Wednesday, February 1, 2012

the Bella Paige rattle

This rattle was made for my cousin's little girl Bella Paige. I wrote it down as I went along thus creating the pattern - it's my first pattern so please let me know if you find any faults or have a suggestion on how to make my patterns more appealing or easier to understand. - Thanks!

You will need:
• Your choice of yarns (I used Caron Simply Soft)
• A hook that will give you a tight gauge so no stuffing will show (I used a 6mm/G hook)
• Safety Eyes , buttons, contrasting thread (I used 9mm safety eyes)
• Fiberfill
• Rattle or bells
• Needle to sew parts together

Abbreviations I use:
ch = chain
dec = decrease
inc=increase (2 sc in one sc space)
hdc = half double crochet (UK: half-treble crochet)
sc = single crochet (UK: dc double crochet)
st(s) = stitch(es)
* = repeat directions between * and * as many times as indicated


Head:
Start by making a magic ring, sc 6
Rd. 1: *6 inc* repeat 6 times (12 sts)
Rd. 2: 12 sc
Rd.3: *1 inc, 1 sc* repeat till end of round (18 sts)
Rd. 4: 18 sc
Rd. 5: *2 sc, 1 inc* repeat till end of round (24 sts)
Rd.6: 24 sc
Rd. 7: *1 inc, 3 sc* repeat till end of round (30 sts)
Rd. 8: 30 sc
Rd. 9: *4 sc, 1 inc* repeat till end of round (36 sts)
Rd. 10
& 11: 36 sc , tie off and weave in ends.

Make another magic ring with 6 sc
Rd. 1: 6 inc (12 sts)
Rd. 2: *1 sc, 1 inc* repeat till end of round (18 sts)
Rd. 3: *1 inc, 2 sc* repeat till end of round (24 sts)
Rd. 4: *3 sc, 1 inc* repeat till end of round (30 sts)
Rd. 5: 30 sc
Rd. 6: *1 inc, 4 sc* repeat till end of round (36 sts)
Rd. 7
& 8: 36 sc, tie off and leave a long enough tail for sewing head pieces together.

Ears:
For each ear, start out by making a magic ring with 6 sc.
Rd. 1: 6 inc (12 sts)
Rd. 2 – 4: 12 sc, tie off leaving a tail to sew ear to the head.

Ring:
Rd. 1: ch 12 and join with a sl st.
Rd. 2: 12 sc

Continue working round and round, firmly stuffing as you go until it’s the right length for placing the bear head in between as pictured. How many rounds you’ll end up doing is dependent on the type of yarn and hook you’re using… but I’d say no shorter than about 10 inches long. Tie off, and leave a long tail for sewing.


Putting it all together:

- Sew on a nose and eyes (or use buttons, safety eyes, etc.)
- Then sew the ears on to the last row of either piece of the head, eyeballing where to locate them, weave in ends.
- Now, sew the head pieces together with the remaining tail of yarn from one of the head pieces. Stuff the head firmly as you go. Wrap the rattle in stuffing and put that in before the opening gets too small. Continue sewing together the head and stuffing until you’re done and then weave in the ends of the yarn.
- Taking the tail from the ring and needle, insert the needle into one side of the head and pull it out directly opposite (as best you can) on the other side, go through a sc on the other end of the ring and go back through the head. Do this all the way around the rings, pulling firmly as you go but not too firmly or you’ll squish the bear’s face in too much. Once you’re done attaching the ring, tie off and weave in ends.


2009 Copyright by Christen Laughlin
All rights reserved, not to be reprinted
Patterns are for personal use only, not for commercial or retail purposes

CLICK HERE to get the PDF for the pattern through ravelry!