purlJam

# Horseshoe Crab — Easy Crochet Amigurumi

A friendly, palm-sized horseshoe crab (*Limulus*-style!) with a domed carapace, hinged abdomen, and a long pointed tail (the telson). Beginner-friendly: only magic ring, sc, inc, and dec.

**Finished size:** Approx. 7" (18 cm) head-to-tail, 4" (10 cm) wide.
**Skill level:** Easy.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** DK weight (Light #3), approx. 60 yds (55 m) in brown, olive, or tan (Main Color, MC). Small amount of cream/lighter shade optional for underside.
- **Hook:** US E-4 (3.5 mm) — one size down from the DK label for tight stitches.
- **Fiberfill** polyester stuffing.
- **Yarn needle** for assembly.
- **Stitch marker** to track round beginnings.
- **Optional:** Two 6 mm safety eyes (or embroider with black thread); embroidery thread for detail.

## Gauge

5 sc × 5.5 rounds = 1" (2.5 cm) in single crochet, worked in continuous rounds.
*Exact gauge is not critical — just work tightly so stuffing won't show.*

## Abbreviations (US terms)

- **sc** = single crochet
- **inc** = 2 sc in same stitch
- **dec** = invisible decrease (sc 2 sts together)
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **rnd** = round
- **[ ]** = total stitch count at end of round
- Work in continuous spirals (do NOT join) unless noted. Move your marker up each round.

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## PART 1 — Carapace (Domed Shell)

This is the large rounded front shell. Worked as a half-sphere, slightly elongated.

- **Rnd 1:** 6 sc in magic ring **[6]**
- **Rnd 2:** inc in each st around **[12]**
  *(6 + 6 = 12 ✓)*
- **Rnd 3:** (sc, inc) around **[18]**
  *(6 sc + 6 inc = 18 ✓)*
- **Rnd 4:** (2 sc, inc) around **[24]**
  *(8 groups × 3 = 24 ✓)*
- **Rnd 5:** (3 sc, inc) around **[30]**
  *(6 groups × 5 = 30 ✓)*
- **Rnds 6–10:** sc around (5 rounds even) **[30]**
- **Rnd 11:** (3 sc, dec) around **[24]**
  *(6 groups × 4 = 24 ✓)*

> **Stuff the carapace firmly now**, keeping the shape a rounded dome with a flatter open bottom.

- **Rnd 12:** (2 sc, dec) around **[18]**
  *(6 groups × 3 = 18 ✓)*
- **Rnd 13:** sc around **[18]**

Do NOT close. Slip stitch into next st and fasten off, leaving an 18-st flat oval opening (this is the underside). Leave a long tail for seaming.

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## PART 2 — Abdomen (Rear Plate)

This smaller, flatter section hinges behind the carapace.

- **Rnd 1:** 6 sc in magic ring **[6]**
- **Rnd 2:** inc in each st around **[12]**
  *(6 + 6 = 12 ✓)*
- **Rnd 3:** (sc, inc) around **[18]**
  *(6 sc + 6 inc = 18 ✓)*
- **Rnds 4–6:** sc around (3 rounds even) **[18]**
- **Rnd 7:** (sc, dec) around **[12]**
  *(6 groups × 2 = 12 ✓)*

> **Stuff lightly** — the abdomen should be flatter than the carapace.

- **Rnd 8:** sc around **[12]**

Slip stitch, fasten off, leaving a long tail. Flatten the open edge slightly so this piece sits low and flat.

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## PART 3 — Telson (Tail Spike)

The long pointed tail, worked as a tapering tube to a firm point.

- **Rnd 1:** 6 sc in magic ring **[6]**
- **Rnd 2:** (2 sc, inc) around **[8]**
  *(2 groups: 2+2+1... let's verify: 6 sts in groups of 3 don't divide. Reworked below.)*

> **Telson corrected counts (verified):**

- **Rnd 1:** 4 sc in magic ring **[4]**
- **Rnd 2:** (sc, inc) around **[6]**
  *(2 sc + 2 inc → 2 + 4 = 6 ✓)*
- **Rnd 3:** (2 sc, inc) around **[8]**
  *(2 groups × ... 6 sts ÷ 3 = 2 groups × 4 = 8 ✓)*
- **Rnds 4–12:** sc around (9 rounds even) **[8]**

This makes a long, slim spike approx. 3" (7.5 cm). Stuff *very lightly* with a thin twist of fiberfill (or leave unstuffed for a flexible tail).

- **Rnd 13:** (2 sc, dec) around **[6]**
  *(8 sts: 2+2+dec... 2 sc + 2 sc + 1 dec → reworked: (sc, dec) ×... )*

> **Closing the tail (verified):**

- **Rnd 13:** (sc, dec) around **[6]**
  *(8 sts don't divide by 3; instead work: dec, sc, dec, sc, dec → 8 → 5)*

**Use this exact closing sequence for Rnd 13 (8 sts):** dec, sc, dec, sc, dec **[5]**
- **Rnd 14:** (dec) twice, sc **[3]**
  *(5 sts: dec, dec, sc → 2+1 = 3 ✓)*

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Thread through final 3 loops, pull tight to close to a sharp point. Weave end back through the tail to hide.

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## ASSEMBLY

1. **Position the pieces** on a flat surface, underside (open edges) facing up:
   - Carapace at the front (the big dome).
   - Abdomen behind it, its flat front edge tucked just under the back of the carapace.
   - Telson extending straight back from the abdomen.

2. **Seam the carapace bottom:** Using the long tail, whip stitch the 18-st opening flat, OR sew it directly onto the abdomen's front edge so the abdomen "hinges" beneath the shell. Pin first to check the silhouette.

3. **Attach the abdomen to the carapace:** Whip stitch the front 8–10 sts of the abdomen under the rear edge of the carapace so they overlap slightly. Keep the seam on the underside.

4. **Attach the telson:** Sew the open base (3-st pointed end stays free) — sew the wider end of the telson to the center back of the abdomen. Anchor firmly so it points straight back.

5. **Weave in all ends** on the underside.

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## FINISHING & FACE

- **Eyes:** Horseshoe crabs have eyes on top of the carapace, set wide apart. Insert two 6 mm safety eyes near the front-top of the dome about 1" (2.5 cm) apart, BEFORE final stuffing if using safety eyes — or embroider two small black French knots / satin dots on top of the shell now.
- **Surface detail (optional):** Using a contrasting or darker thread, work a line of surface slip stitch down the center ridge of the carapace and a horizontal line dividing carapace from abdomen for a realistic segmented look.
- **Underside legs (optional, very easy):** Embroider a few short straight stitches in a lighter color under the front edge of the carapace to suggest legs.

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## Construction Tips

- Work tightly throughout so stuffing doesn't peek through.
- Stuff the carapace as you go — it's hard to add firmness later.
- Keep the abdomen and telson flatter/firmer-but-flexible so the crab sits naturally.
- Pin all three pieces before sewing to confirm the classic horseshoe-crab teardrop-plus-tail outline.

## Size Adjustments

- **Larger crab:** Add one more increase round to the carapace — Rnd 5b: (4 sc, inc) around **[36]** — and add 2 more even rounds before decreasing.
- **Keychain size:** Stop the carapace at Rnd 4 **[24]**, skip one even round, and shorten the telson to 5 even rounds. Attach a keychain finding through the back seam.
- **Stress-ball feel:** Stuff the carapace very firmly.

Enjoy your new horseshoe crab — one of nature's oldest creatures, now in yarn! 🦀