PlanetJune.

com presents…

Sea Turtle

A crochet pattern by June Gilbank

© 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Materials
• All instructions are applicable for any bulky weight yarn. You will need less than 1
skein of yarn in each of two colours. For my sea turtle, I used Bernat Softee Chunky in
Soft Taupe (light brown) and True Taupe (darker brown). If you use regular worsted
weight yarn, you will end up with a smaller sea turtle!
• Suggested hook size (see Gauge, below):
o Bulky weight yarn: G7 US/4.5mm
o Worsted weight yarn: E US/3.5mm

Gauge
Gauge is unimportant for this pattern, provided the pieces are crocheted sufficiently
tightly that they will not gape visibly when stuffed. To test a swatch, crochet the first 3
rounds and then push a piece of fibrefill behind it:
• If the stitches stretch too much and the fibrefill is clearly visible, reduce the hook size.
• If you cannot insert the hook into the previous stitches, reduce your tension (crochet
more loosely) or increase the hook size.

Notions
• Polyester fibrefill stuffing
• 2 eyes (approx 12mm diameter)
o Animal (safety) eyes recommended
o Alternatives: black buttons or beads, felt circles or embroidery
• Yarn needle to weave in ends
• Stitch marker

Abbreviations
ch chain
sc single crochet
st stitch
sl st slip stitch
sc2tog single crochet decrease (insert hook into stitch and draw up a loop, insert hook into
next stitch and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook)
hdc half double crochet
hdc2tog half double crochet decrease (yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch and draw
up a loop, insert hook into next stitch and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw
through all 4 loops on hook)

-1- © 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Magic ring
The magic ring method gives a better finish as it doesn’t leave a hole in the middle. See
www.planetjune.com/magicring for instructions. If you prefer, you may substitute:
Ch 2. Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6 st)
for: Make a magic ring, ch 1. Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)

Notes
• Do not join at the end of each round; rounds are worked in continuous spirals.
• Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round. Move the marker up each
time you start a new round.
• Although the shell is composed of many pieces, don’t despair. The task of making
and assembling the pieces is not too arduous as you don’t need to weave in any of the
ends. Fasten off each end so it will not unravel, and then pull all the ends to the wrong
side (inside) of the shell. It looks messy while you are creating the shell (see below),
but all of those ends will eventually be hidden inside the turtle!

Colour code
MC main colour (used throughout unless otherwise specified); light brown in my turtle
CC contrast colour; dark brown in my turtle

-2- © 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Basic Shell Unit (make ten)

With MC, make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 st). Join with sl st to next st and
fasten off.
Rnd 3: Fasten on at any point on the circle with CC, (sc in next
st, 3 sc in next st) six times. (24 st). Join with sl st to next st and
fasten off.

Shell Unit Assembly

With CC, whipstitch a pair of units together along one of the hexagonal sides, catching
the back (outside) loops only in the whipstitches (Figure 1). Continue to whipstitch units
together to form the basic shell shape (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Whipstitching two shell Figure 2: Layout of shell units

units together

Shell Edges (Terminology)

The edges of the shell will be built up to smooth the shape of the outside of the shell. This
is mostly accomplished with single crochet, except at the following points (Figure 3):
• A Peak point is an exposed corner of a basic shell unit. At each Peak point, make 2sc
into the stitch
• A Valley point is the join between two basic shell units. At each Valley point, hdc2tog
the stitch at each side of the valley (i.e. yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch a and
draw up a loop, insert hook into stitch b and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw
through all 4 loops on hook)

Figure 3: Peak and Valley points

-3- © 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Build up Shell Edges

To build up the shell, follow the appropriate instructions for right-handers or left-handers
(see Figure 4 for reference points).

Figure 4: Reference points for building up sides of shell

Right-handed instructions
1. Join CC at A. Sc around the edge to B, remembering to make 2sc at the Peak, and
hdc2tog at each of the two Valleys. At B, join with sl st to next st and fasten off.
2. Join CC at point C. Sc around the edge to D, remembering to make 2sc at the Peak,
and hdc2tog at each of the two Valleys. Do not fasten off.
3. Continue to sc all around the edge of the shell, remembering to make 2sc at each
Peak, and hdc2tog at each Valley. When you reach D again, join with sl st to next st
and fasten off.
Left-handed instructions
1. Join CC at B. Sc around the edge to A, remembering to make 2sc at the Peak, and
hdc2tog at each of the two Valleys. At A, join with sl st to next st and fasten off.
2. Join CC at point D. Sc around the edge to C, remembering to make 2sc at the Peak,
and hdc2tog at each of the two Valleys. Do not fasten off.
3. Continue to sc all around the edge of the shell, remembering to make 2sc at each
Peak, and hdc2tog at each Valley. When you reach C again, join with sl st to next st
and fasten off.

Underside of Shell (Belly)

To make the underside of the shell, repeat the
entire shell process (10 Basic Shell Units,
Shell Unit Assembly, Build up Shell Edges)
with MC only.

After this step you should have two

identically shaped pieces that will form the
top and bottom of the shell (see right).

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 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Head
worked from nose back
Make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 st)
Rnd 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) four times. (16 st)
Rnds 4-5: sc in each st around. (16 st)
Rnd 6: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st) four times. (20 st)
Rnds 7-9: sc in each st around. (20 st)
Note: In the next round (Rnd 10), complete the repeat twice, then mark the stitch you
have just completed by slipping a stitch marker or a scrap of contrasting yarn
through the stitch before you continue. This marks the top of the head.
Rnd 10: (sc2tog, sc in next st) four times, sc in each st around. (16 st)
Rnds 11-15: sc in each st around. (16 st)
Attach animal eyes (if using) between Rnds 5 and 6, using the marker you placed in
Rnd 10 as a guide to which side is the top of the head.
Rnd 16: (sc2tog) eight times. (8 st). Stuff head through hole.
Rnd 17: (sc2tog) four times. (4 st). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Front Flipper (make 2)

Make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 4 sc in magic ring. (4 st)
Rnd 2: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) twice. (6 st)
Rnd 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) twice. (8 st)
Rnd 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st) twice. (10 st)
Rnd 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st) twice. (12 st)
Rnd 6: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st) twice. (14 st)
Rnds 7-11: sc in each st around. (14 st)
Rnd 12: 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 4 st, sc2tog twice, sc in
next 4 st. (14 st)
Rnd 13: sc in next st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 4 st, sc2tog twice, sc in next 3 st. (14 st)
Rnd 14: sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 4 st, sc2tog twice, sc in next 2 st. (14
st)
Rnd 15: sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 4 st, sc2tog twice, sc in next st. (14 st)
Rnd 16: sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 4 st, sc2tog twice. (14 st)
Rnd 17: sc2tog, sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 3 st, sc2tog twice. (13 st)
Rnd 18: sc2tog, sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 4 st, sc2tog. (13 st)
Rnd 19: sc2tog, sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 st, sc2tog. (12 st)
Rnd 20: sc in next 3 st. Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to
attach flipper to shell. Flatten flipper so the increases and decreases lie at the edges of the
flipper.
Note: Do not stuff flippers.

-5- © 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Back Flipper (make 2)

Make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnd 2: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) twice. (8 st)
Rnd 3: sc in next st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 5 st. (10 st)
Rnd 4: sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 6 st. (12 st)
Rnd 5: sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 7 st. (14 st)
Rnd 6: sc in next 3 st, sc2tog twice, sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next st. (14 st)
Rnd 7: sc in next 2 st, sc2tog twice, sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st. (13 st)
Rnd 8: sc in each st around. (13 st)
Rnd 9: sc in next 2 st, sc2tog, sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st. (13 st)
Rnds 10-11: sc in each st around. (13 st)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to attach flipper to shell.
Flatten flipper so the increases and decreases lie at the edges of the flipper.
Note: Do not stuff flippers.

Tail
Make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 4 sc in magic ring. (4 st)
Rnd 2: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) twice. (6 st)
Rnds 3-7: sc in each st around. (6 st).
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to attach tail to shell.
Note: Stuff tail lightly if desired.

Assembly
Attach Flippers & Tail to Shell Top
Figure 5 shows the position of the front
flippers, back flippers and tail on the
upper shell. The flippers are located at
the four ‘corner’ shell units, and
positioned so they stick out at an angle
(if desired, change the angle to attach the
flippers in a different pose). The tail is
located between the back flippers.
Notes:
• The open end of each piece overlaps
the edge of the shell, so it partially
covers the MC centre of a shell unit.
• Figure 5 is only for reference when
Figure 5: Position of flippers and tail on shell
positioning; the pieces will be
top. Note: shell is shown right side up for
stitched to the wrong side of the
clarity in positioning; flippers and tail should
shell, and only one piece will be
actually be attached to wrong side of shell
attached at a time.

-6- © 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Place one flipper in position over the

wrong side of the shell, and, using a yarn
needle and the long yarn end from the
flipper, stitch the lower side of the open
end of the flipper to the shell (Figure 6).

Make sure your stitches into the shell

only pick up yarn loops from the wrong
side of the shell, so the stitches will not
show from the right side of the shell.

Figure 6: Stitch one side of the open end of

each flipper (as shown by dotted line) to the
wrong side of the shell top

Sew both back flippers, both front

flippers and the tail to the shell top using
the same method (Figure 7).

Do not attach the head yet!

Figure 7: All flippers and tail attached to

wrong side of shell top

-7- © 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Attach Flippers & Tail to Shell Bottom

Line up the top and bottom pieces of the
shell with their right sides facing out,
and the flippers and tail sticking out
from between the two (Figure 8). Pin in
place if desired (this will make the
following step easier).

Figure 8: Bottom of shell placed over top of

shell (right sides facing outwards)

Concentrating on one flipper, note where

the open edge of the flipper touches the
inside of the shell bottom. Using a yarn
needle and the MC yarn, stitch the
flipper and shell together along this line.
Notes:
• As before, pick up yarn loops from
the inside of the shell only, so the
stitches will not be visible.
• Optional: for added realism, do not Figure 9: Sewing flipper to shell bottom.
sew the very edge of the shell to the a: edge of shell
flipper (Figure 9). This will give the b: sew one stitch away from edge
effect that the shell is not attached to
the flipper, but as it will be on the
underside of the finished turtle, it is
not essential!

Repeat this process to attach the other three flippers and the tail to the bottom of the shell.

-8- © 2008 June Gilbank

 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Join Top and Underside of Shell (Edging)

Figure 10: Crochet through edge of top Figure 11: Crochet up to flipper
and bottom of shell

Figure 12: Crochet around shell top Figure 13: At far side of flipper, crochet
only to bypass flipper through top and bottom of shell again

With MC, fasten on to the edge of the shell top behind the turtle's left front flipper (right-
handers) or right front flipper (left-handers). Holding the top and bottom shell pieces
together, begin to sc around the edge toward the back flipper, crocheting through both
shell pieces (Figure 10).

When you reach the back flipper (Figure 11), sc through only the top of the shell until you
reach the far side of the flipper (Figure 12). Line up the top and bottom of the shell again,
then continue to sc around through both shell pieces (Figure 13).

Note: try to join the top and bottom of the shell as close to the flipper as possible; do not
leave spaces at each side, as the stuffing may leak out through any spaces.

Continue with this method, crocheting through both layers to join the top and bottom of
the shell where possible, and crocheting around the top piece only to leave space for each
flipper and the tail. When you reach the second front flipper (not the flipper you started
at), sc through the shell top only as before, but stop just before joining the top and bottom
shells after the flipper. Do not fasten off the yarn.

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 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Stuff the body of the turtle through the

neck opening (Figure 14). The shell
should retain its flattened shape, so do
not force too much stuffing inside.

By holding the head in place at the

opening (Figure 15), you can see that
there is a large gap between each front
flipper and the head where the stuffing
shows through. Count the width of this Figure 14: Stuff turtle body through neck hole
gap - for my turtle it was 7 stitches on
each side, but it may vary depending on
how the front flippers are arranged and
how firmly the head is stuffed. Your
magic number (let’s call it X) is one
less than this number, so X = 6 for my
turtle.

The next steps will build up the bottom

of the shell on either side of the head, to
fill in those spaces.
Figure 15: Gap between head and front flipper

To close the first gap, turn the turtle

over onto its back, and fasten on a new
length of MC yarn to the shell bottom
at the far side of the gap (next to where
the head will be). Ch 2 (Figure 16), then
hdc in the next X stitches. This should
take you to the stitch next to the front
flipper. Fasten off.
Figure 16: Fasten on and ch 2.

To close the second gap, follow the

same process. Fasten on a new length of
MC yarn at the stitch next to the other
front flipper. Ch 2, then hdc in the next
X stitches. Fasten off.

Figure 17 shows the shell with the two

built up areas highlighted.

Figure 17: Built up lower shell

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 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Return to the edging joining the top and

bottom of the shell together. Sc through
the shell top and the first built-up area
of the bottom, then sc around the shell
top only to leave space for the head.

Sc through the shell top and the second

built-up area of the bottom. Finally, sc
around the top layer only to pass the
Figure 18: Completed shell
final front flipper and complete the
edging (Figure 18). Join with sl st to
first st of the edging, fasten off and
weave in end.

Eyes
If you did not attach the eyes while crocheting the head, attach the eyes now. They should
be positioned approximately between Rnds 5 and 6. Use the marker you placed in Rnd 10
of the head as a guide to which way up the head should be positioned.

Eyelids (make 2, optional)

With CC, ch 4, then fasten off, leaving
a long end of yarn.

Arrange the chain around the top half of

the eye (Figure 19), then use a yarn
needle and the long yarn end to stitch
the eyelid in position. Use the yarn
needle to hide the yarn ends inside the
head. Repeat for the second eyelid.
Figure 19: Eyelid in position
around eye

Position Head
Push the turtle’s head into the gap in the
shell, so a few rounds of the neck end
sit inside the shell (Figure 20). This will
anchor the head securely in position
once it is stitched to the shell.

Figure 20: Place neck inside shell opening

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 Sea Turtle PlanetJune.com

Attach Head
Using a yarn needle and the MC yarn,
stitch the head to the shell to close up
the opening.
Notes:
• As before, pick up yarn loops from
the inside of the shell only, so the
stitches will not be visible.
• Stitch the shell to the head all the
way around the head, including
sewing the built up sides of the shell Figure 21: Sew head to shell
to the head. If you leave large
spaces, the stuffing may escape from
the body through the gaps.
• For added realism, do not sew the
very edge of the shell to the head;
bend the shell edge away from the
head so you can stitch further inside
the shell (Figure 21). This will make
the head appear to be poking out
from the shell (Figure 22).

Figure 22: Head sticking out of shell

Congratulations!
You’ve made it to the end of the pattern – enjoy your sea turtle!

Feedback
Please contact the author with questions, comments or any other feedback at
craft@planetjune.com
For more patterns, visit my website: www.planetjune.com/blog
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www.planetjune.com/blog/mailing-list

- 12 - © 2008 June Gilbank