Candy Stripe Belly Turtle Free Pattern: Velvet Crochet Desk Buddy

Candy Stripe Belly Turtle: A Velvet Crochet Desk Buddy

If you have never held a crochet hook before, this is the perfect first project to fall in love with. This palm-sized velvet turtle is worked almost entirely in one simple stitch, so you can focus on learning the basics while you make something adorable. The finished turtle is about 4.5 inches long, soft as a plush toy, with candy-pink and baby-blue stripes on its round body, a smooth baby-blue dome shell on top, and a little white belly oval underneath. It has four stubby striped legs and a tiny striped head peeking out from under the shell, giving it that nostalgic 1970s handmade look. Set it on your desk, your nightstand, or gift it to someone who needs a squishy little friend.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky (weight 5) velvet or chenille yarn, approximately 30–40 yards (27–37 meters) per color. You need one skein each in Cotton Candy Pink (Color A), Baby Blue (Color B), and White (Color C). The body uses most of the pink and blue.
• Crochet hook: 5.0 mm (US size H-8). If you tend to crochet loosely, use a 4.5 mm (US size 7) hook instead.
• Stitch marker: At least one, to mark the start of each round.
• Tapestry needle: A blunt-tipped needle with a large eye for sewing pieces together and weaving in ends.
• Scissors: Any small sharp pair.
• Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill, a small handful.
• Optional: Black embroidery floss for eyes, or two 6 mm safety eyes.
• Finished size: Approximately 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) long, 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide, and 2.25 inches (5.5 cm) tall.

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

• ch – chain. Make a slip knot on your hook, wrap the yarn over the hook, and pull it through the loop on your hook. That is one chain.
• sc – single crochet. Insert your hook into the stitch, wrap yarn over the hook, pull up a loop (you now have two loops on the hook), wrap yarn over again, and pull through both loops. One single crochet made.
• sc2tog – single crochet two stitches together (a decrease). Insert your hook into the first stitch, pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next stitch, pull up a loop (three loops on hook), wrap yarn over, pull through all three loops. This turns two stitches into one.
• 2 sc in next st – an increase. Work two single crochets into the same stitch, which adds one stitch.
• st / sts – stitch / stitches.
• rnd / rnds – round / rounds. One complete circle of stitches worked in a spiral.
• magic ring – an adjustable loop. Wrap the yarn around your fingers to make a loop, insert your hook into the loop, pull up a loop of working yarn, chain one to secure, then work your stitches into the ring. Pull the short tail to close the hole tightly.
• fasten off – cut the yarn leaving a tail, then pull the tail through the last loop on your hook to lock it.
• whipstitch – a simple sewing stitch. Bring the needle up through both layers, wrap the yarn over the edge, and go back down through both layers, repeating along the seam.
• continuous spiral – working round after round without joining or turning, so the rounds spiral upward like a coil.

Gauge

Gauge: 4 single crochet stitches x 4 rounds = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in continuous spiral single crochet.

Gauge matters because it controls the finished size. If your stitches are bigger than this, your turtle will come out larger and the stuffing may show through the gaps. If your stitches are smaller, the turtle will be tiny and stiff. To check your gauge, crochet a small flat circle of about 12 stitches across and measure 1 inch in the middle. If you get more than 4 stitches in an inch, switch to a larger hook. If you get fewer than 4, switch to a smaller hook. Velvet yarn is fuzzy, so measure gently and do not stretch the fabric.

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Use your stitch marker every round. Place it in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go. In a spiral there is no seam to guide you, so the marker is your best friend.
• Do not pull the yarn too tight. Velvet yarn needs a slightly firm but relaxed tension. If you yank it, the fabric stiffens and the fuzzy nap gets crushed.
• Change colors on the last yarn-over. When the pattern says to change color, work the final single crochet of the round but pull the new color through on the last step. This keeps the stripes clean.
• Carry the unused color loosely inside the body. Do not pull the carried strand tight or the turtle will pucker. Let it rest gently against the inside of the work.
• Stuff firmly but in small pieces. Add stuffing a little at a time so the body stays round and even. Overstuffing stretches the stitches and shows the filling.
• Velvet yarn sheds. That is normal. Keep a lint roller nearby and do not worry about the fuzz; it washes off finished pieces with a gentle spot clean.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (Striped Sphere)

Work in continuous spirals in Colors A and B, changing color every 2 rounds. Do not join rounds. Move your stitch marker up each round.

Rnd 1: With A, make a magic ring, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: [Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: [Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (42 sts)

Rnds 8–9: Change to B. Sc in each st around. (42 sts)

Rnds 10–11: Change to A. Sc in each st around. (42 sts)

Rnds 12–13: Change to B. Sc in each st around. (42 sts)

Rnds 14–15: Change to A. Sc in each st around. (42 sts)

Rnd 16: Change to B. [Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (36 sts)

Rnd 17: [Sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (30 sts)

Rnd 18: [Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (24 sts)

Stuff the body firmly now and keep adding small pieces of stuffing as the opening closes.

Rnd 19: [Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 20: [Sc in next st, sc2tog] 6 times. (12 sts)

Rnd 21: [Sc2tog] 6 times. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread the tail through the final 6 stitches and pull closed. Weave in the end.

Shell (Plain Baby Blue Dome)

Work in Color B only, in continuous spirals.

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: [Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: [Sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (42 sts)

Rnds 8–9: Sc in each st around. (42 sts)

Rnd 10: [Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog] 6 times. (36 sts)

Rnd 11: Sc in each st around. (36 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long 18-inch tail for sewing. Lightly stuff the dome so it holds its shape, but do not overstuff; the shell should sit slightly flattened on top of the body.

Belly Oval (White)

Work in Color C, back and forth in rows (turning at the end of each row).

Row 1: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (6 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in last st. (8 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (8 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (8 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog. (6 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog. (4 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch tail. The oval should measure about 2.5 x 1.5 inches (6.5 x 4 cm).

Legs (Make 4, Striped)

Work in continuous spirals in Colors A and B. Make 2 legs starting with A and 2 legs starting with B for a mixed candy-stripe look.

Rnd 1: With A, make a magic ring, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: Sc in each st around. (6 sts)

Rnd 3: Change to B. Sc in each st around. (6 sts)

Rnd 4: Change to A. Sc in each st around. (6 sts)

Rnd 5: Change to B. Sc in each st around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail. Stuff each leg lightly.

Head (Striped)

Work in continuous spirals in Colors A and B.

Rnd 1: With A, make a magic ring, 6 sc into ring. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnds 4–5: Change to B. Sc in each st around. (18 sts)

Rnd 6: Change to A. [Sc in next st, sc2tog] 6 times. (12 sts)

Stuff the head firmly before closing.

Rnd 7: [Sc2tog] 6 times. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a 10-inch tail. Close the final 6 stitches and weave in the end.

Assembly and Finishing

Step 1 – Belly: Pin the white belly oval to the underside of the body, centered. Using the white tail and your tapestry needle, whipstitch all the way around the oval edge. Whipstitch means bringing the needle up through both layers, wrapping the yarn over the edge, and going back down through both layers. Keep the stitches small and even.

Step 2 – Shell: Center the blue shell on top of the body, slightly toward the back so the front third of the body stays exposed for the head and neck. Thread the long blue tail onto your needle and whipstitch around the shell edge, catching only the outer edge of the shell and the body beneath it.

Step 3 – Head: Sew the head to the front of the body just under the shell rim, tilting it slightly upward. Use small whipstitches and check the position before you tie off.

Step 4 – Legs: Sew two legs on each side of the body, spaced evenly under the shell edge, angling them outward. Use the 6-inch tails and whipstitch each leg base securely.

Step 5 – Eyes (optional): Embroider two small black French knots on the head about 3 stitches apart, or attach 6 mm safety eyes before you close the head in Rnd 7.

Step 6 – Weave in ends: Using your tapestry needle, tuck every yarn tail inside the body. Push the needle through the stuffing and out the other side, then trim close. Gently shape the shell and body with your fingers.

Blocking: Do not wet block velvet yarn. Instead, gently steam the finished turtle from a distance of about 6 inches, or simply smooth it with your hands. Do not machine wash; spot clean only.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the stripe colors: Swap Cotton Candy Pink and Baby Blue for mint green and cream, or lavender and butter yellow, to make a whole family of turtles. Keep the shell a solid color so the stripes on the body stand out.
• Adjust the size: To make a larger turtle, use a 6.0 mm hook and bulky yarn held double, or add one more increase round to the body and shell. To make a tiny keychain turtle, use a 3.5 mm hook with DK weight yarn and follow the same stitch counts.
• Try a different yarn: Any bulky chenille or velvet yarn works beautifully. If you use a smooth worsted weight yarn instead, drop to a 4.0 mm hook and expect a slightly smaller, less fuzzy turtle.
• Add a face: Embroider a tiny smile with black floss, or add a small pink blush circle on each cheek using a scrap of pink yarn and a few straight stitches.