

*Turn your work, ch1, then work 1dc in each stitch. (12)* Work this ** 2 times. (2 rows of 12)

Turn, ch1, Work 2dc in the first stitch. Work 10dc stitches. Then work 2dc in the last stitch. (14)

*Turn your work, ch1, then work 1dc in each stitch. (14)* Work this ** 2 times. (2 rows of 14)

Turn, ch1, Work 2dc in the first stitch. Work 12dc stitches. Then work 2dc in the last stitch. (16)

*Turn your work, ch1, then work 1dc in each stitch. (16)* Work this ** 2 times. (2 rows of 16)

Turn, ch1 *Work 1dc in the first stitch, then 1tr, 1tr, then 1dc in the next stitch.* Work this ** 4 times. (16)

Now fasten off and sew both ends into the cape.

Supertato’s Belt –

Using your black yarn, chain 43 to make a foundation chain. Then turn your foundation chain and work 1dc in the second chain from the hook. Then 1dc in each. (42)

Fasten off leaving a tail to sew the belt on to the potato.

To make the buckle. Using your red yarn, chain 3. Turn and work 1dc in the second chain from the hook, then 1dc in the last stitch. This gives you a little square of red stitches. Now fasten off and leave a tail to sew the buckle onto the belt. Sew your little end into the buckle.

Then with your yellow yarn, attach your yarn into the first red dc stitch, by inserting your hook and pulling the yarn through. Now ch1, then work 1dc in the same stitch. Then 1dc in the next stitch. (2)

Turn a quarter turn and work 1dc down the side of the red square. (This is in the side of your last yellow stitch. Then a quarter turn again and work 1dc in each of the bottom parts of the red chain stitches. Finally a quarter turn again and work 1dc in the last side of the red squares. Now slip stitch into the first yellow dc stitch and fasten off. You should now have a square shaped buckle, with yellow on the outside and red in the middle.

Finish off by using a little of your black silk thread to work a little S letter in the middle of your buckle. I used back stitches to create the letter S.

Sew in all your tails and fasten it into the middle part of your black belt. Now all you need to do is sew your belt onto the body of your Supertato, making sure the buckle is in the middle on the opposite side to the cape.

Mask – Make 2

Using your black yarn and chain 49 to make a foundation chain. Then work 1dc in the second chain from the hook. Then work 1dc in the next 19 stitches. Now work 1htr, followed by *2tr in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 6 times. Now work 1htr, then finish with 20dc stitches. (54) Fasten off with a long tail which you can use to sew the masks onto the bodies. If you have some black thread left, use it to sew on the smile.

Now all that’s left is to sew some little white eyes across the top of each of the masks and then use a little black yarn for the eyes & eyebrows.

And there you have it!! Two little vegetables to accompany your book. Really hope you like this pattern. Any questions or queries just give me a shout!!

Happy hooking!!
🌈Xx

(Free pattern brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it.)

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Moomin

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. Everywhere you go…. 🎶 Awww, just the best time of year isn’t it. Time to be together. Time for fun, love and happiness. I just love it!! I think that’s why the last couple of months before Christmas I run around in some kind of crazy christmassy madness trying to get things done and make it all perfect!! I don’t think I’m the only one!! But I am trying to be more organised this year, well trying!!

So here’s my little Christmas Pattern for this year! It’s rather a special one to me, as you will see. I really hope you like it. I’ve designed my little man so that it can be made as a little toy or you can also loop a little bit of ribbon and hang it on your tree. Or even make him a pop him in a little lucky persons stocking. Couldn’t resist making a little scarf for him too! Hee hee.

So. Let’s talk Moomins…

Now, some of you may remember watching or reading Moomins as a child. I definitely did. I loved the adventures that they used to go on!! So exciting! It would transport you into another world. A world of excitement and exploration. A world where Mamamoomin would look after everyone and cook for them all. How she would open her arms and heart to all who stepped over the door step into their little tower of homey heaveness! Or maybe it was little Moomintroll himself and his little sidekick Sniff!! So when I spotted these little creatures peeping out at me from the Oxfam window in our high street, I just had to pop in and buy one of their magical books for my daughter. And of course in true PipsRainbow style, I couldn’t wait to design a little crocheted Moomin!! Well, it just had to be done didn’t it!!

Ok, so here we go…

Supplies –
So for this pattern your will need 1 ball of white 50g double knit yarn, just a small bit of light black yarn and a small bit of black thread for the eyes as well. Then you need a spot of red double knit yarn for the scarf. You will also need some scissors, toy stuffing, blunt ended tapestry needle and a 3mm crochet hook. 

Stitches –
Magic Ring (mr) – For a magic ring, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a tail. (Make sure the tail is under the working yarn.) Now insert your hook into the loop, from the front to the back. Wrap the working yarn around your hook and pull the yarn through and pull tight to create a ring.

Slip stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Double Crochet Decrease (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. So insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert again through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Now yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches, so you will then have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops. And there is your 2dctog. (Basically 2 double crochet stitches crocheted together.)

Spike Stitch – So to work your first spike stitch, you are going to work 1dc in the row below. So insert your hook through the dc stitch in the row below, yarn over your hook and then pull back through. (It will be easier if you work this loop up loosely) Now finish your stitch by yarn over your hook and pull through both loops. And that’s your first spike stitch.

Back Loop Double Crochet (bldc) – It just means you only work your double crochet in the back loop only, not through both loops like a normal double crochet.

Head –

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then dc6 into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – 1dc in each stitch. (24)

6 – *2dctog* Repeat this ** 6 times. Then work 12dc stitches. (18)

7 – 8 (2 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (18)

9 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

10 – 12 (3 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (12)

This is a good time to stuff your head.

13 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

14 – *2dctog* Repeat ** 4 times. (4)

Now fasten off and sew up the head, leaving a tail for you to sew the head onto the body.

Ears – Make 2

1 – Make a magic ring, ch1, then 4dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the magic ring. (4)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

3 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. (6) 

4 – *2dctog.* Repeat ** 3 times and fasten off, leaving a tail to sew your ears onto your head. (3)

Body –

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then dc6 into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

6 – *4dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

7 – 1dc in each stitch. (36)

8 – *4dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (30)

9 – 1dc in each stitch. (30)

10 – *2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. Then 18dc stitches. (24)

11 – 13 (3 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (24)

14 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

15 – 1dc in each stitch. (18)

16 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

17 – 1dc in each stitch. (12)

Now it’s time to stuff your body with toy stuffing.

18 – *2dctog* Repeat ** 6 times. (6)

Now sew up and fasten off your body using a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Legs – Make 2

1 – Make a magic ring, ch1, then 4dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the magic ring. (4)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

3 – Work 1bldc in each stitch. A bldc is a back loop double crochet. It just means you only work your double crochets in the back loop only, not through both loops like a normal double crochet. (8)

4 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (8) 

5 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. (6) 

6 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (6)

Then fasten off and leave a tail so you can sew the legs onto the body.

Arms – Make 2

1 – Make a magic ring, ch1, then 4dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the magic ring. (4)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (8) 

4 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. (6) 

5 – 8 (4 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (6)

Then fasten off and leave a tail so you can sew the arms onto the body.

And there you have it. All your body parts. Now it’s time to sew all your body parts together. I tend to sew on the arms to the body and then the legs. Followed by the head and then the ears.

Follow this by using your black yarn to sew on two little eyes and then the eyebrows. Then use the black thread to sew a little circle around the black eyes that you have already made. I used a back stitch to do this as it creates a solid circle. These eyes are quite distinctive for a Moomin.

Now all you need to do is make the scarf.

Scarf –

1 – Start with your white yarn and make a foundation chain of 31. Now work 1dc into the second chain from the hook and then 1dc in each stitch in the foundation chain. Now fasten off your white yarn. (30)

2 – Now attach your red yarn in the first chain on the other side of the foundation chain. Now work 1spike stitch in the first dc stitch. Then work 1spike stitch in each stitch in the row. At the end of the row, turn your scarf and work 1dc in the first dc stitch. Then work 1dc in each stitch. Now fasten off and sew in your ends. The mix of dc stitches, chain stitches and spike stitches, gives you a great little stripy texture.

And there you have it. I couldn’t resist getting this magical book for my little lady for Christmas! Can’t wait to read it to her!!

Now don’t forget, if you would like to make this little Moomintroll into a Christmas decoration, then just loop a little ribbon in the top of the body to hang him on your Christmas tree. He’s definitely the perfect size to snuggle up on your tree, waiting for someone to find him.

I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas pattern. I remember having great fun designing him. I wonder if you could make the whole family of them. Now that would be good…

Don’t forget to share any little creations! Can’t wait to see them!!!

Happy Hooking!!

🌈Xx

(Free pattern brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it.)

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