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“Snail Critter Cape”

0-3 month

Desert Diamond Crochet

Designed and Written by

Rebecca Goldsmith

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Materials Needed:
Any worsted weight yarn. I used Red Heart Super Saver
2 skein any color (Main Color for beanie and cape) – Tea Leaf
2 skein of shell color – Warm Brown
1 skein any color for trim color - Cornmeal
small amounts of white for eyes (optional)
small amount of black for eyes (optional)

Yarn Needle
K (6.5mm) hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)
H (5.0mm) hook
2 – 3/4” or 1” buttons
Stitch marker
Fiberfill

Gauge: With “K” hook, 4 HDC Rows = 2” 4 HDC Stitches = 2”

Abbreviations:
CH: chain
HDC: half double crochet
HDC DEC: half double crochet decrease
MC: main color
SC: single crochet
SLST: slip stitch

Skill Level – Advanced

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 Hat

Use 2 strands of Main Color. I used Red Heart Super Saver “Tea Leaf”.

Rnd 1: With 2 strands of MC and K hook, ch2, 6 HDC’s in second CH from hook,
do not join. Use a stitch marker as needed. (6 HDC)

Rnd 2: 2 HDC in each HDC around (12 HDC)

Rnd 3: *1 HDC in next HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around (18
HDC)

Rnd 4: *1 HDC in next 2 HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around
(24 HDC)

Rnd 5: *1 HDC in next 3 HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around
(30 HDC)

6 - 13: HDC in each HDC around. (30 SC)

Hat should measure 6” from top to bottom. If it is shorter, repeat RND 6 until hat
measures 6” – 6.25” long.

Fasten off and roll up bottom of the brim. This will server to attach the hat to the
cape later.

Antennas (Make 2)

Use 1 Stand of Main Color and H hook

Row 1: CH 12, 3 SC in 2nd CH from hook, 3 SC in each remaining CH across,

Fasten off leaving a tail to sew with.

Eyes – Make 2 (Optional)

With 1 Strand of White and “H” hook

Rnd 1: CH 2, 6 SC in 2nd CH from hook, do not join (6 SC)

Rnd 2: 2 SC in each SC around (12 SC)

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Rnd 3: *1 SC in next SC, 2 SC in next SC*, repeat from * to * around (18 SC)

Fasten off leaving a tail to sew with.

Using black, embroider sleepy eyes onto the white. I go 4 stitches on round 2 and
then create 1 lash at each of the 4 stitch points.

Sew the antennas in desired position on top of head.

Sew the eyes in desired position on the hat.

Cape

Use 2 Strands of Main Color. I used Red Heart Super Saver “Tea Leaf”

Row 1: With 2 Strands of Main Color and “K” hook, CH 8, HDC in 2nd CH from
hook and in each CH across, CH 1 Turn. (7 HDC)

Row 2: HDC in each HDC across, CH 1, Turn (7 HDC)

Row 3: HDC in each HDC across, CH 1, Turn (7 HDC)

Row 4: 2 HDC in first 2 HDC, HDC in next 3 HDC, 2 HDC in last 2 HDC, CH 1,
turn (11 HDC)

Row 5: 2 HDC in first 2 HDC, HDC in next 7 HDC, 2 HDC in last 2 HDC, CH 1,
turn (15 HDC)

Row 6: HDC in each HDC across, CH 1, Turn (15 HDC)

Row 7: 2 HDC in first 2 HDC, HDC in next 11 HDC, 2 HDC in last 2 HDC, CH 1,
turn (19 HDC)

Row 8 - 19: HDC in each HDC across, CH 1, Turn (19 HDC)

Row 20: HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC in next 11 HDC,
HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC DEC last 2 HDC, CH 1, Turn (15 HDC)

Row 21: HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC in next 7 HDC,

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HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC DEC last 2 HDC, CH 1, Turn (11 HDC)

Row 22: HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC in next 7 HDC, HDC DEC last 2 HDC, CH
1, Turn (9 HDC)

Row 23: HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC in next 5 HDC, HDC DEC last 2 HDC, CH
1, Turn (7 HDC)

Row 24: HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC in next 3 HDC, HDC DEC last 2 HDC, CH
1, Turn (5 HDC)

Row 25: HDC in each HDC across, CH 1, Turn (5 HDC)

Row 26: HDC in first HDC, HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC in last 2 HDC, CH 1,
Turn (4 HDC)

Row 27: HDC in first HDC, HDC DEC next 2 HDC, HDC in last HDC, CH 1,
Turn (3 HDC)

Row 28: HDC in first HDC, HDC DEC last 2 HDC, CH 1, Turn (2 HDC)

Row 29: HDC DEC next 2 HDC, do not turn (1 HDC)

SC in each row end and HDC around entire cape, SLST to join, Fasten Off.

The point where you started at the starting chain is the front of the cape where you
will sew the buttons.

Stop here if you want to make a slug. Sew the two buttons to the top of the front of
the cape and attach the hat.

To make a snail, proceed to the shell section.

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 Shell

With the color for the shell and “K” hook. I used Red Heart Super Saver “Warm
Brown”

Rnd 1: Using 2 Strands of Shell Color and “K” hook, CH 2, 6 SC in 2 nd CH from

hook, do not join, use stitch marker as needed (6 SC)

Rnd 2: Working in backloops only for the remainder of this piece, 2 HDC in each
SC around (12 HDC)

*NOTE* Ensure you are working through backloops only. This leaves the front
loops open where you will attach the second color later to create the swirl design. If
you do not crochet in backloops, the rest of this pattern will not make sense to you.

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Rnd 3: *1 HDC in next HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around (18
HDC)

Rnd 4: *1 HDC in next 2 HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around
(24 HDC)

Rnd 5: *1 HDC in next 3 HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around
(30 HDC)

Rnd 6: *1 HDC in next 4 HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around
(36 HDC)

Rnd 7: *1 HDC in next 5 HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC*, repeat from * to * around,
SLST to join, Fasten Off. (42 HDC)

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You will end up with a cone shaped piece with the unworked front loops forming a
ridge that swirls around the cone.

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With Right side of your work facing up as in picture above, using “K” hook and 1
strand of the trim color (I used Red Heart Supersaver “Cornmeal”), attach trim color
in the first unworked front loop at the very top of the cone . SC in each front loop
all the way around until you get to where the shell was started. SLST to join, fasten
off. Pull tail through the shell to the backside.

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When you are finished with the first half of the shell, you will have something that
resembles a cinnamon roll. Set this first piece aside.

Repeat Rnds 1 – 7 for the second half of the shell but do not fasten off.

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Once the second shell is finished, pick up the first half of the shell and with wrong
sides facing each other, SC through both thicknesses all the way around, stuffing the
shell as you go. SLST to join, Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew with.

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With Right side of your work facing up, using “K” hook and 1 strand of the trim
color (I used Red Heart Supersaver “Cornmeal”), attach trim color in the first
unworked front loop at the very top of the cone . SC in each front loop all the way
around until you get to where the shell was started. SLST to join, fasten off. Pull
tail through the shell to the backside.

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Securely sew the shell to the middle back of the cape in desired position. This may
require you to sew around 3-4 times to get the security desired to keep the shell from
leaning to one side or the other. I went around 3 times on my cape.

Adequate stuffing is also required for the shell to properly sit upright and not be
floppy.

You can sell any items you make from using my patterns, but you are responsible for your finished
items.

Please do not recopy, resell, rewrite or redistribute this pattern as your own or in any other form.
If you plan on selling your items online, please coordinate with me on price so that we are
competitive and not stepping on each other’s stores.

Please include with all your “Sale” items both online and off, a comment that this pattern was
designed by Rebecca Goldsmith of Desert Diamond Crochet and provide a link back to my Etsy
store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/desertdiamond

This pattern was designed and written by:

Rebecca Goldsmith of Desert Diamond Crochet.

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/desertdiamondcrochet

Bonanzle Store: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/desertdiamond
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For pattern support please e-mail me at: dsrtdmnd@gmail.com

© Desert Diamond Crochet September 2011

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