Later Alligator!
Sorry to say, this highly anticipated spring has been something of a downer thus far. Stepping off the plane from Tokyo, the blast of cold air that greeted me came as quite a shock, as I had thought that New England was experiencing very similar weather during my absence. Sure, 60 - 70 degrees over in Tokyo is nothing to write home about, but compared to the 30 - 40 degree rains over here, it seems like a tropical paradise! Periodically raining, shining, and then raining again, the rivers have swollen to impressive proportions, fed by brief but massive downpours. Wanting to capture some of the rapidly moving water passing through a nearby stream, I wandered down into town a bit, camera in tow, snapping pictures every few feet. Although I had fully expected to find some interesting and photogenic sights along the river bank, I nearly dropped my camera in the water when I saw a pair of eyes staring back that seemed to find me just as interesting a subject!
From the distance between us, I couldn’t be entirely sure of the accuracy of my vision; Certainly a baby alligator would never turn up in such a remote area, especially without a parent in sight! And yet as I moved closer for a better look, I could hardly question my first assessment. Still small and cute, he bore no resemblance to the fearsome killers I had seen tearing other animals and even humans to shreds on tv, so I quickly dropped my guard and forgot my fears. Still being cautious to look for his guardians, I snapped numerous pictures of this incredible find - Who would have believed otherwise?
Slyly grinning from his perch on a sunny rock, he appeared quite content and self-assured, especially for a young tyke of his age. Perhaps he knew he had quite a reputation in these parts, where the most fearsome wild animals we have are probably tame enough to be considered as pets. Although it was clear that he posed no real danger, I still didn’t want to stick around for too long, in case some enraged mother with teeth of steel showed up, wondering what a vegan might taste like. After reviewing the display on my camera that proved my eyes did not deceive me, I headed for home, excited to show this peculiar critter to anyone who crossed my path.
Cute as he was, I just hope that he doesn’t plan to spend too long in the area… Though small and adorable now, just give him some time to hit a growth spurt and become a true terror. Paired with that confident attitude, I don’t think that any inhabitants of that stream would have a fighting chance! If you’d like to tempt fate and try raising your own baby alligator nonetheless, I wouldn’t ever want to dissuade anyone passionate enough, so here’s the pattern!
Upper Jaw
With green worsted weight yarn and a size F hook, ch4, sc into second stitch from hook, sc 2, sc2 more into last stitch, sc1 into the back of each stitch, sc 2 more into last stitch. (10)
Continuing around in the same direction, sc3, sc2 into next two stitches each, sc3, sc2 into each of the next two stitches. (14)
Sc5, sc2 into next stitch, sc6, sc 2 into next stitch, sc1 (16)
Sc around for 9 rounds
Break yarn and secure.
Lower Jaw
Ch3, sc into second st from hook, sc 4 into next stitch (moving around to the back), sc3 into back of last stitch. (8)
Continuing in a circle, sc2, sc2 into each of the next two sts, sc2, sc2 into each of the next 2 sts. (12)
Sc4, sc2 into next st, sc5, sc2 into next st, sc1. (14)
Sc around for 9 rounds
Do not break yarn.
Body
Lining up the upper jaw next to your current work, sc into first 8 sts of upper jaw, sc into outer 7 st of lower jaw, leaving the inner sts of each piece unworked. (15)
Continuing around the outside, Sc2 into each of the next 2 sts, sc4, sc 2 into each of the next 3 sts, sc5, sc2 into next st (21)
Sc around for 11 rounds
Sc1, sc2 tog* around (14)
Sc5, sc2 tog* twice (12)
Sc around for 7 rounds
Sc2 tog around (6)
Sc2 tog around (3)
Tongue
With red yarn, ch4, sc2 into second st from hook, sc1, sc2 into final st (5)
Ch1, sc2 into second st from hook, sc3, sc2 into final st (7)
Ch1, sc across for 10 rows
Eyes [Make 2]
With white yarn, sc5 into a circle
Sc2 into each st (10)
Sc around
Sc2 tog (5)
Legs [Make 4]
Sc4 into a circle
Sc2 into each st (8)
Sc around for 4 rounds
To Assemble: Through opening between jaws, firmly stuff body. Lightly stuff jaws. Sew tongue to lower jaw along raw back edges. Sew the opening in back with a length of green yarn. Cut triangles out of white felt for the teeth and glue into desired positions. Stuff the eyes, gather together the open end and secure, and attach to top of the head. Glue on half-round beads, buttons, or circles of black felt for the pupils. Stuff all legs and sew onto the body as indicated by the pictures.
Take care of your new baby, but keep an eye on any other small pets when your gator is loose!
jenn said,
April 16, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for sharing another wonderful creation.
Mary Anne said,
April 16, 2007 at 1:38 pm
You are so creative, both with your crafts and your writing! What a gorgeous little critter. I wish I could crochet. Your designs just might be the inspiration I need. Thank you for sharing with us so freely.
nonoa said,
April 16, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh TY TY TY TY TY!!!!! It is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!
Rachel said,
April 16, 2007 at 4:59 pm
The alligator is very cute - loved the story to go with it!
ugliducklyn said,
April 16, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Thank you so much for the pattern!
Oiyi said,
April 16, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Thank you for another adorable creation.
Katie said,
April 16, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Very cute. Thanks for the pattern.
Nick said,
April 17, 2007 at 10:09 am
The croc is wonderfully funny!
flissy666 said,
April 18, 2007 at 6:40 am
He’s croccy-licious! I love him! Thanks for sharing the pattern with us. I love your last one too (hungry hippo) and have just made my own. He’s proven to be as naughty as yours and I think that they have the tendency to take on their owner’s vices, but to the max (in my case booze). I took him out for a quiet drink the other night and he proved to be an absolute disgrace. When his hangover has worn off, he will be posting his tale on my blog (flissy666.wordpress.com) - I’ll let you know when that is!
mel said,
April 19, 2007 at 9:11 am
Thank you so much, your patterns are great!I love the alligator and so will my little girl!
Jessica said,
April 23, 2007 at 6:57 am
I really love this little croc - I’ve already started to make one up for myself :-) He seems to be working up quite quick, which is great ’cause I’ve set myself a huge task of crocheting wedding favors for my wedding in September - I should really get started…
Just a quick question - any chance you could tell me what brand of eyes you use for your soft toys. I can’t find any suitable in my local craft stores so I’m going to have to resort to using ebay.
Croque Monsieur helps Johnny « Flissy666! said,
April 23, 2007 at 9:04 am
[...] you want to share your life with this Gaellic, Brownite interloper, please check out Bittersweet’s blog for the pattern - thank you for sharing it with [...]
flissy666 said,
April 23, 2007 at 9:07 am
Woo Hoo I made one and he’s VERY naughty! (http://flissy666.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/croque-monsieur-helps-johnny). Thanks for sharing, Hannah!
Annika said,
April 27, 2007 at 9:53 am
Thank you! Its an amazing pattern!
persephonesawakening said,
April 29, 2007 at 4:40 pm
this pattern is going to my nana, who wants to start crocheting amiguris!
Jessica said,
May 1, 2007 at 10:57 am
I’ve finished mine, and he is the cutest thing (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/218/479943842_24965117a3.jpg?v=0)- but I’ll have to keep a close eye on him as he looks quite mischievous!
denise said,
July 15, 2007 at 9:41 pm
This alligator is absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed the hungry hippo. I have enjoyed making the hippo for the neighbourhood kids and I am sure they will learn to love alligators too.
Daphne said,
August 7, 2007 at 5:28 am
What a great design… I will definitely start on this one soon :-)
Thanks for sharing!
Nicole said,
September 24, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Again, I love this baby alligator! It’s adorable. :)
I guess since I’m new, I’m still a little crochet retarded. I was wondering… For the upper jaw, should I be making turning stitches between each row?
If you can let me know, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you.
val said,
October 5, 2007 at 2:36 am
My son asked me today for an alligator critter ……guess I won’t have to make up a pattern afterall! SO CUTE!
Lisa said,
January 26, 2008 at 8:08 am
Hello-
I love your pattern, but have a question about the directions in the jaw.. I am sort of a begginer. Anyways… I don’t understnad how with the first few moves you end up with 10 sc. “With green worsted weight yarn and a size F hook, ch4, sc into second stitch from hook, sc 2, sc2 more into last stitch” I understand up until here. Now the next move, is that the next row and therefore you are going back and crocheting in the same stiches (which now number five instead of four) “sc1 into the back of each stitch, sc 2 more into last stitch. (10)” If it is in those same stiches (and therefore changing directions), then if you sc in each stich, and 2 in the last, with 5 stiches that gives you 7 at the end.. I’m confused about the 10..
I know I’m probably not making any sense, but if you could contact me that’d be great as I’d LOVE to do this pattern!
Patty said,
February 21, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Oh my gosh he is just toooo cute and i love how u did the instructions all in seperate parts. makes it much easier when ya can see how its gonna be before ya even get started. thanks again for sharing, keep em coming! =)
Ella Quan said,
April 22, 2008 at 4:11 pm
its so cute and sooo funny hahahah thanks!!!