Ready for this week's latest Beach Buddy? I sure am! I've been really into playing Animal Crossing lately and love the characters' overall look. I really wanted to include something that felt pure and sweet and as cute as something out of the game, and I think I did that with Danny! His simple construction, snorkel, and happy face make him perfect for this collection. So let's get into the pattern!
Danny's favorite place in the world is the beach, and he could happily spend all day there. There's always something to do, from building sandcastles, swimming in the ocean, diving for sea creatures to just soaking in the sun. Danny even met a mermaid and a pirate once! Summer is Danny's favorite time because he gets to go to the beach whenever he wants!
Materials:
- 3.25mm/ D crochet hook - I like these Clover Amour ones
- #4 medium weight yarn
- I used Yarn Bee Soft Secret in Biscuit, Cocoa, Red, and Pale Aqua
- stitch markers - I like these locking ones and these split ring ones
- large eye needle - I like these blunt ones for seaming
- 9mm safety eyes - get a bunch of this size here or get a set of different sizes here
- polyfil stuffing - I like using this one or the big box!
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Stitches & Abbreviations:
- Magic loop
- ch - chain
- SC - single crochet
- sl - slip stitch
- BO- bind off/fasten off
Pattern Notes:
- Skill level: Intermediate - some amigurumi experience is helpful but not necessary
- Sizing: 10" tall
- Gauge: 6S X 5R per inch
Useful Amigurumi Tips
- All patterns are in English and written in standard USA terms
- inc - increase by working 2 stitches into the same space
- dec - decrease across 2 stitches using an invisible decrease
- Keep stitches tight to prevent holes for stuffing to show through. If there are holes, go down a hook size.
- All pieces are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Use stitch markers to mark the first stitch of each round.
- Safety eyes are used in these patterns, but feel free to stitch on eyes instead for children under 3 years old.
- If you have any questions, email me at hello@theblueelephants.com
Danny the Diver Plushie: Free Crochet Pattern
Head:
Round 1: With yarn in Biscuit (skin color), create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 5: *SC 3, inc* around (30).
Round 6: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Round 7: *SC 5, inc* around (42).
Rounds 8-16: SC around for 9 rounds. Insert safety eyes to round 5 after the last increase round, about 5 stitches apart. Start to add the stuffing.
Round 17: *SC 5, dec* around (36).
Round 18: *SC 4, dec* around (30).
Round 19: *SC 3, dec* around (24).
Round 20: *SC 2, dec* around (18). Finish adding stuffing.
Round 21: *SC, dec* around (12).
Round 22: Decrease around (6). Cut the yarn and thread the tail through a tapestry needle. Run the needle under the front loops of each stitch and secure the yarn. Weave in the end.
Hair:
Round 1: With yarn in brown, create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 5: *SC 3, inc* around (30).
Round 6: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Round 7: *SC 5, inc* around (42).
Rounds 8-14: SC around for 7 rounds. BO and leave a long tail for sewing.
Arms (make 2):
Round 1: With yarn in Biscuit (skin color), create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Rounds 3-22: SC around for 20 rounds. Then BO, leaving a long tail to sew them on later.
Legs (make 2):
Round 1: With yarn in Biscuit (skin color), create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Rounds 3-20: SC around for 18 rounds.
Rounds 21-24: Switch to white yarn and SC around for 4 rounds. Then BO, leaving a long tail to sew them on later.
Body:
Round 1: With yarn in white, create a magic loop and work 6 SC into it. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 5: *SC 3, inc* around (30).
Round 6: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Round 7: *SC 5, inc* around (42).
Rounds 8-16: Switch to Biscuit (skin color) and SC around for 9 rounds.
Round 17: *SC 5, dec* around (36).
Round 18: SC around for 2 rounds.
Round 19: *SC 4, dec* around (30).
Rounds 20-21: SC around for 2 rounds.
Round 22: *SC 3, dec* around (24).
Rounds 23-24: SC around for 2 rounds
Round 25: *SC 2, dec* around (18).
Rounds 26-27: SC around for 2 rounds. Then BO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Swim Trunks:
Round 1: With red yarn, chain 16. Sl st to the first chain to form a loop (15).
Round 2-8: SC around for 7 rounds to make Leg 1. Then BO.
Repeat steps 1-8 for Leg 2, but don’t bind off.
Round 9: SC 15 on Leg 2 and then insert hook into a space on Leg 1, SC 15. You now have 1 round with 30 SC.
Round 10: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Round 11: *SC 5, inc* around (42).
Round 12: *SC 6, inc* around (48).
Rounds 13-16: SC around for 4 rounds.
Round 17: *SC 6, dec* around (42).
Round 18: *SC 5, dec* around (36).
Round 19: Crab stitch around. Then BO. Thread a length of white yarn between the stitches to make the drawstring and tie it into a bow at the front.
Snorkel:
Round 1: With any yarn, create a magic loop and work 8 SC into it. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Round 2-21: SC around for 20 rounds to make the tube and BO.
Use a piece of sturdy wire or a large paper clip and fold it into a rectangle slightly larger than 2 inches wide and 1 inch tall. Tape the ends together to hold it in its shape.
With your yarn, create a slip knot and SC all the way around the paper clip until it's hidden. Slip stitch into the last space and BO. Bend your crocheted tube into an L shape at the bottom of the rectangle and use the tail yarn to sew it in place. Weave in the ends and trim the excess yarn.
Bend the mask slightly so it fits the curve of his face. Then attach a length of yarn to each side so you can tie the snorkel onto his face.
Assembly
Now that we have all the parts of our free crochet pattern ready, we can start assembling Danny the Diver! Add stuffing to just the ends of the arms and legs, and all of the body if you haven't already. Then position the arms along the sides and use the tail yarn to sew them in place, making sure to align the stripes. Use the tail yarns from the legs to attach the legs to the body as well.
Next, use the tail from the body to attach the head, going through one space on the body to one space on the head. Use pins to hold it in place as you sew and go through each space around. This makes sure that the head doesn't wobble around. Place the hair on the head like a cap and pin it in place so it doesn't move as you sew it on. Use a whipstitch all the way around to attach the hair, then weave in the ends and trim the excess yarn.
Thread a tapestry needle with black embroidery floss and embroider on a simple face. Bring the thread up and across 4 stitches, go back into the starting point and repeat so you have a thick line for the eye, then bring the needle up to the middle of the line and one row above it, catch the eye and go back down into the same spot. This curves the eye into a happy expression.
Repeat for the other eye. For the mouth, repeat the same step but curve the mouth the other way in the shape of a smile. Secure the ends, trim the floss, and tuck the excess inside the head. Weave in any other ends and trim the excess yarn to finish. Dress him up in his shorts and snorkel and you're done!
And you're done!
Danny the Diver was so much fun to make and although his construction is pretty simple, I think his accessories make him stand out. You could make even more beach toys for him, like a small beach ball, an inner tube, floaties, maybe even a sun hat! It's totally up to you how you want to make him yours so have fun and play around with it.
Danny is part of a collection of beach and seaside-themed patterns, so check out the 6 other patterns below. Like this pattern, you can get the others as free patterns on the blog, or visit the shop to grab the bundle of all 7 PDF Beach Buddies patterns.
Beach Buddies Collections
- Jenni the Jellyfish
- Melly the Mermaid
- Axel the Axolotl
- Percival the Pirate
- Shelby the Turtle
- Gulliver the Seagull
- and Danny the Diver
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