We went to North Wales on holiday and thought we’d try our hand at crabbing. We bought all the gear and got in position only to find out that the tide was out! We did catch a bit of seaweed though! Anyway, one of our Moho Makers suggested just crocheting one, so I did and here is the pattern!
You will need
- Crabby coloured yarn (any weight will do). I used our Home Cotton Aran in Terracotta (click here to buy).
- Hook size recommended on the ball band or a bit smaller so that it produces a fabric with no holes. I used a 4mm soft grip hook as I found I could pull my stitches really tight to make sure none of the crabby innards leaked out! (Click here to buy)
READ BEFORE YOU START
This pattern uses amigurumi techniques.
- Inc means increase. Work 2 double crochets into the same stitch.
- Invdec means Invisible decrease. Insert your hook under the front loop only of the next stitch. Repeat in the following front loop. Wrap yarn around hook and pull through first 2 loops then wrap again and pull through final 2 loops.
- If it says a number of double crochets, e.g. 5 double crochets, that means work one double crochet into each of the next five stitches.
- Where it says work rounds even, this means work one stitch into each stitch all the way around, no increases or decreases.
|
Step |
Instructions |
Stitch count |
|
1 |
Chain 2 and work 6 double crochets into the 1st chain you made. Place a stitch marker in your final stitch. Do not slip stitch, turn or chain. |
6 |
|
2 |
Inc in every stitch |
12 |
|
3 |
1 double crochet followed by inc. Repeat to stitch marker. |
18 |
|
4 |
2 double crochets followed by inc. Repeat to stitch marker. |
24 |
|
5 |
3 double crochets followed by inc. Repeat to stitch marker. |
30 |
|
6 |
Working in the BACK LOOP ONLY, work 1 round even. |
30 |
|
7 |
Working in the BACK LOOP ONLY work 3 double crochets followed by invdec. Repeat to stitch marker. |
24 |
|
8 |
This step creates the legs and claws. They are added as protrusions as you work around the previous round’s stitches. All stitches worked into the previous round must be through the FRONT LOOP ONLY. To make the 1st claw, chain 7. Working back down the chain, starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work a slip stitch. Work a double crochet into the next chain and a slip stitch into the following chain. Chain 4. starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work a slip stitch. Work a double crochet into the next chain and a slip stitch into the following chain. Now working back down the remaining 3 stitches of the original chain, work a slip stitch followed by a double crochet and then a final double crochet. Slip stitch into the front loop of the next stitch. Slip stitch into the next front loop. To make a leg, chain 6. Working back down the chain, starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work a slip stitch followed by 3 double crochets and then a slip stitch, then work a slip stitch into each of the next 2 front loops of the previous round. Repeat leg instructions 3 more times then work 2 MORE front loop only slip stitches. Repeat leg instructions 4 more times then repeat claw instructions. |
24 |
|
9 |
This bit is a bit fiddly so you will need good light and maybe your specs! Working in the back loops only of step 7, work 2 double crochets followed by dec. Repeat to stitch marker. |
18 |
|
10 |
Add the eyes using either safety eyes or sew on using colonial knots or French knots. |
|
|
11 |
Stuff lightly. |
|
|
12 |
Work 1 double crochets followed by dec. Repeat to stitch marker. |
12 |
|
13 |
Dec in every stitch. |
6 |
|
14 |
Using a yarn needle, sew through the front loop of each stitch of the final round. Start by inserting the needle through the first loop from the outside to the inside and then through the next loop from the inside to the outside. Keep alternating until you do not have any loops left. Pull the yarn firmly, fasten off and sew in ends. |
Just in case you were worried, we did go back the next day (having checked the tide times) and caught LOADS of real crabs so all is well!
No crabs were harmed in the making of this pattern!
Don't forget to send us pics of your little pinchy pals as we love seeing all of your creations. Join the Moho Makers Facebook group for super easy sharing.
