You, Me and the ABCs : Crochet ABC Toys : P is for Penguin

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.

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 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!

UPDATED AGAIN OCTOBER 2026:

I have a new way for you to support my FREE PATTERNS!! I know many or most of you love supporting us makers – the truth is that is takes a long time to create a pattern and then write it and then edit it and get it proofed and tested – and then publish it – then you have to link it everywhere – it’s a lot of work, but us makers do what we do to share our love with you. And, if you have followed my blog, you may know that I do not run ads on my blog, so all my support comes from PDF purchases. Some of you don’t need to purchase the PDF of my patterns but still want to say a quick Thank you – so, you can now support my blog and my work.

UPDATE: P is for Penguin: June 3, 2020

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.

You can also support my blog by purchasing this pattern in my ETSY SHOP or my RAVELRY STORE.

 

Materials:

Hook: Size G/4mM

Yarn: I have used all scrap balls from my basket in white, black and grey.  This is a great scrap yarn project.  You will only need the smallest amounts of yarn for this little 6” guy. He would also be cute in fun colors.

-Safety Eyes or buttons (or yarn to embroider if you choose)

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

This pattern starts at the bottom and works up to the top of the head for the main body.  I started with grey and then switched to white for the head.  After the body is made, a second piece for the “cape” down the back will get sewed on.  I chose to use black to start and then switched to white (like a baby penguin) but you can do this piece in all black if you want as well.  The wings and feet are made separate and sewed on.

Ch 2 (you can also use a magic ring if that is your preferred method of starting a circle or amigurumi):

Round 1: 6sc in second chain from hook (6)

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

Round 3: (sc, 2 sc)repeat around (18)

Round 4: (sc 2, 2sc) repeat around (24)

Round 5: (sc 3, 2sc) repeat around (30)

Rounds 6-15: sc in each stitch around (30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

Stuff as needed and continue to stuff as you go

Round 16: (sc 3, inv dec) repeat around (24)

Round 17-20: sc in each stitch around (24)(24)(24)(24) *change to white on last stitch

Round 21-24 in white: sc in each stitch around (24)(24)(24)(24)

Round 25: (sc 2, inv dec) repeat around (18)

Rounds 26-27: sc in each stitch around (18)(18)

The eyes go between rounds 23-24.  If you are using safety eyes pop them in now and secure. I have spaced them with 5 holes in between. My example has 10-12mm eyes.

Round 28: (sc, inv dec) repeat around (12)

Round 29: sc in each stitch around (12)

Make sure your head is stuffed and a nice round shape.  Finish off with a tail for sewing.

Cape:  This piece starts at what will be the top of the head and goes down the back and gets sewed under the body.  You will start in black and you are going to work in rows.  I worked in black until the length fell to the color change on the main body from white to grey and then I switched color in the “cape” to white at the neck. But remember you will be stretching this piece around and under the body to sew. (See the pictures on the last page for more help on this)

Chain 2 and make 1 sc in the 2^nd chain from the hook.  Chain 1 and turn now and on every row.

Row 2: 2sc in the sc from row 1 (2)

Row 3: 2sc in each of the two sc from row 2 (4)

Row 4: inc, sc 2, inc (6)

Row 5: inc, sc 4, inc (8)

Row 6: inc, sc 6, inc (10) *check now to see if your “cape” is the width you want across the back. I did mine so that it was halfway around the body.  You may need to do another row of increase depending on your yarn and stuffing.

Rows 7+ : sc in each stitch across in rows until your piece falls just about 6 rows from the bottom.  The pointy part goes between the eyes and the bottom under the body where the feet go, but you will do some decrease rounds – so, end your rows with about 6 rows from the bottom of the body and then do these decrease rows:

Sc2tog, sc 6, sc2tog (8)

Sc2tog, sc 4, sc2tog (6)

Sc2tog, sc 2, sc2tog (4)

Sc2tog twice (2)

Sc2tog and then sc evenly around the entire piece.  Leave a long tail to sew this piece to the main body.

Feet: (Make 2) With dark grey (or whatever color you are using), repeat rounds 1 and 2 for the body (6, 12) and then work 4 rounds with no increases:

Rounds 3-6: sc in each stitch around (12)(12)(12)(12)

Round 7: (inv dec) around (6)

Round 8: sc in each stitch around (6)  Leave a tail to sew feet to the bottom of the body.

Wings: With white (or whatever color you are using), repeat rounds 1 -4 for the body (6, 12, 18, 24).

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

Round 9: (sc 10, dec) around (22)

Round 10: (sc 9, dec) around (20)

Round 11: (sc 8, dec) around (18)

Round 12: (sc 7, dec) around (16)

Round 13: (sc 6, dec) around (14)

Round 14: (sc 5, dec) around (12)

Rounds 15-16: sc in each stitch around (12)(12)

*Check the length before you end to see if you need to add any extra rows for length.  Finish off with a length to sew the wing to the body.

Pin everything in place. Start at the top of the head between the eyes and pin the cape. Pin the bottom of the cape under the body and sew in place. Pin the wings and feet where you like them and sew in place.

The last step is to embroider the nose. I used black. Embroider on the front of the face between the eyes and over the front of the “cape” piece.

I used the tail from embroidering my nose and made an outline in black around the neck. I used pictures of baby penguins to pick my colors and color changes.

 

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.

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

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.

Eye – I will be using the eyeball pattern from my Halloween Bag of Balls for this project, but if you find it too weird or spooky for a baby let me know and I’m sure I can whip up a different one.  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  and I will most likely be altering the colors on this Zombie ball and making a few additions to do a Ninja toy for N.

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.

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