Yo-yo Kitty Critter

I love these little crocheted yo-yo critters because I'm an animal lover (especially cats) and an avid crocheter. These critters can be used as gift box decorations, stocking stuffers for little guys and gals, a toy for your pet, or just to sit atop the computer screen and look cute (until the cat gets it and it turns into a toy).

Step 1: Crochet Stitches You Will Need to Know.

The crochet stitches to make yo-yo critters are all basic and easy ones to learn if do not crochet. The stitches are: chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet. They are pictured here.

Step 2: Things You Need to Know

Things you will use:  #F (#5, 3.75mm) crochet hook
                                     Worsted Wt. Medium yarn [#4] - about 3 oz. or 100m
                                     Yarn needle

When putting the sides of the yo-yo together - identifying the inside and outside loops.
This picture shows what are inside and outside loops when joining sides. The inside loops
are used to join body yo-yo and the outside loops are joined for leg yo-yo.

To add nose and eyes you will be using an embroidery stitch called a French knot. The second picture shows how this knot is sewn.

Step 3: Body Yo-yo

The body is made using 3 basic yo-yos. Each yo-yo is made up of two sides. Each side is made separately and then crocheted together.

Body Yo-yo

1. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to form a ring, ch 4, work 19 tr in ring, join with sl st in top of ch4. Fasten off.

Step 4: Joining Body Yo-yo

2. For the second side of the yo-yo: Repeat the first step but do not fasten it off. Place the wrong sides of the two sides together. Working in the inside loops of the circles, sc each pair of inside loops around the circle, join with sl st in first sc.

Step 5: Completed Body Yo-yo

Fasten off and pull the ends to the inside of yo-yo.

One completed body yo-yo will look like this.
Make two more of these for the body of critter.

Step 6: Critter Head

Make a yo-yo for the head the same as the body yo-yo but do not fasten off after crocheting the two sides together. After the sl st to join the sides, turn to the other side of the yo-yo.
(Sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc)  in the next stitch.
Sl st in each of next 5 stitches.
(Sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in the next stitch.
Sl st in next stitch, fasten off and pull yarn end into yo-yo.

These are the ears.

Step 7: Yo-yo Legs

First side of Yo-yo Legs

1. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to form a ring, ch 4, work 19 tr in ring, join with sl st in top of ch 4.

2. Ch 1, sc in next tr, hdc in next tr, dc in next tr, ch 3, sc in same st as last dc.
     (Sc in next 3 tr, 2 sc in next tr) 3 times, sc in next 3 tr, ch3, dc in same st as last sc,
     hdc in next tr, sc in next tr, join with sl st in first sc.

3. Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next hdc, sc in next dc, sc in next ch, ch 1, turn.
    Sc in next 4 sts, ch 1, turn. (Skip next sc, sc in next) twice. Fasten off.

4. Go to the other side edge and join with sc in ch just before dc, sc in next dc,
    sc in next hdc, sc in next sc, ch 1, turn.
    Sc in next 4 sts, ch 1, turn. (Skip next sc, sc in next) twice. Fasten off.

Step 8: Second Side of Legs

Make the second side of the yo-yo legs the same as the first, do not fasten off.

Place leg pieces wrong sides together.  Ch 1.
Working through both pieces:
Sl st  in end of next 3 rows down inside leg
Sl st between legs
Sl st in end of next 3 rows, ch 1, sl st in end 2 sts, ch 1,
Sl st next in end of next 3 rows,
Sl st in next 2 chs, sl st (through both loops of each piece) in each sc around to next ch2.
Sl st in each of next 2 ch, sl st in end sts of next 3 rows, ch1, sl st in last 2 sts across bottom
Join with sl st in beginning ch1.
Fasten off and pull all yarn tails to inside.

Make 1 more leg yo-yo the same as the first.

Step 9: Critter Tail

Using one of the pair of leg yo-yos.

Attach yarn with sc in loop at center of one side.
Make 8 sc evenly around center through loops and sl to first sc.

Step 10: Critter Tail - 2

Work only in outside loops.
Pull up yarn in first and second loops, pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook (decrease)
Pull up yarn in third and forth loops, pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook
Pull up yarn in fifth and sixth loops, pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook
Pull up yarn in seventh and eighth loops, pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook

Insert a pencil (or small dowel rod) through hole in center. We will be working around this with
the remaining four stitches.

Step 11: Critter Tail - 3

Crocheting in only the outside loops which are easy to find because they will be the ones next to the pencil - Sc around until the tail is approx. 4 inches long.

Sc 2 together, remove pencil, sc 2 together, sl st remaining st and end off. Pull yarn end to inside.

Because we are crocheting in a spiral - not by rows - the tail will have a natural curve to it.

Step 12: Cheeks

To make the cheeks on the face, attach yarn with a sl st in the side of the face just below the center, cluster (ch 4, tr in sl st 4 times holding last st of each tr on hook, loop and pull through all 5 loops on hook), pull tightly together and sc in face loop immediately below hole in center.
Ch 4, make a cluster in the sc below hole in center. Sl st in  loop on other side of face.
Fasten off and pull yarn ends inside cheeks. 

Step 13: Assemble Critter

Thread yarn needle with same color yarn as body. On inside of legs with tail attached, sew through sides of hole, tie together.

Step 14: Assembly 2

Pull threaded needle through the holes in all the pieces except the face, holding the pieces together tightly.
Make a knot in the front leg piece like the one for the back to hold pieces together.

Step 15: Assembly 3

The face piece is sewn through the inside loops on to the front legs with the bottom of the face piece even with the center hole of the legs - with the ears on the top of course.

Knot after sewing and pull any stray ends into the yo-yo.

Step 16: Final Step

The last step is to finish the face.

Nose: Thread small amount of pink yarn into the needle. Attach yarn to sides of hole above cheeks and make a French knot. Fasten off, cut and hide yarn ends.

Eyes: Thread black yarn into needle. Attach to a face loop next to the nose. Make a French knot, then go through yo-yo to opposite side and make a French knot there. Fasten off, cut and hide yarn ends.

Tongue: Attach red yarn with sc in bottom of yo-yo centering between cheeks, ch 4, sl st in first sc, Fasten off and hide yarn ends.

Now you have your own cute little critter!

Step 17: Critter Credits

The yo-yo critter basics came from the booklet "Annie Potter Original Yo-Yo Babies" available from e-Patternscentral. com.

I have modified the tail, cheeks, eyes, nose, and tongue to eliminate all glue so it would be baby safe as well as easy to wash and dry.

Calico cats are very cute when made with variagated brown,orange and white yarn. Also, a super cute yo-yo critter can be made with Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn.

Tiny package critters can be made using this pattern using crochet thread and embroidery thread for the nose and eyes.