Crochet a Turtle Cuff Bracelet

This cute bracelet would make the perfect gift for boys and girls alike -- toddler to 'tween and beyond. The turtle is removable and makes a cute carry-along playmate or make the turtle alone and use it as a back pack decoration. The possibilities are endless!

Note: The turtle cuff bracelet pattern is my original design. To see more of my work or get copies of other patterns I've written, please visit my blog or Ravelry Pattern Shop. I also sell finished amigurumi in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for checking out my instructable and happy crocheting!
Karla (The Itsy Bitsy Spider)


P.S. You're welcome to use this pattern as you wish -- for love or for money. But, please respect my work and do not claim this pattern as your own. And, if you have the means to do so, give me a little shout out when you use it. Thank you!

To make my turtle cuff bracelet, I used the following materials:

• Worsted weight acrylic yarn in light green, dark green, and blue, plus scrap amounts of black and white (optional)
• Size E (3.5 mm) crochet hook
• Two buttons (one shirt button-sized and one about the size of a dime)
• Hand quilting thread
• Tapestry needle
• Sewing needle
• Stitch marker
• Scissors

All of the items were purchased at Jo-Ann Stores, but you can find them at almost any craft store. By the way, you can use any colors of yarn you like for this project, so have fun with it!

Note: These instructions assume that you know the following crochet stitches:

* Chain
* Slip Stitch
* Single Crochet
* Single Crochet Decrease

To make your turtle's body:

Round 1: Attach your yarn to the hook with a slip knot and chain two. Make six single-crochet stitches in the second chain from the hook. Place your stitch marker in the last (6th) single crochet.

Round 2: Make two single-crochet stitches in each single crochet from the first round. Move your marker to the last (12th) single crochet.

Round 3: * Make two single-crochet stitches in the first stitch from round 2, then make one single crochet in the second stitch from round 2. Repeat this pattern from the * all the way around. Move your marker to the last (18th) single crochet.

Round 4: * Make two single-crochet stitches in the first stitch from round 3, then make one single crochet in each of the next two stitches from round 3. Repeat this pattern from the * all the way around. Move your marker to the last (24th) single crochet.

Rounds 5-6: Single crochet in each stitch around. Move your marker to the last (24th) single crochet.

Round 7: *Decrease across the first two stitches and single crochet in each of the next two single-crochet stitches. Repeat this pattern from the * all the way around. Move your marker to the last (18th) single crochet.

Round 8: *Decrease across the first two stitches and single crochet in the next single-crochet stitch. Repeat this pattern from the * all the way around. Move your marker to the last (12th) single crochet.

Round 9: *Decrease across the first two stitches. Repeat this pattern from the * all the way around and finish off, leaving a tail for sewing.

1. Using the tapestry needle, gather the remaining six stitches on the back of the turtle's body and pull tight (see first image, below).
2. Push the needle through the center of the piece until it pokes out on the top side (see the second image, below).
3. Pull the needle all the way through and pass it back through to the back side of the piece.
4. Make a loop on the back of the piece only slightly larger than the button you will use to attach it to the cuff bracelet (see the third image, below).

Note: If you are making the cuff bracelet for someone under the age of three (or for someone who could possibly choke on the buttons, skip step number three above and see Finishing for People Under Three on slide/step 10).

To make the turtle's head:

Round 1: Chain four. Work two single-crochet stitches in the second chain from hook, one single crochet in next, and four single-crochet stitches in the last stitch. Rotate your work 180 degrees. Working in the back loops now, make one single crochet in the next stitch and two single-crochet stitches in the last stitch. You will end up with an oval-shaped round with ten total stitches.

Rounds 2: Single crochet in each stitch around.

Round 3: Decrease across the first two stitches and single crochet in the next. Work two decreases over the next four stitches and then single crochet in the next. Decrease across the remaining two stitches and finish off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Tip: You can embroider some small eyes at this point, if you like. See the second image below for placement.

For my eyes, I went over a single-crochet stitch in round two three times with black yarn and the tapestry needle. I then added a little sparkle with some white yarn.

To make your turtle's legs:

Round 1: Attach your yarn to the hook with a slip knot and chain two. Make six single-crochet stitches in the second chain from the hook. Place your stitch marker in the last (6th) single crochet.

Round 2-3: Single crochet in each stitch around.

Finish off after round three, leaving a tail for sewing.

To attach the head and legs:

1. Working on the underside of the turtle's body, sew through both the shell and the appendage, as shown in the first image below.
2. Work your way around the turtle, sewing the head at the 12 o'clock position, the front legs at 10 and 2 o'clock and the back legs at roughly 4 and 7 o'clock.
3. Using a small bit of dark green yarn, make a loop at the bottom of the turtle to represent a little tail.

Before beginning this step, get a general wrist measurement for the person who will wear the cuff bracelet. To do this, wrap a piece of yarn around his or her wrist and use it as a guideline.

Note: If you are making the cuff bracelet for someone under three, leave a little extra room to slide the bracelet over the wearer's hand. Typically one or two rows will work if you are using a stretchable acrylic yarn. See Finishing for People Under Three on step/slide 10 for more details.

To make the cuff bracelet:

Row 1: Chain six and turn. Single crochet in the second stitch from hook and in each across (5 single-crochet stitches).

Row 2: Single crochet in each stitch across. Chain one and turn (5 single-crochet stitches).

Repeat row two until you reach the desired length for your bracelet. Finish off and weave in ends.

1. Join the green yarn at one corner of the cuff bracelet and single crochet evenly across one of the long sides of the bracelet.
2. Work two single-crochet stitches in the corner, rotate 90 degrees, and work one single crochet in the next stitch. Chain three (or more, depending on the size of the button you will be using to close the cuff), single crochet in the next stitch, and work two single-crochet stitches in the corner. Rotate 90 degrees. Single crochet across to the end of the other long side evenly and finish off. Weave in ends.

Note: If you are making the cuff bracelet for a person under the age of three, omit the chain stitches on the short end of the bracelet and instead single crochet across evenly. See Finishing for People Under Three on slide/step 10 for more details.

Note: Skip this step if you are making the cuff bracelet for a child under the age of three. See Finishing for People Under Three on slide/step 10 for more details.

1. Using needle and thread, attach the larger button near the center of the cuff bracelet (as shown in the image below).
2. Attach the smaller button nearer to the end of the cuff bracelet.

Tip: Use hand quilting thread to attach the buttons in order to get extra wear with fidgety little hands.

Instead of using buttons to make the turtle removable, sew the turtle body directly to the end of the cuff bracelet. Then, wrap the bracelet around to make a loop and stitch the two ends together.

Tip: You can also use hook and loop tape to secure the end of the bracelet to make it easier to get on and off.

Your toddler may not be able to slide the bracelet on and off, but my two-year-old still had a lot of fun fidgeting with it!

If you liked my turtle cuff bracelet, be sure to check out my Girl's Ladybug Cuff Bracelet instructible too!

Thanks for stopping by!