craftgrrl | free brain slug pattern!

Brain Slug Pattern
Read all instructions before beginning or crochet at your own risk.

Supplies:

*1 skein Red Heart Sport in Limeade. It was what I had on hand and the color matches pretty well to the cartoon. One skein made nearly 3 brain slugs but I had used a bit of it earlier in a different ami.

* “F” Hook. or "G" hook. gauge isn't really important.

* White Felt for the Eye or you could make a spiral with some white yarn. I used felt.

* Black Bead for the pupil

* Polyfill Stuffing or stuffing of your choice

Rough Directions. I haven’t tested these directions, they’re made from my notes and I’ve never written a pattern before so just let me know if you have any questions or need clarifications. You would think being a grad student in English that I wouldn’t have a problem with clarity lol. On the contrary, I’m not so good at direction writing.

This pattern is worked in spirals. Do not join rounds unless otherwise specified. Use a stitch marker to mark your rounds.

Abbreviation Explanation: I used my own hybrid of writing this so let me explain. When I say for example: 1sc, 2sc, continue around, it means to work 1 sc in the next stitch, then in the following stitch work a 2sc increase stitch and to continue in that pattern around the round.

Body: To start: Make Magic Ring, or ch 2 and sc in 2^nd ch from the hook.

R1: 8 sc in ring

R2: 1sc in next st, 2sc in next (inc.) continue around

R3: Rep

R4: 1 sc in next st, 1 sc, 2 sc (inc.) continue around.

R5: 1sc, 1sc, 1sc, 2sc (inc) continue around

R6-?: Sc evenly around until Brain Slug reaches desired length. Leave a marker in the last sc round, this will be the placement for the brain slug tentacles.

Begin decrease rounds. When you feel comfortable with the hole left by the dec’s, stuff your brain slug. I left mine kinda smushy but I was in a hurry.

R?: Dec, 1 sc, 1 sc, dec, around.

R?: Dec 1sc, dec, etc until the bottom is closed up. Fasten off.

Tentacles: Go back to the last evenly sc row (where you left your handy-dandy stitch marker). With a new slipknot on your hook, sc around the post in the marked row. Continue to sc around the posts in the marked row. See Special Note.

R2: Inc each stitch around. This will make the tentacles look ruffled.

R3: rep. Rep this as many times as you would like to create longer tentacles.

Special Note: Because the Brain Slug is worked in non-joined rounds (which creates a spiral effect), I found it necessary to make a diagonal sc stitch on the opposite side of where you started the tentacle round. This will ensure that the ends will meet on the same row. So be sure to do that.

Antenna: Attach new slipknot to hook. On top of the brain slug head and slightly to the side of center, sc around post. Ch 3, or 4, or however long you want the antenna to be. Sc. in 2^nd ch from hook. Fasten off. Rep on opposite side for second antenna. I found sticking a bit of beading wire down in the antenna helps give it a little shape. Totally optional esp if this will be for a child.

Eye: I just cut an oval out of white felt and blanket-stitched it on with clear nylon beading wire. Brought the needle up in the middle of the felt and attached the bead.

I found the brain slug can be attached to hair using a variety of implements. Bobby pins, those little clips, the long clasp used for cutting hair, Velcro for our bald friends.

Voila! Enjoy your brain slug! Let me know if anything needs clarifying or maybe demonstrated or something.

x-posted to crochetcrochet