purlJam

# Professional Pattern: SpongeBob SquarePants (Advanced Level)

**Designer Note**: This pattern uses UK Crochet Terminology. 
- **dc (double crochet)** = US single crochet.
- **htr (half treble)** = US half double crochet.
- **tr (treble)** = US double crochet.

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### 1. SPECIFICATIONS

**Yarn Weight**: Worsted / Aran (10-ply)
**Recommended Yarn**: Cotton or Acrylic blend for structure.
- **Colour A**: Bright Yellow (approx. 100g)
- **Colour B**: White (approx. 30g)
- **Colour C**: Chocolate Brown (approx. 30g)
- **Colour D**: Black (small amount)
- **Colour E**: Red (small amount)
- **Colour F**: Sky Blue (small amount)

**Hook Size**: 3.5mm (Main hook)
**Tension (Gauge)**: 20 dc x 22 rows = 10cm (4 inches). A tight tension is essential to maintain the cuboid structure.
**Additional Materials**: Polyester fibre fill, tapestry needle, stitch markers, and 2mm craft wire (optional for poseable limbs).

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### 2. BODY PANELS

#### Front & Back Panels (Make 2)
*Note: We work from the bottom (trousers) up to the head.*
Using **Colour C (Brown)**, ch 23.
**Row 1 (RS)**: Dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. [22 dc]
**Rows 2–8**: Ch 1, turn, dc across. [22 dc]
*Change to **Colour B (White)**.*
**Rows 9–12**: Ch 1, turn, dc across. [22 dc]
*Change to **Colour A (Yellow)**.*
**Rows 13–40**: Ch 1, turn, dc across. [22 dc] 
*(Advanced Detail: On rows 18, 25, and 34, randomly substitute 2-3 dc with "htr2tog in same stitch" to create a slight indentation for sponge texture).*
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for assembly. 
*Validation: 40 rows total (8 brown, 4 white, 28 yellow).*

#### Side Panels (Make 2)
Using **Colour C (Brown)**, ch 13.
**Row 1**: Dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. [12 dc]
**Rows 2–8**: Ch 1, turn, dc across. [12 dc]
*Change to **Colour B (White)**.*
**Rows 9–12**: Ch 1, turn, dc across. [12 dc]
*Change to **Colour A (Yellow)**.*
**Rows 13–40**: Ch 1, turn, dc across. [12 dc]
Fasten off.

#### Top & Bottom Panels (Make 2)
*Note: Top is Yellow, Bottom is Brown.*
Using **Colour A (Yellow)** for Top / **Colour C (Brown)** for Bottom, ch 23.
**Row 1**: Dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. [22 dc]
**Rows 2–12**: Ch 1, turn, dc across. [22 dc]
Fasten off.

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### 3. THE FEATURES

#### Eyes (Make 2)
Using **Colour B (White)**, work into a magic ring.
**Rnd 1**: 6 dc into ring. [6]
**Rnd 2**: 2 dc in each st around. [12]
**Rnd 3**: (1 dc, 2 dc in next st) 6 times. [18]
**Rnd 4**: (2 dc, 2 dc in next st) 6 times. [24]
Fasten off. Surface crochet or embroider a **Colour F (Sky Blue)** circle in the centre, followed by a smaller **Colour D (Black)** pupil.

#### Nose
Using **Colour A (Yellow)**, ch 2 or magic ring.
**Rnd 1**: 5 dc in ring. [5]
**Rnd 2–6**: Dc around. [5]
Fasten off, leave tail. Do not stuff.

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### 4. LIMBS

#### Legs (Make 2)
Starting with **Colour D (Black)** for shoes.
**Rnd 1**: 6 dc in magic ring.
**Rnd 2**: 2 dc in each st. [12]
**Rnd 3–5**: Dc around. [12]
*Change to **Colour B (White)** for socks.*
**Rnd 6**: In BLO, dc around. [12]
**Rnd 7–10**: Dc around. (Add a thin line of Red and Blue embroidery for sock stripes).
*Change to **Colour A (Yellow)** for legs.*
**Rnd 11–18**: Dc around. [12]
Fasten off.

#### Arms (Make 2)
Using **Colour A (Yellow)**.
**Rnd 1**: 6 dc in magic ring.
**Rnd 2–12**: Dc around. [6]
*Change to **Colour B (White)** for sleeves.*
**Rnd 13**: 2 dc in each st. [12]
**Rnd 14–15**: Dc around. [12]
Fasten off. 

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### 5. ASSEMBLY & TECHNICAL FINISHING

1.  **Body Assembly**: 
    - Align the Front panel and one Side panel with **Wrong Sides Together**. 
    - Using **Colour A (Yellow)**, join with a slip stitch at the top corner (Row 40) and dc through both layers down to the bottom of the yellow section. Change colours to match the panel (White, then Brown) as you descend. This creates a raised ridge that defines the "square" shape.
    - Repeat for all 4 vertical corners.
    - Insert the Bottom panel (Brown) and join using the same dc method.
    - Stuff the body firmly. Ensure the corners are pushed out with stuffing to maintain the cuboid shape.
    - Join the Top panel.

2.  **Face Placement**:
    - **Eyes**: Sew to the Front Panel between Rows 28–35, centered.
    - **Nose**: Sew directly between the eyes at Row 27.
    - **Mouth**: Use **Colour D (Black)** to embroider a wide semi-circle. Add two small white rectangles (felt or crochet) for teeth.
    - **Cheeks**: Embroider small red dots at the edges of the mouth.

3.  **Limb Attachment**:
    - Sew the legs to the Bottom panel, spaced 4 stitches apart.
    - Sew the arms to the Side panels at the junction where the White shirt meets the Yellow body (Row 12).

4.  **Final Details**: 
    - **Belt**: Using **Colour D (Black)**, surface slip-stitch a belt line around the Brown section (Row 6).
    - **Tie**: Using **Colour E (Red)**, embroider a small diamond shape on the White section of the Front panel.

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**Technical Validation**: 
- *Perimeter consistency*: Total perimeter of the main body is 22+12+22+12 = 68 stitches. The top and bottom panels (22x12) fit perfectly into this cavity (22 stitches for width, 12 rows for depth). 
- *Colour Alignment*: All transitions occur at Rows 8 and 12 across all 4 vertical panels, ensuring a seamless horizontal line for the trousers and shirt.