SOAPY, the Washcloth Turtle, 1948 (see *NB)

This pattern was Tested, Revised, and Models made for Crochet Partners by Barbara A. Coman (BarbaraC@worldnet.att.net). 11/96.

The original 1948 version of the pattern is part of Margaret Gussenhoven Logan's library and was donated to Crochet Partners by her daughter, Donna Logan.

Close up of two Soapy Turtles

Model Made by Barbara A. Coman (black and white photos)

MATERIALS:

• Cotton #10 Thread--1 Ball each white or green for Main Color (MC) and 1 ball contrasting color (CC)(Note: Use a softer thread like Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen or DMC size #5 pearl cotton) I used white Knit-Cro-Sheen for the contrasting color border
  
• Steel Crochet Hook Size 8

  GAUGE: 4 spaces = 1.5" NOTE: Change size of hook if necessary to keep this gauge.
  

Notes from Pattern Editor: I nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to figure out the instructions from the 1948 pattern. Back then, they must have figured you were a mindreader. O.K. Partners, here goes my version of Soapy the Washcloth Turtle:

DIRECTIONS:

The entire BODY part is crocheted using FPdc and FPtr (insert hook from right to left under the dc or tr in the row below)
BODY: Ch 5, slip stitch in first ch to join. (note: this will be the area the tail is attached to after the body is finished.)

1st round: Ch 3, work 15 dc in ring, join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch 3 (16 sts, counting ch3)

2nd round: Ch 4, FPdc around 1st dc, *ch 1, 1 FPdc around next dc, repeat from * around; join with sl st in 3rd ch of starting Ch 4

3rd round: sc around post of dc below, then ch 6, 1 FPtr around next dc, *ch 2, 1 FPtr around next dc, repeat from * to end of round; join with sl st in 4th ch of starting Ch 6.

4th thru 14th rounds: sc around post of tr below, then ch 7, 1 FPtr around next tr, *ch 3, 1 FPtr around next tr, repeat from * to end of round; join with sl st in 4th ch of starting Ch 7. Fasten off.

***NOTE: Now you will have a long U-shaped body. The tail will be attached to the starting Ch 5 place, and the head will eventually stick out of the upper part, which will be gathered with a ribbon around the neck. Also, this body will be stuffed with foam rubber in an oval shape (I did this), or you could use an oval piece of soap to stick in there.

LEGS (Make 4):

1st row: Fold body together lengthwise (in otherwords hold piece flat together). Have flat edge on top. Looking at right side of piece, count down 6 loops from top right side. Attach thread with sl st, ch 5, 1 tr in same space, *ch 1, 1 tr in same space, repeat from * once. (4 tr and 3 spaces)

2nd row: Ch 5, turn, 1 tr in first space, ch 1, 1 tr in next space, ch 1, 1 tr in next space, ch 1, 1 tr in 4th ch of turning ch.

3rd row: Ch 6, turn, 1 tr in first space, * ch 2, 1 tr in next space, repeat from * 2 times more (4 spaces), ch 2, 1 tr in 4th ch of turning ch. Fasten off.

NOW, count down, skipping next 4 loops and attach thread with sl st in next loop. (2nd leg on side). Work legs on other side of turtle body to correspond with first side. (What I do here is leave one more row on top of turtle so that his "shell" will be higher on top - in other words, do the first two legs, then count "across" the body, skipping 9 squares. On the bottom there will be 7 squares showing across.)

TAIL

1ST row: Join with sl st between two dc's in beginning Ch 5 ring of body. Ch 6, 1 tr between the next two dc's , ch 2, 1 tr between the next two dc's. (In other words, you will be making three tr's in ring, between the dc's already there, in order to join the tail to this spot. Find the center four dc's IIII and start between the two on the right-hand side. Make sense?)

2nd row: Ch 7, turn, 1 tr in first space, 1 tr in next space, ch 3, 1 tr in 4th ch of turning ch. Ch 9, turn, join with sl st to 4th ch of turning ch. (there will be a long loop across tip of tail (skipping over the two tr‚s). Fasten off.

HEAD

Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.

1st round: Ch 1, work 8 sc in ring. Join with sl st to 1st sc.

2nd round: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st of round. Join with sl st to 1st sc.

3rd thru 10th round: Ch 1, 1 sc in each st of round, Join with sl st to 1st sc.

Stuff with foam rubber.

Fold head together to close opening. Work 1 sc in each of 8 stitches (through both thicknesses), turn, and do not fasten off. Join with body of turtle:

NOW: open body of turtle and count down 3 rows inside from flat top edge (edge being the first row). Find the two center loops (we‚re still on the inside of the body). There are 8 stitches on the turtle head edge We're going to attach 4 stitches to one loop and 4 stitches to the other loop.

Work 1 sc in each of 4 sts of head and around one of the above loops simultaneously. Then again the other 4 sts of head and around the next loop. Ch 1, turn , skip 1st st, 1 sc in each of the next two sts. Join with sl st in last stitch.Fasten Off.

NOW - With Contrasting Color (I used white):

Join with sl st in corner of body top (flat top edge). Ch 1, work 4 sc in each space of top round, and down along sides (on same round as legs are attached), and up leg (Note: in outer corner of leg, make 5 sc, ch 4, 1 sc, 4 sc in next loop, sc, ch 4, sc in center loop, 4 sc in next loop, and 1 sc, ch 4, 5 sc in next outer corner of leg. Continue with 4 sc in each space around ˆ except for tail, which will be 12 sc in large end loop of tail. Continue around, Fasten off.

Use buttons or embroider eyes and mouth on head (optional - looks cute even without this).

STUFF BODY: I used a piece of foam rubber (about 1-1/2" to 2" thick), cut into an oval shape, for the stuffing. You may also stuff the body with an oval piece of soap.

NOW: Thread 1/4" thick ribbon through the second round of loops down from flat edge of body ˆthis will be around the head, which is now sticking out of the center of the gathering. Tie a bow on top of neck.

CPpat61.html

#####

*NB This pattern was originally pulished in 1948 by Modern Knitting.

In November 96, it was Tested and Revised by Barbara Coman (BarbaraC@worldnet.att.net ) for Crochet Partners 11/96.

Whenever possible, Crochet Partners has made a good faith effort to determine whether patterns bearing copyrights dates of 1973 or earlier have been renewed before posting. If displayed on the original document, the name of the original copyright holder and the date of publication is included in the posting.

Click here to return to CP's home page.