It's no secret that I love autumn or that I love Halloween so it should come as no surprise that I would have a cute spooky pattern available this month!
I've been watching the horror movies I've collected over the years and was inspired by a man with a shrunken head in Beetlejuice to create this cute fella to ride around with me as I run mommy errands :-)
Materials:
Ww yarn in color of your choosing- I used Red Heart Super Saver in Warm Brown, black, white & a small at of a darker brown
6mm safety eyes - you could just stitch eyes with black or even use an E Bead
Small amt of fiberfill
F hook
Needle (to weave in ends and attach features)
Abbreviations
* Mr: magic ring
* ch : chain
* sl st : slip stitch
* sc : single crochet
* sc2tog: decrease
*: repeat directions between **
* f.o. : finish off
Notes
All terms American. If pattern reads "sc, sc2tog, 2sc" it would be read as, " single crochet, single crochet 2 stitches together, 2 single crochet in the next stitch", directions are to be repeated to end of row/round unless otherwise noted. As with any pattern, be sure to read through once before beginning, and don't forget to mark your rounds! (I use a bit of contrasting yarn) This is an original design by me, Anna Wilson 2016.
You may do whatever you like with your completed Shrunken Head, you can sell them, hang them from a rear view mirror, a keychain or even give it as a gift! I only ask that you please not claim this pattern as your own, I worked hard to design my Shrunken Head :)
Directions
Starting with color you chose for the head
1: Mr 6 (6)
2: 2sc (12)
3: sc, 2sc (18)
4: sc2, 2sc (24)
5-11: sc (24)
12: * sc, sc2tog* x2, sc12, * sc2tog, sc* x2 (20)
13: sc2tog x2, sc, sc2tog x5, sc, sc2tog x2 (11) begin stuffing the head
14: sc, sc2tog x2, sc (mark this as center front) , sc2tog x2, sc (7)
15-16: sc (7) f.o. cinch neck closed with end and weave in ends
Lips: x2
with head color
Ch6
1: sl st in 2nd ch from hook and across (5) f.o. leave a long end to attach to face
Eyes: x2
With white
1: mr4 (4)
2: sc (4) f.o. leave a long end for attaching to head
Center front st marked
Finishing:
A bunch of pieces
Begin by lining up lips toward the bottom of the head, st them closely together, only st through begin ch end of work so the lips "stand up"
Attach the eyes a cpl rows above the lips
The safety eyes will be a snug fit, I only pushed through the outer edge of rings, you do not need any stuffing for the eyes. You can embroider or attach beads if you prefer.
Finishing the facial features: I use a bit of black yarn split to 2 ply to create the nose holes and st over the lips. Don't feel constrained, use x's or straight lines, or mix it up like I do. For the nose I just make 2 stitches a bit wider at the bottom of the nose.
Split the darker brown color to 2ply and create little lines going towards the eyes to give a dehydrated look. Remember you are the artist. Change up the lines a bit so it isn't too uniform.
Hair, I cut black yarn lengths of about 10" to create the hair. Just create an outer hair line of black, you will be pulling the hair into a ponytail on top so it just needs the edges lined.
If you want your Shrunken head to hang from your rear view mirror attach black yarn to center point on top of head that keeps head balanced best, ch approximately 55 and sl st back to head where you attached. Take tail ends of yarn and tie tightly, use these ends of yarn to tie pony tail on top of head. If that seems to complicated, just tie the ends tightly and pull up pony tail and use a different bit of yarn to tie off.
Want your Shrunken head to be a keychain? Use same technique as above for attaching ch, just make fewer chs. You can drop a ring on this and fasten off as before.
Use #MommyMadeCrochet on social media or add a project to your ravelry acct!
