You, Me and the ABCs : Crochet ABC Toys: T is for Turtle

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.

Update: I neglected to post the link when I sent group 3 over to my Etsy shop as a downloadable bundle.  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 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: T is for Turtle: July 3, 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.

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

Sc2tog – decrease 2 sc stitches together

Turtle:

Materials: Hook: Size G/4mm hook

Yarn: I had a “mad” pile of Caron Cake Pistachio Fudge yarn that I used for this project.  In my opinion, this is the perfect turtle yarn! You get greens and browns all in one in the perfect shades.  You can see my mad pile:

I had a customer want something where I had to pull from the center of this cake so it was a mess! But, if you don’t have this cake or can’t get it, pick some scrap ball of browns and greens because you will need only the smallest bit of yarn.

This cake is worth ordering if you don’t have access to it locally – you can get lots of turtles from one cake.

These are the hooks that I use:

-Safety Eyes or buttons (or yarn to embroider if you choose) and needle to embroider face.  My safety eyes are these:

If you can’t get these try to use a slit/cat/reptile eye in green/yellow if you are not going to embroider them.

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

-Rattle boxes if you want to make this into a rattle toy.

All patterns are worked 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. 

Top of Shell:

In Dark Green *a note on the colorway if using the Cake yarn that I have used: I finished the Turtle shell with one full colorway of the dark green yarn and only had a few inches leftover.

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.

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)

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)

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

Rounds 11-15: sc in each stitch around (60)

Round 16: FRONT LOOP ONLY, sc in each stitch around (60) Slip stitch in the next

**pattern note: dc 2 means make a double crochet in the next two stitches, but 2dc means make 2 double crochet in the next same stitch**

Round 17: Chain 3, 2dc, [skip 2, 5dc]* around until the last 2, skip 2, 2dc in the first space with your chain 3 and 2dc.  Slip stitch to the top of the chain 3. Finish off and weave in your end.

With Brown: On my example, I did a few rounds of surface crochet starting in the center top of the shell and then left a long tail to embroider some “squares” around.  Tie off and weave in the ends on the underside.

Bottom of Shell:

In brown, repeat the pattern as for the top of shell through round 10 and finish off with a long tail for sewing.

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)

Rounds 4-8: 1 sc in each stitch around (18)

Round 9: *sc in next 4 sc, inv dec over next 2* repeat around (15)

Round 10: sc in each stitch around (15)

*add eyes here before going further. The eyes in my example are placed between rounds 5-6 with about 6 stitches in between.

Round 11: *sc in next 3 sc, inv dec over next 2 sc* repeat around (12)

Rounds 12-13: 1 sc in each stitch around (12)

Add just a bit of stuffing, but don’t over stuff.  Embroider mouth as you wish.

Finish off with a tail long enough to sew the bottom of the head flat and stitch to the shell.

Feet/Legs (make four):

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 3-9: sc in each sc around (12)

Finish off, but leave a long tail for sewing each leg closed and then to the body.  I did not stuff the legs in my example, but this is up to you.

Tail:

Leave a tail of at least 4 inches and then chain 10.  2hdc in the 2^nd chain from the hook and then 2hdc in each of the next 6 chains.  1 hdc in the last 2 chains and leave another short 4inch tail at the end.  You will use the two tails to tie the tail onto the turtle.

This is now what you should have:

Sewing/assembly:

If you have not already done so, sew the head and legs closed at the ends. *make sure on the head that your eyes are positioned up right before sewing flat.

If you look at the bottom (brown) shell, you will notice that due to the nature of increasing in amigurumi, you get a slight hexagon shape.  This is perfect for this project.  Mark the center 6 stitches on each side of the bottom shell.  The head goes in the center of one side, the tail in the center opposite (you only need two center stitches for the tail) and the legs take up the centers of the other four sides.  The head and legs should have 6 stitches to sew to the 6 center stitches on each side.

I chose to use the green color from the head and legs to sew on the last round of the bottom shell.  This made a little green accent line around the bottom that I really liked, but alternatively, you can sew everything down in the same color as your bottom shell to make the sewing invisible.  This is what you should not have:

Now, for the last part.

Go back to the little FREE LOOP from Round 16 – the BACK LOOP – this is where you will sew this bottom shell with parts attached and the top shell together.  There are 60 stitches around each the top and the bottom. If you pull/gather your sewing just a little bit as you are sewing the top and bottom together you will get a fun “ruffled” effect.  Just before you get finished sewing, add stuffing.  I also chose to add some rattle boxes to make this into a rattle toy.

And there you have it! A super cute turtle!!

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