You, Me and the ABCs : Crochet ABC Toys : O is for Otter

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.

Today’s post will be O is for Otter, but if you are joining me for the first time, you will find that O is for Octopus is already on my blog and tomorrow you will find another new pattern – O is for Owl.

Octopus -in my opinion this octopus squeeze ball is the perfect baby toy!!! 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. But scraps of Cake yarn are also super fun and fun for all ages!  And they are so quick to make you can make a handful.

Otter – I have a new Otter pattern that is part of my Baby Animal series and you can find that pattern here on my Etsy.

Prefer Ravelry? I have Baby O the Otter there as well.

Owl: I have a baby owl pattern that is part of my Baby Animal series as well and I will blog it tomorrow, but if you can’t wait or prefer the PDF you can find that pattern here on my Etsy.

Or I have the Owl FREE on my Ravelry here:

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 letters A-F HERE ON MY ETSY.

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.

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!

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.

UPDATE: O is for Otter: May 23, 2020

O for Octopus was blogged a while back since I had written this pattern a while ago – as a matter of fact it is one of my most popular pins/blog posts.  O is for Otter and Owl came about because I was commissioned to make an entire Woodland Themed Baby Set and the Otter and Owl were part of that set.  They have been available for a bit now on my Etsy so if you prefer to have an easy downloadable PDF you can find both of those links at the top of this post.

You will also find another octopus post on my blog with the same pattern, but it’s a larger version where you can add poly stuffing or make with stuffing/rattle parts.  For the larger one, its a fun, easy way to adapt this fast pattern for a large version using some various stash yarn.  Head on over to this post and check out some other octopus examples. 

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

I have compiled the first letters (A-F) of this event in a convenient downloadable PDF if you prefer to print them out and have them all in one place.  You can find 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 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.

Stitches Glossary:

Chain: Ch

Single Crochet: SC

Inc Sc: make two single crochet stitches in the same stitch as indicated

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

HDC: half-double crochet

HDC Inc: increase in HDC

DC Inc: increase in DC

DC: double crochet

Tr: treble crochet

Picot: chain 3 and slip stitch into the first chain space (the one farthest from the hook) *US Terms apply

Here are some of the products that I use:

I use this as my hook case and never leave home without it.

Materials:

Hook: Size G/4mm hook

Yarn: Impeccable in Barley and a scrap of Impeccable in Soft Rose and Putty. *you will need most of one skein of the main color. Impeccable is 285 yds/4.5oz*260m/127.5g. It is a #4 Yarn.

-Safety Eyes or buttons (or yarn to embroider if you choose) and needle to embroider face.

These are the eyes that I have used:

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

Spiral Crochet:

I crochet in the “spiral” for this project and for most of my work. This prevents the joining seam that can occur with crochet.   What that means is that you don’t join each round with a slip stitch and then chain 1, but rather keep on working the next stitch – the first one from the previous row. It may help to use a stitch marker to designate the beginning of the previous round. For example, if your round calls for 30 sc stitches, then sc 30 around, but instead of slip stitching to the first stitch and then chaining one, sc in the first stitch and keep on going for your next round.

This pattern starts at the head and works down to the tail.

Head:

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

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

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

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

Round 4: *1 sc in next two sc, 2 sc in next sc** repeat around (24)

Round 5: *1 sc in next three sc, 2 sc in next sc** repeat around (30)

Round 6: *1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc** repeat around (36)

Rounds 7-16: 1 sc in each stitch around (36)

Round 17: *1 sc in next four sc, inv dec over the next 2 sc* repeat around (30)

Round 18: *1 sc in next three sc, inv dec over the next 2 sc* repeat around (24)

Round 19: *sc in next 2 sc, inv dec over next 2* repeat around (18)

*this is where I stopped to add the eyes/nose and start stuffing.

Nose patch:

Ch 2: Round 1: 6 sc in second chain from hook (6)

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

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

Round 4: *1 sc in next two sc, 2 sc in next sc** repeat around (24)

Slip stitch in next stitch and finish with a tail to sew.

After the light nose patch is secure embroider your nose/mouth. I also used some of the cream color from sewing the nose to make eyelids over the safety eyes. Here is a close-up photo to help:

Start stuffing head and stuff as you go.

Resuming the body:

Rounds 20-22: sc in each stitch around (18)

Round 23: *1 sc in next two sc, 2 sc in next sc** repeat around (24)

Round 24: *1 sc in next three sc, 2 sc in next sc** repeat around (30)

Rounds 25-44 (that is 20 rows): sc around (30) *working in the spiral that is 1320 sc.

Round 45: *sc in each of the next 3 sc, dec sc* repeat around (24)

Now, this part might be a little confusing. You are going to flatten the piece now making sure the face is facing up and straight. This photo might help ->

Mark the two side stitches. There should be 11 on top and 11 on bottom with two stitches on each side. Wherever you stopped your crochet rounds from above, single crochet until you reach one of these marked stitches. It won’t matter which one – just get to the closest one. Below you will find directions for both the front close and the tail.

After getting to a marked stitch, chain 6 and slip stitch in the other marked stitch. This action divides the body into two parts. Each “hole” now has 18 stitches – the 12 that make up the body and the chain 6. The front part is going to get closed and the back part is going to become the tail. Depending on where you are, work the part that makes the most sense to the location of your hook and yarn without having to turn. You will need to attach your yarn to the part you are not working first to finish.

Front Close: single crochet in each stitch/chain around (18) and then (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12) – make sure it is stuffed well and sew closed.

Back/Tail: Round 1: sc on each stitch/chain around. (18) *stuff as you go

Rounds 2-6: sc in each stitch around (18)

Round 7: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)

Rounds 8-17: sc in each stitch around (12)

Round 18: (sc, sc, inv dec) (9)

Rounds 19-20: sc in each stitch around (9)

Round 21: (sc, inv dec) (6)

Rounds 22-23: sc in each stitch around (6)

Sew closed.

For the ears, feet and arms below leave a tail to sew. For the ears, you can leave a tail before and after and tie on to secure.

“Feet/Legs”:

Ch 2: Round 1: 6 sc in second chain from hook (6)

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

Rounds 3-7: sc in each stitch around (12)

Round 8: *1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc** repeat around (18)

Round 9: sc in each stitch around (18)

“Hands/Arms”:

Ch 2: Round 1: 6 sc in second chain from hook (6)

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

Rounds 3-7: sc in each stitch around (12)

Ears:

Leave a tail a few inches. Chain 2 and make 6 hdc in the 2^nd chain from the hook. Leave a tail a few inches. You can just tie these on and weave the ends into the head.

Heart:

Chain 3. Make all of these stitches in the first chain (the farthest from the hook):

Dc, dc, tr, chain 2, slip stitch in same space as all the stitches, chain 2, tr, dc, dc, hdc, dc, picot, dc, join to the top of chain and the start. (the picot makes the bottom point)

 

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