Perry the Platypus 2.0

[hooked_on_anime]

Show of hooks, who here remembers my first pattern? I tell ya, it's a real head-scratcher by my current standards. So I finally have an updated version for you, hooray! It only took almost two years, too.

I'll be leaving the first version up for posterity and/or anyone who might still want to use it. Because it is conceivable that there are people who will like that version better than this one, though I am not one of them.

Pics of this version are forthcoming, but the old version shouldn't look too different.



What you need to know for this pattern: US stitch names; crocheting in the round (in a spiral); chain stitch (ch); single crochet (sc); double crochet (dc); increasing ([stitch] 2 in 1); decreasing ([stitch] 2 tog); slip stitch (sl st).
Sizing information: I used a size H/5.0mm hook and worsted weight yarn for a gauge of 4 dc/inch (2.5 cm).

Conversion rate: I crochet approximately 5 rows of sc for every 3 rows of dc. To calculate the number of rows you need for sc of something, multiply [# of rows of dc] x 3, then divide the product by 5. While this may not be much help in places you increase, particularly for parts that have slow increases (front legs, back legs, tail, beak parts), it can give you a final number to aim for if you're tweaking the pattern from dc to sc.

I'm afraid I don't have conversions ready yet for the tail, beak, or legs, but I do have row conversions for the rectangular prism (stretched cube) that makes up Perry's body.


Body: Rectangle/Rows Method

Face/butt:

(Double crochet)
Row 1: Ch 16; ch 2 to turn
Row 2 thru 9: Dc 16; ch 2 to turn
Finish

(Single crochet)
Row 1: Ch 16; ch 1 to turn
Row 2 thru 15: Sc 16; ch 1 to turn
Finish

Midsection:

(Double crochet)
Row 1: Ch 56; ch 2 to turn
Row 2 thru 21: Dc 56; ch 2 to turn
Finish

(Single crochet)
Row 1: Ch 56; ch 1 to turn
Row 2 thru 34: sc 56; ch 1 to turn

Sew the short sides of the midsection piece together to form a tube. Sew the squares to either end, making sure that the corners match up.

Body: Rounds method

Face/Midsection:

(Double crochet)
Row 1: Ch 14; ch 2 to turn
Row 2 thru 8: Dc 14; ch 2 to turn
Row 9: Dc 14; ch 1 to turn; switch to rounds
Round 10: (Sc 2 in 1, sc 12, sc 2 in 1) x 4
Round 11: Fl dc 56; continue in a spiral
Round 12 thru 40: Dc 56; sc, sl st for a smooth finish
Finish

(Single crochet)
Row 1: Ch 14; ch 1 to turn
Row 2 thru 16: Sc 14; ch 1 to turn
Row 16: Sc 14; ch 1 to turn; switch to rounds
Round 17: (Sc 2 in 1, sc 12, sc 2 in 1) x 4
Round 11: Fl sc 56; continue in a spiral
Round 12 thru 47: Sc 56; sl st for a smooth finish
Finish

Back square:

(Double crochet)
Row 1: Ch 16; ch 2 to turn
Row 2 thru 9: Dc 16; ch 2 to turn
Finish

(Single crochet)
Row 1: Ch 16; ch 1 to turn
Row 2 thru 15: Sc 16; ch 1 to turn
Finish

Sew the back square to the open end of the face/midsection piece; make sure the corners match up.

Front legs: (make 2)
Round 1: Begin in a ring; sc 6; continue in a spiral
Round 2: Dc 12 (dc 2 in 1 all around)
Round 3: Dc 4, dc 2 in 1 x 4, dc 4
Round 4: Dc 4, dc 2 tog x 4, dc 4
Round 5: Dc 5, dc 2 in 1, dc 6
Round 6: Dc 6, dc 2 in 1, dc 6
Round 7: Dc 7, dc 2 in 1, dc 6
Round 8: Dc 7, dc 2 in 1, dc 7
Finish

Sew the front legs about 1"/2.5cm from the front of Perry's body on the bottom side, towards either side of the "rectangle" face.

Rear legs: (make 2)
Round 1: Begin in a ring; sc 6; continue in a spiral
Round 2: Dc 12 (dc 2 in 1 all around)
Round 3, 4: Dc 12
Round 5: Dc 5, dc 2 in 1 x 2, dc 5
Round 6: Dc 6, dc 2 in 1 x 2, dc 6
Round 7: Dc 6, dc 2 in 1 x 4, dc 6
Round 8: Dc 9, dc 2 in 1 x 2, dc 6
Finish

Sew the rear legs with the tallest part directly below the back of Perry's body on the bottom side.

Feet:
Row 1: Ch 7; ch 1 to turn
Row 2: Sc 7; ch 1 to turn
Row 3: Sc 5, ch 2; ch 1 to turn
Row 4: Sc 7; ch 1 to turn
Row 5: Sc 5, ch 2; ch 1 to turn
Row 6: Sc 7
Finish

Tie the tails together; this will round the ends of Perry's feet. Sew the bottom of Perry's rear legs through the rounded end of his feet (or vice-verse).

Tail:
Row 1: Ch 13; ch 2 to turn
Row 2: Dc 13; ch 2 to turn
Row 3: Dc 6, dc 2 in 1, dc 6; ch 2 to turn
Row 4: Dc 14
Row 5: Dc 7, dc 2 in 1, dc 6; ch 2 to turn
Row 6: Dc 15
Row 7: Dc 7, dc 2 in 1, dc 7; ch 2 to turn
Row 8: Dc 16
Row 9: Dc 8, dc 2 in 1, dc 7; ch 2 to turn
Row 10: Dc 17
Row 11: Dc 8, dc 2 in 1, dc 8; ch 2 to turn
Row 12, 13: Dc 18
Finish

Sew the narrow end of the tail to the bottom of the back square of Perry's body.

Beak Base:
Row 1: Ch 13; ch 2 to turn
Row 2: Dc 2 tog, dc 9, dc 2 tog; ch 2 to turn
Row 3: Dc 2 tog, dc 7, dc 2 tog; ch 2 to turn
Row 4: Dc 2 tog, dc 5, dc 2 tog; ch 2 to turn
Row 5: Dc 2 tog, dc 3, dc 2 tog; ch 2 to turn
Row 6: Dc 2 tog, dc 1, dc 2 tog; ch 1 to turn
Row 7: Sc 1, dc 1, sc 1
Finish

Beak Top:
Row 1: Ch 13; ch 2 to turn
Row 2: Dc 13; ch 2 to turn
Row 3: Dc 5, dc 2 tog, dc 6; ch 2 to turn
Row 4: Dc 5, dc 2 tog, dc 5; ch 2 to turn
Row 5: Dc 4, dc 2 tog, dc 5; ch 2 to turn
Row 6: Dc 4, dc 2 tog, dc 4
Finish

Beak Bottom:
Row 1: Ch 11; ch 2 to turn
Row 2: Dc 11; ch 2 to turn
Row 3: Dc 4, dc 2 tog, dc 5; ch 2 to turn
Row 4: Dc 4, dc 2 tog, dc 4; ch 2 to turn
Row 5: Dc 3, dc 2 tog, dc 4
Finish

Sew the beak base onto the front of Perry's face, with the hypotenuse/longest side of the triangle matched to the bottom edge of Perry's face. Stuff a teensy bit before you sew it closed.

Sew the beak bottom to the bottom of the beak base. Sew the beak top in an arc through the middle of the beak base so it curves around and over the beak bottom.

How to make Perry's hair
1) Cut three pieces of black yarn, at least 2"/5cm in length
2) Tie together at one end (single knot best)
3) Pull hairs through top/front of Perry's body (center, about 1"/2.5cm from his face) so the knot is underneath a stitch, and the hairs come out around it
4) Knot the hairs together again; trim if needed
5) OPTIONAL: coat hairs in white glue to stiffen; glue should be invisible when dry


And that's it! If you have any questions or notes where I can improve this version, please don't hesitate to comment.