purlJam

# Sloth Friend — "Sid" Crochet Plush
*A beginner-friendly amigurumi inspired by the goofy ground sloth from the Ice Age films*

> **Note on likeness:** This is an original, fan-inspired design using simple shapes to capture Sid's look — a pear-shaped body, oversized head, long snout, big buck teeth, droopy slanted eyes, and two-fingered hands. Made entirely from spheres, ovals and tubes, so it's perfect for confident beginners.

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## Finished Size
Approximately **16 cm** tall (6¼ in) using worsted yarn and a 4 mm hook.

## Tension (Gauge)
4 dc and 4 rounds = 2.5 cm (1 in) worked tightly.
Exact tension is not critical for toys, but work tightly so stuffing does not show.

## Materials
- **Worsted weight (4) yarn:**
  - Main colour (MC): light beige/tan — approx. 60 g
  - Contrast A: medium brown — approx. 25 g (head top, snout tip, hands/feet)
  - Small amounts: white (teeth), black (eyes/nose) or use safety eyes
- **Hook:** 4 mm (UK 8 / US G-6)
- Polyester fibre toy stuffing
- Yarn needle (for assembly)
- Stitch marker
- Optional: two 8 mm safety eyes
- Scissors

## UK Abbreviations
- **dc** = double crochet (US single crochet)
- **inc** = 2 dc into one stitch
- **dec** = double crochet 2 together (invisible decrease recommended)
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **MR** = magic ring
- **rnd** = round
- **sl st** = slip stitch
- **[ ]** = stitch count at end of round

> Work in continuous spirals (no joining) unless stated. Move your stitch marker up each round.

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## 1. Body (make 1, in MC)
Pear-shaped, worked bottom-up.

- **Rnd 1:** 6 dc in MR **[6]**
- **Rnd 2:** inc in each st **[12]** *(6 inc → 6+6=12 ✓)*
- **Rnd 3:** (dc, inc) around **[18]** *(6 inc → 12+6=18 ✓)*
- **Rnd 4:** (2 dc, inc) around **[24]** *(6 inc → 18+6=24 ✓)*
- **Rnd 5:** (3 dc, inc) around **[30]** *(6 inc → 24+6=30 ✓)*
- **Rnds 6–12:** dc around **[30]** (7 rounds)
- **Rnd 13:** (3 dc, dec) around **[24]** *(6 dec → 30−6=24 ✓)*
- **Rnd 14:** dc around **[24]**
- **Rnd 15:** (2 dc, dec) around **[18]** *(6 dec → 24−6=18 ✓)*
- **Rnd 16:** dc around **[18]**
- Begin stuffing firmly.
- **Rnd 17:** (dc, dec) around **[12]** *(6 dec → 18−6=12 ✓)*
- Top up stuffing. Leave the 12-st opening — the head sits on top.
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

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## 2. Head (make 1) — sphere
Start in MC, change to Contrast A for the top.

- **Rnd 1:** 6 dc in MR **[6]**
- **Rnd 2:** inc in each st **[12]** *(✓ 6+6=12)*
- **Rnd 3:** (dc, inc) around **[18]** *(✓ 12+6=18)*
- **Rnd 4:** (2 dc, inc) around **[24]** *(✓ 18+6=24)*
- **Rnds 5–8:** dc around **[24]** (4 rounds)
- **Rnd 9:** (2 dc, dec) around **[18]** *(✓ 24−6=18)*
- *(Optional: switch to Contrast A from Rnd 9 for a brown crown.)*
- Stuff firmly.
- **Rnd 10:** (dc, dec) around **[12]** *(✓ 18−6=12)*
- **Rnd 11:** dec around **[6]** *(✓ 12−6=6)*
- Fasten off, weave tail through last 6 sts, pull closed.

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## 3. Snout (make 1, in MC) — small oval cone
This protrudes forward to give Sid his long muzzle.

- **Rnd 1:** 4 dc in MR **[4]**
- **Rnd 2:** (dc, inc) around **[6]** *(2 inc → 4+2=6 ✓)*
- **Rnd 3:** (2 dc, inc) around **[8]** *(2 inc → 6+2=8 ✓)*
- **Rnds 4–5:** dc around **[8]** (2 rounds)
- **Rnd 6:** (3 dc, inc) around **[10]** *(2 inc → 8+2=10 ✓)*
- Stuff lightly (keep it soft so it doesn't sag).
- **Rnd 7:** dc around **[10]**
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

> Using Contrast A or black, embroider a small nose at the tip.

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## 4. Eye Bumps (make 2, in MC) — small spheres
Sid's eyes sit on raised bumps.

- **Rnd 1:** 6 dc in MR **[6]**
- **Rnd 2:** (dc, inc) around **[9]** *(3 inc → 6+3=9 ✓)*
- **Rnds 3–4:** dc around **[9]** (2 rounds)
- Do not stuff (or stuff very lightly).
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

> Add eyes: insert an 8 mm safety eye near the top of each bump **before** stuffing, OR embroider a black slanted oval with white. Sid's eyes are heavy-lidded — embroider a small horizontal lid line above each for the goofy look.

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## 5. Ears (make 2, in MC) — flat
- **Rnd 1:** 5 dc in MR **[5]**
- **Rnd 2:** inc in each st **[10]** *(5 inc → 5+5=10 ✓)*
- Flatten, do not stuff.
- Fasten off, leaving a tail.

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## 6. Arms (make 2, in MC, fingers in Contrast A) — tubes
- **Rnd 1:** 6 dc in MR **[6]**
- **Rnds 2–7:** dc around **[6]** (6 rounds)
- Stuff lightly.
- Flatten the open end and dc across 3 sts to close (this creates two "fingers" at the tip).
- *Optional two fingers:* with Contrast A, ch 3, sl st back down to make a second finger nub at the tip.
- Fasten off, leaving a tail.

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## 7. Legs/Feet (make 2, in MC, feet in Contrast A) — short fat cylinders
- **Rnd 1:** 6 dc in MR (Contrast A) **[6]**
- **Rnd 2:** inc in each st **[12]** *(✓ 6+6=12)*
- **Rnds 3–4:** dc around **[12]** (2 rounds, foot)
- Change to MC.
- **Rnd 5:** (2 dc, dec) around **[9]** *(3 dec → 12−3=9 ✓)*
- **Rnds 6–7:** dc around **[9]** (leg, 2 rounds)
- Stuff firmly (feet help him stand).
- Flatten open end, dc across 4–5 sts to close.
- Fasten off, leaving a tail.

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## 8. Teeth (make 2, in white) — Sid's famous buck teeth
- Ch 3. Starting in 2nd ch from hook: 2 dc. **[2]**
- Fasten off, leaving a tail. (A tiny white rectangle.)

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## Assembly

1. **Head to body:** Position the head over the 12-st opening of the body and pin. Sew firmly all the way around with the body tail. Sid's head should sit slightly forward.
2. **Snout:** Pin the snout to the centre-front of the head, low down. Sew around the open edge.
3. **Buck teeth:** Tuck the two white teeth just under the bottom edge of the snout, side by side, and sew in place.
4. **Eye bumps:** Pin the two eye bumps above and slightly behind the snout, set close together and angled outward for the sleepy slanted look. Sew around each base.
5. **Ears:** Sew one ear to each side of the head, set fairly high.
6. **Arms:** Pin to each side of the upper body, finger-ends down. Sew the flattened tops in place.
7. **Legs:** Sew both legs to the underside-front of the body so the feet point forward and Sid can sit/stand.
8. **Face details:** With black yarn, embroider heavy slanted eyelids and a wide curved smile under the snout if not already added.

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## Finishing & Tips
- Weave in all ends invisibly into the stuffing.
- Pin **everything** before sewing — symmetry of the eyes and snout is what makes Sid recognisable.
- For a firmer stand, push extra stuffing into the feet and lower body.
- Brush a little Contrast A "tuft" of loose yarn strands on the crown for Sid's spiky hair, then trim.

## Size Adjustments
- **Larger Sid:** Add one more increase round to the body (work to **[36]**) and head (work to **[30]**); add extra plain rounds.
- **Keychain Sid:** Stop the body at **[18]** and head at **[18]**, use DK yarn and a 3.5 mm hook; attach a keychain finding to the crown.

Enjoy your goofy little sloth! 🦥