Stacking Toy – Caterpillar

Crochet Pattern
 Do you want to surprise your toddler with an amazing toy and crochet this
Caterpillar - stacking, counting, and color sorting game?

Video - https://youtu.be/NMNHSZRYcn0

This Stacking Caterpillar is a clever, educational, and multifunctional toy

developed according to Montessori learning methods. It is suitable for
toddlers and preschoolers and will amuse them well. The Caterpillar offers
various developmental, learning, and activity elements:

• Improve hand and eye coordination and small motor skills;

• Color sorting;
• Counting;
• Number recognition;
• Simple math such as sum and subtract up to 15.

The finished toy is about 50 cm (20 in) long and 17 cm (6.7 in) at its highest
part. The rings have a diameter of 7 cm (2.8 in) and the squares with the
addition and subtraction signs have a side of 5,5 cm (2.2 in).

The pdf file contains a step-by-step description and lots of photos. I’m sure
that the process of work will be exciting, and you will have an interesting toy.
Materials:

- Yarn: YarnArt Jeans (55% Cotton, 45% PolyAcrylic, 1.76 oz = 174 yds/50 g
= 160 m): 7 colors – yellow, light blue, blue, light green, red (2 balls),
beige, and a small amount of white (Colors 88, 75, 17, 11, 26, 87, and 01)
- Hook size – I use 2.00 mm
- Fiberfill for stuffing
- Craft foam 20 mm thickness – approximately A3 size
- Scissors
- Tapestry needles
- Pins
- Stitch markers

Abbreviations:
st = Stitch rnd = Round

ch = Chain stitch inc = Increase

sl st = Slip stitch dec = Invisible decrease

sc = Single crochet
TIPS:
 In my project, I prefer to use cross stitch single crochet instead of single
crochet. It’s a different method for creating a single crochet. Here’s how
to work it – insert the hook into the next stitch, don't do yarn over,
instead when you hook points down grab the yarn and pull up the loop,
yarn over and pull through two loops.

Here’s a pretty good video - https://youtu.be/4iaqhpBayDA

 How to work invisible decrease – insert the hook into front loop of the
first stitch, insert the hook into front loop of next stitch, grab the yarn
and pull up through both loops. Now you have two loops left on the hook
– yarn over and draw through both loops.
  To make a neat color change: As you make the last stitch in the old color,
pause before the last step of that stitch. For the final ‘yarn over and draw
through all loops on the hook’, substitute the new yarn, so you draw the
new yarn through your loops. This gives a cleaner edge to the color
change.

 For rectangles with the numbers: I recommend using the intarsia crochet
method. This technique allows us to use two or more different colors in
each row. It's actually a lot less complicated than it looks. Just follow
these simple rules:

- The most important thing: 1 square on the chart is 1 sc!

- When you work the right side all tails should be on the wrong side of
your work and you should read the chart from right to left.

- When you work the wrong side all tails should be on the wrong side
of your work, in front of you and you should read the chart from left to
right.

Rings
Make 5 rings in red, 4 rings in yellow, 3 rings in light green, 2 rings in light
blue, and 1 ring in blue.

Rnd 1: ch 30, sl st in the 1st st to make a rnd

Rnd 2: sc in all 30 ch [30] (start in the 1st ch where the sl st

is worked)
Rnd 3: (sc in next 2 st, inc, sc in next 2 st) repeat 6 times [36]

Rnd 4: (sc in next 5 st, inc) repeat 6 times [42]

Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 st, inc, sc in next 3 st) repeat 6 times [48]

Rnd 6: (sc in next 7 st, inc) repeat 6 times [54]

Rnd 7: (sc in next 4 st, inc, sc in next 4 st) repeat 6 times [60]

Rnd 8 – 12: sc in all 60 st [60]

Rnd 13: (sc in next 4 st, dec, sc in next 4 st) repeat 6 times [54]

Rnd 14: (sc in next 7 st, dec) repeat 6 times [48]

Rnd 15: (sc in next 3 st, dec, sc in next 3 st) repeat 6 times [42]

Rnd 16: (sc in next 5 st, dec) repeat 6 times [36]

Rnd 17: (sc in next 2 st, dec, sc in next 2 st) repeat 6 times [30]

Rnd 18 – 19: sc in all 30 st [30]

Sl st, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Sewing

Fold the ring in half and sew the first and the last rnd together. Pass the
needle through each sc twice. Stuff with fiberfill as you go taking care to do this
evenly. When you have only a few stitches left, stuff the whole ring, if
necessary use a thin wooden stick or tweezers, and sew them. Fasten off and
hide the tail inside.
Circles
Make two circles in yellow, light green, light blue, and blue.
Rnd 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring [6]

Rnd 2: inc 6 times [12]

Rnd 3: (sc, inc) repeat 6 times [18]

Rnd 4: (sc, inc, sc) repeat 6 times [24]

Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 st, inc) repeat 6 times [30]

Rnd 6: (sc in next 2 st, inc, sc in next 2 st) repeat 6 times [36]

Rnd 7: (sc in next 5 st, inc) repeat 6 times [42]

Rnd 8: (sc in next 3 st, inc, sc in next 3 st) repeat 6 times [48]

Rnd 9: (sc in next 7 st, inc) repeat 6 times [54]

Rnd 10: (sc in next 4 st, inc, sc in next 4 st) repeat 6 times [60]

Rnd 11: (sc in next 9 st, inc) repeat 6 times [66]

Rnd 12: (sc in next 5 st, inc, sc in next 5 st) repeat 6 times [72]

Rnd 13: (sc in next 11 st, inc) repeat 6 times [78]

Rnd 14: (sc in next 6 st, inc, sc in next 6 st) repeat 6 times [84]

Rnd 15: (sc in next 13 st, inc) repeat 6 times [90]

Rnd 16: (sc in next 7 st, inc, sc in next 7 st) repeat 6 times [96]

Sl st, fasten off.

Make 2 red circles, repeat all rnds

from above and crochet two additional
rnds:
Rnd 17: (sc in next 15 st, inc) repeat 6 times
[102]

Rnd 18: (sc in next 8 st, inc, sc in next 8 st)

repeat 6 times [108]

Sl st, fasten off.

I use steam blocking for better looking.

Poles
Start in beige, color 87. Stuff as you go.

First pole
Rnd 1: start 8 sc in a magic ring [8]

Rnd 2: inc 8 times [16]

Rnd 3 – 16: sc in all 16 st [16]. Sl st, fasten off, leaving a tail

for sewing.

Second pole
Rnd 1: start 8 sc in a magic ring [8]

Rnd 2: inc 8 times [16]

Rnd 3 – 24: sc in all 16 st [16]. Sl st, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Third pole
Rnd 1: start 8 sc in a magic ring [8]

Rnd 2: inc 8 times [16]

Rnd 3 – 32: sc in all 16 st [16]. Sl st, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Fourth pole
Rnd 1: start 8 sc in a magic ring [8]

Rnd 2: inc 8 times [16]

Rnd 3 – 40: sc in all 16 st [16]. Sl st, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Fifth pole
Rnd 1: start 8 sc in a magic ring [8]

Rnd 2: inc 8 times [16]

Rnd 3 – 48: sc in all 16 st [16]. Sl st, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Eyes
Start in white, color 01. Make 2 pieces.
Rnd 1: ch 5

Rnd 2: 3 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch, 3 sc in the last ch,
turn and continue working on the other side of the chain, sc in next 2 st
[10]

Rnd 3: (inc 3 times, sc in next 2 st) repeat 2 times [16]

Rnd 4: (sc, inc) repeat 3 times, sc in next 2 st, (sc, inc) repeat 3 times,
sc in next 2 st [22]

Rnd 5: (sc, inc, sc) repeat 3 times, sc in next 2 st, (sc, inc, sc) repeat 3
times, sc in next 2 st [28]

Row 6: sc, sl st in next 2 st, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Pupils
Start in blue, color 17. Make 2 pieces.
Rnd 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring [6]

Rnd 2: inc 6 times [12]

Sc, sl st, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Mouth
Start in beige, color 87.
Ch 10, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 8
ch, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Tentacles
Start in blue, color 17. Make 2 pieces. Stuff as you go.
Rnd 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring [6]

Rnd 2: inc 6 times [12]

Rnd 3: (sc, inc) repeat 6 times [18]

Rnd 4: (sc, inc, sc) repeat 6 times [24]

Rnd 5 – 8: sc in all 24 st [24]

Rnd 9: (sc, dec, sc) repeat 6 times [18]

Rnd 10: (sc in next 4 st, dec) repeat 3 times [15]

Rnd 11 – 15: sc in all 15 st [15]

Sl st, fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Numbers

The back of the numbers – make 5 pieces.

Start in in beige, color 87, and ch 14.
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2 – 19: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Fasten off.

Number 1
 Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 3: turn, 1 lifting ch, 2 sc (beige), 3 sc (blue), 8 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the right side of your
work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from left to right, do not cut the
yarn after Row 19.

Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Number 2

Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 3: turn, 1 lifting ch, 2 sc (beige), 9 sc (light blue), 2 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the right side of
your work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from left to right, do not cut the
yarn after Row 19.

Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Number 3
 Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 3: turn, 1 lifting ch, 4 sc (beige), 5 sc (light green), 4 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the right side of
your work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from left to right, do not cut the
yarn after Row 19.

Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Number 4

Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 3: turn, 1 lifting ch, 2 sc (beige), 3 sc (yellow), 8 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the right side of your
work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from left to right, do not cut the
yarn after Row 19.
 Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Number 5

Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 3: turn, 1 lifting ch, 3 sc (beige), 8 sc (red), 2 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the right side of your
work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from left to right, do not cut the
yarn after Row 19.

Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Symbols

The back of the symbols – make 3 pieces.

Start in in beige, color 87, and ch 14.
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2 – 13: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Fasten off.

Plus sign

Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 3: turn, 1 lifting ch, 5 sc (beige), 3 sc (blue), 5 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the right side of your
work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from left to right, do not cut the
yarn after Row 13.

Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off.
Minus sign

Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.

Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2 – 5: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 6: turn, 1 lifting ch, 2 sc (beige), 9 sc (blue), 2 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the wrong side of your
work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from right to left, do not cut the
yarn after Row 13.

Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off.

Equals sign
 Start in beige (color 87) and ch 14.
Row 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in next 12 ch [13]

Row 2: turn, 1 lifting ch, sc in all 13 st [13]

Row 3: turn, 1 lifting ch, 2 sc (beige), 9 sc (blue), 2 sc (beige) [13] (It’s the right side of your
work).

Row 4: turn, 1 lifting ch and continue according to the chart from left to right, do not cut the
yarn after Row 13.

Put the two pieces (this one and a back) back to back and join them with sc.
You should crochet sc across the four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten
off.

Assembling

Put two stitch markers on the red circle at a distance of 16 stitches between
them. Put the red circle on the yellow one as these 18 stitches lie on it and sew
them. [18 stitches from the red circle should cover the yellow one].
 Count 22 stitches from the top of the yellow circle and put a stitch marker on
the 23rd stitch. Put the second stitch marker at a distance of 16 stitches from
the first one. Sew the yellow circle on the green circle - 18 stitches from the
yellow circle should cover the green one.

Count 22 stitches from the top of the green circle and put a stitch marker on
the 23rd stitch. Put the second stitch marker at a distance of 16 stitches from
the first one. Sew the green circle on the light blue circle - 18 stitches from the
green circle should cover the light blue one.

Count 22 stitches from the top of the light blue circle and put a stitch marker
on the 23rd stitch. Put the second stitch marker at a distance of 16 stitches from
the first one. Sew the light blue circle on the blue circle - 18 stitches from the
light blue circle should cover the blue one.
 The front part of the caterpillar is ready.

The back part is assembled as if in a mirror. See the photo below. 18 stitches
from each circle must lie on the next. In the same way as above - count 22
stitches from the top of the yellow circle and put a stitch marker on the 23rd
stitch. Put the second stitch marker at a distance of 16 stitches from the first
one. Proceed with the other circles.
 Now we'll work sc across the whole front part of the caterpillar.
Rnd 1: attach with a loop, ch, sc in the same st, sc across the blue circle, continue with sc
across the light blue circle, continue with sc across the light green circle and so on until you
make a full rnd.

Rnd 2 – 6: sc across the whole shape

Stop crocheting after Rnd 6 without cutting the thread. Sew the poles starting
from the smallest one on the blue circle. The pole should be exactly in the
middle of the circle and well stuffed.
Sew the eyes, pupils, and mouth on the red circle.
 Put the back part on the craft foam and cut a shape just like it. Place the craft
foam between the front and the back part and join them with sl st.
Sew the tentacles on the head. Sew the numbers.

The Stacking Toy - Caterpillar is ready!