I have loved Margaret Atwood’s classic book The Handmaid’s Tale for years now and then when the series came out, I fell for that too. I should have made one of these a while ago, but ah, procrastination. Then when some short sighted jackasses overturned Roe v. Wade I have been looking for more and more ways to channel my anger and frustration… I give you my take on a handmaid. As always, make and do with them as you would like, but do NOT claim my pattern as your own in any way please and if someone asks, point them to the pattern. Under his eye.
This was made on my Addi 22 with worsted weight yarn.
Body: 15 rounds in the skin color, 70 rounds in red (turn to row 85), then 15 more rounds in the skin color (to row 100), leave a long tail to sew with.
Bottom: 20 rounds in red, leaving a long tail to sew closed and to sew onto the body.
Arms: start with a bit of a tail to sew this hand together, 5 rounds in skin color, 32 rounds in red (to row 37), leave a long tail here and poke it through to the right side when you are done to use to sew to the body, 5 rounds in skin color (to row 42), leaving a tail to sew the hands together.
Wings: 40 rounds in white, leaving a long tail to sew close and into place
Assembly: Take the bottom piece and cinch both ends together. Flatten it out to a circle (think scrubby here) and stitch it together to keep it flat. Don’t weave in your end as you use this to sew to the body.
Turn body in on itself, lining the skin color up and cinch the top closed. Stuff the head then cinch the neck closed. Stuff the body mostly. Sew the bottom piece around the bottom of the dress, the stitches should line up pretty well here, making sure to finish stuffing before you finish sewing closed.
Roll only the hands in circle shapes and sew closed and then together. Do NOT sew the red part in a tube. This part you leave flat.
Put the arms in place on the body, sliding it over the head and sew onto the body.
Turn the wings in on itself, cinch the ends together and sew in place, shaping as you go.
And now you have a quick and easy Handmaid. Blessed be the fruit.
It is probably one of my favorite books. I do love the Gunslinger series, but I have read It a couple times now. Of course I had to make the updated Pennywise for my next Norbert calendar. I tried to keep him mostly basic without losing too much detail, but he is still a bit more complicated than some of my others. I choose not to use more than yarn and basic safety eyes on purpose… though that has a lot to do with my promise not to buy more yarn or supplies for a bit until I use up with I have with my husband.
Also keep in mind he ended up being about 14 inches tall without including his hair. I used a light gray for the suit because I didn’t have a closer silver color. Looking back, I wish I would have used an off white for the neck ruffles.
Worsted weight yarn in colors of choice G size hook 9mm Safety eyes Poly-fil
Legs(make two) with light gray 4 sc in magic circle *inc, sc, dec* around
SC around for 2 rounds *inc, sc* around
SC around for 5 rounds
inc, sc in next 2, hdc in rest inc, sc in next 3, hdc in rest sc in next 2, inc, sc in next 2, hdc in rest sc in next 3, inc, sc in next 2, hdc in rest sc around for 5 rounds sc in BLO around Stuff foot and continue to stuff as you go. sc around for 8 rounds *inc, sc in next* around *inc, sc in next 2* around sc around for 4 rounds Bind off, but no need to leave a long tail for sewing.
Now turn the leg with the shoe side up and attach to the FLO that you left unworked on the leg. Do NOT join each round, work in a spiral. *inc, sc in next* around *inc, sc in next 2* around *inc, sc in next 3* around sc around, bind off and weave in end. Now about joining the legs, what you need to do is hold the legs together and sl st through both the legs five times in the middle where they meet, from the front of the legs to the back (I made sure mine were facing slightly different directions because that’s the picture I was duplicating). Then continue around the legs. You should end with 5 sl st and 46 sc. Moving on to the body you will forgo the sl st and only work in the sc.
Body continuing with light gray sc around for 5 rounds sc in next 8, dec x2, sc in next 22, dec x2, sc in next 8 *dec, sc in next 4* around *dec, sc in next 3* around sc around sc in BLO around (waist BLO) sc around for 3 rounds sc in next 5, inc x2, sc in next 14, inc x 2, sc in next 5 sc around for 10 rounds *dec, sc in next 2* around *dec, sc in next* around sc in BLO around (shoulder BLO) *dec, sc in next 2* around sc in BLO around (neck BLO) sc around (make sure to finish stuffing) dec around and bind off, leave a long end to sew head on
Now turn the leg with the shoes up and attach your yarn to the FLO of the waist BLO. Do NOT join after each round, work in a spiral. *inc, sc in next 2* around, inc in last st *inc, sc in next 3* around, in the last 2 st do inc, sc sc around for 3 rounds, bind off and weave in end. Now turn the leg with the shoes up and attach your yarn to the FLO of the shoulder BLO. Do NOT join after each round, work in a spiral. inc around *inc, sc in next* around *inc, sc in next 2* around sc around, bind off and weave in end. Now turn the leg with the shoes up and attach your yarn to the FLO of the neck BLO. Do NOT join after each round, work in a spiral. inc around *inc, sc in next* around *inc, sc in next 2* around sc around, bind off and weave in end.
Head in white 6 sc in magic circle *inc, sc in next* around sc around *inc, sc in next 2* around *inc, sc in next 3* around *inc, sc in next 4* around sc around for 3 rounds inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, then sc in remaining sc around for 5 rounds Insert the safety eyes between rounds 8-9 (6sc in mc counts as round 1) and 2 sc in between. Make sure the last inc are facing out as the forehead. Go ahead and start to stuff the head, continuing as you close up. *dec, sc in next 5* around *dec, sc in next* around dec around, bind off and close up hole. Go ahead and sew the head on the body holding the chin down against the ruffles.
Eyebrow in white ch 9, using the back ridges (if you feel comfortable doing so if not, just sc normally) sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. Bind off, leave a tail to sew onto the head above the eyes.
Nose, mouth and face detail are stitched onto the head directly though you could make the mouth out of felt if you wanted. Felt and me are not typically good bedfellows, so I avoid it. The nose was made by 3 horizontal stitches 2 rounds below the eyes 2 stitches apart. The mouth was 2 rounds below that, 3 stitches apart with 5 horizontal stitches with oe vertical in the middle to bring the lips together. The lines up the face were just running stitch.
It will be easier to go ahead and make a running stitch in red right on top of the waist ruffle and both the leg ruffles.
Arms (make two) start with white 6 sc in magic circle sc around inc around sc around for 3 rounds *dec, sc in next 2* switch to gray sc around in BLO, make sure to stuff lightly as you go for the arm part. sc around for 13 rounds *inc, sc in next 2* around, when stuffing these next parts, stuff a bit firmer than the arm. sc around for 3 rounds *dec, sc in next 2* around *inc, sc in next 2* around *inc, sc in next* around sc around for 3 rounds *dec, sc in next* around *dec, sc in next 2* around sc then dec around, bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Finish ruffle as flows, then sew onto the sides of the body immediately under the shoulder ruffle.
Now turn arm hand side up and attach gray yarn the the FLO of the BLO round. Do NOT join after each round, work in a spiral. *inc, sc in next 2* around *inc, sc in next* around *inc, sc in next 2* around sc around, bind off and sew in end. Sew onto the sides of the body immediately under the shoulder ruffle. Then take more red yarn and stitch lines above the ruffle, twice on the arms and around the shoulders. I also made little bows above the ruffles as well.
Now make 3 small pom poms in red (gah! I know, in the book he has orange, but to match the updated Pennywise I went with the red ones) to attach to the front or if you have those small already made felt type pom pom (like they use for making the candy cane Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer) you can sew those on.
For the hair I used orange strands of yarn and hooked them directly on to the head. I then split the yarn and lightly finger brushed out the yarn to get the desired effect.
I have to say, I so enjoy these little challenges I get to see if I can create something and the pattern for it! Please, keep them coming! This one works up pretty quickly and both my kids and their friends instantly knew what it was! I was kinda worried for a moment there because my husband didn’t, but then again he doesn’t care for sweets…
G Hook
164 yds worsted weight yarn (I had a new skein of Caron Simply Soft Party yarn on hand that has some glitter aspect to it and used that since that made me think of the sugar on the candies. I used almost all of it with just a little scrap ball left over)
Body Panel, make 2
Row 1: ch 6, sc in 2nd chain from hook and across, ch 1 and turn (5 sts)
Row 2: inc, sc3, inc, ch 1 and turn (7 sts)
Row 3-9: sc across, ch 1 and turn (7 sts)
Row 10: inc, sc 5, inc (9 sts)
Row 11: sc across (9 sts)
Tie off.
Repeat the rows 1-11 but do not tie off, ch 1 and turn
Row 12: inc, sc 8 across of 1st leg, now continue on the 2nd leg and make sc 8 , inc in last st, ch 1 and turn (20 sts)
Row 13-25: sc across, ch 1 and turn (20 sts)
Row 26: dec, sc 16, dec , ch 1 and turn (18 sts)
Row 27: sc across , ch 1 and turn (18 sts)
Row 28: dec, sc 14, dec , ch 1 and turn (16 sts)
Row 29: dec, sc 12, dec , ch 1 and turn (14 sts)
Row 30: dec, sc 10, dec , ch 1 and turn (12 sts)
Row 31: sc across , ch 1 and turn (12 sts)
Now we will start the head..
Row 32: Ch 2, inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 12 along prev row , ch 2 and turn (14 sts)
Row 33: inc in 2nd ch from hook, inc, sc 10, inc, inc in last st , ch 1 and turn (18 sts)
Row 1: ch 6, sc in 2nd chain from hook and across, ch 1 and turn (5 sts)
Row 2: inc, sc 3, inc, ch 1 and turn (7 sts)
Row 3-15: sc across, ch 1 and bind off for the first panel only, second panel continue (7 sts)
Do NOT bind off second panel.
Simple (and what I did for the left arm): Pair up with first and sc around through both, placing 2 sc in the corners, making sure to stuff before closing up and leave a tail for sewing. Make sure to keep row 1 lined up since this is the “finger” side.
Optional (for the right arm): I wanted mine to have a wave going and not just flat. Now, above works and you can have a bit of movement due to the stuffing, but I wanted a more pronounced bend in the arm. This is what I did, making sure to keep the row 1 lined up. Pair up the second panel with the first and make sure to crochet down the long side. Place sc then dec until the corner of the “finger”. Place 2 sc in corner, sc down the short finger end, 2 sc in the corner. Now down this long side inc the whole way to the corner, making sure to stuff as you go. Place 2 sc in corner, sc down the short finger end, sl st to the first then bind off leaving a tail for sewing. Now I did help this along a little bit to accentuate the curve with the stuffing.
Attach your yarn with a sc at the top side of its head and crochet through both thickness going down, but stop before you get to the spot where the arm goes. Sew the arm into place going through panel, arm, panel then bind off. Continue to crochet, but only crochet through the first panel across the arm. Continue around the body, making sure to stuff as you go. Make sure to put 2 sc in the corners of the feet and alson 2 sc in the head’s dcs. When you get to the next arm stop duplicate what you did for the other. When you get back to the start, sl st and bind off, weaving in your end.
Eyes (make 2)
Rnd 1: ch 15, sc in first ch and around (15 sts)
Rnd 2-3: sc around, at the end of round 3 sl st in next then bind off, leave a long chain for sewing (15 sts) Whip stitch round one and three together then sew onto head whip stitch side down.
Mouth
Row 1: ch 13, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (12 sts)
Row 2-3: sc across, at the end of round 3, bind off, leave a long chain for sewing (12 sts) Whip stitch round one and three together then sew onto head whip stitch side down.
Of course after making Darth Vader, I had to make the Storm Trooper pattern to go with my Norbert (who will of course be dressed as Princess Leia). They are such bad shots anyway so I’m not going to have them holding their weapons…
Worsted weight yarn (or any weight of your choosing) in black and white Size G hook (or whatever hook to make a tight crochet with your yarn) Safety eyes, 12mm Poly-fil for stuffing
Legs(make two) start in black 8 sc in magic circle inc around sc around for 2 rounds and switch to white dec x4, sc x8 dec x2, sc x8 (by this round it should be 10sc) Stuff foot and continue to stuff as you go. sc around for 8 rounds. Bind off both, but no need to leave a long tail for sewing.
Now about joining the legs, what you need to do is hold the legs together and sl st through both the legs twice in the middle where they meet, from the front of the legs to the back. Then continue around the legs. You should end with 2 sl st and 16 sc (8 sc around each leg). Moving on to the body you will forgo the sl st and only work in the sc.
Body sc around for 2 rounds and switch to black sc around for 1 round and switch back to white *dec, 3* x3, sc, make sure to continue to stuff as you go sc around for 2 rounds sc, *dc tog (dc 2tog), sc, sc* x3, dc tog, sc sc around for 5 rounds and switch to black sc, dec, dec, 2 sec, dec, dec dec around, Bind off both, but no need to leave a long tail for sewing.
Arms (make two) start with black 6 sc in magic circle inc around and switch to white sc around for 2 rounds *dec, sc in next 2* around, make sure to stuff lightly as you go and switch to black sc around and switch to white sc around for 7 rounds and switch to black sc around for 2 rounds. Bind off, leaving a tail to go ahead and sew onto the sides of the body.
Head start with white 6 sc in magic circle inc around *inc, sc* around switch to black sc around and switch to white sc around for 4 round, insert safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5, leaving about 3 sc in between. *inc, 2 sc* around sc around *dec, 2 sc* around and switch to black *dec, sc* around, be sure to stuff dec around, bind off, leaving a tail to go ahead and make an upside down ‘v’ for the mouth then sew it onto the body.
Again I find myself in need of a pattern and not a free suitable one in sight. My original Norbert Calendar was a hit that I didn’t realize that so many people liked. We didn’t make one this year and had many people inquire about it… so here I go again.
I wanted to make a roughly 6″ Darth Vader and Storm Troopers. I do have a long standing grump about paying for patterns, so I’ve decided to pay homage to these iconic characters in yarm. I freely give this pattern out for others to celebrate them as well.
Worsted weight yarn i(or any weight of your choosing) n black, dark grey, red and green Size G hook (or whatever hook to make a tight crochet with your yarn) Safety eyes, 12mm Poly-fil for stuffing
Legs(make two) 8 sc in magic circle inc around sc around for 2 rounds dec x4, sc x8 dec x2, sc x8 (by this round it should be 10sc) Stuff foot and continue to stuff as you go. sc around for 8 rounds. Bind off both, but no need to leave a long tail for sewing.
Now about joining the legs, what you need to do is hold the legs together and sl st through both the legs twice in the middle where they meet, from the front of the legs to the back. Then continue around the legs. You should end with 2 sl st and 16 sc (8 sc around each leg). Moving on to the body you will forgo the sl st and only work in the sc.
Body sc around for 3 rounds *dec, 3* x3, sc, make sure to continue to stuff as you go sc around for 8 rounds sc, dec, dec, 2 sec, dec, dec dec around, Bind off both, but no need to leave a long tail for sewing.
Arms (make two) 6 sc in magic circle inc around sc around for 2 rounds *dec, sc in next 2* around, make sure to stuff lightly as you go sc around for 10 rounds. Bind off, leaving a tail to go ahead and sew onto the sides of the body.
Upper body armor 4 sc in magic circle, ch 1 and turn *inc, sc* across, ch 1 and turn sc across, switch colors to dark grey, ch 1 and turn sc across, switch back to black, ch 1 and turn sc across for 3 round, switch colors to dark grey, ch 1 and turn sc across, switch back to black, ch 1 and turn *dec, sc* across, ch 1 and turn dec x2, ch 1 and sc around the armor sl, ,st to first sc of the round going around the armor, bind off and leave a long tail. Sew this to the top of the body (no need to stuff, just push the ends under as you sew), the sides hanging down over the ‘shoulders’.
Head 6 sc in magic circle inc around *inc, sc* around sc around for 5 round, insert safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5, leaving about 3 sc in between. *dec, sc* around, be sure to stuff dec around, bind off, leaving a tail to go ahead and sew in the middle of the upper body armor.
Mouth ch 2, ,3 sc in first ch, ch 1 and turn sc across, ch 1 and turn sc, sc inc, sc, bind off, leave a tail and sew to face. Stuff the end behind as you sew. Sew two vertical lines in grey for accent markings.
Helmet 6 sc in magic circle inc around *inc, sc* around sc in next 2, hdc and dc in next, dc and hdc in next, sc in the rest. Ch 1 and turn sc in the next 12, ch 1 and turn. Repeat this for 6 rows. Ch 1 and sc around the helmet, put 3 sc in the bottom points/corners of the back of the helmet (the sc rows). Bind off, leave a tail and sew onto the head. Ch 18 and bind off, leave a tail and sew down the middle of the helmet starting between the eyes.
Belt Start with black and ch 19. Sc in second chain from hook and across. Ch 1 and turn sc across, bind off with a long tail to sew around his middle. In grey, for the buckle, ch 5, sc in the second chain from hook and across. Ch 1 and turn sc across, bind off with a long tail to sew to the front of the belt.
Abdomen light box ch 6, sc in second chain from hook, ch 1 and turn sc across, ch 1 and turn. Repeat for a total of 4 rows. Bind off with a long tail to sew on the abdomen. Before you sew though, use the blue, red and grey to add some accent lines.
Cape Now, with the cape you can attach some felt or cloth if you prefer. I went ahead and crocheted one up so I could include it in these instructions and as a matter of preference as well. ch 27, dc in the third chain from hook and across, ch 2 (does not count as a st) and turn dc across, ch 2 and turn for total of 12 rows. Sc around it all, putting 3 sc in each corner. When you get back to the beginning of the sc around, sl st to the first one and tie a little knot leaving a long tail for sewing. Now to make your life easier to make the gathered look of the top of the cape use your needle to help weave the end in about every 2-3 stitches along the top. When you get to the end, gently pull and compare it to where you will sew the cape to the upper body armor then sew it on.
This pattern began as someone messaging me on Facebook. They couldn’t find the pattern anywhere and wanted to make it for a friend of theirs that has cancer. I’ve been wanting to write more patterns of my own up and I loved this idea and reasons! Not to mention this is right up my alley….
This is worked in the round as typical for amigurumi. Mine turned out to be about 10″ tall. I choose to make it a little larger and not use wire for the arms and legs. This way it is washable!
G hook
12mm safety eyes
worsted weight yarn in yellow, white and black
polyfill for stuffing
Start with black
6 sc in magic circle
*inc, sc* around
sc around then change to yellow (leave a long end of black here on the outside to make sewing the eyebrows and mouth a little easier on yourself if you want)
In back loops only (just for this round) sc around
*inc, sc in next 2* around
sc around for 2 rounds
*inc, sc in next 3* around
sc around for 3 rounds
*inc, sc in next 4* around
sc around for 3 rounds
*inc, sc in next 5* around
sc around for 3 rounds
*inc, sc in next 6* around
sc around for 3 rounds then change to white
in back loops only (just for this round) sc around
Take a moment to insert the safety eyes before moving on. Count down 11/12 rounds of yellow and place them with 4 stitches in between. Also, stuff the head at least to eye level to make your life easier and then keep stuffing as you go. Keep in mind that as you stuff you are also giving it that slightly curved shape as well. This is the easiest way since it is just a slight curve than to get fancy with the stitches I have found.
sc around for 6 rounds
*dec, sc in next 6* around
sc around for 3 rounds
*dec, sc in next 5* around
sc around for 3 rounds
*dec, sc in next 4* around
sc around for 3 rounds
*dec, sc in next 3* around
sc around for the next 3 rounds
*dec, sc in next 2* around
sc around for the next 2 rounds
*dec, sc* around
dec around then bind off and weave in the end
Now, turn your banana upside down with the yellow end facing down. Locate the approximate middle of the back where you did the round of back loop only in yellow before changing to white. This may or may not be the beginning of the round, but it doesn’t matter. (Also, you may be off a stitch or two. It’ll be fine. I’m not one for counting exactly as you may have noticed from my patterns. I like stress free as possible.) Join your yellow yarn here and continue as follows:
ch 1 and sc around in the front loops only then sl st to beginning (ch does not count as a stitch)
ch 1 and then sc around to the front stopping about halfway, in the middle, Leave the rest of this round unworked for now and turn.
ch 1 and sc back to where you started then turn
ch 1, sc across then turn for 3 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches (it really is a dec, dec basically since you should be down to 4 or 5 stitches.
ch 1, sc across then turn for 2 rows
ch 1, then dec across the last stitches, cut and bind off yarn.
Now, join yarn in the last sc you worked before turning (yeah, the same, not the next one).
ch 1 and then sc around to the back stopping at the last stitch before the peal you just made.
ch 1 and sc back to where you started then turn
ch 1, sc across then turn for 3 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches
ch 1, sc across then turn for 4 rows
ch 1, dec, sc across then dec over the last 2 stitches (it really is a dec, sc, dec basically since you should be down to 3 stitches. At least I was.. if you aren’t it should be close and it will be fine.
ch 1, sc across then turn for 2 rows
ch 1, then dec across the last stitches. It was a dec over 3 for me.
ch 1, turn then sc evenly up and down both sides of the peals. Place 2 sc at the tips of the peals. Sl st then bind off and weave in ends.
Legs, make two and make them both before sewing as it makes it easier to get an even amount of stuffing in each.
start with black
6 sc in magic circle
*inc* around
*inc, sc* around
sc around
6 dec, 6sc
sc around, change to white and making sure to stuff as you go. Keep it stuffed pretty tightly as it will help him stand, but try to keep the bottom fairly flat.
sc around for 12 rounds, bind off leaving a long tail to sew.
To sew on, keep in mind that the legs go down with the bottom of the banana facing out. I found it best to turn the banana to the side, count down about 10-12 white rows, pinch the top of the legs closed and then sew onto the banana. Some people find it easier to pin in place before sewing and it might make it easier to line them up better.
Arms, make two and make them both before sewing as it makes it easier to get an even amount of stuffing in each.
with yellow
6 sc in magic circle
*inc* around
sc around
8 sc, 3 dc in same st, 3 sc (make sure to push the dc outwards to create a thumb)
8 sc, dec over the next 3 dc, 3 sc
*dec, sc* around and stuff the hand to hold shape and stuff very lightly as you go so it bends easily
sc around for 10 rounds.
To sew on, pinch the top of the arms closed and sew it onto the yellow part of the banana about 3-4 rows above the peal. Make sure to have the thumbs facing up. I did sew at a slight slant from back to front, but that’s me. I then ran the yarn on the inside of the arms to the hands to sew the peal into place so it look like he is holding open the peals.
Finally take the black yarn and sew on the face and eyebrows and you’re done!
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