This little crab is my new favorite creation! It makes me think of Maine, or Cape Cod and looks perfect on a kids’ sun hat (see my free pattern for the matching hat). It wasn’t easy to figure out and took me many tries, but I’ve finally got it!
I’ve got a step-by-step tutorial for you, but it’s too long for a post, so click here for the PDF. Here’s the written pattern, though!
Crochet Crab Appliqué
By Sara McFall of My Merry Messy Life
Materials
Hook: G
Yarn: Worsted, Medium
Tapestry Needle to sew in tails
Scissors
Abbreviations
CH = chain
SL ST = slip stitch
SC = single crochet
HDC = half double crochet
DC = double crochet
SP = space
Crab Body
CH 3
SL ST to form a ring, CH 1 (counts as first SC)
11 SC in ring (12 total)
Join to beginning SC with a SL ST, CH 1
1 SC in same sp
2 SC in each space around (24 total)
Join to first SC with a SL ST
Eyes
CH 3
SL ST in same sp (a picot stich)
SL ST in next sp
work another picot stitch (CH 3, SL ST in same sp)
Pincher
SL ST in next space
*CH 6
SC in 2nd CH from hook
SC in next CH
CH 4
SC in 2nd CH from hook
1 HDC in each of the next 2 spaces
1 DC in each of the next 2 spaces
HDC in next space
1 SC in each of the next 2 spaces*
SL ST pincher to the body in the next space from where you started the pincher
SL ST in next space
Leg 1
**CH 4
2 SC in second CH from hook
2 SC in next CH
1 SC in last CH**
(on crab body) SL ST in each of the next 2 spaces
Leg 2
repeat from ** above, working another Leg 1
(on crab body) SL ST in each of the next 3 spaces
Leg 3
This leg is worked from the back, so it curves down instead of up! It’s a little more tricky, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
***CH 4
Turn to back
2 SC in second CH from hook
2 SC in next CH
1 SC in last CH
Attach the leg to the crab body with a SL ST in the next CH up from where the leg was started.
Turn to front
SL ST in next space***
SL ST in each of the next 5 spaces
Leg 4
repeat from ** above, working another Leg 1
(on crab body) SL ST in each of the next 3 spaces
Leg 5
repeat from *** above, working another Leg 3
(on crab body) SL ST in each of the next 2 spaces (3 SL ST total)
Leg 6
repeat from *** above, working another Leg 3
(on crab body) SL ST in each of the next 2 spaces (3 SL ST total)
Pincher #2
CH 6
Turn to back
repeat from * above, working another pincher, but this time, from the back so it mirrors the other one.
SL ST pincher to the body in the 2nd space from where you started the pincher (this is different than the first pincher)
Turn to front
SL ST in next space, in between the pincher and the first eye
Fasten off and weave in ends. Enjoy your cute little crab and hope he doesn’t crawl away!
Merry Crocheting!
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| Put your new little friend on a sun hat, and you’ve got a perfect hat for vacation! |
This pattern is featured on Crochet Pattern Central under “appliqués“
Would you recommend these hats for summer? I am wanting to make one with Red Heart Super Saver worsted acrylic yarn and wondering if it would be too hot for the summer heat. Thanks!
Hi Hannah (again
! I think the Red Heart makes a great sun hat for fall and winter, especially here in PA where the weather is still chilly in the 50s and 60s, but sunny. I recommend cotton yarn for the summer, but the pattern may work out differently because cotton doesn’t stretch as much as acrylic. A lady on my facebook fan page used the toddler boy pattern with cotton yarn and it worked for her, however.
thank you so much for your adorible little crab! was only going to put sand dollars and starfish on the border of an aftgan but fell in love with the crab <3 WOW -I need to search online more-made my starfish with changes to clematis pattern in a book, and got furstrated with a sand dollar. love the shareing of ideas! THANK YOU!
So glad you like it, Sharon! I know, the internet is so full of amazing FREE ideas now that you hardly need to buy books anymore – sad but great at the same time!