I
was looking around the net for a decent Abra pattern the other day,
Abra being among my absolute favourite Pokémon designs. Turns out, I
couldn't find a single decent one. So, I decided that maybe it was
time to start making my own patterns. It turned out pretty sweet, so
I decided to share it to whoever wants to have it. If anyone happens
to stumble upon this, I do hope you enjoy it.
This
pattern is not for beginners, or at least not for people who can't follow my thought pattern, due to the multitude of parts
and rather complex feet pattern. Medium to advanced skill level is
recommended.
This
pattern uses continuous rounds, so no closing your rounds! ;P
Personally,
I'm using Miniacryl acrylic yarn and a 2 mm hook (That a B for
Americans and a number 14 hook in the UK) for the little one, but as long as your yarn
type and thickness is consistent, any yarn fibre or thickness should
be fine, as long as you use the corresponding hook size. The hook
should have approximately the same thickness as your yarn. Cotton
yarn tends to be the easiest to handle, but yields a more stale, less
plushy-like result.
I
use plastic pellets as filling where additional weight is desired,
here in the hands, feet and lower body, and regular polyester fibre
fill for the rest. Stuff firmly unless otherwise instructed. The
pattern itself will give most of the shape, so no need to be too meticulous in your filling methods. Just fill it firmly and evenly.
The
yarn colours required for this pattern are:
Yellow
Beige/lighter
yellow
Brown
The
beige yarn is optional. In my prototype (that's the little one), I used the normal yellow on
the entire head, and that turned out pretty well too.
For
my own, alternative colour-palette, blue, really large Abra that I
use for the tutorial pictures (because of the size. It makes the
details clearer), I used a 6.00 mm hook and very thick acrylic yarn
of colours Petrol-blue and Black. The cues for this alternate palette
will be in parentheses.
Why
did I use blue and black? Well... there was this new yarn I found
that looked just awesome and I just got an urge to make an amigurumi
of it because large 'gurumis are awesome, but the colour options were
very limited, so... I just picked the best-looking ones. How much
yarn did it take? Fifteen entire balls. My wallet weeps...
The
regular one only took one and a half ball. ;)
Stitches
used in this pattern:
Single
crochet
Slip
stitch
Increase
Decrease
Half
double crochet
and
a few custom-stitches I will have brief tutorials for as they appear.
Head
(make 1, start with beige(black) yarn)
1:
8 sc in magic ring (8)
2:
[sc,inc] x4 (12)
3:
sc around (12) (The nose can get a little pointy. If you want it to be less so, skip this round)
4:
[2 sc, inc] x4, (16)
switch
to yellow(blue)
5:
7sc, inc3*, 3sc, inc, 3sc, inc3 (21)
Gonna use this inc3 a lot here. This does not mean three increases, but rather three sc in one hoop, instead of the normal two.
6:
8sc, inc3, 5sc, inc, 4sc, inc3, sc (26)
7:
9sc, inc3, 6sc, inc, 6sc, inc3, 2sc (31)
8:
10sc, inc3, 8sc, inc, 7sc, inc3, 3sc (36)
9:
11sc, inc3, 9sc, inc, 9sc, inc3, 4sc (41)
10:
12sc, inc3, 22sc, inc3, 5sc (45)
11-13:
sc around (45)
14:
13sc, dec, 23sc, dec,5sc (43)
15:
25sc, dec, 16sc (42)
16:
13sc, dec, 21sc, dec, 4sc (40)
17:
13sc, dec, 9sc, dec, 9sc, dec, 3sc (37)
18:
12sc, dec, 8sc, dec, 8sc, dec, 3sc (34)
19:
4sc, dec, 5sc, dec, [8sc, dec]x2, sc (30)
20:
4sc, dec, 5sc, dec, [6sc, dec]x2, sc (26)
21:
[4sc, dec]x2, [5sc, dec]x2 (22)
22:
2sc, dec, sc, dec, [2sc, dec] x2, sc, dec, 2sc, dec (16)
23:
dec around (8)
24:
3dec
Fasten off. Tighten.
Ear
(make 2 in yellow(black) yarn)
1:
4 sc in Magic Ring (4)
2:
inc around (8)
3:
[sc, inc] x4 (12)
4:
[2 sc, inc] x4 (16)
5:
[3 sc, inc] x4 (20)
6: [4
sc, inc] x4 (24)
7:
[5 sc, inc] x4 (28)
8:
[6 sc, inc] x4 (32)
9:
sc around (32)
Fasten off
Body (make 1, start
with yellow(blue) yarn)
1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
2: inc around (12)
3: [sc, inc] x6 (18)
4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)
6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36)
7-14: sc around (36)
15: [10 sc, dec] x3 (33)
16: sc, ch, turn, 20 sc
switch to brown(black),
ch, turn.
17: 20sc, hdc, 11sc,
hdc(33) *
18-19: sc around (33)
20: [dec, 9sc] x3 (30)
21: [dec, 8sc] x3 (27)
22: [dec, 7sc] x3 (24)
23: 15sc, turn
24: 15sc, turn
25: 3ss, 9sc, 3ss
26: hdc, 7sc, hdc, 15sc
(24)
fasten off
As you may have noticed, this pattern goes back and forth a bit during rounds 16 and 17, making a bit of a stair-like section. This will not be the only time this technique is used in this pattern, just the first. It should look something like this
And the gap is smoothed out afterwards with a half-double crochet like this
Which should then look something like this
Arm
(make 2 in yellow yarn(start with black))
1: 6 sc in Magic ring (6)
2: inc around (12)
3: [sc, inc] x6 (18)
4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
5: [7 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc]
x2 (28)
6-7: sc around (28)
8: 10 sc, dec, 12 sc,
dec, 2 sc (26)
9: sc around (26)
10: 9 sc, dec, 11 sc,
dec, 2 sc (24)
11: sc around (24)
12: 9 sc, dec, 10 sc,
dec, 1sc (22)
13: sc around (22)
14: [9 sc, dec] x2 (20)
15: sc around (20)
16: [inc, 9 sc] x2 (22)
17: sc around (22)
18: [inc, 10 sc]x2 (24)
19: sc around (24)
20: [2 sc, dec] x6 in
back loops only (18)
Start stuffing. If you're
using plastic pellets, fill it up to about round 13-15, then fill the
rest of the hand with fibre fill. The hand should be stuffed firmly.
The upper arm less so, especially around the elbow, to allow for
easier movement.
(change to blue)
21: [sc, dec] x6 (12)
22: sc around in front
loops only (12)
23-31: sc around (12)
fasten off
Finger
(make 6 in yellow(black) yarn)
1:
4sc in magic ring (4)
2:
inc, 3sc (5)
3:
inc, 4sc (6)
4:
inc, 5sc (7)
5:
inc, 6sc (8)
6:
inc, 7sc (9)
7:
sc around (9)
NOTE:
I made the side fingers shorter on the little one, stopping after
round 6, thus making 4 short and 2 long. Making them all of the same
length looks fine too. It's a matter of preference.
Shoulder
pad (make 2 in brown(black) yarn)
1: 20 ch, turn, 19 sc,
ch, turn (19)
2: 19 sc, ch, turn (19)
3: [5sc, dec]x2, 5sc (17)
4: 5 sc, dec, 3 sc, dec,
5 sc (15)
5: 4 sc, dec, 3 sc, dec,
4 sc (13)
6: [sc, dec]x4, sc (9)
7: 2 dec, sc, 2 dec (5)
fasten off, tighten the last row together by sewing the end tail back and forth between the stitches.
Tail
(make one, start with yellow(blue) yarn)
1:
4sc in magic ring (4)
2:
inc, 3sc (5)
3:
sc, inc, 3sc (6)
4:
2sc, inc, 3sc (7)
5:
3sc, inc, 3sc (8)
6:
3sc, inc, 4sc (9)
7:
4sc, inc, 4sc (10)
8:
5sc, inc, 4sc (11)
9:
6sc, inc, 4sc (12)
10:
7sc, inc, 4sc (13)
11:
7sc, inc, 5sc (14)
switch
to brown(black)
12:
8sc, inc, 5sc (15)
13:
9sc, inc, 5sc (16)
switch
to yellow(blue)
14-15:
sc, dec, 7sc, inc, 5sc (16)
16:
9sc, inc, 6sc (17)
17-18:
sc, dec, 7sc, inc, 6sc (17)
19:
10sc, inc, 6sc (18)
20-21:
sc, dec, 8sc, inc, 6sc (18)
22:
10sc, inc, 7sc (19)
23-24:
sc, dec, 8sc, inc, 7sc (19)
25:
11sc, inc, 7sc (20)
26-27:
sc, dec, 9sc, inc, 7sc (20)
28:
11sc, inc, 8sc (21)
29-30:
sc, dec, 9sc, inc, 8sc (21)
31:
12sc, inc, 8sc (22)
32-33:
sc, dec, 10sc, inc, 8sc (22)
34:
12sc, inc, 9sc (23)
35-36:
sc, dec, 10sc, inc, 9sc (23)
37:
13sc, inc, 9sc (24)
38-39:
sc, dec, 11sc, inc, 9sc (24)
Here starts another stairs-y bit. This is so that the angle of the tail won't look all messed up when it's sewn onto the body.
40:
11sc, turn
41:
18sc, turn
42:
15sc, turn
43: 12sc,
turn
44:
9sc, turn
45:
6sc
Fasten off
Yes,
the tail should be twisting gently. That is intentional. It looks
more alive that way. :)
Foot
(make 2 in yellow(black) yarn) (Lots of visuals here. Hopefully, it'll help, rather than confuse...)
1:
5sc in magic ring (5)
2:
inc, 4sc (6)
3:
sc, inc, 4sc (7)
4:
2sc, inc, 4sc (8)
5:
3sc, inc, 4sc (9)
6:
4sc, inc, 4sc (10)
7:
4sc, inc, 5sc (11)
8-9:
4sc, 3ss, 4sc (11)
10a:
4sc, fasten off
repeat
rounds 1 through 9.
10b:
8sc, ch3, resume where you fastened off at round 10a, 11sc, 3hdc, sc3
(28)
This bit is a bit tricky if you haven't done something similar before, so I shall provide some visuals. The toes should be joined together like this about mid-round:
and by the end of the round you should have a proper bridge, like this:
Then you can continue on as normal. ;) (I know, the lighting in my room is a bit weird...)
WARNING: It is VERY easy to miss a stitch or two during this maneuver, so be sure to double-check your stitch count!
11-13:
sc around (28)
14:
2sc, dec, 12sc, dec,10sc (26)
15:
sc around (26)
16:
2sc, dec, 11sc, dec, 9sc (24)
17:
sc around (24)
18:
2sc, dec, 10sc, dec, 8sc (22)
19:
sc, dec, 9sc, dec, 8sc (20)
20:
sc, dec, 8sc, dec, 7sc (18)
21:
sc, dec, 7sc, dec, 6sc (16)
Here, we begin another stairs-y bit.
22:
3sc, ch, turn
23:
10sc, ch, turn
24:
8sc, ch, turn
25:
6sc, ch, turn
Which should look something like this:
Which is smoothed out in the following row:
26:
2sc, dec, 2sc, hdc, sc, hdc, sc, dec, sc, hdc (14)
Which should look something like this
It's a heel! ;)
Now, continue on as normal
27:
2sc, dec, 5sc, dec, 3sc (12)
28:
sc, dec, 4sc, dec, 3sc (10)
29:
sc, dec, 3sc, dec, 2sc (8)
30:
sc, dec, 2sc, dec, sc (6)
31:
sc around.
Fasten off. Tighten.
Leg(make
2 in yellow(start with black) yarn)
(starting
at the ankle. a loop-y-loop)
1:
15ch, 15sc, starting at the first ch. (15)
2:
inc, 14sc (16)
3:
sc, inc, 14sc (17)
4:
2sc, inc, 14sc (18)
5:
3sc, inc, 14sc (19)
6:
3sc, inc, 15sc (20)
7:
4sc, inc, 15sc (21)
8:
5sc, inc, 15sc (22)
9:
3sc, inc, 3sc, inc, 14sc (24)
10:
6sc, inc, 17sc (25)
11:
7sc, inc, 17sc (26)
12-15:
sc around (26)
16:
8sc, inc3*, 16sc (28)
Inc3 again here. remember, not three incs, but rather three sc in one hoop.
Important!
Round 16 ends one stitch early. Move the marker to this new spot
17:
[dec, 2sc]x2, sharpcluster*, [2sc, dc]x2, 2sc, dec3*, 2sc, all in back
loops only (18) (switch to blue)
First, the dec3-stitch is like the inc3 in reverse. Just pick up three hoops rather than the normal two.
Now the so-called sharpcluster is a custom maneuver of mine. Hopefully, I can explain it properly with, again, some visuals.
Start with picking up two hoops, as if you were to make a decrease
Now, loop the yarn once around the hook, as if you were about to make a double-crochet
And keep going with the double-crochet until you're at this point here:
Now, start making another decrease. it should look like this:
Lotsa hoops. Now, bring the thread through ALL of those hoops at once.
Poof. Done. Make sure to tighten the yarn firmly. After a few single stitches, it should come together into something like this
I hope that got across well enough ;)
Now, to continue with this leg
18:
[sc, dec]x6 (12)
(switch to blue)
19:
sc around, front loops only (12)
20-25:
sc around (12)
26:
[inc, 5sc]x2 (14)
27:
sc, inc, 6sc, inc, 5sc (16)
28-30:
sc around (16)
31:
2sc, dec, 6sc, dec, 4sc (14)
32:
2sc, dec, 5sc, dec, 3sc (12)
33:
6dec
fasten off.
Now, to assemble this little critter.
Here we have all of the pieces, laid down before us. Start with assembling the arms and legs. First sew the feet to the legs, like this
Make sure that the ankle connects right at the bend, like this, otherwise the foot will look awkward
Next, sew the fingers onto the hands, like this. Use pins to temporarily position them first, to really get the positioning right.
The way I do it, Abra gets abit of a palm, so from the side, it looks like this
Next, sew the tail to the body. It should be at about this angle, so that Abra will be leaning back a bit.
Now, I like to have all the large bits assembled first, to better get a picture of the whole, sooner. So, next you should sew the ears to the head. Using pins is STRONGLY recommended. Embroidering the eyes now is also recommended. Less bits getting in the way, that way.
Now that all of the big bits are assembled, start from the bottom and work your way up. Less things getting in the way, that way. So, start with the legs, like this.
Now, you may notice a slight issue with the body here on the side
Let's zoom in
There. Big gap. Not pretty, is it? This is VERY hard to avoid. I recommend sewing this shut when sewing on either the arms or the shoulderpads.
Either way, next comes the arms.
Like that. Again, use pins for better positioning.
Now, I did forget to take any pics of applying the shoulder pads. Sorry about that. They should go right where arm meets body. Sew them onto the body, not the arm. Make sure they don't get too high up; leave a small gap between them and the head, else Abra will end up looking hunched and tense.
Finally, just apply the head, and your abra is done!
So! That was my first ever crochet pattern. Hopefully, that was coherent enough to understand. If this confuses you at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I will do my best to explain it better. ;)
Next up: Manaphy
It's a simpler one, promise.
