You, Me and the ABCs : Crochet ABC Toys: W is for Whale

If you are a crocheter and have a baby or toddler, play room or nursery, and love organization and helping your child learn – this post is for you!  I am posting new patterns for each letter many times per week so keep checking back.

Want a fun way to use your scraps? Want to make a lot of little projects/toys that are great for little ones? Want to custom a special piece for a wee one? – and then end with one big finale? This project is for you! (And you can skip the big finale if it’s not for you and still have all the little toys and ABCs.)

I have compiled the first letters of this event in a convenient downloadable PDF if you prefer to print them out and have them all in one place.  And my printable paid patterns contain a lot more photo tutorials to help you if you need.

You can find the toys for the letters A-F HERE ON MY ETSY.

And now, in Part 2, you can find the letters G-M also on my Etsy at this link right HERE

And MOST ALL of my PAID patterns contain way more photos and tutorials than what I can add to my blog post. I try to keep my fees very low.

You can find Part 3 with the letters N-S as a convenient bundle to print out ALL the toys from that set.  That 41-page PDF contains the following patterns:

Nest, Ninja, Octopus, Panda, , Penguin, Pig, Queen, Rainbow, Robot *you get ALL 3 Robot’s in this PDF and not just the two on my blog, Snake or Snail, , Sun, and two more PDFs: O is for Otter and Owl and you get MY INCREASE AND DECREASE CHEAT SHEET! Part 3 has a LOT!

This project was in my head as I was designing all of these letters and I’m so excited to get this started! Won’t you join me? Here is the latest new pattern to go with the others already linked.  If you prefer to shop on Ravelry for your patterns I also have the entire alphabet PDF over there.

You can begin by deciding what colors you want to use for your letters – I’ll be using them all! – and make up the alphabet  or save this post and wait for the end and make it all at once.

I’m gonna give you some options at the end to make the final part right for you/your space.  Here are some of the previous toys so make sure to check out THE ORIGINAL POST to link hop to them all.

Here are some of the latest patterns that are all free here on my blog. I will be keeping THIS ORIGINAL POST updated with all the links for all of the toys. 

I will be using some of the patterns that I’ve already made for this ABC project and you will see those linked below at the end of this post.  You can go ahead and get started today! I can’t wait to share this with you. I’m planning on at least a weekly update, but I’m going to shoot for two per week. I’m gonna try.

So, join me. Save this post. Let’s get started!

This post does contain affiliate links.  I will get a small percentage from any purchase made through my page here, but your price remains the same.  I appreciate any purchase made through my page as I can continue to offer free patterns here on my blog.

Did you miss V is for Vampire Bat?  It has been well received.  Thank you.

I’ve made the Crochet Bat pattern a quick PDF that you can purchase from my Etsy or Ravelry.

Etsy is HERE and Ravelry

 

You can also find V is for Vegetables and Vampire for this series.

 

 

If you want to skip all the details below and simply want an easy printable PDF for the 3-sizes I have them listed in both my Etsy and Ravelry shops.  You can find the easy 7-page PDF in my ETSY HERE or also over on Ravelry.

UPDATE: W is for Whale: Aug 8, 2020

I want to say thank you for all who stop by to support my patterns and my blog.  I have chosen to NOT do ads on my blog (with the exception of my affiliate links) and offer FREE patterns, but please – if you love my patterns and want to say a little thank you- or just have some good small business karma support points- a purchase now and then or a visit to any of my affiliate links really helps.  It keeps this blog going so I can continue to offer free patterns for all to enjoy.  I also purchase a pattern now and then or visit an affiliate link from my favorite blogs and designers.  Thank you

This pattern is intended for personal use only. This pattern -and all my patterns- are offered for free or a small fee to help support my family so please do not redistribute, sell, copy or use them in any way not in accordance with fairness.

You may sell products made from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer. Please do not use my photos as your own work, but you may use my photos to reference back to my blog, Etsy, Pinterest, IG or FB, but please link back to me.

If you find any problems with this pattern please let me know and if you have any problems with any of it feel free to message me and ask for support.

Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me, Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Whale:

Materials: I have used my size G/4mm hook for most and 4-ply worsted weight yarn like Red Heart and Caron in aqua, pink and blue with some white and light pink on the bottoms.  I have used 3 different types of eyes – crochet, buttons and safety eyes so you can pick.

This is such an easy pattern!  It is basically a “ball” that you add side fins and a tail. The tail is crocheted in one piece so there is very little sewing/assembly.

I have also used my size I/5.5mm hook for the fins and tail of the larger blue whale and the same pattern as the pink tail to get a larger size. These are the hooks that I use and a second fun kit that I have also ordered as a gift.

-Stuffing.  I have used Poly-Fill brand stuffing, but feel free to use what you prefer.

These are the large 24mm eyes that I have used on the large blue whale – I love these eyes and will be ordering them again soon since I only have about 5 pair left. And you can get all types of sizes from this type of eye – they go from 6mm up to 30mm! They are really great quality and very beautiful.

Stitch Glossary:

Chain: Ch

Single Crochet: SC

Inc Sc: make two single crochet stitches in the same stitch as indicated – in this pattern, you will also see 3sc – that is making 3 sc in the same stitch

Invisible Decrease: inv. dec. – this is an invisible single crochet decrease

Hdc: Half double crochet

Dc: double crochet

Tr: treble crochet

Picot: chain 3 and slip stitch at the base of the chain 3 or where your chain 3 starts.

Slip Stitch: sl st

sc3tog: single crochet 3 stitches together

FO: finish off

There are 3 sizes! These would be fun made in cotton for a baby teething toy or to add rattle boxes inside. The small guy measures about 4” – the pink about 5” and the large about 7”. This does not include the tail – that is just the round body.

For this pattern I am going to give you first the “ball” part of the main body with all 3 sizes and then the fins and tail will be below.

Working in the CONTINUOUS Round:

*I do not join and chain, but continue to work in the next stitch. Use a stitch marker for this so you don’t lose your place.

All 3 sizes start like this:

Chain 2.  Single crochet 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.

Starting in the first sc make 2 sc in that stitch and in each stitch around. (12) *Still work over the starting tail. After getting done with all 12 sc for that round, pull the starting tail to cinch up the opening.  You can now trim that tail or weave it in or just leave it if it will be on the inside of your work.

You want to move your stitch marker to the last stitch of each round so you know when you get to the end.

Round 3: (1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)

Round 4: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)

Round 5: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)

Round 6: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (36)

Round 7: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (42) -STOP INCREASING HERE FOR THE SMALL WHALE AND SKIP BELOW TO CONTINUE.

Round 8: (1 sc in next 6 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (48)

Round 9: (1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (54) -STOP INCREASING HERE FOR THE MEDIUM PINK WHALE AND SKIP BELOW TO CONTINUE.

Round 10: (1 sc in next 8 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (60)

Round 11: (1 sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (66)

Round 12: (1 sc in next 10 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (72) -STOP INCREASING HERE FOR THE LARGE WHALE AND SKIP BELOW TO CONTINUE.

Continue for Small:

Rounds 8-15: sc in each stitch around (42)- change to white or the bottom color on the last stitch.

Round 16: sc in each stitch around (42)

Rounds 17-22 are decrease rows. (36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 9) Stop for now and do whichever eyes you choose.  If you are crocheting eyes the ones in my example are a simple circle of 6sc.  Place the eyes between rows 12-14 with about 9-10 stitches between them.  Stuff well and shape as you go to keep the round shape.  I find that pushing the stuffing out to the outside and shaping and adding new stuffing to the middle helps keep the round shape. Skip down to the decrease rows if you need help with the decrease numbers (below) to finish.

Continue for Medium:

Rounds 10-19: sc in each stitch around and change to white or bottom color on the last stitch.

Round 20: sc in each stitch around.

Rounds 21-28 are decrease rows. (48, 42, 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 9) Stop for now and do whichever eyes you choose.  See above “Rounds 17-22” of small whale for more info. Place the eyes between rows 16-18 with about 12-14 stitches between them.  I used layered buttons for my eyes on this example.  Skip down to the decrease rows if you need help with the decrease numbers (below) to finish.

Continue for Large:

Rounds 13-25: sc in each stitch around and change to white or bottom color on the last stitch.

Round 26: sc in each stitch around.

Rounds 27-37 are decrease rows. (66, 60, 54, 48, 42, 36, 30, 24, 18, 12, 9) Stop for now and do whichever eyes you choose.  See above “Rounds 17-22” of small whale for more info. Place the eyes between rows 23-24 with about 16-18 stitches between them.  I’ve used large 24mm safety eyes for my eyes on this example.  Skip down to the decrease rows if you need help with the decrease numbers (below) to finish.

If you need help on the

Decrease rows:

To go from 72 to 66: (1 sc in next 10 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 66 to 60: (1 sc in next 9 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 60 to 54: (1 sc in next 8 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 54 to 48: (1 sc in next 7 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 48 to 42: (1 sc in next 6 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 42 to 36: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 36 to 30: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 30 to 24: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 24 to 18: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 18 to 12: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

To go from 12 to 9: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around

The fins are like the body in that they are all worked mostly the same, but have some count alterations to fit the body size.

For the Small and Medium use this pattern, but see notes in ( ) for sizing.

FINS (make 2):

Working in the CONTINUOUS Round just like for the body:

Chain 2.  Single crochet 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch around. (12)

Round 3: (1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)

Rounds 4-7: sc in each stitch around (18)

Round 8: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)

Rounds 9-10: sc in each stitch around (12) (DON’T DO THESE ROWS FOR THE SMALL ONE – JUST GO DOWN TO ROUND 11)

Round 11: (1 sc in next two stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (9)

Round 12: sc in each stitch around (9)

Sew fins about 5 stitches behind the eyes just above where the white/tummy color starts.

For the Large Fins:

I jumped up to my size I/5.5mm hook for these.

Repeat rounds 1-3 from the small fin pattern above.

Round 4: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)

Rounds 5-8: sc in each stitch around (24)

Round 9: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)

Rounds 10-14: repeat rounds 8-12 from the small fin pattern above.

Sew about 7 stitches behind the eyes just above where the white/tummy color starts.

TAIL: When I write “sc 3” that means single crochet one in the next 3 stitches.  If I write “3sc” that means you do 3 single crochet in the next SAME stitch.  This is made in a long oval shape.

Recap: a picot is a chain 3 and then slip stitch in either the base of the chain 3 or the stitch where the chain 3 starts.

This set of instructions are for the Medium and Large.  Use your G/4mm hook for the medium and your I/5.5mm hook for the large, but the pattern is the same.  Modifications to the small whale are below.

Chain 21.  Sc in 2^nd chain from the hook and in the next 18 chains.  3sc in the last chain and continue working on the other side of the chain.  Sc 18 and 2sc in the first chain.  **work in a continuous spiral without joining or chaining up for round 2.

Round 2: sc 20, 3sc, sc 20, 3sc.  Now, join and chain 2.  The chain 2 is NOT a stitch.

Round 3: start in the same spot as your chain 2: dc 5, hdc 3, sc 4, hdc 3, dc 6, 5dc (these 5 should be in the middle of the set below), dc6, hdc 3, sc 4, hdc 3, dc 6, 5dc (again, these should be in the middle of the set below), 1dc, Join.

Round 4: Chain 3.  This is NOT a stitch.  Start in this same space though: tr, dc 4, hdc 3, sc 4, hdc 3, dc 4, tr 4, 5tr in same space, tr 4, dc 4, hdc 3, sc 4, hdc 3, dc 4, tr 4, 5tr in same space, tr 3 and JOIN.

Round 5: On this round you will chain up 1 and sc in each stitch around EXCEPT for the middle stitch in the 5 trebles from the round below.  In that stitch you will do the following stitches: hdc, dc, tr, picot, dc, hdc.

Finish off and weave in the ends.  Crimp the middle together like in the photo and sew to the back just above where you have changed to white.

This is made just like the above pattern, but smaller.

For the baby aqua one:  Chain 15: Sc in 2^nd chain from the hook and in the next 12 chains.  3sc in the last chain and continue working on the other side of the chain.  Sc 12 and 2sc in the first chain.  **work in a continuous spiral without joining or chaining up for round 2.

Round 2: sc 14, 3sc, sc 14, 3sc.  Now, join and chain 2.  The chain 2 is NOT a stitch.

Round 3: start in the same spot as your chain 2: dc 4, hdc 2, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 5, 5dc (these 5 should be in the middle of the set below), dc5, hdc 2, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 5, 5dc (again, these should be in the middle of the set below), 1dc, Join.

Round 4: Chain 3.  This is NOT a stitch.  Start in this same space though: tr, dc 3, hdc 2, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 3, tr 4, 5tr in same space, tr 4, dc 3, hdc 2, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 3, tr 4, 5tr in same space, tr 3 and JOIN.

Round 5 repeats round 5 above for the other two sizes.

 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you are all enjoying this crazy, fun thing!!  Catch up with me over @theburgundybasket on IG.  I’d love to see you and your makes there.

Pin this post and come back for all of the A-Z toys!   You can find a link to the original post below to start from the beginning!!

 

I realized after I started this project that I would never be able to update every new post with every new link – once I got down to the end of the alphabet, I would have to update about 20 post with all the links to all the new patters – So, I will be keeping THIS ORIGINAL POST updated with all the new links for all of the new toys.  <3

In addition to the alphabet patterns, below you will find a list of toys that will be linked right here starting now. *these are not set in stone and I may decide to switch them as I work if I am inspired in a different direction. So, pin or save this post and come back and follow along with me or subscribe to my blog and get email updates when I make a new post.

 

Ball – for the ball toys in this project, I refer you to this post to make one – or many – crochet balls using your scrap yarns.  The more textures the better.  You can also add rattle boxes, squeakers, stress balls as filler and more.  UPDATE: B is for Balls

Bunny – I have made a few bunnies in the past and  I will be making another version of my Clover the Baby Bunny Pattern 

UPDATE: Latte Bunny and B is for Bunny

Dinosaur – here on my blog you will find an entire Dinosaur Family.  For this ABC event, I will be making a different version of Scrappy.  He’s the perfect size and uses up some assorted scrap yarns.  If you want a different option, Baby Pea is also a nice small size and also Pinky the Dezzy Inspired DRAGON is a good choice for D is for Dragon.  UPDATE: D is for Dinosaur

Eye – I will be using the eyeball pattern from my Halloween Bag of Balls for this project.  This one would be super cute with some crinkle paper inside.  *Also, when you visit this post there is a Zombie ball that would make a cute Z word.  UPDATE: E is for Eye

Goat – here on my blog you will find Ginger the Goat in my Farm Series.  She is a bit large for this project so she will get a few modifications to be a bit smaller.  Feel free to make her if you want a larger goat.  *Baby KG will be available soon on my blog, but for now she is only in my Etsy and Ravelry.

Lamb– another make from my Farm Series is Lonny the Lamb.  Lonny is a  nice, small size so I will be using this pattern here for the  Lamb, but will switch up the colors I’m sure. Maybe bright? Maybe a girl?

Octopus – in my opinion this octopus squeeze ball is the perfect baby toy when made from cotton so this is the pattern that I will be using right here.  I like to use 100% cotton and the stress/squeeze balls on the inside of the head and it makes these the perfect baby toy with teether capabilities.  And they are so quick to make you can make a handful.

 

Will you be joining in the fun? I’d love for you to make all of this with me, but if not pick a few and make it with me.

I’d love to see all your work or catch up with your progress so connect with me over on IG @theburgundybasket

#youandmeabccrochet

 

XOXO,

Kristi