Hope you guys don't mind if I share with you some challenging projects to "expand" your toy-making skills! Muffin, like Baxter, is suggested for Intermediate crocheters, although a beginner who carefuly follows instructions can tackle him any day and come up with a satisfactory result. As all my patterns, he is pretty simple overall, it is when it comes to his "face" that the challenging part begins, but it can be fun and you can wind up with the cutest dog you've ever tried, so don't pass by on the chance to make him!
Muffin is just a lovable doggie. His color mix shouts friendly, playful and happy, without being too high-energy. The expression of his face is that of a fun-loving and gentle dog.
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Claret
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Buff
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Aran
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Coffee (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Black (scraps)
Crochet size H hook
Fiberfill
Scissors
Blunt needle
cardboard or ruler
Pins
measuring tape
As I said before, the only challenging portion of this pattern is reproducing the skin at both sides of the muzzle which forms folds that contribute to the expression of the face, but if you follow the instructions carefully, I have no doubts that you can master these "wrinkles".
Body- (Make 2): With Claret, ch 31. Row 1- 1 sc in third ch from hook and in each ch across (31 sc). Ch 1, turn. Row 2- 1 sc in each sc across.
Ch 1, turn. Rows 3 to 15- Re
p row 2. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.Row 16- Join Buff. Make 1 sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. Rows 17 to 30- Rep row 16. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.
Place both right sides of body facing, sew sides and bottom, leaving top open. Fasten off.
Body Spot 1- With Coffee, ch 2.
Rnd 1- Make 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. Rnd 2- Make 2 sc in each sc around. Rnd 3- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around.
Rnd 4- 1 sc inb each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Rnd 5- 1 sc in each of first 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Rnd 6- 1 sc in each of first 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around.
Rnd 7- 1 sc in each of first 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with. Measure back, pin in place, thread blunt needle with tail left over and sew in place. Fasten off.
Body Spot 2- With Coffee, repeat rounds 1 to 5 of Spot 1. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with. Pin in place, just above Body Spot 1, sew, fasten off.
Tail- With Aran, ch 2. Rnd 1- Make 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. Rnds 2 and 3- 1 sc in each sc around. Rnd 4- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Rnd 5- 1 sc in each sc around. Fasten off.
Rnd 6- Join Coffee. Make 2 sc in first 3 sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc. Rnd 7- 1 sc in each sc around. Rnds 8 to 16- Make 1 sc in each sc around. Fasten off, leaging long tasil to sew with. Stuff lightly with fiberfill, pin in place in the center of Body Spot 1, sew in place. Fasten off.
Face Marking- With Aran, ch 13.
Row 1- 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. Row 2- 1 sc in each sc across. Row 3- Sc2 tog over first 2 sc, 1 sc in each sc till last 2 sc, sc2tog over last 2 sc.
Row 4- 1 sc in each sc across. Row 5- Rep row 3. Row 6- Rep row 4. Row 7- Rep row 3. Row 8- Rep row 4. Row 9 to 11- Rep row 4. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with. Measure front of toy, center in "face" area of body, pin down and sew in place. Fasten off.
Muzzle- First Part- With Aran, ch 11.
Round 1- Make 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across till you reach last ch, work 2 sc in that ch, turn piece around and working at the bottom of the stitches, make 2 sc in first foundation chain loop, 1 sc in each loop till you reach the last one, 2 sc in that final loop, slip st to join round.
Rnd 2- 2 sc in first sc, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 10 sc, 2 sc in last sc. Rnd 3- 2 sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in each of next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in last sc.
Rnd 4- 2 sc in first sc, 1 sc in each of next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 9 sc, 2 sc in last sc. Rnd 5- 1 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 11 sc, 2
sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in last sc. Fasten off Aran, weave in tail.Sides of Muzzle (Jowls)- Fold the muzzle in half (you will be working only from the middle of the bottom up to one side, and then back to bottom until you finish one jowl, you will fasten off, and then do the same on the opposite side)so that you will find the very middle of the bottom, and, inserting the hook in the middle of the lower part of it, join Aran again. Row 1- Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sl st in next sc. Turn.
Row 2- Sl st, make 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc, sl st in last st, turn.
Row 3- Sl st in first st, 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, sl st in last st. Turn.
Row 4- 1 sc in each sc across. Row 5- Ch 1, [1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] repeat 3 times, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc. Sl st in last sc. Turn. Row 6- Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of last 2 sc, turn. Row 7- Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, [1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc] repeat twice, 1 sc in each sc to end of row.
Rows 8 to 10- 1 sc in each sc across. Fasten off, repeat on the other side.
Wrinkles- This is a bit of needle sculpting but don't be afraid of it. Thread a blunt needle with Aran. "Pinch" the upper part of the jowl on one side with your fingers, just as it leaves muzzle. Secure the "wrinkle" in place by sewing at the back. Fasten off. "Pinch" the outer edge of the same jowl and repeat the procedure with a longer wrinkle. With your fingers again, "pinch" in the middle lower part, between the two previous wrinkles, make a small wrinkle there, sew in place. Fasten off and repeat on the other side. When you have completed the "wrinkles on both sides, thread a needle with Aran and pass it in and out of the stitches along the lower edge of the jowl and pull gently to gather it, secure and fasten off. Repeat on the opposite side. Set aside until you make nose.
Nose- With Black, ch 7.
Row 1- 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. Rows 2 to 3- 1 sc in each ch across. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with. Measure and center nose on muzzle, pin in place and sew. Embroider mough. Fasten off.
Lightly fill muzzle (NOT JOWLS) with fiberfill, pin in place, uppoer top meeting just the very edge of the face marking, thread blunt needle with Aran and sew in place, gathering and scrunching the wrinkles as you go so that they will look like loose, hanging cheeks.
Eyes- (Make 2:) This do
g has sweet yet somewhat sad eyes. To make them proceed as follows: With Coffee, ch 2. Rnd 1- Make 6 sc in second ch from hook. Sl st to join round. Fasten off. Join Cafe. Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc. Fasten off. Pin eyes in place as you see in photos. Thread blunt needle with Black and sew in place, emphasizing the black "rim" of the eye all around. Fasten off.Eyelids- With Cafe, ch 9.
Row 1- 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. Fastenoff, leaving long tail to sew with. Pin in place above eyes, making sure that the upper Black rim of the eyes is not covered by the lid, curving it around the eye. Sew in place as seen in photos. Fasten off.
Legs- With Aran an
d H hook, ch 2. Rnd 1- Make 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, slip st to close rnd. Rnd 2- Make 2 sc in each sc around.Rnd 3- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Rnd 4- 1 sc in each of first 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around.
5 to 10- Make 1 sc in each sc around. Rnds 11 to 13- Make 1 sc in each sc around. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with. Stuff legs with Fiberfill and sew to bottom of body as seen in photos.
Arms- With Aran, and H hook, Ch 2. Rnd 1- Make 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, slip st to close round. Rnd 2- Make 2 sc in each sc around.
Rnd 3- Make 1 sc in ea
ch of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Rnd 4- Make 1 sc in each of first 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Fasten off.Rnd 5- Make 1 sc in each sc around. Rnds 6 to 11- Join Gold. Make 1 sc in each sc around. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with. Stuff arms and attach to body as seen in photos (about half way down to give some room to fluffy ears).
Stuff legs and sew in place. Fasten off. Stuff arms and sew in place. Fasten off.
Ears- (Make 4)- With Cafe, ch 12.
Row 1- 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. Row 2- 1 sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn. Rows 3 to 7- Rep row 2. Row 8- Sc 2 tog over first 2 sc, 1 sc in each sc till last 2, sc2tog over last 2 sc. Fasten off, leave long tail to sew with.
Row 9- Join Coffee, make 1 sc in each sc across. Row 10- Sc2tog over first 2 sc, 1 sc in each sc till last 2, s
c2tog over last 2 sc. Row 11- 1 sc in each sc across. Row 12- Sc 2 tog over first 2 sc, 1 sc in each sc till last 2, sc2tog over last 2 sc.Rows 13 to 14- 1 sc in each sc across. Fasten off, leave long tail to sew with.
Place 2 pieces together, and sew all around using tails left over. Fasten off. Do not stuff ears. Put aside till time to sew them on.
Stuff the body and close the top. Fasten off. Attack the ears at the sides and sew them in place. Fasten off.
You're done!
Please remember that I share my patterns with you in good faith. They belong to Craftybegonia, please use them only for personal or charity purposes. Thank you!
Pattern has been checked and corrected March 2011.
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Posts
Wow! How did you do this? U are so talented!. Can you teach me how you sculpt? Cos I am looking at how to sculpt a cat's ears onto the head
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for your nice comment,I am learning as go and sharing as I learn. I haven't gotten to cat's ears yet...But you'll never know (lol) I would shape it beforehand and sew it on, if I were you, I like things simple and straightforward, even though they might look intricate and complex. This the way I would make it: Make your cat's ear as you would do it regularly and then, whatever shaping you want to give it, just pinch with your fingers and threading a blunt needle with the yarn color of the ear, secure the pinched form by sewing on the back side. That is how I have learned to do it since the explanations I have seen online have never worked for me.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps!
Clotilde
i am a dog lover and cannot afford to keep one. i love to crochet. i watch out for dog patterns. i have seen so many crochet dog pics. This one seems so real than a toy.
ReplyDeletewith mussel detail and all. You must make a life size dog with this face. muffins expression is so realistic. I would love to make this but I am just a begginer. I was wondering whether i will be able to crochet this and complete it.
Hi Anitha, thank you for your nice words! We have two dogs at home and are sincere pet lovers (I think it shows, huh?) The only thing difficult about Muffin is the jowls. Now, if you follow the instructions for the needle-sculpting VERY carefully, giving yourself time to read each step and follow it carefully, I don't know why you wouldn't be able to make him. I try to make very straightforward patterns that are mostly easy to follow. If you think you can't make him now, print him and try him out a bit later, you'll be able to do it, I promise!
ReplyDeleteClotilde
Another adorable doggy.
ReplyDeleteThis one has such great character in it's face.
Thanks so much for the pattern!
Best look at the instructions for the legs I had to go to another pattern to do them.But i just love these dogs they are so cute.
ReplyDeleteThat is so strange! I write my patterns as I am making the little fellas, so how can I get the legs if they are the wrong legs? That's puzzling. I wrote Muffin's legs when I made him, if I had the wrong legs, I wouldn't have been able to put him together and photograph him. Strange...But if anotehr set of legs worked for you, that's fine.
ReplyDeleteHi! Love your funmigurumi! They look perfect for my son! Approximately how large are your creations? How easy / difficult are they to scale? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi, my funmigurumi can be very difficult or very easy, depending on your level of skill as a crocheter. I wouldn't start with Muffin if I were you. He's a soft-scupted doggy and for a begginer, that's a tall order! I would start with one of the simpler ones and then move up the list. They are about 9 to 10 inches long. I make them that size because I make them for small children and they have just the right size for little arms to hug and hold. Hope this helps! I wouldn't try to scale them either, they are specific designs (they belong to Craftybegonia and any major changes to the pattern should be consulted with me and aspproved by me.) I wouldn't try to make them larger on my own if I were you, because I wouldn't be able to guide your from afar and your creation might turn out skewed and not really pretty. They are meant to be the roly-poly, medium size way they are.
ReplyDeleteHi i'm making muffin at the moment and i've made everything except for the muzzle because i can't quite understand how the pattern is on round 1 would you be able to explain it in a different way?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Hi Chicaespanyola! I had to make Muffin's muzzle again, because it's been some time and I didn't quite remember it. Muffin is one of my most difficult toys to make, I really recommend it for an advanced crocheter. But let me see if I can explain the muzzle in a simple way. Here it is: Work the first part of the muzzle as the pattern says. It will give you a regular snout. Fasten off, your yarn and weave in the end. Now, fold that snout in half, to find the center of the bottom, join your yarn again at the very center of the bottom of the snout. Work from the bottom up one of the sides, making the increases that the pattern recommends, until you have formed kind of like a semi-circle, radiating from one side of the snout, and getting ever larger. Fasten off, and repeat that on the other side.
ReplyDeleteNow you have two fan-like extensions coming out of your snout, those will be the dogs wrinkles. To form the wrinkles you proceed as follows: Thread a blunt needle and have it ready to use. Now, grab the first couple of rows of that fan-like shape between your index finger and your thumb, and taking the blunt needle, secure the wrinkle you have formed with some firm but discreet stitches at the back. Repeat with a second fold. Fasten off. Do the same on the other side and you will have needle-sculpted a dog with hanging cheeks!
I just love the dogs you make for us who like to crochet. I am going to star this one . Can you make the patern for the pug with the folds but the look of the real one, I mean like a real dog.
ReplyDeleteI admire your talent and thank you very,very much.
God Bless.
Hi Irma. Thank you for your nice words, but no, I don't make real dogs, I design toys. To make a real dog would defeat the purpose of the whole Funmigurumi concept to have fun with Amigurumi. Besides, all my prototype toys go to orphan children who love the toys very much, I don't make serious toys for adults, I make fun toys for children. Funmigurumi have a purpose and I don't want to get sidetracked from it.
ReplyDelete