I’d like to introduce you to a new friend of mine. His name is Maynard. He has a mohawk. He is also a monster, complete with four little legs, two paddle arms, and one green eye.
Want to know a few awesome things about Maynard (besides his plethora of appendages and solitary optic nerve)? He is made entirely of left-over yarn. Yarn that could have been tossed, but now has been given a monster’s life.
For my fellow yarnies out there, do you ever end up with tiny little rolls of yarn like these?
There is usually enough yarn to make a small flower, or maybe use to add features to a stuffed animal’s face, but not enough for a hat or scarf. So what could you do with this little solitary rolls of yarn? Tie them together and make a monster! Monsters are supposed to be unique and fun (at least the monsters I create), and what better way to do that than use up those little pieces of yarn and give them a one of a kind body with lots of colors?
Now a second challenge for my fellow yarn hoarders: What do you do with the few inches of yarn that you cut off your projects? I’m talking about the dinky little pieces that you couldn’t even knit a stitch or crochet a row. They’re technically new yarns, just not big enough to salvage… or so you thought! Save them in a bin, and use them to stuff your monster!
You may remember this photo from my Craft Space post, but I repurposed empty oatmeal canisters into storage bins, and one is specifically for yarn scraps.
At this point, I only save acrylic yarns for stuffing, since I only make stuffed animals out of acrylic yarn. With some people being allergic to wool or other materials, I make sure to not mix in other types so I can say the little animal/monster/etc. is for certain only one type of material.
Want to make your own little monster? Here’s how!
MAYNARD THE MOHAWKED MONSTER CROCHET PATTERN
Materials:
- Left-over Worsted Weight Yarns – any colors!
- Small amount of white yarn (for eye ball)
- Size H Crochet Hook
- Darning Needle (for weaving in ends and attaching components)
- Two small buttons (to be used as shoulder joints to attach the arms)
- A few handfuls of yarn scraps (for stuffing components)
- Note: I recommend using a stitch marker (a bobby pin works best!) to keep track of where you are in the round. I always place it in the first stitch of each round so I know where to start the next round. All components are worked in the round except the arms and mohawk.
Abbreviations:
- R# = row number
- ch = chain
- st = stitch
- sc = single crochet
- sc2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together
- *instructions* = repeat instructions throughout entire round
- (number): number of total stitches in the round
Directions – Main Body
R1: ch 2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6).
R2: 2sc in each st around (12).
R3: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next* (18).
R4: *2sc in first st, 1sc, 1 sc* (24).
R5-7: sc in each st around.
R8: 2sc in first 6 st’s, then sc in next 18 st’s (30).
R9-11: sc in ea st around.
R12: sc2tog 6 times, then sc in remaining 18 st’s (24).
R13: *sc2tog, 1sc, 1sc* (18).
R14-15: sc in each st around.
R16: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 5 st’s* (21).
R17: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 6 st’s* (24).
R18: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 7 st’s* (27).
R19: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 8 st’s* (30).
R20: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 9 st’s* (33).
R21: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 10 st’s* (36).
R22: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 11 st’s* (39).
R23: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 12 st’s* (42).
R24: *2sc in first st, 1sc in next 13 st’s* (45).
R25: -33: sc in each st around.
Note: Begin stuffing head and body with yarn scraps; keep adding yarn pieces as you decrease around until filled and you close up the bottom.
R34: *sc2tog, sc in next 7 st’s* (40).
R35: *sc2tog, sc in next 6 st’s* (35).
R36: *sc2tog, sc in next 5 st’s* (30).
R37: *sc2tog, sc in next 4 st’s* (25).
R38: *sc2tog, sc in next 3 st’s* (20).
R39: *sc2tog, sc in next 2 st’s* (15).
R40: *sc2tog, sc in next 2 st’s* (10).
R41: *sc2tog, sc in next 2 st’s* (5), fasten off.
Directions – Legs (Make Four)
R1: ch 2, 10sc in 2nd ch from hook (10).
R2-R7: sc in each st around.
Finish off with long tail to attach to body.
Directions – Arms (Make Two)
R1: ch 2, 12sc in 2nd ch from hook (12).
Note: Do not pull the ring closed; you will want it to be open enough to use as a button hold to attach the arms.
R2: 1sc in first 5 st’s, ch 1, turn.
R3: 1sc in first 4 st’s, ch 1, turn.
R4: sc2tog, 1sc in next two st’s, ch 1, turn.
R5: sc in all three st’s, ch 1, turn.
R6: sc2tog, 1sc, ch1, turn.
R7: sc in both st’s, ch 1, turn.
R8: sc2tog, finish and weave in ends.
Directions – Ears (Make Two)
R1: ch 2, 10sc in 2nd ch from hook (10).
R2: 2sc in ea st around (20.
R3: Fold circle in half and sc 3 sets of st’s together (this will partially close the ear, but leave the top of the circle open).
Finish with long tail to attach to head.
Directions – Eye (Make One)
R1: ch 2, 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook (10).
Finish with long tail to attach to head.
Using small amount of colored yarn, add color to center of eyeball when attaching to head.
Directions – Mohawk (Make One)
Note: To make a mohawk, you will first crochet a thin rectangle to tie all of the mohawk yarn pieces to it, and later attach the strip (with yarn pieces tied to it) to the head.
R1: ch 15, dc across beginning with the 3rd ch from hook (12).
Finish with long tail to attach to head once yarn pieces are all attached.
Cut 3 strands of yarn for each “rung” of the thing rectangle. Knot three strands at once to each rung to create the “hair” of the mohawk.
Using the darning needle, attach the rectangle with mohawk “hair” to the head by sewing around all four sides of the rectangle.
Finishing
Stuff the legs, and attach to the base of the body. Sew the two buttons to the shoulder area of the monster and button-on arms, attach eye, ears, and mohawk to main body. Feel free to spice things up and make this monster as unique as you are! Add more legs, more eyes, spots, stripes, whatever! I like to name my monsters, so don’t forget to give them a monsterific name!
Permission to Use this Pattern:
You may use this pattern for personal or commercial use, but please reference this website as it’s creator and link back to this pattern page. The pattern (including any photos associated with it) may not be reproduced or posted elsewhere in any capacity. Thank you!
I’d love to see any monsters you create. Send me an email with a photo if you make one!
Mwuhahahahahahaha, monsters….
~M