Pencil Topper Turtle Friend | Free Crochet Pattern

Looking for fun, quirky last-minute gifts and mini friends to crochet?

Try this terrific Pencil Topper Turtle Friend pattern. It's perfect for all ages, it works great for last-minute or bulk gifting events, and it will make you and your dearest friends smile!

This minutes-to-make pattern includes written instructions and an 18-photo tutorial for crocheting this turtle pencil topper for standard issue pencils and pens.

This project was inspired from an idea I had while dreaming. See Dreaming of Pencil Toppers for the full story and to see more pencil topper designs.

Gifting ideas include stocking stuffers for Christmas, trick-or-treats for Halloween, party favours and back-to-school accessories. My favourite idea is to make several for a Teacher's appreciation bouquet with various stationary staples in a coffee mug!

Come Mid-November 2016, this crochet pattern will also be available as a printer friendly, 8-page eBook / PDF download, which includes all three variations of the mini turtle friends - the Amigurumi Toy, Pencil Topper & Finger Puppet. Stay Tuned! Or learn more about the Mini Turtle Friends...

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This pattern is copyrighted to Rebeckah Ferger of www.rebeckahstreasures.com. It is for personal use only.  No part of this pattern may be copied or distributed in any way. If you sell what you make from this pattern, please credit me as the designer. All rights reserved, 2016.

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You'll Need:

• cotton thread size 10 (I use Circulo Clea) about 45m (7 grams / 0.25 oz) - in three colours
  

         - about 25m (3.5 grams / 0.125 oz) - turtle body → a bold, moss or fern green is recommended!
         - less than 10m (2 grams / scraps) - turtle shell → a variegated or self-striping green is recommended!
         - less than 10m (2 grams / scraps) - turtle base → a mint or spring green is recommended!

• 1.05mm hook (or hook to achieve gauge)
• stitch markers
• tapestry yarn needle
• scissors
• a small handful of polyester fiberfill
• 6mm safety eyes / mini googly eyes / black embroidery thread, or whatever eyes you’d like.

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Abbreviations: ~US Terminology Used~

*...** - repeat instructions between the two asterisks as directed ~ I always highlight the repeat directions for this in purple so it is easier to see.
(...) - work the stitches between the parentheses into the space as directed
[...] - work stitches between the brackets however many times called for
BL - back loop
ch - chain
dc - double crochet
f/o - fasten off
hdc - half double crochet
rem - remaining
rep - repeat
rnd - round
RS - right side
sc - single crochet
sc2tog - single crochet 2 stitches together
sk - skip
sl st - slip stitch
sp(s) - space(s)
st(s) - stitch(es)
tog - together
WS - wrong side

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Sizing:

Designed to fit a standard pencil or pen. The topper base, which slips onto the pencil, is approximately 1” (2.5 cm) in height. The turtle is 1.75” (4.5 cm) long; 2” (5 cm) wide.

Sizing can be adjusted by changing the yarn weight and hook size, if necessary.

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Gauge:

20 single crochet stitches x 24 rows = 2” (5 cm), or 10 single crochet stitches fit around the pencil snuggly but not too tight.

TIP: The thread weight and hook size are flexible. Most lace or fine weight yarns will work well for creating a pencil topper. All you have to ensure before you begin, is 10 single crochet stitches wrap snuggly, but comfortably around the pencil, pen, chalk or whatever staple you wish to accessorize!

Pattern Notes:

You should be familiar with basic crochet stitches (chs, sl sts, sc, hdc, dc), working in rows, rounds, back loops, posts, surface crochet, and how to do increases and decreases.

A few additional techniques you should be familiar with include crocheting directly onto another crochet piece by means of sc-attaching, crocheting thru 2 or more sts at a time and crochet joining pieces together.

Decreases or sc2tog sts are best worked by using the invisible decrease technique, where you only work in the front or back loops of a stitch. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, see my video tutorial here...

Additional notes for each part are included as you come to them below...

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Turtle Pencil Topper Instructions:

IMPORTANT – Work all turtle pieces in order as they appear here!

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Turtle's Head Instructions:

Make 1

The turtle’s head is worked continuously in rnds from front to back. Do NOT turn at the end of rnds unless directed otherwise to do so. *Side facing you = WS.

Starting with turtle body colour...

   rnd 1:  sc 6 into a magic circle (6 sts).

   rnd 2:  sc 2 into each st around (12 sts).

   rnd 3-5:  sc 12 – 3 rnds (12 sts).

*Using Safety Eyes? Attach to stitches #3 and #9 of either rnd 3 or 4!

   rnd 6:  sc 2, sc2tog in BL, sc 4, sc2tog in BL, sc 2 (10 sts).

   rnd 7:  [sc 2, sc2tog in BL] x 2, sc 2 (8 sts).

   rnd 8-9:  sc 8 – 2 rnds, sl st join & f/o at the end of the last rnd (8 sts).

Stuff head... Set aside for now.

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Turtle's Legs Instructions:

Make 4

The turtle’s legs are worked continuously in rnds from the toe-tip. Do NOT turn at the end of rnds unless directed otherwise to do so. *Side facing you = WS.

Starting with turtle body colour...

   rnd 1:  sc 3 into a magic circle (3 sts).

   rnd 2:  sc 1, sc 2 into the next st, sc 1 (4 sts).

   rnd 3:  sc 1, sc 2 into each of the next 2 sts, sc 1 (6 sts).

   rnd 4:  sc 2, hdc 2, sc 2 (6 sts).

   rnd 5:  sc 6 (6 sts).

   rnd 6:  sc 2, hdc 2, sc 2 (6 sts).

   rnd 7:  sc 1, sk 1 st, sc 2, sk 1 st, sc 1 (4 sts).

   rnd 8:  sc 4, sl st join to first st of rnd, f/o (4 sts).

Have the head and legs ready before starting the body.

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Turtle's Body Instructions:

Make 1

The turtle’s body is worked in two parts.

The first part is worked in rows to create the turtle’s belly – where the first row is created directly onto the front legs and head, and the final row joins the back legs. For this part, ODD rows = Bottom or Turtle's Belly.

The second part switches the last row of the first part into a rnd and works the top or the turtle’s back – where the first rnd is worked directly into the top-surface of the body’s belly. For this part, side facing you = WS.

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   row 1: make a slip knot in turtle body colour... press opening of the first (right-front) leg flat → sc attach to the last + first sts so the inner curve of the leg is to your right and so you work thru 2 sts at the same time; insert hook into the rem 2 leg sts AND into the 2nd + 3rd head sts too (4 sts on hook) → work a sc here – first leg closed & joined; pressing the rem head sts tog in the same fashion → sc 2 as you join the next 2 sets of head sts tog (work thru 2 sts at the same time); press opening of the second (left-front) leg flat → insert hook into the 2nd + 3rd leg sts so the outer curve is to your right, now insert the hook into the rem 2 head sts too (4 sts on hook) → work a sc here – head closed & joined; sc 1 as you join the rem 2 leg sts tog (work thru 2 sts at the same time) – second leg closed & joined, ch 1, turn (6 sts).

*Click images to enlarge them...

turtle's body row 1: hook in the last & first left sts.

turtle's body row 1: hook in last 2 leg sts + 2 head sts.

turtle's body row 1: hook in 2 leg sts + last 2 head sts.

turtle's body row 1: complete - bottom facing up.

   row 2:  sc 1, sk 1 st, sc 2, sk 1 st, sc 1, ch 1, turn (4 sts).

   row 3:  sc 4, ch 1, turn (4 sts).

Completing the turtle’s belly as you join the back legs to the turtle’s body...

   rnd 4 - Step 1:  press opening of the third (left-back) leg flat, hold to the back of work so the inner curve is to your right and the outer curve is in the center → insert hook into the first body st AND into the last + first leg sts (3 sts on hook) → work a sc here; insert hook into the next body st AND into the rem 2 leg sts (3 sts on hook) → work a sc here – third leg closed & joined; press opening of the fourth (right-back) leg flat, hold to the back of work so the outer curve is to your right → insert hook into the next body st AND into the 2nd + 3rd leg sts (3 sts on hook) → work a sc here; insert hook into the last body st AND into the rem 2 leg sts (3 sts on hook) → work a sc here – fourth leg closed & joined (4 sts up to here);

turtle's body rnd 4 - step 1: hook in body & last + first leg sts.

turtle's body rnd 4 - step 1: hook in body & 2nd + 3rd leg sts.

turtle's body rnd 4 - step 1: fourth turtle leg joined.

Continuing rnd 4 as you switch from rows to rnds... From here, work in continuous rnds and do NOT turn at the end of rnds unless directed otherwise to do so. *Side facing you = WS.

   rnd 4 - Step 2:  working in a counterclockwise direction → sc 2 across the body rows between the right legs, sc 1 into the body post between the right-front leg and the head, sc 2 across the body posts from row 1, sc 1 into the body post between the head and the left-front leg, sc 2 across the body rows between the left legs (12 sts).

turtle's body rnd 4 - step 2: sc 2 across rows between right legs.

turtle's body rnd 4 - step 2: sc into post between right leg & head.

turtle's body rnd 4 - step 2: sc 2 across posts from row 1.

turtle's body rnd 4 - step 2: sc into post between head & left leg.

turtle's body rnd 4 - complete - top side up.

   rnd 5-6:  sc 12 – 2 rnds (12 sts).

Stuff body...

   rnd 7:  sc2tog in BL x 6, sl st join to first st of rnd, f/o with a small tail to close opening (6 sts).

Use the small ending tail to close the opening of the turtle body.

Weave in all ends or tuck them into the turtle’s body. Set aside for now.

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Turtle's Shell Instructions:

Make 1

The turtle’s shell is worked in continuous rnds from the center-outwards, where the final rnd wraps the shell onto the turtle’s body. Do NOT turn at the end of rnds unless directed otherwise to do so. *Side facing you = WS.

Starting with turtle top shell colour...

   rnd 1:  sc 5 into a magic circle (5 sts).

   rnd 2:  (sc 1, dc 1, sc 1) into each st around (15 sts).

   rnd 3:  sc 1, [*(dc 1, sc 1, dc 1) into the next st,** sc 2] x 4, rep from * to **, sc 1 (25 sts).

   rnd 4:  [sc 1, dc 1] x 2, [sc 2, dc 1, sc 1, dc 1] x 4, sc 1 (25 sts).

This final rnd will wrap outer-shell around turtle’s body and create a base for the final part of the toy...

   rnd 5:  sc 1, ch 3, place shell on top of body so the first st is in between the back legs and the turtle’s belly faces you → wrap the ch-3 over belly & across back-left leg, sk 3 sts of the shell, sc 2; ch 3, wrap the ch-3 over belly & across front-left leg, sk 3 sts of the shell, sc 2; ch 3, wrap the ch-3 over belly & across head, sk 3 sts of the shell, sc 2; ch 3, wrap the ch-3 over belly & across front-right leg, sk 3 sts of the shell, sc 2; ch 3, wrap the ch-3 over belly & across back-right leg, sk 3 sts of the shell, sc 1, sl st join to the first st of rnd, f/o (5 ch-sps).

turtle shell rnd 4 complete.

turtle shell rnd 5: (ch 3, wrap, sk 3 sts, sc 2) rep.

turtle shell rnd 5: complete - bottom facing up.

Weave in all ends or tuck them into the turtle’s body.

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Turtle's Eyes Instructions:

Make 2

Take a strand of black embroidery thread (or yarn) and thread it onto a tapestry yarn needle. Do not knot the ends tog. Instead leave a short tail on one side of the needle’s eye and a longer one on the other side.

Insert needle into one stitch and up the next stitch on the first side of the turtle’s head, where you’d like the first eye to go. Wrap around stitches a few times until the eye looks just right.

On the last wrap around for the first eye, cross over to the same position on the other side of the turtle’s head. Rep the same wrapping around of stitches.

On the last wrap around for the second eye, cross back over to the stitch with the starting tail. Knot the ends tog, trim and tuck the ends into the turtle’s head.

Alternatively, attach miniature googly eyes to each side of the head instead. Or use your preferred mini eyes.

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Turtle's Pencil Topper Base Instructions:

Make 1

The turtle’s pencil topper base is worked in continuous rnds from the top-down, starting from the ch-sps of the shell. Do NOT turn at the end of rnds. *Side facing you = WS.

   rnd 1:  make a slip knot in chosen base colour & with the turtle’s belly facing up → sc attach to any ch-3-sp from rnd 5 of the shell, sc again into the same sp, sc 2 in each rem ch-3-sp around (10 sts).

turtle base rnd 1: sc attach to any ch-sp.

turtle base rnd 1: sc 1 more into the same ch-sp.

turtle base rnd 1: sc 2 in each rem ch-sp around.

   rnd 2+:  sc 10 – 12 rnds OR until desired height is reached, sl st join & f/o at the end of the last rnd (10 sts). *The number of rep rnds may vary according to your preference.

Weave in all ends. Attach to your favourite stationery staple!

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Tell me what you think...

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*Coming Mid-November 2016. Link will activate then...

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Share pictures of your turtle pencil toppers! TAG @beckastreasures via Instagram or Twitter; ADD your project to Ravelry; or JOIN one of my Crocheting Treasures groups!

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A special shout out to Elizabeth M. Sharon E., Theresa P. & Wendy B. for testing the mini turtle friends, and to Margie E. & Theresa P. for tech editing the crochet pattern bundle!

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Thanks so much for visiting today! 

If you have any questions, or need pattern help, comment below OR visit my one of my groups / communities on Facebook, Google+ or Ravelry.

​Have a swimming day!