Sweet Nothings Crochet: SHARK COCOON FOR A BABY

SHARK COCOON

I’ve waited so long to design a baby cocoon again. I’ve made some of these before, but not photographed them, or written their patterns down etc.. so this one is a big YES ! For me

I have loved the shark cocoon ever since I saw it first somewhere on the net.. but I couldn’t find a free pattern for it, so here’s what I’ve made, and my notes for it.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used two hanks (~ 200 gms) of our lovely Indian Vardhaman Millennium 4-ply yarn with a 4.5 mm crochet hook

Abbreviations used :

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

sk : skip. sl-st : Slip stitch

hk : hook yo : yarn over

hdc : Half Double crochet

MC : Main Colour

CC : Contrast Colour

fsc : Foundation single crochet

dc : Double crochet

Stitches used : Using US terminology

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly. View it at https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno

How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours.

View it at https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ

Instruction information

Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for a video tutorial on all the stitches needed to make this full project.

For the basic pattern of my shark cocoon, I’ve used this lovely free pattern from B. Hooked Crochet called Mystic Mermaid Cocoon - https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837382291/.

So I’ve worked my sack / cocoon all the way up to the top in this pattern, but instead of the ruffles, I’ve worked in the shark jaws. I then worked shark tail fins instead of the lovely mermaid tails.

So first let’s work the sack all the way to Round 38 (or the length you need. I worked till Round 35, just fyi) .. and we’ll meet back here for tail and jaws.

For convenience, I am going to call the rounds to make the Jaw Rounds.

So first let’s count off to the halfway point and place a marker. Just so that the first / last stitch line does not show and goes underneath the cocoon, may I suggest that you find the ‘side’ points which will be where we divide for the jaw.

So what does this mean?

I’ve ended with 88 sts. So that’s 44 in each end. However, what I’ve done is count off 22 sts on either side of the start/end stitch, and this way that start line goes dead centre and underneath. So place your markers now on either side, and these will be the openings for the shark jaw. We will work between markers and work one side of the jaw at a time.

In the very first row on we will start with our decreases using the dc 2-tog.

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ;

{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times. One dc 2-tog made.

This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.

Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch. Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/lLUXOJ1sY9w

Jaw Row 1 : (Starting from Marker # 1)

dc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 dc ; dc in each dc till 2 dc before Marker # 2 ;

dc 2-tog over the last 2 dc. Turn. (42 dc)

Jaw Row 2 : dc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 dc ;

dc in each dc till 2 dc before end, dc 2-tog over the last 2 dc. Turn. (40 dc)

In the next row on we will be using the dc 3-tog.

Double crochet 3-tog : dc 3-tog : Here is an easy video tutorial at https://youtu.be/qlnqXDB3OUM

Jaw Row 3 : dc 3-tog over the 1^st 3 dc ;

dc in each dc till 3 dc before end, dc 3-tog over the last 3 dc. Turn. (36 dc)

Jaw Row 4 - 7 : Rep Row 3. (32 / 28 / 24 / 20 dc)

Jaw Row 8 - 13 : Rep Row 2. (18 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10 / 8 dc)

Jaw Row 15 : Rep Row 3.

Jaw Row 16 : dc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 dc ; dc 2-tog over the last 2 dc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Re-attach yarn at the 1^st marker for the other side and repeat Jaw Rows 1 – 16 for the other side.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

SHARK TEETH

For our shark teeth, let’s use white yarn.

So attach your white yarn at Marker 1 and we’ll work in one continuous movement.

Let's work a round of sc all around first in multiples of 5.

Round 1 : sc neatly spaced all around in multiples of 5. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Round 2 : (sc , hdc , 3 dc , hdc , sc) all in the 1^st sc ;

sk next sc , sl-st in the next sc ;

* sk next sc, rep (to) in the next sc ; sk next sc, sl-st in the next sc* ;

rep *to* all the way around

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

SHARK EYES

(Make two)

Start Round 1 : with black and a magic circle.

Work 8 dc in the magic circle.

Pull lightly to close circle. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Round 2 : 2 dc in the 1^st dc ; 2 dc in each dc all around. Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Fasten off and leave a tail to join.

SIDE FINS

(Make two)

Start : with 18 fsc. Turn.

Row 1 : sc in the 1^st fsc and each fsc till end. Turn.

From the following row on, we’ll decrease on both ends, using the sc 2-tog.

Single crochet 2-together : sc 2tog : Insert hk into st, yo, draw up a lp, hk into next st, yo, draw up a lp (2 lps on hk), yo, draw through all 3 lps. One sc2tog made.

Row 2 : sc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 sc ; sc in the each sc till the last 2 sc ; sc 2-tog over the last 2 sc. Turn.

Row 3 : sc in the 1^st sc and each sc till end. Turn.

Rep Rows 2 and 3 till you have 4 sc left.

Next Row : sc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 sc ; sc 2-tog over the next 2 sc. Turn.

Last Row : sc 2-tog over the 2 sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

TOP FIN

(Make one)

Start : with 28 fsc. Turn.

Row 1 : sc in the 1^st fsc and each fsc till end. Turn.

From the following row on, we’ll decrease on both ends, using the sc 2-tog.

Single crochet 2-together : sc 2-tog :

Insert hk into st, yo and pull up a lp (2 lps on hk) ; insert hk into next sc, yo and pull up a lp (3 lps on hk); yo and draw through all 3 lps. One sc 2-tog complete. Visit this video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whlsMemDHLc

Row 2 : sc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 sc ;

sc in the each sc till the last 2 sc ;

sc 2-tog over the last 2 sc. Turn.

Row 3 : sc in the 1^st sc and each sc till end. Turn.

Rep Rows 2 and 3 till you have 4 sc left.

Next Row : sc 2-tog over the 1^st 2 sc ;

sc 2-tog over the next 2 sc. Turn.

Last Row : sc 2-tog over the 2 sc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

TAIL FINS

(Make two)

For these fins, we will start at the bottom (or the pointed edge) and move towards the top of the fin. In this fin, we will have one edge that we will increase along, and one that will stay straight. The straight edge goes along the bottom of the shark and the increase edge then goes along the top.

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Start : with 1 fsc. Turn.

Row 1 : ch 1 (which only works as a turning ch and not a st), 3 dc in the fsc. Turn.

Row 2 : 3 dc in the 1^st dc ; dc in the next 2 dc. Turn (5 dc)

Row 3 : dc in the 1^st 4 dc ; 3 dc in the last dc. Turn (7 dc)

Rows 4 - 5 : Rep Rows 2 & 3 ; increasing 2 sts every row. (11 dc)

Row 6 : 2 dc in the 1^st dc ; dc in each dc till end. Turn

Row 7 : dc in the 1^st dc and each dc till the last dc ; 2 dc in the last dc. Turn

Rows 8 - 9 : Rep Rows 6 & 7.

Row 10 : dc in the 1^st dc and each dc till end. Turn

Row 11 : Rep Row 7

Row 12 : Rep Row 6

Row 13 : Rep Row 10

Row 14 : Rep Row 6

Row 15 - 16 : Rep Row 10

At this point, my tail fin is about 8.5” x 5”.

Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach fin onto main body of shark.

Do you see the straight edge now ?

The second fin straight edge is along the top, so we get the "V" in the centre of the shark fin.

Finishing

So let’s assemble our shark cocoon.

1. Eyes : Fold your shark cocoon such that the Marker points 1 & 2 (for jaw) are together. Find the centre point of snout for the eyes, and affix one eye on each side

2. Side fins : Attach one side fin on either side of your shark body in the centre.

3. Tail fins : Align the flat / straight edge of the tail fin along the bottom of the shark body and attach it on either side

4. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

And we’re done !!

Doesn’t this just look too cute? I am so sure that you will be making another one really soon as you’re sure to get more orders for this.

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Have a great day and see you soon.

I’ve made two cute diaper sets that I’d like to share with you. Here are the links