Chubby Gator College Mascot Crochet Pattern

Chubby Gator College Mascot Free Crochet Pattern 

by Elizabeth Mareno, © Bizzy Crochet and Design 2014, updated 2023 

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This pattern was originally created as a baby shower gift for a couple that loves the University of Florida Gators in the South Eastern Conference (SEC). 

The South takes their football seriously, y'all!! 

But, you don't have to be a football fan to enjoy this adorable free pattern. Chubby Gator is the perfect cute and cuddly project for a baby. Its chubby size makes it extra nice for the baby to squish it with hugs. But, don't stop there-  Chubby Gator makes a great gift for anyone who is a fan of the Southern swamp dweller!

This pattern is easy to follow and uses basic stitches such as single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet. You can make a large or a small alligator, depending on the yarn and hook size you use. Chubby Gator has a round body, a chubby little tail, and a friendly face with embroidered eyes. This pattern is perfect for using up your leftover yarns and making a unique gift for the gator lover in your life. 

Materials:

4oz worsted weight acrylic yarn: Used I Love This Yarn in Light Sage (7 oz/199 g/355 yd/325 m)

Less than 1 oz worsted weight acrylic for: tummy patch (light yellow), eyes (white), back frills (light green).

Small bit of black for the eyes (6 or 8mm safety eyes can also be used instead of embroidering the pupils of the eyes.)

#7/4.5mm hook

Lg Eye needle and straight pins for assembly

Polyester fiberfill for stuffing

Gauge: 16sc x 17rows = 4” x 4”

Finished Size: Approx. 7-1/2” tall x 9-1/2” front to back (tail to nose) x approx 5” wide. Of course, yours may vary depending on how tightly or loosely you hook.

You can use light worsted or sport weight yarn, and a G or F hook, for a smaller gator.

Abbreviations:

BLO- back loop only
ch-chain
dc- double crochet
hdc- half double crochet
FLO- front loop only
inv dec- invisible decrease- insert hook in FLO of next st) twice, (yo, pull through 2 lps) twice.
(video help: https://youtu.be/o3eIWOu2-2s?t=43)
Lps- loops
MR- magic ring
PM- place stitch marker
sc- single crochet
sc dec- single crochet decrease
sk- skip
sl st- slip stitch
sp- space
st- stitch

PATTERN NOTES:

·        Worked using amigurumi method, in rounds without joining with a sl st. PM to indicate start of round, moving it up as you work. Eyes and Tummy Patch are worked flat in rows. Pieces are made separately then joined.  Use image as a guide when joining.

BODY:

Work in the round- do not join unless noted. Worked from the bottom up, starting with green.

Round 1- (RS) MR, 6sc in ring. (6 sc)

Round 2- 2sc in each. (12 sc)

Round 3- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (18 sc)

Round 4- (sc in 2sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (24 sc)

Round 5- (sc in 3sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (30 sc)

Round 6- Round 12- continue in established increase pattern until Round 12 reaches (sc in 10sc, 2sc in next). (72 sc) *each row increases by 6sc.*

Round 13- Round 19- sc in each sc around. (72 sc)

Round 20- (sc in 10sc, inv dec) repeat around. (66 sc)

Round 21- (sc in 9sc, inv dec) repeat around. (60 sc)

Round 22- (sc in 8sc, inv dec) repeat around. (54 sc)

Round 23- Round 30 continue in established decrease pattern until Round 30 reaches (inv dec). (6 sc). *each row will decrease by 6sc.*

Start Stuffing around Round 27.

Join, finish off by weaving the yarn tail through the sts on Round 30 and pulling tight. Weave in ends. Round 30 will be the “top” of the body that the head will sit on when you assemble.

HEAD:

Worked from the top down, starting with green.

Round 1- (RS) MR, 6sc in ring. (6 sc)

Round 2- 2sc in each. (12 sc)

Round 3- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (18 sc)

Round 4- (sc in 2sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (24 sc)

Round 5- (sc in 3sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (30 sc)

Round 6- Round 8- Continue in the established increase pattern until Round 8 reaches (sc in 6sc, 2sc in next). (48 sc)

Round 9- Round 15- Sc in each sc. (48 sc)

Round 16- (sc in 6sc, inv dec) repeat around. (36 sc)

Cut, leave a LONG end for sewing.  Stuff. Position the head centered over the “top” of the body and pin in place with straight pins, and whipstitch in place. Finish stuffing firmly before you completely seal up the edge.

NOSE:

Join at the end of each round. Ch1 does not count as a st

Ch6.

Round 1-(RS) 2sc in second ch from the hook, 1sc in next 3ch, 3sc in next ch, (working on the opposite side of the chain) sc in next 3ch, sc in the last ch (the same space as the first 2sc). Join. (12 sc)

Round 2- ch1, 2sc in join, and next sc, sc in next 3sc, 2sc in next 3sc, sc in 3sc, 2sc in last sc. Join. (18 sc)

Round 3- ch1, sc in join and next sc, 2sc in next, pm, sc in 5sc, pm, 2sc in next, sc in 2sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in 5sc, 2sc in the last sc. Join. (22 sc)

Round 4- ch1, sc in join and next, 2sc in next, sc in 7sc, 2sc in next, sc in 2sc, 2sc in next, sc in 7sc, 2sc in last sc. Join. (26 sc)

Round 5- Round 8- sc in each sc around.

Finish off, leaving a long end for sewing to the face.

NOSTRILS:

You will make the nostrils evenly spaced on the nose itself.

First Nostril: Attach with a sl st around the post of first marked stitch on Round 3. Ch3, 2hdc around the same st, sl st around the next st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Second Nostril: Sk 3 sc, sl st around next marked st, 2hdc around next, ch3, sl st around same st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Stuff and sew to the face, placing the bottom edge of the nose on the seam of the body and head.

 

EYES:

Starting with White. Ch1 does not count as a st.

Ch4.

Row 1- (RS) sc in second ch from the hook and next ch, 3sc in last ch, (working on the opposite side of the starting ch) sc in the last 2 ch. (7 sc)

Row 2- (WS) ch1, turn, sc in 2sc, 2sc in 3sc, sc in 2sc, cut white. (10 sc)

Row 3-(RS) wrong side facing you, join with green, ch1, turn, working BLO, sc in each sc.

Row 4- (WS) ch1, turn, in both loops, sc in each sc.

Cut, leaving a long end to sew on to the face. Flatten the bottom of the eye against the nose but allow the top part of the eye to come away from the face. That will give you the “look” of the gator’s brow bone. Embroider the pupil in black.

 

TAIL:

Round 1- (RS) MR, 5sc in ring. (5 sc)

Round 2- sc in each. Make sure that you turn the cone right side out before proceeding to Round 3.

Round 3- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) twice, sc in last. (7 sc)

Round 4- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) 3 times, sc in last. (10 sc)

Round 5- sc in each sc around. (10 sc)

Round 6- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) repeat around (15 sc)

Round 7- sc in each sc around. (15 sc)

Round 8- (sc in 2sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (20 sc)

Round 9- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) repeat around. (30 sc)

Round 10- Round 12- sc in each sc around.

Finish off, leaving a long end for sewing.

TUMMY PATCH:

Worked from top down. Ch1 does not count as a st.

Ch5

Row 1- (RS) sc in second ch from the hook and each ch across. (4 sc)

Row 2- ch1, turn, 2sc in first sc, sc in 2sc, 2sc in last sc. (6 sc)

Row 3- ch1, turn, sc in each.

Row 4- ch1, turn, sc dec over first two sc, sc in 2sc, sc dec over last two sc. (4 sc)

Row 5- ch1, turn, sc in each.

Row 6- ch1, turn, 2sc in first sc, sc in 2sc, 2sc in last. (6 sc)

Row 7- ch1, turn, 2sc in first sc, sc in 4sc, 2sc in last. (8 sc)

Rows 8-9- ch1, turn, sc in each.

Row 10- ch1, turn, sc dec over first 2sc, sc in 4sc, sc dec over last 2sc. (6 sc)

Row 11- ch1, turn, sc dec over first 2sc, sc in 2sc, sc dec over last 2sc. (4 sc)

Row 12- (RS) ch1, turn, sc in each. (4 sc)

Rotate your work 90 degrees- sc in each row end, ch1 on the corner, sc in the stitches along the top, ch1 on the corner, sc in each row end, ch1 on the corner, sc along the bottom, ch1, join with the first sc.

After you have edged, cut yarn, leave a long end for assembly. Center the tummy patch on the belly with the smaller section toward the top, pin in place, and attach.

TOP FEET:

Round 1- (RS) MR, 6sc in ring. (6 sc)

Round 2- 2sc in each. (12 sc)

Round 3- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) around. (18 sc)

Round 4- working in BLO, sc in 6sc, (sc in next sc, ch2, sl st in second ch from hook, sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in last 6sc. (18 sc, 3 toes)

Round 5- working in both loops, sc in each sc around- skipping the toes and keeping them to the front. (18 sc)

Round 6- sc in each sc.

Finish off, leaving a long end for sewing on. Stuff lightly, pin and sew to the front of the body, finish stuffing before finishing off.

BOTTOM FEET:

Round 1- Round 3- Repeat as for Top Feet

Round 4- (sc in 2sc, 2sc in next) around. (24 sc)

Round 5- working in BLO, sc in 8sc, (sc in next sc, ch2, sl st in second ch from hook, sc in next sc) 4 times, sc in last 8sc. (24 sc, 4 toes)

Round 6- working in both loops, sc in each sc around- skipping the toes and keeping them to the front. (24 sc)

Round 7- sc in each sc.

Cut, leaving a long end for assembly. Stuff, sew to the bottom part of the body spread out a little further than the top feet. Make sure that you overlap the tummy patch just a little bit. Stuff firmly before finishing off.

BACK FRILLS: make 2

Right frill: ch36, sc in second ch from the hook (this is the top end of the frill), (sk 1 ch, 5dc in next ch, sk 1 ch, sc in the next ch) 8 times, sc in the last 2 chains. (11 sc, 8 5-dc fans)

Left frill: ch36, sc in second ch from the hook, sc in next 2 ch (this is the bottom end of the frill), (sk 1 ch, 5dc in next ch, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch) repeat to the end. (11 sc, 8 5-dc fans)

Cut, leaving a long end, and sew to the back. The right side of your stitches should point to the outside. 

© Bizzy Crochet and Designs 2014, updated 2023