Step 5 of 10:
Finishing the Body
In this step, you'll make decreases (dec) to close Pip's Body, add the last of the stuffing, and fasten off (FO). A decrease (dec) reduces the number of stitches by combining 2 stitches together to make 1 stitch. It's what gives Pip her rounded shape.
Watch: Prefer to follow along? The video below walks through this whole step, from Round 13 to closing Pip's Body.
Round
13We are now going to start closing Pip's Body.
Crochet 2 single crochet (sc), then 1 decrease (dec). Repeat all the way around (7 times total).
Total stitches: 21
Tip: Decreases can feel a little tight or awkward at first - that's completely normal. They help shape Pip's Body by making it gradually smaller. A small gap or bump where you decrease is normal too - it will disappear once Pip is stuffed.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin Round 13. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Make the second single crochet (sc):
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
MAKE A DECREASE (DEC)
Make 1 decrease (dec):
To make a decrease (dec), we will work 2 stitches together to make 1 stitch. Begin with making 1 single crochet (sc) in the next stitch.
Insert your hook, yarn over, pull through, and stop there: you'll have two loops on your hook.
Add another single crochet (sc):
Make another single crochet (sc) in the next stitch the same way. You'll now have three loops on your hook.
Yarn over once more:
Wrap the yarn over your hook one more time.
Pull through all three loops:
Pull the yarn through all three loops. You now have one loop left - and that completes one decrease (dec)!
That is your first 2 single crochet (sc) and 1 decrease (dec).
Make all your stitches:
Repeat 2 single crochets (sc) and 1 decrease (dec) 6 more times.
Completed Round 13:
Here, we have made 2 single crochets (sc) and 1 decrease (dec) 7 times.
There should be 21 stitches in total.
Round
14Crochet 1 single crochet (sc), then 1 decrease (dec). Repeat all the way around (7 times total).
Total stitches: 14
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin Round 14. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Make 1 decrease (dec):
Work the next 2 stitches together to make 1 stitch, just as you did in Round 13. That is your first 1 single crochet (sc) and 1 decrease (dec).
Make all your stitches:
Repeat 1 single crochet (sc) and 1 decrease (dec) 6 more times.
Add more stuffing:
Add more stuffing now before the opening gets too small. Fill until the Body feels firm and evenly shaped - but not so full that the stitches are stretched.
Completed Round 14:
Here, we have made 1 single crochet (sc) and 1 decrease (dec) 7 times.
There should be 14 stitches in total.
Round
15Crochet 1 decrease (dec) in each stitch around.
Total stitches: 7
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin Round 15. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 decrease (dec) first:
Work the next 2 stitches together to make 1 stitch, just as before.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Make all your stitches:
Crochet 1 decrease (dec) in each stitch around.
Completed Round 15:
Here, we have made 1 decrease (dec) in each stitch around.
There should be 7 stitches in total.
Finishing Off the Body
Cut the yarn:
Let's do a fasten off (FO). First, leave at least 6 inches of yarn tail, then cut the yarn from the ball.
After your last stitch, you'll have one loop left on your hook. Yarn over with the cut tail.
Pull it tight:
Pull it all the way through that loop. Keep pulling until the tail comes all the way through and forms a small knot. That knot keeps your stitches from coming undone.
Thread the needle:
After fasten off (FO), thread the long yarn tail onto a yarn needle, ready to sew.
Looking at the last round, we have 7 stitches. That's exactly how many stitches you'll go through.
Front loop only, all the way around:
Each stitch looks like a small V. Insert the needle through the front loop only - the loop closer to you - not both loops. Work around the whole round in one direction.
Pull tight to close:
Once you've been through every front loop, gently pull the yarn. Keep pulling until the opening draws closed and the stitches gather together neatly.
Tip: Pull the yarn tail slowly so the opening closes neatly. If it still looks open, weave through the stitches one more time before trimming.
Weave in and trim:
Push the needle into the inside of the piece, through a few stitches, and pull through. Skip the last strand, come back through the same stitches, then trim the tail close to the surface so it disappears inside.
Completed Pip's Body:
Here's Pip's finished Body, closed and ready for the smaller pieces.