I made this Newborn/Preemie, free crochet turtle photo prop for my beautiful nephew Hunter. He was born 10 weeks early weighing only 3 lbs. He is doing great! And so is the momma. A very strong family that not only have much love for one another, but also turtles. <3 Turtle Love, Presented by Stitch 11
Stitches
Slip Stitch
CH- Chain
SC- Single Crochet
HDC – Half Double Crochet
Supplies
G/6-4.25 Crochet Hook
Simply Soft Yarn (light yellow, light green, olive green)
Crochet needle (for weaving in ends)
You will need to make 6 pentagons to form the turtle shell
Get Started!
With light/bright green
Round 1: Magic Circle, CH 2, HDC 8 inside Magic Circle. Join to top of CH 2.
Round 2: CH 2, HDC in same space, CH 2, skip a stitch, **2 HDC in next stitch, CH 2, Skip a stitch, repeat from ** around, join to top of CH 2
Round 3: Slip stitch into next stitch, slip stitch into CH space. CH 2, HDC 2 in same space, CH 2, HDC 3 in same space. ** 3 HDC in next CH space, CH 2, 3 HDC in same space. Repeat from ** around. Join to the op of CH 2.
Round 4: CH 2, HDC in next 2 stitches, HDC in CH space, CH 2, HDC in same CH space. **HDC in next 6 stitches, HDC in CH space, CH 2, HDC in same CH space. repeat from ** 3 more times. HDC in next 3 stitches. Join to top of CH 2.
Change to dark/olive green
Round 5: CH 2, HDC in next 3 stitches, 4 HDC in CH space,** HDC in next 8 stitches. 4 HDC in CH space. Repeat from ** 3 more times. HDC in next 4 stitches. Join to the top of CH 2.
Change to light Yellow and put the back side of two pentagons together. SC across like in the picture above and in the picture below.
And now you have joined two crocheted pentagons. You will need to put another pentagon, with back sides together, with the same pentagon. Like in the picture below and crochet across just like the first two.
Continue with all of the pentagons until you have worked around the entire first pentagon.
Crochet down connecting the sides.. around the front of the pentagon and back down connecting the other side to the next pentagon. Finish off and attach yarn on the next pentagon. (where my finger is pointing on the picture below. Work your way around the shell, attaching them all, making them one piece.
Once you have Single Crocheted all the pieces together, Chain 1 and SC around the outside edge of the entire shell. Connect to the first SC. Next you will need to slip stitch around the outside edge of the entire shell.
And now to make the outside edge look like one wide and thick stitch, you will SC through the first outside row of yellow. (if you do not understand, look at the picture below to see where I am inserting the hook.)
Finish off and weave in ends.
Now all you need is the Beanie!
Supplies
Size I/9- 5.5 hook.
I used Simply Soft
Abbreviations
HDC-Half Double Crochet
CH 2 counts as a HDC
Get Started!
Row 1: Magic Circle. CH 2, 9 HDC inside magic circle. Connect to top of CH 2 (10 HDC)
Row 2: CH 2, HDC in same stitch, 2 HDC in each stitch. Connect to top of CH 2 (20 HDC)
Row 3: CH 2, HDC in same stitch, HDC in next stitch, *2 HDC in the next stitch, HDC in next stitch, repeat from * around. Connect to top of CH 2. (30 HDC)
Row 4: CH 2, HDC in same stitch, HDC in next 2 stitches, *2 HDC in the next stitch, HDC in next 2 stitches, repeat from * around. Connect to top of CH 2. (40 HDC)
Row 5-15: CH 2, HDC in each stitch. Connect to top of CH 2.
Finish off and weave in ends. I like to weave mine up the seam to make the seam not noticeable.
Maryjane says
August 2, 2012 at 3:13 pmLove it! That is so cute!!!
Diana says
August 3, 2012 at 3:16 pmIt came out sooooo cute….glad you tried it I knew your hexagon pattern would be perfect for a turtle outfit….xoxox
Corina says
August 3, 2012 at 6:58 pmI used a different polygon but because of you saying that the “memaw square” would work great… I knew I could figure out how to put a turtle together. thank you!!
Diana says
August 4, 2012 at 1:17 pmI realized that as I was making one up last night that you used a pentagon for this…..you are soooooo awesome for figuring this stuff our….and this is such an adorable pattern thank you!! xoxo
susan mcgregor says
October 13, 2012 at 3:53 pmon this little ensemble, what kind of yarn is Simply Soft yarn–plies, weight?
Corina says
October 13, 2012 at 9:04 pmIts 4ply medium weight 🙂
kayra says
March 24, 2015 at 9:57 amDo u think i can use baby yarn weight category 3
Corina says
March 24, 2015 at 10:12 amIt would end up small. :/
Rachel says
January 27, 2013 at 3:47 pmHow many ounces of yarn is needed for a project like this? I know I only need a little of the accent colors, but I want to know if I need extra balls of the main green!
Corina says
January 27, 2013 at 4:16 pmIt was less than one skein of Caron Simply Soft. I do not have any labels at the moment to know how many yards is in the skein or I would check.
Rachel says
January 28, 2013 at 4:13 amthank you! 🙂
Audrey says
February 3, 2013 at 7:20 pmLove Love Love this pattern and the babies pics turned out gorgeous.
Made this for a new mommy for her baby, also going to try and make a little ladybug one. Thanks so much for sharing your pattern Your the best 🙂
Corina says
February 3, 2013 at 10:09 pmThank you so much for the wonderful feedback! <3
Nicole says
March 24, 2014 at 2:48 pmOoh I didn’t think of a ladybug – that would be so adorable! Do you have any pictures of how that turned out?
Corina says
March 25, 2014 at 1:10 amI never ended up doing it. I completely forgot to be honest until reading your comment. lol
Liz c. says
February 20, 2013 at 11:36 amHi. First off i want to say thank you for providing us with all of these great pattern. I love every one of them! Ever since i found ur site, I’ve been dying to make this turtle and finally a family member is having a boy! Anyway my problem is, my pentagons are getting all wavy from row 3 on. i have tried every which way to fix this but can’t seem to figure out what I’m doing wrong. I would greatly appreciate any help u or anyone that’s done this pattern can give me. Thanks again!
Donna says
March 16, 2015 at 11:59 pmHi,
My pentagons started to wave also, so I loosened up my first rows to compensate when I made all the other motifs. Not only that, but when the pentagons are crocheted together, the motifs even out and the crochet around the perimeter brings the whole thing together beautifully.
Katie says
October 27, 2015 at 11:23 pmMine turned out kind of star shaped but I just blocked them and they’re perfect now. I’m all through crocheting but I’m also going to block the finished edges. I usually never block but in this case it really helped.
Liz c. says
February 20, 2013 at 11:42 amTo clarify on my previous comment: by wavy i meant it looks ruffled/ gathered. They won’t lay flat. Sorry!
Corina says
February 20, 2013 at 12:07 pmYou may be crocheting a little looser than I did. Or you could be using slightly thicker yarn. I used caron simply soft. Its medium weight but I find it to be a little smaller than the average medium weight.
Liz c. says
February 20, 2013 at 8:12 pmThank u so much! I’ll try tighter first but I’d say it’s probably my yarn. I don’t have a lys and the closest walmart is over 20 miles (a dreaded trip with a one and two year old) so i bought some super saver from a discount store nearby. 🙂
Lauren says
February 22, 2013 at 12:35 amHi Corrina!
I am sort of new to the crocheting community, and I taught myself. I am confused on the last part of the edging of the turtle. Is there any way you could point me in the right direction on SCing through the first outside row of yellow?
Please help!
Thank you for such a cute project by the way. I love it!!! Everything else has turned out wonderfully 🙂
Corina says
February 22, 2013 at 12:46 amHi Lauren! When you are doing this, your SC will wrap around the previous rows of yellow SC. Making it look like one large, solid and thick rounded stitch.
Linda says
February 28, 2013 at 8:46 pmLove the turtle and can’t wait to try the pattern. I can’t seem to find the olive green and light green yarn. Could it be under another name. Thank you
Rocky says
March 21, 2013 at 5:26 pmi wish there was a print button
Corina says
March 21, 2013 at 5:29 pmThere is a print button at the button of each pattern 🙂
Lauren says
March 23, 2013 at 10:21 pmLove this pattern. Thank you so much. I went to make this again tonight, but the pics seem to be missing or not showing up. Just thought you might want to know.
Corina says
March 24, 2013 at 11:46 amThank you! I will fix that right away! I wonder, are you on a phone?
Lauren says
March 24, 2013 at 6:36 pmNope. Using safari. It’s weird cause they worked last week when I made this.
Carol says
April 17, 2013 at 9:50 pmThank you for this pattern, I made it, and it is adorable!
Tamara at Moogly says
May 13, 2013 at 12:28 pmSuper cute, Corina! I featured a link to your page on my blog this morning: http://www.mooglyblog.com/10-free-baby-crochet-photo-prop-patterns/
Thank you for sharing your pattern!
Corina says
May 13, 2013 at 10:36 pmI seen that! Thank you so much Tamara!! <3
Jane says
May 27, 2013 at 4:59 pmHi! I need to make this for a pretty small preemie. Can you give me some guidance on your final measurements here? How wide and long is this in finished measurements?
Corina says
May 30, 2013 at 10:12 amI do not have measurements but the shell would be ideal for preemies… I would suggest sticking with the caron simply soft.
Donna says
July 1, 2013 at 6:13 pmI would like to print this pattern but can’t I downloaded the doc to pfd but can’t figure it out can you help me?
Corina says
July 11, 2013 at 9:46 pmDid you try the “Clean Print” button at the bottom of the post? 🙂
Taki says
March 25, 2014 at 9:34 pmI have tried using “Clean Print” and it keeps making my pc restart. Is it possible for you to email me the pattern? Thanks in advance.
Corina says
March 25, 2014 at 9:58 pmSending email now. 🙂
Sunshine says
December 27, 2013 at 1:19 pmI love this pattern, and it’s so simple! I ran into a couple problems on the pattern. I needed to do 9 HDC on the first round to get it to come out right on the second round. Then, on the fourth round, it is only 5 HDC then one in the space, CH 2, etc.
Now for my question: If I make this, and someone wants to pay me for the item, is that okay?
Corina says
December 27, 2013 at 6:00 pmYes 🙂 I love when people sell things made with my patterns.
Penny says
January 26, 2014 at 9:56 pmLove you’re turtle set, I’m fearly new to crocheting. The problem I’m having is I’ve tried this pattern several times and doesn’t seem to look the right way. I’m wondering if you can repost the photos again cause they are not showing up, or if you can please email them to me would also be awesome. Thank you
P.S.
Wishing mine looked like yours!!
Corina says
January 27, 2014 at 2:06 amIm going to try to email it to you…let me know how it works 🙂
Nina Goodwin says
March 5, 2014 at 4:24 pmThank you for sharing this precious pattern! Your instructions are very clear and your tutorial pictures are perfect! Great job!
Audrey says
March 28, 2014 at 3:31 pmThat’s a reborn doll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recognized it instantly.
Corina says
March 29, 2014 at 2:20 amIt is 😀 A friend of mine let me borrow it. It is hard not to treat it like a real baby!!
Kellie says
April 1, 2014 at 11:06 pmIs this sized for a premie? I would like to make for newborn and/or 0-3. If it is sized for premie what do you recommend for making it a size or two bigger?
Corina says
April 1, 2014 at 11:29 pmInstead of using simply soft yarn… because it works up as a lighter medium weight- use a heavier medium/worsted weight like Red Heart or I love This Yarn.
Dawn says
July 29, 2014 at 2:57 amThank you SOOOOO much for sharing this pattern and your pictures. I have been wanting to make this pattern for a while now. If I wanted to make this bigger do I just use a bigger hook with the exact pattern? Also, what sizes would this pattern be good for. Example: 0-3 mos 3-6 mos.
Michelle Robbins says
August 16, 2014 at 2:00 pmHello! Your Turtle is so cute. I am making one for my new granddaughter. I am also thinking of making one for myself for a Halloween costume. Do you have any suggestions as to how many squares I will need? And will the five-sided square work for an adult size pattern? Thank you so much for your help.
audra wisniowski says
October 17, 2014 at 1:05 pmmy g hook is only 4.00 mm and the shell seems awfully small…should i use my h (5.00)instead?
Corina says
October 17, 2014 at 10:43 pmA 5 mm hook with regular worstered weight yarn like Redheart or I love This Yarn will work out great in more of newborn – 0-3 months size. I used the Simply Soft by Caron with the smaller hook since it was for a preemie.
Dorene Morton says
October 19, 2014 at 12:32 pmI just found out I’m going to be a first-time grandma, so I’m not very familiar with crocheting things for babies? I’m wondering if the turtle shell just lays on top of the baby or is there a front to it so it “attaches” to the baby like a sweater or something. Do you have instructions for the front?
This is such an adorable outfit and my daughter-in-law (the new mommy) comes from a family of sea turtle lovers. So this would be perfect.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Corina says
October 19, 2014 at 1:31 pmHi Dorene! No, there isn’t a front to the turtle. It lay’s on the baby more like a blanket. Congrats on becoming a grandma!!
Dorene Morton says
October 19, 2014 at 6:16 pmOkay, thanks for letting me know. I’m going to make it anyway. It’s just way too cute not to:)
teresa t says
October 24, 2014 at 1:53 pma friend wants me to make this for her 4 year old…..how would you recommend upsizing it?
Corina says
October 27, 2014 at 7:27 pmMy only guess right now would be to make another round of octagons to fit around the shell before doing the trim.
Jo-Ann says
November 9, 2014 at 12:57 pmThis is the best pattern! Your instructions are so easy to follow… thank you so much for sharing.
millie dunn says
November 22, 2014 at 9:18 pmMy daughter-in-law asked me to make this for her baby girl. I don’t crochet a lot, but thought I’d give it a try! Found this pattern by searching online and finished the outfit “early” – turns out Emma was early, too, and has already had a photo shoot! Turned out adorable!! The instructions were really easy to follow and the result was great. I added a few crocheted flowers (detachable with safety pins). cuter than I imagined. Thanks for a great pattern – if there’s a way to download a photo on this site, I’d be glad to share Emma’s.
Christy says
December 3, 2014 at 11:13 amI can’t seem to print at all, I have tried everything…have a baby coming in 3 monthes and would love to give this to her. Is there any way to email the pattern. I would be very greatful. Baby Mother is my neice and is just crazy about turtles and I wanted to surprise her with this.
Corina says
December 3, 2014 at 5:28 pmDid you try the print friendly icon at the bottom of the post?
Gloria Garcia says
January 23, 2015 at 9:18 pmDid you have this in Spanish language thanks
Corina says
January 26, 2015 at 12:18 pmI’m sorry I dont.
Sue Nichols says
March 31, 2015 at 8:40 pmNot sure how to do the turtle tail.. Did I miss the directions for it??
Corina says
March 31, 2015 at 9:28 pmI didn’t add a tail.
Sue Nichols says
April 2, 2015 at 9:45 pmanother picture of turtle top is done in green & brown with a small tail. Am also looking for hat pattern with flower.
Lisa says
June 19, 2015 at 6:48 pmWould love to make this into a “cocoon”…have you by chance done this already? No sense my re-inventing the wheel if you’ve already done so!
Corina says
June 19, 2015 at 7:10 pmI have not but what a wonderful idea!!! If you do I would love to see it after!
Tatiana says
March 30, 2016 at 12:08 pmI think I know how to do that!!! If you make more hexagons it should work. Flip this finished work over and it’s the bottom minus the final trim
Elizabeth says
August 28, 2015 at 7:00 amI would like to make this for a friend but is there a way to make it bigger? Can I add more rounds to the hexagon to make it bigger? Thanks
Corina says
August 30, 2015 at 10:26 amI know others have made it larger by using thicker yarn and a larger hook.
Terilyn says
September 17, 2015 at 9:48 pmI don’t use the magic circle so hoe many chains should I use for a circle to dc into for both the beanie and pentagons?
Corina says
September 17, 2015 at 11:29 pmI would CH 4 and join to the first CH. You can always tighten the hole when you weave in your starting end.
amber says
September 27, 2015 at 7:45 pmDoes the ** mean skip that many stitches or does it mean something else?? I’m kinda new at reading crochet patterns and want to get this perfect for my friends baby!!!!
Corina says
September 27, 2015 at 11:25 pmIts marking the spot in the pattern that you will be later (in that round) directed to repeat from it.
Evchen says
September 30, 2015 at 6:45 pmHi, thank you very much for the pattern. Ended up in the last days before birth : D
You can see the result here:
http://5-vor-zwoelf.blogspot.de/2015/09/mini-schildi.html?m=1
Jacqueline says
October 5, 2015 at 1:05 amI came across this a week ago & had the perfect colors of yarn I wanted already in my stash (green, dark blue, & light blue). I made the shell & it turned out great!!! Ty for posting this pattern!!! I’m now working on the hat & I’m running into a problem with the hat. When I get to the 5th row., and don’t use the HDC in the same ch2 space as the previous rows call for, then it ends up with a gap on each row between the Ch2 & the 1st HDC.
I don’t know if its bc I’m using a thicker baby yarn (Baby Bee ) or if I’m doing something wrong. I’ve crocheted for 3 yrs now & made several hats in the round & never had a gap before. But I’ve generally not made hats that use HDC stitches either.
Just so I know I’m correct… I count the Ch2 as one of the HDC’s? And when I get to the fifth row, I no longer use the HDC in the same space as the Ch2. In your pattern, on row 5, it just says ch2 & HDC in each stitch, but doesn’t specify HDC in same stitch as you did in previous rows.
I hope I’m explaining that right.
Corina says
October 5, 2015 at 8:41 amSince writing this pattern.. I have changed a few techniques. If I were to make this today, I would only CH 1 and join to the top of the HDC. 🙂 Hopefully that fixes the issue.
Jacqueline says
October 5, 2015 at 10:49 pmI will give it a try tonight & let you know how it turns out. Thanks a bunch!
Kyla says
January 17, 2016 at 11:37 amI love this pattern. I made it and my finished product turned out very box-ish. I feel like it doesn’t lay as flat as the item in the picture. I used the red heart yarn and it’s a 4 ply worsted weight. Any ideas or tips on how I can make it look more like the item pictured here. I also used the recommended hook size. Thanks.
Corina says
January 17, 2016 at 12:54 pmIt could be because red heart is a little more stiff than caron simply soft. Maybe try a softer yarn.
Lisa says
February 26, 2016 at 8:05 amU said this is for a premie baby how many squares for average size baby? Thanks
Corina says
February 26, 2016 at 1:53 pmThe same. Instead of using Caron Simply Soft I would use more of a worsted weight yarn.
RITA says
March 4, 2016 at 1:03 amWhat is used to connect “turtle” to baby
Or is it just a cover
Corina says
March 9, 2016 at 7:34 pmYou just lay it over them, a belly to make it a complete shell would be really cool for a toddler version though!
Nina Henderson says
May 15, 2016 at 9:35 amThis is adorable but can it be made a little bigger
Corina says
May 18, 2016 at 2:42 pmYes. Using worsted weight yarn would make it work up a little bigger than the caron simply soft I used. You could even go up a 1/2 or so hook size if needed.
Isabel says
July 22, 2016 at 5:32 pmCan you make me one ! I’ll buy it off you
Bodynsoil says
August 26, 2016 at 9:41 amThis is adorable, I’ll be a first time grandmother in a few weeks and this project will be done asap.
Tammy Knight says
September 10, 2016 at 8:49 pmThis is so cute! I wondered if your finished product lays flat. Mine does not, it bows out which makes it look like a turtle shell, but just was curious it that’s the way it’s supposed to be,
Thanks,
Tammy
Corina says
September 11, 2016 at 8:35 pmYes! I love the shell shape of it.
Leslie Bennett says
January 14, 2017 at 5:47 pmI made it using pink camo, pink, and an olive green. I wish I could post a picture of it here 🙁 I’ll make a pin and try to link it to your pattern. if that doesn’t work, I’m dkrmwiz on pinterest.
Danielle says
January 17, 2017 at 12:57 amWhat is the width and length of your cocoon?
Debra says
February 26, 2017 at 12:00 pmI love this pattern. I had a little difficulty getting started, but once I got going it was great. I did my turtle shell in Red Heart Super Saver. Desert Camo for the pentagon and then Medium Thyme to outline them and ended with Tea Leaf for the final rows around the edges. This made it look just like a turtle shell. Making it for my new grandchild due in April. My daughters fav color is green. So it was a given that I had to use all greens. lol
Connie says
April 26, 2017 at 2:12 pmThx for this awesome pattern!