Kiwi the Funmigurumi Koala

The excitement has been running high in the Koala Eucalyptus woods when they heard that the Gumpaw family was going to have twins. Now Funmigurumi, not being like the regular residents, are a little bit prone to cause a stir whenever something happens among them. And so, it was natural that the woods were abuzz when they heard the Gumpaws were going to have twins.
Papa and Mama Gumpaw were overjoyed when they learned they were having a boy and a girl, and decided to name them Kiwi and Kiki.
The twins arrived today, and the doctor almost fainted with amazement! When he saw them, he knew there was something really unusual about these babies. Those babies are almost glowing with COLOR!
Yes, they are colored koalas! Mama Gumpaw had to admit to the doctor that she had not been following the diet he gave her of eating her Eucalyptus leaves every day. She said she had a binge for GUMBALLS! The brighter the color, the better, and Papa would sneak them in for her to have them at all hours. . .So there you have it! You really are what you eat and Kiwi, the first of the twins to be shown to us, is certainly a glowing example of an overdose of red, yellow, blue and green gumballs. Hope you have fun making one for yourself or someone you love! By the way, since Kiki (the girl) is smaller than her brother, Mama Gumpaw refuses to let her be seen until she gains a bit of weight. In the meantime, enjoy Kiwi!

Skill- Moderately easy
Size- 10" T x 8 1/2" W

Materials-

Red Heart worsted weight yarn Cherry Red (1/2 skein)

Red Heart worsted weight yarn Lemon (1/2 skein)

Red Heart worsted weight yarn Delft Blue (1/2 skein)

Red Heart worsted weight yarn Spring Green (1/2 skein)

Red Heart worsted weight yarn Black (scraps)

Red Heart worsted weight yarn White (scraps)

Crochet hook size H

Fiberfill

Pins

Blunt needle

Body (Make 2, Front and Back are identical)-

With H hook and Cherry Red, ch 31.

Row 1- 1 sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (30 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Rows 2 to 14- 1 sc in each sc across. (30 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Row 15- 1 sc in each sc across. (30 sc) Fasten off Cherry Red, leaving long tail to sew with.

Row 16- Join Lemon and work 1 sc in each sc across. (30 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Rows 17 to 19- 1 sc in each sc across. (30 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Row 20- 1 sc in each sc across. (30 sc) Fasten off Lemon, leaving long tail to sew with.

We will not divide the top of the Body in half to give two different colors.

Blue Side-

Half Row 21- Join Delft Blue and work 1 sc in each of first 15 sc, ch 1, turn (leave the rest of the stitches unworked.) (15 sc)

Half Row 22- 1 sc in each of first 15 sc. Ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Half Rows 23 to 29- 1 sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Half Row 30- 1 sc in each sc across. (15 sc) Fasten off Delft Blue, leaving long tail to sew with.

Green Side-

Half Row 21- Join Spring Green and work 1 sc in each of next 15 sc, ch 1, turn (leave the rest of the stitches unworked.) (15 sc)

Half Row 22- 1 sc in each of first 15 sc. Ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Half Rows 23 to 29- 1 sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. (15 sc)

Half Row 30- 1 sc in each sc across. (15 sc) Fasten off Spring Green, leaving long tail to sew with.

Thread blunt needle and sew center pieces. Fasten off, weave in tail. Now sew Body’s sides and Bottom making the colors of Front and Back match, and leaving only the top open for stuffing. Fasten off, weave in tails. Set Body aside for now.

Legs (Make 2)-

With Spring Green and H hook, ch 2.

Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc)

Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (24 sc) Fasten off Spring Green, weave in tails.

Rnd 5- Join Cherry Red, make 1 sc in each sc around. (24 sc)

Rnds 6 to 13- 1 sc in each sc around. (24 sc) Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Stuff Legs and sew in place as seen in photos. Fasten off and secure inside of Body.

Arms-

Arm #1-

With Lemon and H hook, ch 2.

Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc)

Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4- 1 sc in each sc around. (18 sc) Fasten off Lemon, weave in tail.

Rnd 5- Join Delft Blue and make 1 sc in each sc around. (18 sc)

Rnds 6 to 11- 1 sc in each sc around. (18 sc) Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Arm #2-

With Lemon and H hook, ch 2.

Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc)

Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4- 1 sc in each sc around. (18 sc) Fasten off Lemon, weave in tail.

Rnd 5- Join Spring Green and make 1 sc in each sc around. (18 sc)

Rnds 6 to 11- 1 sc in each sc around. (18 sc) Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Stuff Arms and sew in place as seen in photos. Fasten off and secure inside of Body.

Ears-

Ear #1-

With Delft Blue and H hook, ch 2.

Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc)

Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (24 sc)

Rnds 5 ro 6- 1 sc in each sc around (24 sc) Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew with.

Note- Let Ear edges curl.

Ear #2-

With Spring Green and H hook, ch 2.

Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc)

Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (24 sc)

Rnds 5 ro 6- 1 sc in each sc around (24 sc) Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew with.

Note- Let Ear edges curl.

Sew Ears to sides of Head across 4 rows of the side of Head. Fasten off, secure inside of Body.

Nose-

With Black and H hook, ch 4.

Row 1- 1 sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across. (3 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Row 2- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in last sc. (4 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Row 3- 2 sc in each sc across. (8 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Rows 5 to 10- 1 sc in each sc across. (8 sc) Ch 1, turn.

Row 11- 1 sc in each sc across. (8 sc) Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Pin the Nose to the Center of the Head, between the two colors of the top of the Head. Thread the blunt needle with the leftover tail and sew top and one of the side of the Nose in place, curving it so that the Nose will end above the first line of Cherry Red, that is, in the last row of Lemon yarn. Stuff lightly with Fiberfill and sew the opposite side. Fasten off and weave in tail on the reverse side of the crocheted fabric.

Eyes (Make 2)-

With Black and H hook, ch 2.

Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc) Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Pin in place as seen in photos and sew in place. Fasten off and weave in ends. Stitch points of light to give the eyes more expression, using White. Fasten off yarn and weave in tails.

“Hair”-

With Lemon, make some long stitches 1 row above the Nose on both the Spring Green and the Delft Blue side of the top blocks. Fasten off, weave in tails on Back side of fabric.

Stuff Kiwi’s Body well, without leaving any lumps. Sew top of Head closed. Weave in tail.

Done!

..............

Everlasting Happiness