purlJam

# Pattern: Visitor 'Alien 4'
**Difficulty Level:** Advanced
**Designed by:** System Persona

## Description
An advanced amigurumi project featuring a classic extraterrestrial design. This figure features an articulated wire skeleton allowing for posing, detailed fingers and toes, and the iconic inverted-teardrop head shape. The construction uses seamless joining for the legs and body.

## Specifications
*   **Yarn Weight:** Worsted (Aran in UK weight).
*   **Recommended Yarn:** High-quality cotton or acrylic blend.
    *   Main Colour (A): 100g Pale Grey or Mint Green.
    *   Contrast Colour (B): 20g Black (for eyes).
*   **Hook Size:** 3.5mm (Note: This is smaller than standard for Aran yarn to ensure tight stitches and no gaps).
*   **Other Materials:**
    *   Polyester fibre fill (stuffing).
    *   2mm aluminium craft wire (approx 60cm) for armature.
    *   Electrical tape (to wrap wire ends).
    *   Yarn needle, stitch markers, pins.
    *   Wooden dowel (approx 8cm) for neck support.

## Tension (Gauge)
22 dc and 24 rows = 10 x 10 cm.
*Tension is critical to ensure the stuffing does not show through. If your work is loose, switch to a 3.0mm hook.*

## Terminology & Abbreviations (UK English)
*   **ch**: chain
*   **dc**: double crochet (equivalent to US single crochet)
*   **htr**: half treble crochet (equivalent to US half double crochet)
*   **st(s)**: stitch(es)
*   **sl st**: slip stitch
*   **inc**: increase (2 dc in one st)
*   **inv dec**: invisible decrease (insert hook into front loop of first st, then front loop of second st, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through remaining 2 loops).
*   **BLO**: back loop only
*   **[...]**: Total stitch count at end of round/row.

---

## Instructions

### Section 1: Head
*Worked in continuous rounds. Do not join unless instructed.*

**Rnd 1:** With Colour A, make a magic ring, work 6 dc into ring. `[6 sts]`
**Rnd 2:** Inc in each st around. `[6 x 2 = 12 sts]`
**Rnd 3:** (1 dc, inc) 6 times. `[12 + 6 = 18 sts]`
**Rnd 4:** (2 dc, inc) 6 times. `[18 + 6 = 24 sts]`
**Rnd 5:** (3 dc, inc) 6 times. `[24 + 6 = 30 sts]`
**Rnd 6:** (4 dc, inc) 6 times. `[30 + 6 = 36 sts]`
**Rnd 7:** (5 dc, inc) 6 times. `[36 + 6 = 42 sts]`
**Rnd 8:** (6 dc, inc) 6 times. `[42 + 6 = 48 sts]`
**Rnd 9:** (7 dc, inc) 6 times. `[48 + 6 = 54 sts]`
**Rnds 10–18:** Dc in each st around. (9 rounds). `[54 sts]`
*Note: This forms the wide cranium.*

**Rnd 19:** (7 dc, inv dec) 6 times. `[54 - 6 = 48 sts]`
**Rnd 20:** Dc in each st around. `[48 sts]`
**Rnd 21:** (6 dc, inv dec) 6 times. `[48 - 6 = 42 sts]`
**Rnd 22:** Dc in each st around. `[42 sts]`
**Rnd 23:** (5 dc, inv dec) 6 times. `[42 - 6 = 36 sts]`
**Rnd 24:** Dc in each st around. `[36 sts]`
**Rnd 25:** (4 dc, inv dec) 6 times. `[36 - 6 = 30 sts]`
**Rnd 26:** (3 dc, inv dec) 6 times. `[30 - 6 = 24 sts]`
**Rnd 27:** (2 dc, inv dec) 6 times. `[24 - 6 = 18 sts]`
**Rnd 28:** (1 dc, inv dec) 6 times. `[18 - 6 = 12 sts]`
**Rnds 29–30:** Dc in each st around. `[12 sts]`
*Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff head firmly. Insert the wooden dowel into the centre of the stuffing (ensure it is surrounded by fibre) so that 4cm protrudes from the neck opening.*

### Section 2: Eyes (Make 2)
*Worked in Colour B (Black).*

**Row 1:** Ch 7. Start in 2nd ch from hook. 5 dc, 3 dc in last ch. Rotate to work along opposite side of chain. 4 dc, inc in last st. Do not join. `[5 + 3 + 4 + 2 = 14 sts]`
**Rnd 2:** Inc in next st, 4 dc, (inc) 3 times, 4 dc, (inc) 2 times. `[14 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 20 sts]`
**Rnd 3:** 1 dc, inc, 4 dc, (1 dc, inc) 3 times, 4 dc, (1 dc, inc) 2 times. `[20 + 1 + 3 + 2 = 26 sts]`
*Fasten off leaving a long tail. Sew a small white highlight using white yarn if desired (or use safety eyes if preferred, though crocheted eyes are more traditional for this look).*

### Section 3: Legs (Make 2)
*We start with the toes to create a unique foot structure.*

**Foot:**
**Rnd 1:** With Colour A, Magic Ring 6 dc. `[6 sts]`
**Rnd 2:** Inc in each st around. `[12 sts]`
**Rnds 3–5:** Dc in each st around. `[12 sts]`
**Rnd 6 (Heel):** Ch 1, turn. 6 dc. Leave remaining sts unworked. `[6 sts]`
**Rnd 7:** Ch 1, turn. 6 dc. `[6 sts]`
**Rnd 8:** Ch 1, turn. Skip 1, 4 dc, skip last st. `[4 sts]`
**Rnd 9 (Rejoining):** Work across the 4 heel sts, pick up 3 sts down side of heel rows, work across the 6 unworked sts from Rnd 5, pick up 3 sts up other side of heel rows. `[4 + 3 + 6 + 3 = 16 sts]`
**Rnd 10:** (2 dc, inv dec) 4 times. `[16 - 4 = 12 sts]`
*Stuff the foot firmly.*

**Leg:**
**Rnds 11–25:** Dc in each st around. (15 rounds). `[12 sts]`
*Fasten off first leg. Do NOT fasten off second leg.*

### Section 4: Body Join & Torso
*Prepare wire: Take a 30cm length of wire, fold in half like a hairpin. Insert one end into the first leg and one end into the second leg. Twist the top sections together at the crotch.*

**Rnd 26 (Join):** From 2nd leg, ch 3. Join to first leg with a dc. Dc in remaining 11 sts of first leg. Dc in 3 loops of the chain. Dc in 12 sts of second leg. Dc in remaining 3 loops of chain. `[12 + 3 + 12 + 3 = 30 sts]`
**Rnds 27–31:** Dc in each st around. `[30 sts]`
**Rnd 32:** (8 dc, inv dec) 3 times. `[30 - 3 = 27 sts]`
**Rnd 33:** Dc in each st around. `[27 sts]`
**Rnd 34:** (7 dc, inv dec) 3 times. `[27 - 3 = 24 sts]`
**Rnds 35–39:** Dc in each st around. `[24 sts]`
**Rnd 40:** (6 dc, inv dec) 3 times. `[24 - 3 = 21 sts]`
**Rnd 41:** Dc in each st around. `[21 sts]`
**Rnd 42:** (5 dc, inv dec) 3 times. `[21 - 3 = 18 sts]`
**Rnd 43:** (4 dc, inv dec) 3 times. `[18 - 3 = 15 sts]`
**Rnd 44:** (3 dc, inv dec) 3 times. `[15 - 3 = 12 sts]`
**Rnds 45–46:** Dc in each st around. `[12 sts]`
*Fasten off. Stuff body firmly around the wire. The wire should protrude from the neck.*

### Section 5: Arms (Make 2)
*Advanced Technique: Fingered Hands.*

**Rnd 1:** With Colour A, Magic Ring 5 dc. `[5 sts]`
**Rnd 2:** Inc in each st. `[10 sts]`
**Rnd 3 (Fingers):** *Sl st in next st, ch 4, start in 2nd ch from hook, sl st 3 times down the chain, sl st back into same base st on hand.* Repeat * to * 3 more times to make 4 fingers.
**Rnd 4:** Fold the fingers down so they are out of the way. Work 10 dc into the Back Loops (or behind the fingers) of Rnd 2. `[10 sts]`
**Rnd 5:** (3 dc, inv dec) 2 times. `[10 - 2 = 8 sts]`
**Rnds 6–20:** Dc in each st around. `[8 sts]`
*Insert a small wire into the arm if poseability is desired, otherwise stuff lightly (do not stuff hands).*
*Flatten the top of the arm and dc through both layers (4 dc) to close.*

### Section 6: Assembly

1.  **Neck Connection**:
    *   Ensure the wire from the body extends upwards.
    *   Place the head onto the neck of the body. The wooden dowel inside the head should slide down into the body slightly (nestled in the stuffing) while the wire from the body slides up into the head next to the dowel. This double-support system prevents head wobble.
    *   Sew the 12 sts of the Head neck (Rnd 30) to the 12 sts of the Body neck (Rnd 46).

2.  **Arms**:
    *   Sew arms to Rnd 42 of the body, approximately 5 sts apart at the front.

3.  **Face**:
    *   Position the Black Eyes (Section 2) on the face. The top of the eyes should be around Rnd 12 of the head, slanted downwards so the bottom is wider apart than the top.
    *   Sew in place using black thread.

4.  **Sculpting (Optional)**:
    *   To define the nostrils: Thread a needle with Colour A. Insert at the base of the head, exit at the center of the face (Rnd 22), loop over one stitch, go back in and exit at base of head. Pull slightly to create a small indentation.