Alien Pocket Pal

 Hello everyone

This is my first post, I hope you all enjoy it. It is a FREE PATTERN for my Alien Pocket Pal.

This little alien is about  3.5 to 4 inches tall

I made him with some neon green worsted weight yarn (4ply) that I divided into 2 strands to make it sports weight.

The easiest way I have found to divide the yarn is to cut it in either 5 yard or 10 yard lengths.  Let the yarn hang as far down as possible, I sometimes stand up to give the yarn more room to untwist.  Untwist one of the ends to separate the strands, get 2 strands in one hand and and 2 strands in the other and slowly pull them apart.  

You can make the alien with all four plys of the worsted weight - you will need a larger hook, more yarn and your alien will be larger. (about 6 to 7 inches tall)

This little guy makes a great backpack or bag accessory - just add a keyring or lobster clip

The little pocket in the back can hold a small special item like a note, picture, trinket, etc.

Here is what you will need:

Yarn sports weight or worsted weight divided into 2 ply

        Neon Green – 60 yards divided into at least 3 balls or bobbins - Main color (M)
        Black – 5 yards divided into at  2 balls or bobbins - Contrast color (B)

2.0 to 2.5 mm hook

Small amounts of black yarn or embroidery floss for facial features

Embroidery needle with eye big enough for yarn/floss

Stuffing

2 stitch markers

Scissors

Stitches (US) and other terms used in pattern

ch = Chain
st = Stitch
sc = Single crochet
fsc = Foundation single crochet **see optional chain method at end of general instructions**
ss = slip stitch
sk = skip
inc = 2sc in same stitch = Increase
dec = sc two together = Decrease
YO = Yarn over
WS = Wrong Side

RS = Right Side
(##) = number of sc in row

If you don't know how to do a foundation single crochet, you can search for a video or you can just regular chain instead - the difference in the end result is minimal.

How to read the pattern

Everything is sc unless otherwise noted.
At end of each row ch1, turn – unless otherwise noted.

Odd rows are right side facing, Even rows are wrong side facing - all yarn tails need to be on wrong side of work.

Letter indicates color, number indicates individual single crochet – see below for examples:
                M4 = Main color, one sc in next 4 stitches
                B3 = Contract color, one sc in next 3 stitches
                Minc = Main color, two sc in next stitch  

Now that you've gathered your supplies, let's get started

I will rewrite the instructions in italics for the first few rows so you get used to the way the pattern is written.

We will start with the FRONT panel.

The first thing we will make are the legs:

Rows 1-5 of the legs are worked separately

LEGS

Leg 1

R1: with M ch5, M1 in 2nd ch, M3 (4) - (with main color ch5, sc in 2nd chain, single crochet in next three chains) - dont forget to ch1, turn
R2: Minc, M2, Minc (6) - (with main color, 2 sc in first stitch, sc in next two stitches, 2 sc in last stitch) - don't forget to ch1, turn
R3: M6 (6) - (with main color, sc in each stitch)- don't forget to ch1, turn
R4: M5, Minc (7) Place marker on wrong side of Leg 1 after completing row 4

Place marker on wrong side of Leg 1 after completing row 4

R5: M7 (7) - Finish off leaving a 3-4" tail - once I am done with the panels, I knot 2 or 3 tails together - you can leave longer tails and weave them if you prefer.

Leg 2
R1: with M ch5, M1 in 2nd ch, M3 (4)

R2: Minc, M2, Minc (6)

R3: M6 (6)

R4: Minc, M5 (7)

R5: M7 Do not finish off (7)

R6: Minc, M5, Minc ^ Minc, M5, Minc  (18) (Working across both legs - Wrong side should be facing you - working with Leg 2 first - 2 sc in first stitch, sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in last stitch of leg2, 2sc in first stitch of leg1, sc in next 5 stitches of leg1, 2sc in last stitch of leg1. You should now have 18 stitch with leg2 and leg1 joined together)

Row 6 working across both legs- Wrong side should be facing you – working Leg 2 first - work across and Inc in last stitch of Leg 2 then inc in first stitch of Leg 1.

R7: M18 (18)
R8: M18 (18)
R9: M18 (18)
R10: M18 (18)
R11: Mdec, M14, Mdec (16)
R12: Mdec, M12, Mdec, M-ch7, turn (14 +7ch) - The chain 7 is the start of the arm

R13: starting in 2nd chain, M6 [across chains], M14, Mfsc6 (26) ARM - you can just chain 7 if you don't want to do the foundation single crochet

foundation single crochet

R14: M26 (26) ARM

R15: M26 (26) ARM

You now have the legs and body completed for the front panel

Now to start the Neck and Head:

R16: ss11 stitches, ch1, M1 in same stitch, M5 (6) NECK - (slip stich across 11 stitches, Ch1, with Main color sc in same stitch, sc in next 5 stitches - leave the remaining stitches unworked)

R17: M6 (6) NECK
R18: M6 (6) NECK

R19: M6 (6) NECK

R20: M6 (6) NECK

R21: Minc, Minc, M2, Minc, Minc (10)

R22: Minc, M8, Minc (12)

R23: Minc, M10, Minc (14)

R24: M14 (14)

R25: M14 (14)

Now we are going to start the colorwork on the Aliens eyes - if you prefer to not do color work, you can make the rest of the head the same as the back panel in all the main color without the pocket opening - go to R26 of back panel

Front Panel - Face

When joining a new color, ensure tails are on WS.

With the stitch before color change, use the New Color for 2nd Yarn over.

changing color from light brown to dark brown

I will rewrite the pattern in italics for the a few rows to help understand the color changes - you will want a different ball/bobbin for each color sections - I will mark the bobbins in bold

R26: Minc, M1, B4, M2, B4, M1, Minc (16) -  (When working this row - the wrong side is facing you so all balls/bobbins need moved to the front of the work when you start a new color- with main color - bobbin1, 2 sc in first stitch, sc in next stitch, join one of the black yarn balls - bobbin2, with black - sc in next 4 stitches, join one of the other main color yarn balls - bobbin3, with main color - sc in next 2 stitches, join the other black yarn ball - bobbin4, with black, sc in next 4 stitches, join another main color yarn ball -bobbin5, with main color, sc in next stitch, 2 sc in last stitch) - you should have three sections of main color  - each with own ball/bobbin and two sections of black with own ball/bobbin)

    [ADD PICTURE]

R27: M2, B5, M2, B5, M2 (16) (When working this row - the right side of work is facing you so all balls/bobbins need to left on the back of teh work when you start a new color - with main color-bobbin5, sc in next two stitches, with black-bobbin4, sc in next 5 stitches, with main color - bobbin3, sc in next 2 stitches, with black-bobbin2, sc in next 5 stitches, with main color-bobbin1, sc in last two stitches)

R28: Minc, B6, M2, B6, Minc (18) (WS facing - with main color-bobbin1, 2sc in first stitch, with black-bobbin2, sc in next 6 stitches, with main color-bobbin3, sc in next 2 stitches, with black-bobbin4, sc in next 6 stitches, with main color-bobbin5, 2 sc in last stitch)

R29: Minc, B7, M2, B7, Minc (20) (RS Facing - with main color-bobbin5, 2sc in first stitch, with black-bobbin4, sc in next 7 stitches, with main color-bobbin3, sc in next 2 stitches, with black-bobbin2, sc in next 7 stitches, with main color-bobbin1, 2 sc in last stitch)

R30: M1, B7, M4, B7, M1 (20) (WS Facing - with main color-bobbin1, sc in first stitch, with black-bobbin2, sc in next 7 stitches, with main color-bobbin3, sc in next 4 stitches, with black-bobbin4, sc in next 7 stitches, with main color-bobbin5, sc in last stitch)

R31: M1, B6, M6, B6, M1 (20) (RS Facing - with main color-bobbin5, sc in first stitch, with black-bobbin4, sc in next 6 stitches, with main color-bobbin3, sc in next 6 stitches, with black-bobbin2, sc in next 6 stitches, with main color-bobbin1, sc in last stitch)

R32: M1, B5, M8, B5, M1 (20) (WS Facing - with main color-bobbin1, sc in first stitch, with black-bobbin2, sc in next 5 stitches, with main color-bobbin3, sc in next 8 stitches, with black-bobbin4, sc in next 5 stitches, with main color-bobbin5, sc in last stitch - finish off bobbins1-4 by cutting off leaving 3-4"tails for knotting or leave tails longer if weaving in ends)

This is the End of the colorwork.

The rest is done all the the main color using the remaining main color bobbin5

R33: M20 (20) 

R34: Mdec, M16, Mdec (18)

R35: Mdec, Mdec, M10, Mdec, Mdec (14)

R36: Mdec, M10, Mdec (12)

R37: Mdec, Mdec, M4, Mdec, Mdec (8) - Finish off leave 3-4" tail if knotting or leave longer if weaving in ends

I prefer to backstitch around the eyes with black yarn or embroidery floss.  You can also add a mouth and nose if you would like.

Now lets start the back panel

The legs, body, neck, start of head through row 25 are the same as the front panel

Rows 1 - 25 follow the same pattern as the front panel

The rest of the back panel is all one color - no colorwork

R26: Minc, M12, Minc (16)

R27: M16 (16)

R28: Minc, M14, Minc (18)

R29: Minc, M16, Minc (20)

R30: M20 (20)

R31: M20 (20)

R32: M20 (20)

Round 33 will have an opening for the pocket - you can skip the opening if you don't want a pocket or you are making the front panel without the colorwork -  M20 instead of instructions below

R33: M4, [POCKOPEN = Mfsc12], sk12, M4 (20) (for pocket opening - with main color, sc in first 4 stitches, complete 12 foundation single crochet or you can just chain 12, skip 12 stitches from previous round, sc in last 4 stitches)

Pocket opening using 12 foundation single crochet

R34: Mdec, M16, Mdec (18)

R35: Mdec, Mdec, M10, Mdec, Mdec (14)

R36: Mdec, M10, Mdec (12)

R37: Mdec, Mdec, M4, Mdec, Mdec (8)

If you are not adding a pocket - you can skip to assembly.

POCKET

Use the main color or the color of back of head leave 20-inch tail at the beginning for sewing. The pocket will be on the inside of the animal.

R1: M12 in the bottom loops of the fsc – (If using optional chain method sc12 into unused loops of chain)

R2: Minc, M10, Minc (14)

R3: Minc, M12, Minc (16)

R4-R10: M16 (16)

R11: Mdec, M12, Mdec (14)

R12: Mdec, M10, Mdec (12) finish off leaving 3-4"tail

Using the 20" tail left at the beginning, sew around edges of pocket, ensure pocket does not overlap edges of animal – weave in end to secure

making and sewing the pocket

ASSEMBLY

Before you assemble your Alien, make sure you have the front panel face finished and all tails either knotted together or woven in.   On the back panel, make sure the pocket is sewn down and all tails are either knotted together or woven in.

There are several ways to assembly your alien.  I prefer option 1 - to slip stitch around at the edges with the back side of alien facing me.  This will create a running stitch on the front side and a loop chain stitch on the back side.

All options start with wrong sides of panels together – your stitches will be on the outside of the animal

Option 1: with back of animal facing you, start on left side of head - slip stitch around

 

Option 1 - front of animal

Option 1 - back of animal

Option 2: slip stitch with front facing - this will make a chain around the front edge.

Option 2 - front of animal

option 2 - back of animal

Option 3: single crochet around both pieces with front facing.

Option 4: Sew a running stitch around using needle and yarn.

Stitch through both front and back panels

Make sure all yarn tails are tucked inside the animal as you go around, insert stuffing after finishing the body and before finishing the head.

Weave in the ends of yarn used to assemble the animal.

I hope you enjoy your little alien

Please find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter - like my page and share pictures of items that you have created.

You can purchase a PDF pattern with written instructions and a colored graph on Ravelry

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/alien-pocket-pal

You can also see my other pocket pal patterns available for purchase on Ravelry

Zoo Animal Collections One (Polar Bear, Lion, Tiger, Elephant, Sloth, Koala)
Zoo Animal Collections Two (Panda, Monkey, Giraffe, Hippo, Zebra, Alligator/Crocodile)
Individual animal patterns are being added 

Disclaimer

You may not copy and paste, re-post, or reproduce ANY part of the information contained herein electronically, verbally, written or otherwise, including translations.

You may make and sell products from my patterns, but I ask that you reference Green Acres Creations

If you have any questions regarding these patterns or find any errors, please contact me via email at greenacrescreation@gmail.com or send me a Facebook message at @greenacrescreation

Please find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter - like my page and share pictures of items that you have created.

Kendra OHern

Green Acres Creations