Christmas Frogs

 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 1^st 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 2^nd 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. 

Working on a Fairy Frog for the top of the Christmas Tree?