Dear fellow crocheters,

Welcome to Sweet Softies' second Creator Challenge, featuring Coral the Mermaid!  She's the perfect amigurumi doll to make this summer!  If you haven't already, check out the INTRO PAGE for rules and important information about this Creator Challenge.




For this first part, please read through the basic information regarding this pattern.  Then, we'll be gathering materials!

~~~ BASIC INFORMATION ~~~

INTRO: The Tiny Baby Mermaid is an adorable, little doll that is quick and easy to crochet! Minimal sewing is required, as her head and body are crocheted in one piece with separate arms and hair cap. She makes a lovely gift for little girls or children who love magical fantasy and sea creatures!

FINISHED MEASUREMENT: 5½ - 6 inches tall

LEVEL: Familiar beginner. Requires familiarity with stitches used (below), changing colors, attaching yarn, and sewing pieces together.

STITCHES/TERMS USED (U.S. Terminology):

• MR: magic ring 
• Ch: chain
• Sl st: slip stitch
• Sc: single crochet
• Dec: decrease 
• Inc: increase
• Hdc: half double crochet
• Dc: double crochet

MATERIALS:

• Medium weight (4) yarn in your selected colors (see 'Color & Design Planning Sheet' section below!)
  Note: Use the same brand of yarn in different color variations for a consistent look; avoid mixing and matching different yarn brands for this one project. 
• 2.75 mm crochet hook or size suitable for the yarn you using. (Make sure your hook is small enough so that gaps cannot be seen between your stitches.)
• Pair of 7mm plastic safety eyes
• Fiberfill stuffing
• White Pipe Cleaner (for stabilizing the neck)
• Yarn needle 
• Scissors 
• Optional: blush powder and a q-tip for adding blush to your doll (see my 'Adding Blush' tutorial)

~~~ COLOR & DESIGN PLANNING SHEET ~~~

If you're like me and you have a hard time visualizing how your mermaid will look in the end with your favorite color combination, you can download the Planning Sheet below.  I find it to be a helpful tool!


All you need to do is color in your mermaid with your preferred colors, find the corresponding yarn color/brand, and (optional!) glue or tape down small snippets of the yarn sample.  If you'd like to add embellishments to your mermaid, such as a pretty hairpiece or accessory, you can also draw it in!

Here's an example! It's my completed sheet for Coral.


And as you can see, Crocheted-Coral shares some resemblance with Paper-Coral!