Saturday, March 10, 2018

Squishy Crochet Kombi - Free Pattern




Good morning lovelies and hello toy day!

March is a super busy month for us! Lots of family birthdays, school events for the kids, and plenty of weekend events to enjoy while the weather here is still warm. March is also the month that our town has their annual Motor Show! Cars from every state in Australia converge on my little town and we get to spend the entire day checking them out! From vintage to modern, stock standard to completely pimped out, there is absolutely something for everyone! I can't wait for this years show, and to be able to get the camera out and snap some photos again!

To celebrate, this months toy pattern is... A VW! Is there anything more recognisable and iconic than the classic Kombi van?

I made one of these for Master J last year, and jotted down the pattern as I went. Then, life happened and I promptly forgot about the pattern and the notebook. As luck would have it, the notebook was in a box I was cleaning out and thankfully my notes were still readable!

It's big, it's totally overstuffed, it's squishy, it's ADORABLE! Master J loves his, and I can see this new addition is going to be just as loved already. He's been bouncing around my desk all day asking if it's "fin-is yet mum?"

It's not a hard project, but it is going to take a little time. Totally worth it though for the cuteness overload at the end. Mine stands 15cm tall and 19cm long. If your finding your stitches too gappy, drop to a 3mm hook. Pay particular attention to the colour changes, and you should have no problem at all!


Squishy Kombi


You Will Need:

-3.5mm hook
-10ply/Worsted Weight Yarn (Ive used Red Heart Super Saver); White for the main part of the van, grey for the windows, black for the wheels and whichever colour you prefer for the contrast on the van. I picked a teal green for that, but have also made them in bright pink and lime green! Also a small amount of yellow for the headlights.
-Stuffing
-Sewing needle
-Scissors
- Thin black yarn for outlining.


With white yarn

1: Ch14, sc in the second chain and each chain across. - 13

2: Ch1, turn, sc in each stitch across. - 13

3-20: Ch1, turn, sc in each stitch across. - 13

21: Ch1, sc back into the same stitch, place marker, sc down the side of the rectangle, placing one stitch in the end of each of the 20 rows, sc again on the last end row, sc across the next edge (using the chains from row 1) for 13 stitches, sc again in the last stitch, sc in the ends of each of the next 20 rows back up the other side, sc again in the end of the last row, sc across all 13 stitches from row 20, join to the first sc with the marker. - 70

22-23: ch1, sc in each stitch around, join. -70
Do not end

From here on we will be working in rows again, and changing colours within the rows.
To make clean colour changes, complete the last yarn over of the stitch with yarn from the new colour. If this isn't something you have done before, this video by PlanetJune is a great tutorial.
I just carry the yarn on the back of the piece instead of cutting it each change, it saves a lot of work weaving in tails.



24: Ch1, turn, with white sc in the next 2 stitches, with grey sc in the next 9 stitches, with white sc in the next 2 stitches. - 13

25-27: Repeat row 24. - 13

28-29: With white, ch1, turn, sc in each stitch across. - 13

30: Ch1(with the teal), turn, with teal sc in the first stitch, with white sc in the next 11 stitches, with teal sc in the last stitch. - 13

31: Ch1, turn, with teal sc in the first 2 stitches, with white sc in the next 9 stitches, with teal sc in the last 2 stitches. - 13

32: Ch1, turn, with teal sc in the first 3 stitches, with white sc in the next 7 stitches, with teal sc in the last 3 stitches. - 13

33: Ch1, turn, with teal sc in the first 5 stitches, with white sc in the next 3 stitches, with teal sc in the last 5 stitches. - 13

34-35: Ch1, turn, with teal sc in each stitch across.

End off.

With the section you just completed pointing up, turn the entire piece clockwise. Reattach yarn to the second unworked stitch from round 23 (there should be a 1sc space between the panel we just finished and the one we are about to start.



36: With white, ch1, sc in the first 2 stitches, with grey sc in the next 6 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 4 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 4 stitches, with white sc in the last 2 stitches. - 20

37: With white, ch1, turn, sc in the first 2 stitches, with grey sc in the next 4 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 2 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 6 stitches, with white sc in the last 2 stitches. - 20

38: Repeat row 36

39: Repeat row 37

40: With white, Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first stitch, sc in each remaining stitch across. - 19

41: Ch1, turn, sc in the first 18 stitches, 2sc in each of the last 2 stitches. - 22

Change to teal yarn

42-47: Ch1, turn, sc in each stitch across.

End off. Turn your piece clockwise again

Leaving one stitch skipped again, join the white yarn to the second unworked stitch from round 23.

48: With white, Ch1, sc in the first 2 stitches, with grey sc in the next 9 stitches, with white sc in the last 2 stitches. - 13

49-51: Repeat row 48.

52-53: With white, Ch1, turn, sc in each stitch across. - 13.

54-58: With teal, Ch1, turn, sc in each stitch across. - 13

End off.

Once again turn your piece clockwise and skipping one stitch from round 23, join your white yarn to the next unworked stitch.

59: With white, Ch1, sc in the first 2 stitches, with grey sc in the next 4 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 4 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 6 stitches, with white sc in the last 2 stitches. -20

60: With white, Ch1, sc in the first 2 stitches, with grey sc in the next 6 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 4 stitches, with white sc in the next stitch, with grey sc in the next 4 stitches, with white sc in the last 2 stitches. - 20

61: Repeat row 59

62: Repeat row 60

63-67: With teal yarn, Ch1, sc in each stitch across. - 20

End off.

Matching the side, sew all 4 corners together, using teal yarn for the teal sections and white yarn for the white sections.





To make the bottom flap:

68: Join the teal yarn to the front corner stitch, in the back loop only, and ch1, sc in the first 13 stitches across. - 13

69-89: Ch1, turn, sc in all 13 stitches across. - 13

End off leaving a long tail. Use the tail to sew the bottom flap to the rear of the van and down one side, leaving one side open.

Start stuffing the van, and sew up the opening as you go. Be sure to stuff it quite firmly.



Wheels:
1: With white yarn make a magic ring and do 6sc into it, pull tight to close. - 6

2: Change to black, 2sc in each of the 6 stitches around. - 12

3: Sc in each of the 12 stitches around. - 12

4: Sc2tg 6 times. - 6

End off, leaving a long tail to sew the wheel onto your van.

Make a total of 5 wheels. 4 for the sides and 1 spare for the back.  Sew them all into place.

Headlights:
With yellow yarn, make a magic ring, sc 8 times into the ring, pull tight to close and join to the first sc. End off.

Make 2 headlights and sew (or glue) them to the front of your van.

Finishing Touches:
With thin black yarn outline all of the windows, add small stitches to the front windscreen for wiper blades.

You can use the same yarn to stitch the VW symbol onto the front of the van, or you can paint it on with fabric paint, which is what I did, because my hand stitching isn't the best.

Make sure all your ends are weaved in and you are done!


No comments:

Post a Comment