Amigurumi Eyeballs
Here are the instructions for making these amigurumi eyeballs; perfect gory decorations for Halloween. There are three sizes - small, medium and large - or should that be goblin, werewolf and troll?
Yarn
I used various makes of acrylic DK yarn - eyeballs are a great way of using up leftover yarn. You'll need white for the main part of the eyeball, black or dark grey for the pupils and limbal ring, and red for the blood vessels. You'll also need small amounts of different colours for the irises. You can go with natural eye shades, or for extra ghoulishness, try yellow, orange or pink. In the small eyeballs I used two colours with similar tones for the irises, i.e. two shades of yellow, or two shades of green. The lighter of the two shades first, followed by the darker. This adds a bit more life to the eye. I had used just one shade in the larger size eyeballs pictured, but will used two when I next make more of those, so I will include it in the instructions for all sizes.
Hook Size
I used a 3.25 mm hook. It is best to use a smaller hook than recommended for the yarn, so the stuffing doesn't show through the stitches when the eyeball is finished. I have given the sizes of the finished eyeballs below, but please be aware that if you use a larger or smaller hook, the finished eyeball will vary accordingly.
Stitches
The pattern is written in US terms. The abbreviations are as follows:
CH – chain;
SL ST – slip stitch;
SC - single crochet;
INC - 2 SC in the same stitch;
DEC - SC decrease. I use the invisible SC decrease (insert hook into front loop only of next two stitches, draw up a loop through both stitches (two loops on hook), draw a loop through both loops on hook).
Notes
The eyeballs start with a magic circle. I have a quick guide to crocheting a magic circle here.
The pattern uses the invisible join, to give a neater finish . If you haven't used this before, have a look at my photo guide here.
Goblin Eyeball (Small)
Werewolf Eyeball (Medium)
The finished eyeball is approximately 4 cm diameter.
Using black yarn, and 3.25 mm hook:
Start with a magic circle.
Row 1: 6 SC into magic circle (6)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
Using iris colour A (lighter shade):
Row 2: INC around, join to first st with SL ST and CH 1 (12)
Row 3: SC, INC, change colour to iris colour B (darker shade) [SC, INC] five times (18)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
In white:
Row 4: [2 SC, INC] around, join to first st with SL ST (no CH 1) (24)
For the rest of the eyeball, work in continuous rounds without joining:
Rows 5 - 7: SC around (3 rows of 24)
Row 6: [2 SC, DEC] around (18)
Row 7: [SC, DEC] around (12)
Stuff firmly.
Row 8: DEC around (6)
Finish off.
The finished eyeball is approximately 5 cm diameter.
Using black yarn, and 3.25 mm hook:
Start with a magic circle.
Row 1: 6 SC into magic circle (6)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
Using iris colour A (lighter shade):
Row 2: INC around, join to first st with SL ST and CH 1 (12)
Row 3: SC, INC, change colour to iris colour B (darker shade) [SC, INC] five times (18)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
In black:
Row 4: [2 SC, INC] around (24)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
In white:
Row 5: [3 SC, INC] around, join to first st with SL ST (no CH 1) (30)
For the rest of the eyeball, work in continuous rounds without joining:
Rows 6 - 9: SC around 4 rows of 30)
Row 10: [3 SC, DEC] around (24)
Row 11: [2 SC, DEC] around (18)
Row 12: [SC, DEC] around (12)
Stuff firmly.
Row 13: DEC around (6)
Finish off.
Troll Eyeball (large)
The finished eyeball is approximately 6.5 cm diameter.
Using black yarn, and 3.25 mm hook:
Start with a magic circle.
Row 1: 6 SC into magic circle, join to first st with SL ST and CH 1 (6)
Row 2: INC around (12)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
Using iris colour A (lighter shade):
Row 3: [SC, INC] around, join to first st with SL ST and CH 1 (18)
Row 4: 2 SC, INC, colour change to iris colour B (darker shade): [2 SC, INC] five times (24)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
making the small eyeball
In black:
Row 5: [3SC, INC] around (30)
Cut yarn, and finish with an invisible join.
In white:
Row 6: [4 SC, INC] around, join to first st with SL ST (no CH 1) (36)
For the rest of the eyeball, work in continuous rounds without joining:
Row 7: [5 SC, INC] around (42)
Rows 8 - 14: SC around (7 rows of 42)
Row 15: [5 SC, DEC] around (36)
Row 16: [4 SC, DEC] around (30)
Row 17: [3 SC, DEC] around (24)
Row 18: [2 SC, DEC] around (18)
Row 19: [SC, DEC] around (12)
Stuff firmly.
Row 20: DEC around (6)
Finish off.
a gory bunch of eyeballs dangling by their severed blood vessels
Blood Vessels
Add veins and blood vessels to your eyeball, as something to dangle them from, to attach them to things, or just for extra goriness.
Take a length of red yarn, not less than 30 cm (and longer if you want longer blood vessels). 1) Insert hook under the middle row of the eyeball from front to back. 2) Pick up the middle of the length of yarn with your hook, and pull through a loop. You'll have two strands of yarn to work with (each end of the length). 3) Using one of the strands, ch 1.
4) Insert hook under the next row back, and 5) SL ST into the ch 1. 6) Continue with SL ST until you are one or two rows from the back of the eyeball, then CH 5 or 6, or more if you want longer blood vessels.
You'll now use the other half of the length of yarn to make the next vein. Decide where you want the next vein to run from - this will depend on how many veins you want to add. I added 6 veins (using 3 strands of yarn) altogether. 7) Insert hook one row further back than where you want the vein to start, and pick up the remaining strand of the yarn. 8) Pull all the way through.
9) Insert hook from the row in front and 10) pull through a loop. From now on you make this vein in the same way as the first, following steps 3) to 6). Photo 11) shows two completed veins/blood vessels. Add as many as you want, and remember you'll get two from each length of yarn. 12) Once all veins have been added, holding all the strands together, tie in a simple overhand knot.
I'd love to see any eyeballs you make from these patterns. Tag me on Instagram @fat_cat_crochet or try the pin on Pinterest.
You are welcome to sell any amigurumi eyeballs you make from this pattern but please credit me as the designer, and link back here if selling online. Please do not copy or sell the pattern itself.
Check out my other free patterns here!
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