Snuggle Bug - Yarndrasil - Free Crochet Pattern

Most young kids have trouble with waking during the night. Potty training blues, nightmares, noises from holiday festivities, or maybe your neighbors. Nighttime waking is an inevitable part of having a child.

I knew I wanted to make my daughter something to comfort her in these moments. Something small and snuggly that would help lull her back to sleep. I immediately thought of filling whatever I made with lavender.

I finally settled on a bug because 1.) "snuggle bug" sounds cute, and I call her that sometimes, and 2.) there was recently an incident where a wasp was in the house. Her normal, bug-loving self was a suddenly taking an anti-bug stance. So this little guy, coupled with pretty much daily wear of her ladybug costume, have put bugs back in her good graces.

If you want the snuggle bug to keep its lavender smell for longer, try storing it in a mason jar and taking it out only when needed!

DIFFICULTY:

Easy

Terms:

U.S. terms

SUPPLIES:

Knit Picks, Comfy Worsted (109 yds; 50 g)
- Blackberry, 1 skein
- Fairy Tale, 1 skein
Hook — E-4 (3.5 mm), adjust for your own tension
Yarn needle
Scissors
Fabric scraps, about 8” wide
Needle
Thread
Lavender
- I got mine at Natural Grocers for about $2.50
Fiberfill
Safety Eyes
- Note: If the child is very young, embroider the eyes instead. Safety eyes can be a choking hazard to young children.

ABBREVIATIONS:

mc - magic circle
ch - chain
hdc - half double crochet
inc - 2 half double crochet in one stitch
sk - skip

GAUGE:

Amigurumi tight - no large gaps, but not so tight that it's impossible to work into

FINISHED SIZE:

About 4" diameter

NOTES:

Ch 2 does not count as a stitch throughout

PATTERN:

First, we are going to work up two circles. Next, we are going to decorate one of those circles with surface crochet and safety eyes. Then we are going to quickly stitch a small pouch for the lavender and fill it.

We close him up (and stitch legs) by working into the outer rows of both circles. We stuff the lavender pouch and a bit of fiberfill into the snuggle bug. Finally, we’ll close him up by finishing our stitching around the outer edge.

I wanted to do turned rounds for this project because I think the ribbing effect created by turning lends itself well to a bug. If you like the look of traditional rounds more, do that! It’s all just preference.

Row 1: Ch 1, work 8 hdc into the circle, sl st to join, ch 2, turn (8 sts)

Row 2: Inc in every st around, sl st to join, ch 2, turn (16 sts)

Row 3: *Hdc, inc, repeat * around, sl st to join, ch 2, turn (24 sts)

Row 4: *Hdc in next two sts, inc, repeat * around, sl st to join, ch 2, turn (32 sts)

Row 5: *Hdc in next three sts, inc, repeat * around, sl st to join, ch 2, turn (40 sts)

Row 6: *Hdc in next four sts, inc, repeat * around, sl st to join, ch 2, turn (48 sts)

Row 7: *Hdc in next five sts, inc, repeat * around, sl st to join, ch 2, turn, fasten off (56 sts)

Repeat for second circle

Decorating:

Using surface crochet, work my pattern, or any pattern you like, into one of the circles. I recommend just going for it and working with it until you get it how you like it. I found it helpful to put the eyes in first and then center my surface crochet around them.

Don't stress about this being exact! I promise you, your child does not have a keen eye for symmetry. It's so much more important to have fun, rather than getting hung up on getting it exactly perfect.

Lavender Pouch:

Fold your fabric in half. Trace one of the circles on to your fabric and cut. You should have two pieces. Stitch these ¾ of the way together.

Fill it with lavender -- or any other herbs you think would create a soothing and peaceful smell. Once it’s mostly filled, finish stitching the pouch closed. The stitching of this can be quick and crude. It’s going to be hidden so don’t get too hung up on it.

Finishing up:

Place the crocheted circles on top of each other so that the seams are aligned and the decoration is on top. Attach yarn at the seam and work into both pieces. We are bringing the pieces together and working up little feet:

Row 1: *Sl st in next five sts, sk one st, 5 dc in next st, sk one st, repeat *, sl st in next 18 sts, sk one st, 5 dc in next st, sk one st, repeat *, sl st in next five sts, fasten off