The best way to learn & practice embroidery is to explore and try your hand on as many embroidery stitches as possible. There may be some stitches that you master on the first go & some that you can’t really get it right. For me french knots was the tough one that only got right by practice, what was yours? 🪡🧵🙂
Quick lil disclaimer: this pattern has only been tested by me so far. You might run into a mistake or two while following the pattern because of this. Feel free to message me if you have any feedback for how the pattern is written or if you find a mistake you’d like me to fix!
Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate. Mostly beginner amigurumi and tunisian concepts but shaping and mixing tunisian/standard crochet may be difficult for those just learning to crochet.
Finished Size: 8-ish inches tall
Materials:
*i used DK yarn for the stem, cap, socks, and shoes of the mushroom but sport weight/baby yarn would be nice for clothing. feel free to mix and match colors to make a super cool mushroom. i focused on earth tones because i have a ton of earthy scraps to get rid of but you can make your pals bright, or base them off of your favorite mushroom, or whatever you like!
- 1/4 ball of cap color (i used orange to make Galerina autumnalis, red for amanita)
- 1/4 ball of stem color
- scraps of shoe color (optional, if you want shoes)
- sock color (optional, depends how tall/if you want socks)
- small amounts of outfit colors (amount depends what you make but outfits don’t take much)
- small amounts of accessory colors (amount depends on if you want accessories, doesn’t take much yarn)
- scraps of yarn/thread, felt, etc to decorate cap (optional)
- G/6/4.25 mm hook
- yarn needle
- wadding/stuffing
- safety eyes/yarn/thread for eyes and face (i used 6mm safety eyes and embroidery thread. materials you use depend on if you want a face and what you have on hand)
- powder blush (optional, for cheeks)
Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms):
ch = chain
st = stitch
yo = yarn over
sl = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
inc = increase
dec = decrease
fo = finish off
Special Techniques
Tunisian Crochet - knit stitch is used for sweaters, simple stitch used for a skirt. Tunisian is easier for me and works up faster than knitting. Not every piece of clothing in this pattern requires tunisian crochet, just the sweaters in the picture.
Running stitch - used to cinch head into shape after stuffing
Ladder stitch - used to stitch pieces and clothing together
French knot - optional, for decorating cap
Satin stitch - optional, for decorating cap (would work well for gills)
Mushroom Pal Doll
Head (in stem color):
Start with magic ring
1. sc 6 in ring (6)
2. *sc inc* 6 times (12)
3. *sc inc, sc* 6 times (18)
4. *sc inc, sc 2* 6 times (24)
5. *sc inc, sc 3* 6 times (30)
6-9. sc in each st (30). After finishing row 9, place eyes between rows 5 & 6, about 6 stitches apart. If you’d like your pal to have a face, go ahead and embroider that now.
10. *sc inc* 30 times (60)
11. *sc inc, sc* 30 times (90). FO, weave in ends.
Cap (in cap color):
Start with magic ring
1. sc 10 in ring (10)
2. *sc inc* 10 times (20)
3. *sc inc, sc* 10 times (30)
4. *sc inc, sc 2* 10 times (40)
5. *sc inc, sc 3* 10 times (50)
6. *sc inc, sc 4* 10 times (60)
7. *sc inc, sc 5* 10 times (70)
8. *sc inc, sc 6* 10 times (80)
9. *sc inc, sc 7* 10 times (90)
10-13. sc in each st (90). Don’t FO yet. After completing row 13, decorate your cap as desired. You can add french knots or felt for spots, embroider gills, etc. Go wild homie.
14. Line up the edges of the head and cap. Join the pieces by sc in every stitch of both head and cap, stuffing when you’re 3/4 of the way through. Stuff to desired firmness. Cap will be a little bit gathered and the head will lose shape as you stuff. FO and weave in ends.
Using a strand of stem color and your yarn needle, sew a running stitch between rows 10 and 11 of the head starting at the back of the head. The running stitch should be where the head flares into the gills of the mushroom cap. Pull the ends of the yarn tightly to cinch the head into shape. Use 2-3 square knots to secure, then bury the ends of the thread.
Body (stem color)
ch 12, sl to join into circle
1-3. sc in each ch/st (12)
4. *sc inc, sc* 6 times (18)
5-10. sc in each (18)
11. *sc inc, sc 2* 6 times (24)
12-15. sc in each (24). Don’t FO -- leg #1 will be worked directly into body.
Leg 1 (cont. from body, stem color)
*color change suggestions listed for sock lengths
16. Sc in first 12 stitches of body (12)
17. Sc in first stitch to make a circle and in each stitch after (12)
18-21. Sc in each stitch. Switch to sock color at row 19 for thigh-highs. Switch to sock color after completing row 21 for knee-highs.
22. *sc dec, sc* 4 times (8) Switch to sock color for ankle socks.
23-26. sc in each (8). Switch to shoe color after completing row 23 if you want shoes.
27. *sc dec* 4 times (4). FO, stitch bottom of shoe closed with tail and bury the end. Stuff leg through top of body -- I used a chopstick to help stuff since the leg is thin.
Leg 2 (stem color)
Join yarn to body near inner thigh of leg 1 and ch 1. Crochet over tail or weave in. Repeat leg 1.
Arms (x2)
start with magic ring
1. sc 4 in ring (4)
2. *sc, inc* 2 times (6)
3-10. sc in each (6). FO, leaving a long tail to sew onto body. Stuff to desired firmness and stitch top closed.
Construction
1. If you haven’t already, finish stuffing the body to desired firmness. The crotch of the mushroom friend is still open, so stitch that closed with a piece of stem color yarn.
2. Use a ladder stitch to attach head to body. I stitched the body to row 3 of the head.Your pal will be top-heavy! Clothing will help stabilize.
3. Sew the arms to the sides of the body. I chose to attach them between rows 1 & 2 of the body.
Clothing
*clothing instructions are a little bit ambiguous bc you have to decide on sizes, colors, and shapes. some pieces are mix and match, some have bases and interchangeable sleeves/lengths.
Knitted Sweater/Dress Body Panel (x2) (on both mushrooms in picture)
*tunisian knit stitch used
1. Draw up a loop in each ch (10 loops). Return pass.
2. YO. Knit stitch in next 8 vertical bars. YO. Knit stitch in last vertical bar (12 loops). Return Pass.
3. Knit stitch in each vertical bar (12 loops). Return Pass.
4. YO. Knit stitch in next 10 vertical bars. YO. Knit stitch in last vertical bar (14 loops). Return pass.
5. Knit stitch in each vertical bar (14 loops). Return pass.
6. YO. Knit stitch in next 12 vertical bars. YO. Knit stitch in last vertical bar (16 loops). Return pass.
7. Knit stitch in each vertical bar (16 loops). Return pass.
8. YO. Knit stitch in next 14 vertical bars. YO. Knit stitch in last vertical bar (18 loops). Return pass.
9. Knit stitch in each vertical bar (18 loops). Return Pass.
10. YO. Knit stitch in next 16 vertical bars. YO. Knit stitch in last vertical bar (20 loops). Return pass.
11. Knit stitch in each vertical bar (20 loops). Return pass. Repeat to desired length.
Final row: sl in each vertical bar and around the corners. FO, leaving a long tail to sew sides together. Block your work if you need to.
When both panels are completed, ladder stitch the sides together up to row 6. Weave in the ends.
Knitted Sweater Sleeves (x2)
*tunisian knit stitch used
join yarn at the corner of the sweater panel -- front panel for the right sleeve, back panel for the left
1. Using the sides of the sweater pieces, pull up 8 loops. Return pass.
2-5. Knit stitch in each vertical bar (8 loops). Return pass.
6. Sc in each vertical bar. FO, leaving long tail.
Once both sleeves are completed, put the sweater on the mushroom friend. Ladder stitch the sleeves closed around the arm of the mushroom friend. Stitch the top corners of the sweater pieces together.
*essentially the same concept as legs but slightly scaled up
Ch 26. Sl to make a loop
1. Sc in each ch (26)
2-6. Sc in each stitch (26)
7. Sc in first 13 stitches (13)
8. Sc in first stitch to make a loop. Sc in each stitch to end. (13)
9. Sc in each stitch (13). Repeat to desired length. For flared pants, add increases at row 12.
For leg 2, join yarn to inner thigh of unworked side of pants, then repeat pants pattern from row 7 on. Stitch the crotch of the pants closed before putting on mushroom.
1. Sc in 2nd chain from hook and each ch to end (10)
2-6. Sc in each stitch (10). FO.
Sew panel to top of pants/shorts/skirt, making sure the middle of the panel is aligned with the front middle of the bottoms. Make a second panel for the back if desired. For straps, join yarn in top corner of the panel and ch to desired length -- either to connect to back panel or to connect to back of bottoms.
This pattern is available for free here because I don’t believe in gatekeeping crafts but if you’d like to show me some love, buy me a kofi and support my yarn habit!
Have you checked out these science challenges yet?
We think all of our challenges on DIY are worth trying but what makes our science challenges so special, you ask? While having fun you’re also understanding the building blocks to many scientific principles - and that’s pretty COOL!
This week, we’re sharing with you some of our favorite science challenges:
1. Let’s begin with How to Create a Parachute – it’s quite simple (as long as your parachute flies in the end)!
2. The best way to know if an object conducts electricity is to NOT touch it with your bare hands. Here’s where an electricity tester comes in handy. Try building one!
3. Want to see like an insect? Possibly the easiest science challenge on the list shows you how: Build compound eyes out of straws.
4. Learn how to build a camera lens – the way you experiment with photography will change after creating this!
5. How about transforming energy into sound? Build a noisemaker!
We hope you have fun. Don’t forget to share your projects with us!
