It's that time of year again! Last year, I made frogs in Skater dresses and Santa costumes for the Lily Pad Appeal, for the Chartwell Children's Cancer Trust. They are for sale in the Charity Shop inside Croydon University Hospital.
Here is the pattern. It is free, but if you enjoy making it, please consider giving a donation to the Lily Pad Appeal, on their website.https://chartwellcancertrust.co.uk/lily-pad/
Christmas Frog
wearing a Skating Dress
Abbreviations
UK terms US terms
dc-double crochet sc- single crochet
htr-half treble hdc- half double
crochet
sl st- slip stitch
ch- chain
lp- loop
inc- increase
rep- repeat
yrh- yarn round
hook
rem- remaining
rnd- round
Materials
● This pattern
uses approx. 25g any DK yarn in mid green(A), White(B), and Red(C). Other yarn
weights can also be used.
Eyelash or novelty
yarn in B can be used for dress trim, to mimic fur.
·
3mm crochet hook,
● Polyester toy
stuffing
Small amounts of
black and white DK yarn or embroidery thread for eyes and mouth
Tapestry needle
Yarn Alternatives
Any yarn can be used
for this project, as long as hook size is taken into consideration. A 4mm
hook was used with an aran yarn. A fine cotton and a size 14 hook produces a
tiny frog which could be a key ring or, the body unstuffed, a finger puppet.
Tension
Tension is not
important for this project; a smaller gauge than that recommended on the ball
band will produce a tighter fabric- you do not want stuffing to show
through.(Exception to this is using felting wool; in this case, you can work at
a looser tension, as washing in the machine will shrink frog, produce dense
fabric and hide stuffing)
Measurements
Not important for
this project, however,
(From top of head to
tip of toes )
A DK frog is about
19cm.
An Aran weight frog
is approx.. 22cm
A chunky frog made
using a 6mm hook is approx.. 32cm
Special stitch
patterns
Bobble stitch- Insert hook into 1st st of round, yrh, pull yarn
through both loops- 1 lp on hook. Pull this loop out about 5mm (may be longer
or shorter if using different yarn weight).*Yrh, insert through same st as
before, pull through to match 5mm lp. Repeat from * twice.(7 loops on
hook).Yrh,pull through all 7 lps. Insert hook into same st loops are in and sl
st to close bobble.
Pattern Notes
Commence at top of
head and work in a spiral, making bobbles for eyes. Once head is completed,
stuff it. Make 2 paws out of A, leaving ends for sewing in.
Instructions given
for 2 types of collar, Polo and in brackets, Peter Pan.
Collar is made
separately in B and joined to neck using dcs. Add in C, work one round. Continue
with C.
Arms are worked by making a length of ch,
attaching paws and working htrs back to shoulders. Second arm worked at
opposite side of body. Work straight till body is desired length, then work
incs into front of stitches for start of skirt. Plain and inc rows alternate to
make skirt frill. Finish with rows of B as trim.
With B, join yarn to
back sts of inc rnd and work 3 rows before making legs. These are made the same
way as arms, but with more sts. Both legs and paws to be made in B. Dec rounds
are worked until 6 sts remain. Stuff
body, run yarn end round rem sts like a drawstring, pull tight and sew in end.
Instructions
Ch2, work 5 dcs into
2nd ch from hook. (6sts.)
Rnd 1: 2dc into each
st.(12sts.)
Rnd 2:*2dc into next
st,1dc, rep from *(18sts.)
Eye round
Rnd 3:Insert marker for
start of rnd. Make bobble
*2dc in next st,2dc
until there are 11 sts from bobble (next st should be opposite first bobble).Make
second bobble.( 24sts.)
Rnd 4: Move bobble to front
of hook and make a dc behind it. There needs to be 14 dcs between bobbles and
one dc behind each bobble. In order to attain this make 3 evenly spaced incs
either side of bobbles. Work around second bobble as first, make 3 incs to end.
(30sts.)
Rnds 5-6: 1dc in each st.
Rnd 7:(2dctog,3dc,) rep to
end(24sts.)
Rnd 9: (2dctog,2dc)rep to
end(18sts.)
Rnd 10: (2dctog,1dc) to
end.(12sts.)
Rnd11: 1dc in each
st.(12sts.)
Stuff head.
Collar.
With C, ch 12 and
join without twisting, work 1 rnd dc for polo collar.
(For Peter Pan
collar, turn and work 1 row dc.)
Fit collar over neck
opening and crochet through both thicknesses to attach collar to head.
(Position opening of
Peter Pan collar at centre front.)
Arm round
With C, commence
round in stitch which lines up with one eye
Rnd 13:Insert hook into st indicated
above,*ch 7 fairly loosely.
Join one of paws with
2 sl sts, then 7 htr into each rem ch. Dc
to rejoin body of frog.
(2dc into next
st,1dc) twice, 1dc.Repeat from *.
Rnd 14:Dc into edge of top
of arm, fold arm over head and insert hook through middle of arm, 1dc, dc other
edge of arm.7dc, repeat from* as for other arm.18sts.
Rnds 15-18:1dc in each st ,
using C.
Waistline Increase
Rnd:
Rnd 19:Work into front loop
of sts only.
2dcs into each st
(36sts).
Rnd 20: Work sts as normal,
through both loops, dc without shaping.
Rnd 21:2dcs into each st,
(72sts).
Rnds 22-23: As rnd 20.
Break off B,join in
C.
Rnd 24:Rep rnd 21.
Rnd 25: Rep rnd 20, break
off yarn.
Leg round.
Join B to inside lp
of waistline inc rnd.
Rnds 25-27: With B, dc.(18sts).
Rnd 28: At start of front,
ch 15, make paw as before without changing colour, work htrs back up to body.
3dc, repeat shaping for other leg. Complete rnd with dcs.
Rnd 29: dc 2tog all around.
(9sts).
Rnd 30: [dc 2tog, dc.] Rep
to end. (6sts)
Stuff body.
Finishing
Break off yarn.
Weave yarn in and out
around sts of final rnd and pull tight like a drawstring. Fasten off securely.
Embroider on eyes as
per photograph. Satin st or lazy daisies.
Sew or stick on eyes
are not recommended, for safety reasons. For mouth, bring yarn out just below
eye, make a smile shape with yarn and insert needle to match other side. Tether
the loose ‘smile’ with tiny couch sts in 3 or 4 places.
Fasten off.
Sew in all ends.
I am currently making some more, which will hopefully be on sale betwen lockdown ending, and Christmas. I also make custom frogs, like these:
These are for a FB friend who is an artist, her carer and her guitar playing son. People also seem to like Frog families, like these:
Kind people from Norbury and Croydon Knitting Groups have tested the basic frog pattern (available free under archive, April 2020, on this blog) for me.
