Kuddly Koala Pattern (aka Kev!)

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Inspired by a request from my beautiful cousin for a baby shower gift the first version of this little guy was created.

While he was being sewn together Australia was in the midst of its bush fire crisis and we were learning day by day that koala (and other native animal) populations all over our beautiful country were being decimated.

My first born, concerned about the loss of animals, suggested I make some and donate the proceeds to a wildlife charity. Thus, I scribbled down a few notes and got to work.

Another request from my cousin and the generosity of the worldwide crafting community (who are continually making items, sharing free patterns and doing all sorts of amazing things) prompted me to get organised, refine my pattern and put it out there for anyone who is interested.

By no means is this pattern exclusively for charitable purposes. Make, sell, donate or give away to your hearts content.

N.B. This pattern has not been tested. If you find any errors or have any difficulties with the pattern, please let me know via this site or my instagram account @amberjadelilycrochet

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Kuddly Koala Crochet Pattern

Supplies:

2.5 mm crochet hook

Yarn 8 ply

* Grey (approx 100g)

* Cream (small amount)

* Green (small amount)

* Black (small amount)

12 mm safety eyes

Polyester fiberfill

Embroidery needle

Scissors

Abbreviations:

I have used the US terminology for this post.

sl st = slip stitch

ch = chain

sc = single crochet (dc if using UK terms)

sc inc = two single crochet into one stitch (increasing stitch)

sc2tog = single crochet two stitches together (decreasing stitch)

hdc = half double crochet

dc = double crochet

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Instructions:

Head

Round 1: Work 8 sc into a magic ring (8)

Round 2: sc inc x 8 (16)

Round 3: (sc, sc inc) x 8 (24)

Round 4: (2sc, sc inc) x 8 (32)

Round 5: (3sc, sc inc) x 8 (40)

Round 6: (4sc, sc inc) x 8 (48)

Round 7: (5sc, sc inc) x 8 (56)

Round 8- 17: sc around (56)

Round 18: (5sc, sc2tog) x8 (48)

Round 19: (4sc, sc2tog) x8 (40)

Round 20: (3sc, sc2tog) x8 (32)

Round 21: (2sc, sc2tog) x8 (24)

Round 22: (sc, sc2tog) x8 (16)

Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing

Ears (make 2 grey and 2 cream)

Row 1: ch 7 stitches, sc in 2nd stitch from the hook, sc in next 5 ch st, 1ch, turn (6)

Row 2: sc inc, 4 sc, sc inc, 1 ch, turn (8)

Row 3: sc inc, 6 sc, sc inc, 1 ch, turn (10)

Row 4: sc inc, 8 sc, sc inc, 1ch, turn (12)

Row 5 - 7 sc across, 1 ch turn (12)

Row 8: sc2tog, 8 sc, sc2tog, 1 ch, turn (10)

Row 9: sc2tog, 6 sc, sc2tog, 1 ch, turn (8)

Row 10: sc2tog, 4 sc, sc2tog, 1 ch, turn (6)

Row 11: sc2tog, 2 sc, sc2tog, 1 ch, turn (4)

Row 12: skip 1 sc, 2sc, sl st (2)

Fasten off. Leave approximately a 2m length on the grey pieces

Ear Assembly:

Place a cream inner ear onto the grey outer ear with longer sides on top of each other, sc neatly around the edge.

Nose:

Row 1: ch 4 stitches, sc in 2nd stitch from the hook, sc in next ch st, 3 sc in last ch, (working along the other side of the chain), 1 sc, sc inc (8)

Row 2: sc inc, sc, (sc inc) x 3 , sc, (sc inc) x2 turn (14)

Row 3: sc, sc inc, 2 sc, sc inc, 3 sc, sc inc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc (18)

Row 4- 5: sc around (18)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing

Body

Round 1: Work 8 sc into a magic ring (8)

Round 2: sc inc x 8 (16)

Round 3: (sc, sc inc) x 8 (24)

Round 4: (2sc, sc inc) x 8 (32)

Round 5: (3sc, sc inc) x 8 (40)

Round 6: (4sc, sc inc) x 8 (48)

Round 7: (5sc, sc inc) x 8 (56)

Round 8: (6sc, sc inc) x 8 (64)

Round 9- 18: sc around (64)

Round 19: (6sc, sc2tog) x8 (56)

Round 20: sc around (56)

Round 21: (5sc, sc2tog) x8 (48)

Round 22: sc around (48)

Round 23: (4sc, sc2tog) x8 (40)

Round 24: sc around (40)

Round 25: (3sc, sc2tog) x8 (32)

Round 26: sc around (32)

Round 27: (2sc, sc2tog) x8 (24)

Round 28: (sc, sc2tog) x8 (16)

Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing

Arms (make 2)

Round 1: Work 8 sc into a magic ring (8)

Round 2: sc inc x 8 (16)

Round 3: sc in backloops (16)

Round 4-6 sc around

Legs (make 2)

Round 1: Work 8 sc into a magic ring (8)

Round 2: sc inc x 8 (16)

Round 3: (sc, sc inc) x 8 (24)

Round 4: sc in backloops (24)

Round 5-9 sc around

Belly patch (in cream)

Round 1: Work 8 sc into a magic ring (8)

Round 2: sc inc x 8 (16)

Round 3: (sc, sc inc) x 8 (24)

Round 4: (2sc, sc inc) x 8 (32)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing

Gum leaf

Leave a length of yarn at the start to sew onto koala later

Row 1: ch 11 stitches, sc inc in 2nd stitch from the hook, sc inc in next 3 ch st, hdc inc in next 3 ch st, dc inc in next 3 ch st, (working along the other side of the chain), dc inc next 3 ch st, hdc inc in next 3 ch st, sc inc in next 3 ch, sl st.

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Assembly

Head

1. Stuff head firmly

2. Insert safety eyes between rows 10 and 11 approximately 10 stitches apart (do not fasten off until after the nose has been sewed on and you are happy with the position)

3. Sew nose roughly between the eyes starting at Row 12. Stuff lightly.

4. Adjust eyes if required and secure the eye backs

5. Position ears on the side of the head at approximately row 6 down and 6 stitches from the eyes and sew onto head

6. To make the crease in the ear place your thumb on the ear (pic 1). Turn the head so you are looking at the back of the ear and sew down the back of the crease (pic 2 and 3). If you do not wish to make an ear crease just sew the ears to the head as normal.

Body

1. Stuff body firmly and sew to head

2. Sew belly patch to the centre of the body 2 rows beneath the head

3. Position legs to the left and right of the belly patch and pin in place. Check the koala can sit independently then sew half way around the first leg

4. Before finishing of the leg, secure some black yarn underneath the leg and sew four toenails by sewing over one stitch three times, skip a stitch and repeat 3 more times. To finish off, secure yarn under the leg and cut.

5. Stuff leg firmly and continue sewing the rest of the leg on

6. Repeat 3 -5 with second leg

7. Position arms to the left and right of the belly patch and sew to body, stuffing firmly.

8. Sew the gum leaf to one of the koala's hands

9. Finished!

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Thank you for making the Kuddly Koala Pattern. If you have any questions please contact me @amberjadelilycrochet on instagram. Don't forget to tag me in your makes so I can see your beautiful work :)