Solomon Shrew Crochet Pattern

This is another pattern I wrote for a yarn club a few years ago. It's a great way to use up some of those bits of Aran weight yarn you've got hanging around. If you want a smaller shrew you can change the yarn size and hook size accordingly. Enjoy, and feel free to share if you make him. If you don't have safety eyes you can use embroidery thread and stitch his eyes. If you're making him for a littley I would do that anyway. If you don't have stuffing try old tights, old pillow filling or similar. I used washed sheeps fleece.

This resource will be added to periodically so please check back and see what's new. Patterns are for personal use only, although we're happy for you to sell items made from them as long as you credit Beaker Button.

Solomon Shrew
www.beakerbutton.co.uk
©Jen Best 2017

Tension: 9dc x 7 rows over 5cm x 5cm square using 4mm crochet hook. 50m Beaker Button Aran, 20g of toy stuffing, 2 black safety eyes 10mm, removable stitch markers for keeping track of rounds and placing ears, yarn needle for sewing up.
The pattern is worked using double crochet in a spiral. Place a removable stitch marker to keep track of rounds.

Abbreviations. UK terms used throughout.
dc - double crochet
2dctog - double crochet 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
st(s) - stitch(es)
ch - chain
ss - slip stitch
tr - treble crochet

Head
Make a Magic Loop to start
6dc into loop
2dc into each st (12 sts)
[1dc, 2dc into 1st] x 6 (18 sts)
[2dc, 2dc into next st] x 6 (24 sts)
Work 4 rounds of dc (1 into each stitch)
Place eyes as shown in photo, between the 5th and 6th rounds (if you're sewing eyes skip this. Add the face once he's all sewn up).
Stuff firmly.
2dctog for whole round (12 sts)
Add more stuffing when needed.
2dctog for whole round (6 sts)
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. Draw tight. Weave in ends.

Body
Make a Magic Loop to start
6dc into loop
2dc into each st (12 sts)
[1dc, 2dc into 1st] x 6 (18 sts)
[2dc, 2dc into next st] x 6 (24 sts)
[3dc, 2dc into next st] x 6 (30 sts)
Work 4 rounds in dc
11dc, [2dctog] x 4, 11dc (26 st)
Work 4 rounds in dc
Stuff firmly.
2dctog for whole round, (13 sts)
Add more stuffing when needed.
1dc, 2dctog for rest of round (7 sts)
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. Draw tight. Leave a long tail for sewing up later

Ears
Join yarn to the top of the head 2 lines back and 1 st to the outside of the eyes, as shown in the photo. If you're adding sewn eyes later you will need to judge this for yourself. You can use stitch markers in place of ears first to see if they are in the right place.
Ch6, ss into 1st ch to form a loop.
5tr into loop, 2ch, 1dc into side of 5th tr, 5tr into loop.
Break yarn and use the tail to stitch the sides of the trebles to the head, angling them in slightly.
Repeat for the second ear. Weave in ends

Arms x 2
Make a Magic Loop to start
6dc into loop
Repeat last round until work measures 5 cm.
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. Draw tight. Leave a long tail for sewing on to body.

Legs x 2
Magic loop
8dc into loop
Repeat last round until work measures 6 cm.
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. Draw tight. Leave a long tail for sewing on to body.

Sew head to body. Sew arms and legs in place.

Tail
Join yarn to bottom of the shrew.
14ch.
Break yarn leaving a tail long enough to weave up the chain and into the shrew