Caterpillar Rainbow...

On this rainy Sunday afternoon, here's "what's on the hook?" - a cute, colorful and educational Caterpillar Rainbow using primary colors of Red Heart Super Saver and Lion Brand yarns. This is a great, functional toy to teach toddlers colors and counting!!! 

I really love the way this turned out and I'm certain my grand babies will enjoy playing with him.

Caterpillar Rainbow

Caterpillar Rainbow Pattern

Difficulty Level:  Easy

Size:  Measures approximately 14" long (without stretching/pulling)

Materials:

--2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.5mm hooks

--#4 worsted weight yarn in your colors of choice (I used primary colors from scrap yarn I had on hand - Red Heart Super Saver and Lion Brand); it doesn't use a lot of yarn of each color so this makes a great stash buster

--(7) 4.5" round plastic canvas (I bought a 10-pack pre-cut from Hobby Lobby) 

--Velcro

--Polyfil

--Tapestry needle for weaving

Stitch Abbreviations:

Ch:  chain

Sl st:  slip stitch

St: stitch(es)

Sk:  skip

Rep: repeat

SC:  single crochet

HDC: half double crochet

SC2tog:  single crochet 2 stitches together

MR: magic ring

FO: fasten off

Directions:

First you are going to make circular disks.  Each section will require 2 disks - a front and a back.  Now, the only repeat color is the front piece (face) and the last piece (tail).

Disks (make 14):

Make 2 of each color for the mid-section:  Orange, Red, Blue, White and Yellow

Make 4 of one color for the front and end section:  Green

1.  With 4.5mm hook, 8 HDC into MR.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (8)

2.  2 HDC in each st around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (16)

3.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next.  Rep around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (24)

4.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next 2 st.  Rep around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (32)

5.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next 3 st.  Rep around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (40)

6.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next 4 st.  Rep around.  Sl st to join and FO.  Leave a long tail for attaching the front and back sections to each other.  (48)  

Eyes (make 2):

1.  With black yarn, 6 SC into MR.  FO and join blue yarn.  Ch1.  (6)

2.  2 SC in first st, 1 SC in next st.  Rep around.  FO and join white yarn.  Ch1.  (9)

3.  1 SC in each st around.  Sl st to join and FO.  Leave a long enough tail for attaching.  (9)

Nose:

1.  With red yarn, Ch4.  SC in 2nd chain from hook and across.  Ch1 and turn.  (3)

2.  SC2tog, 1 SC in next.  Ch1 and turn.  (2)

3.  SC2tog. FO.  Leave a long enough tail for attaching. 

Cheeks (make 2):

1.  With purple yarn and 3.5mm hook, 6 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO.  Leave a long enough tail for attaching.  (6)

Mouth:

1.  With purple yarn and 3.5mm hook, Ch13 and FO.  Leave a long enough tail for attaching.  

Antenna (make 2):

1.  With green yarn and 4.5mm hook, Ch3.  SC in 2nd ch from hook and next ch.  (2)

2-6.  1 SC in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  At the end of Row 6, FO and leave a tail for attaching.  (2)

Antenna Top (make 2):

1.  With yellow yarn and 2.5mm hook, 6 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (6)

2.  2 SC in first st, 1 SC in next st.  Rep around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (9)

3.  1 SC in each st around.  Sl st to join and ch1.  (9)

Legs (make 4):

I only made 2 legs for the front piece and 2 legs for the back piece.  You can make 2 legs for each disk, if you want.

1.  With green yarn and 4.5mm hook, Ch3.  SC in 2nd ch from hook and next ch.  Ch1 and turn.  (2)

2-5.  1 SC in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  At the end of Row 5, FO and leave a long enough tail for attaching.  (2)

Feet (make 4):

1.  With yellow yarn and 4.5mm hook, 6 SC intro MR.  Pull tail to tighten but DO NOT join.  FO and leave a long enough tail for attaching.  (6)

Curly Tail:

1.  With green yarn and 4.5mm hook, Ch21.  3 SC into 2nd ch from hook and across.  FO and leave a long enough tail for attaching.  

Assembly:

1.  To make the disks:  sandwich together 2 matching colors with circular plastic canvas.  Place a small amount of polyfil on each side between the crocheted disk and the plastic canvas.  Whipstitch together.  Repeat for remaining colors. (So, you will have crocheted disk, polyfil, plastic canvas, polyfil, crocheted disk whipstitched together...)

For the antenna, eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, feet and tail see my above pictures for placement.

With the Velcro, I reinforced mine with craft glue.  You will place Velcro on the back of the front piece, then Velcro the front and back of all of the mid-section pieces and then on the front of the back section piece.

And, that's it!!!  Super cute, colorful and a fun toy to teach toddlers/kids colors and to help them with learning to count!!! 

Happy Crocheting 

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--don't claim my pattern design as your own

--don't use my pics as your own

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