Hangry Caterpillar and Butterfly ⋆ Free Crochet Pattern
The Hangry Caterpillar and Butterfly are crocheted in the round and use up small amounts of yarn. These are the first two patterns that make up the set for the Hangry Caterpillar Mobile.
Once you’ve made the Caterpillar and the Butterfly, then you can go to the second blog post for the fruit and the last one for making up the mobile.
Free Pattern
The pattern is available for free in this blog post in UK terms only. For a version of the pattern in US terms, you can buy the PDF. This blog has ads so I can provide the pattern for free.
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Ad-free PDF Version
An ad-free PDF version of the pattern in UK and US terms is available on Ravelry and Lovecrafts.
Buying the PDF version makes it easy to follow the pattern without ads and is ideal if you want to print the pattern. As a bonus, when you buy the pattern it supports my work and enables me to continue making patterns for you!
Before you get started
I highly recommend that you read the Essential Information and Additional Instruction sections before you read this pattern.
If you’ve already read them, and are returning to this page to continue crocheting, then simply jump to the patterns using the links below.
Essential Information
Difficulty
Intermediate
Skills
UK Terms
- Crochet in the round
- Crochet in the back of the loop
- Magic ring
- Double crochet
Materials
Yarn
The yarn below is for making one of every toy and the mobile ring cover.
Stylecraft Special DK (8 Ply); 295 m (323 yards) per 100g; 100% Acrylic
10g / 30 m / 33 yards in Blue (Aster, shade 1003)
10g / 30 m / 33 yards in Pink (Bright Pink, shade 1435)
10g / 29 m / 32 yards in Yellow (Citron, shade 1263)
14g / 41 m / 45 yards in Light Purple (Grape, shade 1067)
70g / 207 m / 226 yards in Light Green (Lincoln, shade 1834)
76g / 224 m / 245 yards in Dark Green (Kelly Green, shade 1826)
60g / 177 m / 194 yards in Red (Lipstick, shade 1246)
1g / 3 m / 3 yards in Black (Midnight, shade 1011)
10g / 30 m / 33 yards in Dark Purple (Plum, shade 1061)
4g / 12 m / 13 yards in Brown (Walnut, in shade 1054)
Hook
- 3 mm (US C/2 or D/3)
I recommend Addi Swing, as it’s an ergonomic hook and it suits my style of crocheting – which is like holding a knife or buy a standard crochet hook.
Other Supplies
For the toys
For the mobile
- 25 cm (10 in) diameter full rounded Polystyrene / styrofoam ring.
- Small metal ring or hook. I used a very small curtain ring. The ring just needs to be big enough to knot threads to it and then fit onto a hook on the ceiling to hang it.
- Sewing Needle
- Hook or bent nail in the ceiling to hang the mobile onto.
Gauge
11 sc x 11 rows to measure 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 in) using a 3 mm hook or size needed to obtain stated gauge.
Sizing
Caterpillar: 7 cm (3 in) tall and 20 cm (8 in) long
Butterfly: 18 cm (7 in) by 18 cm (7 in) from head to toe, wing to wing.
Lemon: 7 cm (3 in)
Pear: 6 cm (2.3 in)
Apple: 5 cm (2 in)
Watermelon: 6 cm (2.3 in)
Plum: 4 cm (1.5 in)
From mobile ring to final fruit 55 cm (21.5 in).
Abbreviations (UK terms)
Ch: Chain
Dc: Double Crochet
Dc2tog: Double crochet two stitches together
Htr: Half Treble
Rep: Repeat
Rnd: Round
RS: Right Side
St(s): Stitch(es)
Tr: Treble
WS: Wrong Side
Stitch Counts
The stitch count is indicated at the end of every round or row. Stitch counts are shown like this: (12 sts)
Repeats
Sections to be repeated are indicated within squared brackets [ ], with the number of repeats written after.
Additional Instructions
Amigurumi / Crochet in the round
Work in a continuous spiral without slip stitching into the first st in the round.
- Magic Loop: 1 ch in a magic ring does not count as a stitch. The 1 ch in a magic ring is to secure the ring and anchors the work. Always pull the short thread to close the magic ring after working the stitches into the ring. Sew in the end from the magic ring and cut off any excess yarn.
Chains
- Starting Chain: Whether a 1 ch at the start of a row or round counts as a st will vary depending on the pattern, make sure to check the instructions.
- Corner Chains: Chains at corners count as stitches.
Colour Changes
When changing colour, join the new yarn on the last yarn over of the previous stitch, unless otherwise stated.
Sewing in ends
Always sew in the ends on the wrong sides of your work.
Stitch Increases
Multiple stitches worked in one stitch.
- UK Terms: “2 dc in next st”, which indicates that 2 dc stitches are worked into one stitch.
Stitch Numbering
UK Terms
- I write with the number of stitches before the stitch, for example, 2 dc = 1 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st.
- Except for the starting chain stitches, which is written this way: Chain 11.
Use of this pattern
Pattern Content & Images © 2017-2023 Ruth Haydock – All Rights Reserved.
All content in this pattern is the copyright and design right of Ruth Haydock. You are not permitted to sell the written instructions or images in any way, amended or as they are. You may only print this pattern out for personal use. You are allowed to sell completed items that you have made using this pattern but you must credit me as the designer of the pattern (Ruth Haydock) and provide a link to my website, ruthhaydock.com.
Patterns (UK Terms)
Caterpillar Pattern
The Caterpillar starts at the head and then continues in the round to form the body.
The body has four different coloured sections, stuff the caterpillar after each section and finish stuffing at rnd 40.
Head
Rnd 1: With Brown, and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc into the ring. Pull the thread to close the ring. (8 sts)
Continue crocheting in a continuous spiral.
Rnd 2: [2 dc in next st] eight times. (16 sts)
Sew in the end from the magic ring.
Rnd 3: 16 dc.
Rnd 4: [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: 24 dc.
Rnd 6: [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (32 sts)
Rnd 7: 32 dc.
Rnds 8 and 9: Rep rnd 7. (32 sts on each rnd)
Rnd 10: [2 dc, dc2tog] eight times. (24 sts)
Rnd 11: 24 dc.
Prepare to join Light Blue on the last yarn over on the last st of rnd 12.
Rnd 12: [1 dc, dc2tog] eight times. (16 sts)
Cut Brown, leaving a short tail, fasten off and sew in the end. Stuff the head.
Body
Section 1
Rnd 13: With Light Blue, 16 dc into the back of the loop only. (16 sts)
*Rnd 14: [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (24 sts)
Rnd 15: 24 dc.
Rnd 16: [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (32 sts)
Rnd 17: 32 dc.
Rnd 18: Rep rnd 17. (32 sts)
Rnd 19: [2 dc, dc2tog] eight times. (24 sts)
Rnd 20: 24 dc.
Prepare to join Cream on last yo on the final st on rnd 21.
Rnd 21: [1 dc, dc2tog eight times. (16 sts) **
Cut Light Blue, leaving a short tail, fasten off and sew in the end. Stuff this section.
Section 2
Rnd 22: With Cream, dc into the back of the loop only to create a ridge for a total of 16 dc. (16 sts)
Repeat from * to **, preparing to change to Light Blue on last yo on the final st on rnd 30 (equivalent to rnd 21 in Section 1).
Cut Cream, leaving a short tail, fasten off and sew in the end. Lightly stuff this section.
Section 3
Rnd 31: With Light Blue, dc into the back of the loop only to create a ridge for a total of 16 dc. (16 sts)
Repeat from * to **, preparing to change to Cream on last yo on the final st on rnd 39 (equivalent to rnd 21 in Section 1).
Cut Light Blue, leaving a short tail, fasten off and sew in the end. Lightly stuff this section.
Section 4
Rnd 40: With Cream, working into the back of the stitch, [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (24 sts)
Rnd 41: 24 dc.
Rnd 42: [1 dc, dc2tog] eight times. (16 sts)
Rnd 43: 16 dc.
Lightly stuff this section.
Rnd 44: [Dc2tog] eight times. (8 sts)
Cut Cream, leaving a 10 cm (4 in tail), fasten off and then draw the yarn through all stitches and pull like a drawstring. Sew in the end to secure.
Antenna (Make two)
Rnd 1: With Dark Blue, working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 4 dc. Pull the thread to close the ring. (4 sts)
Continue working in a continuous spiral.
Rnd 2: [2 dc in next st] four times. (8 sts)
Sew in the end from the magic ring.
Rnd 3: 8 dc.
Rnds 4 to 8: Rep rnd 3, four times. (8 sts on each rnd.)
Rnd 9: [Dc2tog, 2 dc] twice. (6 sts)
Rnd 10: 6 dc.
Rnds 11 to 14: Rep rnd 10, four times. (6 sts on each rnd)
Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) tail to sew the antenna onto the head, fasten off and sew on the antenna on the top of the head, with a 1.5 cm (0.5 in) space between the two antenna.
Eyes (Make two)
Rnd 1: With Dark Blue, working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. Cut yarn. Pull the thread to close the ring. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: Change to Cream, *[2 dc in next st] twice, 2 dc**, repeat from * to ** once more.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) tail to sew the eyes onto the head and fasten off. (12 sts)
Sew the eyes on the head in the top third of the face and 2 cm (1 in) below the antenna. Leave a slightly bigger space between the eyes than the antenna.
Nose
Rnd 1: With Dark Blue, working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. Pull the thread to close the ring. (8 sts)
Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) tail to sew the nose onto the caterpillar’s face.
Fasten off and sew on the nose in the middle of the face, below and in between the eyes.
Feet (Make six)
With Dark Blue, chain 7.
Row 1: Working into the second ch from the hook, 2 dc, dc2tog, 2 dc. (5 sts)
Cut the yarn, leaving a 20 cm (8 in) tail, fasten off.
Fold lengthwise, so the starting ch is alongside the top of the dc stitches on row 1, then oversew the sides. Attach one end of the leg to the body. Attach two feet to the underside of each large section of the body, not the head or the final end of the body.
Sew in all ends and cut off the excess.
Butterfly Pattern
Head
Rnd 1: With Dark Blue and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc into the ring. Pull the thread to close the ring. (8 sts)
Continue crocheting in a continuous spiral.
Rnd 2: [2 dc in next st] eight times. (16 sts)
Sew in the end from the magic ring.
Rnd 3: 16 dc.
Rnd 4: [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: 24 dc.
Rnd 6: [2 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (32 sts)
Rnd 7: 32 dc.
Rnds 8 and 9: Rep rnd 7. (32 sts on each rnd)
Rnd 10: [2 dc, dc2tog] eight times. (24 sts)
Rnd 11: 24 dc.
Prepare to join Light Blue on the last yarn over on the last st of rnd 12.
Rnd 12: [1 dc, dc2tog] eight times. 16 sts
Cut Dark Blue leaving a short tail, fasten off and sew in the end. Stuff the head.
Body
Using Light Blue, dc in a continuous spiral until the body measures 11 cm from the top of the head to the end of the body.
Gently stuff the body of the butterfly as you go.
Final rnd: [Dc2tog] eight times. (8 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a short tail, then draw the yarn through all stitches and pull like a drawstring. Sew in the end to secure.
Wings (Make Six)
Each butterfly has three wings on each side of the body. Make a total of six wings, two in each colour.
Make two wings in Brown, Dark Blue and Cream.
Rnd 1: With Brown, Dark Blue or Cream and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: [2 dc in next st] eight times. (16 sts)
Sew in the end from the magic ring.
Rnd 3: [7 dc, 2 dc in next st] twice. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: 18 dc.
Rnd 5: [8 dc, 2 dc in next st] twice. (20 sts)
Rnd 6: 20 dc.
Rnd 7: [9 dc, 2 dc in next st] twice. (22 sts)
Rnd 8: 22 dc.
Rnds 9 and 10: Rep rnd 8, twice. (22 sts each rnd)
Rnd 11: [9 dc, dc2tog] twice. (20 sts)
Rnd 12: 20 dc.
Rnd 13: [8 dc, dc2tog] twice. (18 sts)
Rnd 14: 18 dc.
Rnd 15: [7 dc, dc2tog] twice. (16 sts)
Rnd 16: 16 dc.
Rnd 17: [6 dc, dc2tog] twice. (14 sts)
Rnd 18: 14 dc.
Rnd 19: [5 dc, dc2tog] twice. (12 sts)
Rnd 20: 12 dc.
Rnd 21: [4 dc, dc2tog] twice. (10 sts)
Rnd 22: 10 dc.
Rnd 23: [3 dc, dc2tog] twice. (8 sts)
Cut the yarn leaving a tail of 20 cm (8 in) to sew the wing onto the body at a later stage.
When you have made all six wings, then make one spot for each wing.
Wing One Spot (Make Two)
Rnd 1: With Cream, work into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. (8 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a short tail, fasten off and sew in the end.
Rnd 2: Using Dark Blue, [2 dc in next st] eight times. (16 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a tail of 10 cm (4 in) and sew the spot in the middle of the top end of the wing.
Wing Two Spot (Make Two)
Rnd 1: With Light Blue and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. (8 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a tail of 10 cm (4 in) and sew the spot in the middle of the top end of the wing.
Wing Three Spot (Make Two)
Rnd 1: With Brown, and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. (8 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a short tail to sew in.
Rnd 2: With Dark Blue, [2 dc in next st] eight times. Cut yarn leaving a short tail to sew in. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: With Light Blue, [1 dc, 2 dc in next st] eight times. (24 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a tail of 10 cm (4 in) and sew the spot in the middle of the top end of the wing.
Sew the wings to the body
Using the long tails left when you finished the wings, sew on all the wings onto the body of the butterfly, only attaching the final round edge to the body of the caterpillar.
Make sure that each identical wing is opposite each other and facing the front.
Antenna (Make Two)
Rnd 1: With Light Blue and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 4 dc. Pull the thread to close the ring. (4 sts)
Continue working in a continuous spiral.
Rnd 2: [2 dc in next st] four times. (8 sts)
Sew in the end from the magic ring.
Rnd 3: 8 dc.
Rnds 4 to 8: Rep rnd 3, four times. (8 sts on each rnd)
Rnd 9: [Dc2tog, 2 dc] twice. (6 sts)
Rnd 10: 6 dc.
Rnds 11 to 14, Rep rnd 10, four times. (6 sts on each rnd)
Cut the yarn leaving a 10 cm (4 in) tail to sew the antenna onto the head, fasten off and sew on the antenna on the top of the head, with a 1.5 cm (0.5 in) space between the two antenna.
Eyes (Make Two)
Rnd 1: With Cream and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. Cut yarn. Pull the thread to close the ring. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: Change to Light Blue, *[2 dc in next st] twice, 2 dc**, repeat from * to ** once more. Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) tail to sew the eyes onto the head and fasten off. (12 sts)
Sew the eyes on the head in the top third of the face and 2 cm (1 in) below the antenna. Leave a slightly bigger space between the eyes than the antenna.
Nose
Rnd 1: With Cream and working into a magic ring, 1 ch, 8 dc. Pull the thread to close the ring. (8 sts)
Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) tail to sew the nose onto the caterpillar’s face. Fasten off and sew on the nose in the middle of the face, below and in between the eyes.
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