purlJam

# 🦆 Sir Quackleton — The Silly Squishy Plush Duck

A chubby, pouty, gloriously goofy chenille duck with three silly hair tufts. Worked seamlessly from the bottom of the body up through the head, then finished with a few sewn-on parts. UK crochet terminology throughout.

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## Finished Size
Approximately **16–18 cm (6–7 in) tall**, depending on your yarn and tension. Plush yarn varies — embrace the squish.

## Skill Level
**Confident beginner.** You need: magic ring, double crochet (dc), increases, invisible decreases, and basic sewing.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Super bulky chenille / plush yarn (weight category 6).
  - Yellow — main colour (body, head, wings): approx. 1 ball (~80–100 g)
  - Orange — beak and feet: small amount (~15–20 g)
  - A short length of contrasting yellow (or the same yellow) for hair tufts
- **Hook:** 5 mm crochet hook (or size needed to give a firm, gap-free fabric with your plush yarn)
- **Safety eyes:** Black, 10–12 mm — **or** black embroidery thread for a baby-safe version
- **Pink embroidery floss or yarn** for blush
- **Toy stuffing** (polyester fibrefill)
- **Stitch marker** (essential — plush hides your stitches)
- **Tapestry/yarn needle** with a large eye
- **Scissors**

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## Abbreviations (UK terms)

| Abbrev | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| ch | chain |
| dc | double crochet (= US single crochet) |
| dc2tog | double crochet 2 stitches together (invisible decrease) |
| inc | 2 dc into the same stitch (increase) |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| rnd | round |
| FO | fasten off |
| MR | magic ring |
| ( ) x n | repeat sequence n times |
| [ ] | total stitch count at end of round |

> **Note for US crocheters:** UK **dc** = US **sc**. This whole pattern is worked in UK double crochet.

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## Pattern Notes

- Work in **continuous spirals** (do not join or turn) unless told otherwise. Use your stitch marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you go.
- **Tension (gauge):** Roughly **11 dc x 12 rounds = 10 cm** with the 5 mm hook. Tension is not critical, but aim for a **firm, tight fabric** so stuffing doesn't show through. If you see gaps, go down a hook size.
- **Shaping for a squat duck:** The body widens fast and low, stays straight only briefly, then domes up smoothly into the head with no neck seam. Stuff firmly and roundly as you go.
- Stitch counts in **[brackets]** are confirmed at the end of every round.
- An **inc** adds 1 st; a **dc2tog** removes 1 st. All round maths are shown inline.

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## 🟡 Body & Head (worked as ONE continuous piece)

Start with **yellow** yarn.

**Rnd 1:** 6 dc into MR. **[6]**
**Rnd 2:** inc in each st around. (6 inc = +6 → 6+6) **[12]**
**Rnd 3:** (1 dc, inc) x 6. (6 inc = +6 → 12+6) **[18]**
**Rnd 4:** (2 dc, inc) x 6. (6 inc = +6 → 18+6) **[24]**
**Rnd 5:** (3 dc, inc) x 6. (6 inc = +6 → 24+6) **[30]**
**Rnd 6:** (4 dc, inc) x 6. (6 inc = +6 → 30+6) **[36]**

> This wide flat base keeps the duck squat. Check: 6→12→18→24→30→36 ✓

**Rnds 7–12:** dc in each st around (6 rounds, no shaping). **[36]**

> The body is now a wide barrel. Insert safety eyes later; for now keep going.

**Begin the gentle taper into the head:**

**Rnd 13:** (4 dc, dc2tog) x 6. (6 dec = −6 → 36−6) **[30]**
**Rnd 14:** dc in each st around. **[30]**

> **Stuff the body firmly now** and continue stuffing as the head forms. Keep it round and plump.

**Rnd 15:** (3 dc, dc2tog) x 6. (6 dec = −6 → 30−6) **[24]**

> This is the "waist" between body and head — keep it subtle so there's no harsh neck.

**Rnd 16:** dc in each st around. **[24]**
**Rnd 17:** (3 dc, inc) x 6. (6 inc = +6 → 24+6) **[30]** ← head widens back out
**Rnd 18:** dc in each st around. **[30]**

**This is your eye/beak placement round zone (see below). Insert eyes between Rnd 18 and Rnd 19 before closing.**

**Rnds 19–20:** dc in each st around (2 rounds). **[30]**

**Now close the head:**

**Rnd 21:** (3 dc, dc2tog) x 6. (6 dec = −6 → 30−6) **[24]**
**Rnd 22:** (2 dc, dc2tog) x 6. (6 dec = −6 → 24−6) **[18]**

> **Finish stuffing the head firmly and roundly** before it gets too small to reach inside.

**Rnd 23:** (1 dc, dc2tog) x 6. (6 dec = −6 → 18−6) **[12]**
**Rnd 24:** dc2tog x 6. (6 dec = −6 → 12−6) **[6]**

FO, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 sts and pull tight to close. Weave in the end.

> ✅ Body & head complete: a squat, round, neckless duck silhouette.

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## 👀 Eye & Beak Placement (do this while the head is still open at Rnd 18)

- **Safety eyes:** Place between **Rnd 18 and Rnd 19**, set **wide apart** for a silly look — leave **6 sts between the two eyes** across the front. Push posts through and secure washers from inside before final stuffing.
- **Beak:** Sits **centred between and just below the eyes**, spanning roughly **Rnds 16–18** on the front. Sew on after the head is closed (see Assembly).
- **Baby-safe alternative:** Skip safety eyes. After finishing, **embroider each eye** as a small satin-stitch oval in black yarn/floss in the same position (between Rnds 18–19, 6 sts apart). Pull stitches snug for a glossy bump.

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## 🟧 Beak (make 1, oversized & pouty) — orange

The beak is a flattened oval, worked in rounds then pinched flat.

**Rnd 1:** 6 dc into MR. **[6]**
**Rnd 2:** (1 dc, inc) x 3. (3 inc = +3 → 6+3) **[9]**
**Rnd 3:** (2 dc, inc) x 3. (3 inc = +3 → 9+3) **[12]**
**Rnd 4:** dc in each st around. **[12]**
**Rnd 5:** (2 dc, dc2tog) x 3. (3 dec = −3 → 12−3) **[9]**

FO, leaving a long sewing tail.

**Shaping:** Add only a **tiny pinch of stuffing** (or leave unstuffed for a flat pouty look). Flatten the opening and squash the oval so it's wide and slightly droopy — that's the pout. Do not over-stuff; the beak should look soft and squishable.

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## 🟡 Wings (make 2) — yellow

Small, rounded, flattened teardrops.

**Rnd 1:** 6 dc into MR. **[6]**
**Rnd 2:** (1 dc, inc) x 3. (3 inc = +3 → 6+3) **[9]**
**Rnd 3:** dc in each st around. **[9]**
**Rnd 4:** (1 dc, dc2tog) x 3. (3 dec = −3 → 9−3) **[6]**

FO, leaving a long tail. **Do not stuff.** Flatten so each wing is a small rounded paddle/teardrop. The wider end is the "shoulder" you'll sew on.

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## 🟧 Feet (make 2) — orange

Small rounded paddles with three tiny toe bumps.

**Rnd 1:** 6 dc into MR. **[6]**
**Rnd 2:** (1 dc, inc) x 3. (3 inc = +3 → 6+3) **[9]**
**Rnd 3:** dc in each st around. **[9]**

**Toe bumps (worked across the front edge of the foot):**
Flatten the foot first. Along the front (toe) edge, work **three little bumps** like so:
- Into the next st: **(1 dc, ch 2, sl st back into the same st)** = bump 1
- Into the next st: **(1 dc, ch 2, sl st back into the same st)** = bump 2
- Into the next st: **(1 dc, ch 2, sl st back into the same st)** = bump 3
- dc in the remaining sts around back to the start.

FO, leaving a long tail. **Do not stuff** — feet should be flat paddles. The three ch-2 loops form the cute webbed toes.

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## 🪶 Hair Tufts (3 silly tufts) — yellow

Two easy options — pick your favourite:

**Option A — Chain-loop tufts (tidy & springy):**
- Cut a length of yarn. Insert hook into a single stitch at the very top centre of the head.
- Work **ch 6**, then sl st back into the same stitch to form a loop. FO and tie off securely on the inside.
- Repeat in **two more adjacent stitches** so you have **three loops** standing up in a little cluster.

**Option B — Knotted strand tufts (goofy & frayed):**
- Cut **three pairs** of short yarn strands (~5 cm each).
- Using your hook, fold one pair in half, pull the fold through a top-centre stitch to make a loop, then pull the loose ends through the loop and tighten (a simple lark's-head knot).
- Repeat for the other two pairs in adjacent stitches. Trim and gently fray for maximum silliness.

Place all three tufts **at the very crown (around Rnds 23–24)**, clustered close together and pointing up.

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## 🌸 Blush

Using pink floss/yarn, embroider a **small cluster of 3–4 short straight stitches** (or one tiny satin-stitch oval) on **each cheek**, positioned **just below and slightly outside each eye** (around Rnd 17–18, about 1–2 sts to the outside of each eye). Keep them small and rosy.

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## 🧷 Assembly

1. **Eyes:** If using safety eyes, they're already in (between Rnds 18–19, 6 sts apart). Otherwise embroider them now.
2. **Beak:** Pin the beak **centred between and just below the eyes**, spanning **Rnds 16–18** on the front. Sew all around the flattened edge with the orange tail, keeping the pouty droop facing down. Hide knots inside the seam.
3. **Wings:** Sew one wing to **each side of the body**, around **Rnds 9–11**, with the rounded paddle pointing slightly down and back. Sew along the top (shoulder) edge only so the wing flaps slightly.
4. **Feet:** Position the two feet at the **bottom front** of the body, on the underside front edge (around **Rnd 6**, where the base meets the body), spaced a couple of stitches apart with toe bumps pointing forward. Sew flat so the duck can "stand."
5. **Hair tufts:** Already attached at the crown — fluff and arrange.
6. **Blush:** Already embroidered on the cheeks.

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## ✨ Finishing Notes

- Weave in **all** ends into the body interior so nothing peeks out of the plush.
- Give the whole duck a gentle squish-and-roll to even out the stuffing and round the silhouette.
- **Baby-safe reminder:** For under-3s, **always** embroider eyes (no safety eyes), use only securely sewn, non-detachable parts, and tug-test every sewn piece firmly.
- For a smoother surface on plush yarn, sew with a **split length** of the same yarn or a matching cotton thread.

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## 🎨 Optional Customisation Ideas

- **🍓 Strawberry Hat Duck:** Crochet a small red dome (Rnds 1–4 of the body pattern, 6→12→18→24, then 2 straight rounds) with embroidered seeds and a green ch-loop leaf top; pop it on the head.
- **🧥 Raincoat Duck:** Work a short yellow or blue collared "cape" in rows of dc around the body (Rnds 13–15 area), add a tiny hood, and embroider button dots.
- **💛 Emotional Support Duck:** Embroider a tiny heart on the chest (Rnd 9) and add a removable felt tag that says "you've got this."
- **😴 Sleepy Duck:** Replace eyes with **curved closed-eye lines** (long straight stitches with a slight upward curve) and add a tiny crocheted nightcap.
- **😠 Angry Eyebrow Duck:** Keep the round eyes but embroider two short **angled eyebrows** above them (slanting inward) for a grumpy little frown.

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### Quick Stitch-Count Recap (Body & Head)
6 → 12 → 18 → 24 → 30 → 36 → (×6 straight) → 30 → 30 → 24 → 24 → 30 → 30 → 30 → 30 → 24 → 18 → 12 → 6 ✓

Enjoy your silly squishy duck! 🦆💛