Harriet the Red Crab

Hello Everyone! Today I have a lovely crochet crab for you all! This plush would be a AMAZING gift for any lover of nature!! This lovely lady is based off the real Red Crabs that live on Christmas Island which is a little tropical island off the coast of Australia!

Whats amazing about these guys is that they spend most of the year in burrows that they dig out among the forest. These red Crabs are solitary animals eating mostly fallen leaves, flowers, and seedlings. In the dry season these crabs must bury themselves because they breathe with gills and are capable of breathing in moisture from the air. These little guys will then bury themselves in their burrows until it is time to come out and lay their eggs which they will travel around 100 miles total to get to the shore. This can be a very tedious task for the crabs, especially if they take a wrong turn. The female Red Crab will lay up to 100,000 eggs during this time!! :O

Alright, alright i'm done... There just so fascinating! Here's the pattern guys! Enjoy!!!! <3

• US 4.0mm Crochet Hook

• Medium weight Acrylic Yarn (burnt red and white)

• Darning Needle

• Placement Pins

• Scissors

• small plastic Safety Eyes (and washers)

• Stuffing or some scrap yarn

Let's get to it! :D

• Go ahead and grab your red ( or whatever main color you chose) yarn and crochet hook.
• 6 single crochet in a magic ring ( if your new to crochet then maybe do a chain 2 single, crochet 6 in first chain instead )
• tighten the ring and single crochet 2 in every stitch around ( increase around )
• *single crochet 1, increase
• *single crochet 2, increase*
• *single crochet 3, increase*
• *single crochet 4, increase*
• *single crochet 5, increase*
• *single crochet 6, increase*
• single crochet 4 rounds
• *single crochet 6, decrease*

• *single crochet 5, decrease*

• *single crochet 4, decrease*

• *single crochet 3, decrease*

• Stuff your piece loosely

• *single crochet 2, decrease*

• *single crochet 1, decrease*

• *decrease around*

• Fasten off and sew in yarn ends

okay so, technically the Red Crab has 10 appendages but... I made 8 to avoid making this guy crowded with legs.

(with red yarn) (make 6)

• 6 single crochet in magic ring
• *single crochet 1, increase*
• single crochet 2 rounds
• *decrease*
• Fasten off and stuff lightly, leave long tail for we will be sewing this piece on later.

(With Red) ( make 2 )

• 6 single crochet in magic ring
• single crochet, increase
• single crochet 2 rounds
• single crochet 2, increase
• single crochet 3, increase
• single crochet 3 rounds
• single crochet 1, decrease 3x then, decrease 3x
• stuff the piece tightly
• single crochet 3 rounds
• fasten off and leave tail for weaving later
• The "Thumb"
• 6 single crochet in magic ring
• single crochet 2 rounds
• fasten off and lightly stuff ( leave tail)

(with white yarn) (make 2)

• 6 single crochet in magic ring
• *single crochet 1, increase*
• single crochet 2 rounds
• fasten off and lightly stuff the piece after adding small, plastic safety eyes on the 2nd round.

(place all the pieces you have made organized into what they are so you can correctly identify them)

use the pins to place the pieces how you like them, then gently grab the ends of the piece with the needle attached the the tail and sew as closely as you can to where the pins where placed.

Hope you enjoyed making this crab!! please leave any questions in the comments!

Also, if you make one I would LOVE to see it so please, share. :)