Step 1 of 10:

Getting Started

Pip’s Body is crocheted in the round, from the top of her Head down to her Belly. Remember which end is the top - it’s how you’ll know where her Eyes, Nose and Bow go when you assemble her.

In this step, you’ll make your first magic ring (MR), crochet Rounds 1 and 2 in purple yarn, and make your first increases (inc).

You’ll also start using a stitch marker so you always know where each round begins.

Watch: Prefer to follow along? The video below shows how to make your magic ring and crochet Rounds 1 and 2, from start to finish.

Make a Magic Ring (MR)

Round

1

Start by making a magic ring (MR) with the purple yarn. Then crochet 7 single crochet (sc) into the center of the ring. Gently pull the yarn tail to draw the ring tightly closed.

Total stitches: 7

Watch: Your first magic ring might feel a little tricky, and that's completely normal. If you need extra help, watch the How to make a magic ring lesson before you start.

Hold the yarn tail: Hold the yarn tail with the ring finger and thumb of your left hand, and hold the working yarn in your right hand.

Hold the yarn tail:

Hold the yarn tail with the ring finger and thumb of your left hand, and hold the working yarn in your right hand.

Wrap over your fingers: Bring the working yarn up and over your index and middle fingers, then down again toward your palm.

Wrap over your fingers:

Bring the working yarn up and over your index and middle fingers, then down again toward your palm.

Cross into an X: Cross the working yarn over itself to form an “X” shape.

Cross into an X:

Cross the working yarn over itself to form an “X” shape.

Wrap around again: Continue wrapping the yarn around your index and middle fingers, then bring it back toward your palm.

Wrap around again:

Continue wrapping the yarn around your index and middle fingers, then bring it back toward your palm.

Hold it firmly: Hold the yarn firmly in place with your ring finger and thumb.

Hold it firmly:

Hold the yarn firmly in place with your ring finger and thumb.

Turn your hand over: Turn your hand so your palm faces down. You'll now see two parallel strands stretched across your index and middle fingers.

Turn your hand over:

Turn your hand so your palm faces down. You'll now see two parallel strands stretched across your index and middle fingers. Take your crochet hook and turn it so the hook tip faces down.

Hook the two strands: Insert the hook under the first strand of yarn, then over the second strand.

Hook the two strands:

Insert the hook under the first strand of yarn, then over the second strand.

Pull through: Use the hook to pull the second strand underneath the first.

Pull through:

Use the hook to pull the second strand underneath the first.

Twist the hook: Twist the hook to form a loop. The hook tip should be facing you.

Twist the hook:

Twist the hook to form a loop. The hook tip should be facing you.

Yarn over: Bring your hook down, behind the working yarn, and up again so the yarn wraps around it.

Yarn over:

Bring your hook down, behind the working yarn, and up again so the yarn wraps around it.

Pull through: Gently pull the yarn through the ring on your hook. You now have one loop on your hook.

Pull through:

Gently pull the yarn through the ring on your hook. You now have one loop on your hook.

Release the ring: Carefully release the yarn from your left hand. You should now see a small circle of yarn (the ring) with the yarn tail hanging on the left side.

Release the ring:

Carefully release the yarn from your left hand. You should now see a small circle of yarn (the ring) with the yarn tail hanging on the left side.

To check your magic ring formed correctly, gently pull the yarn tail. If the ring tightens neatly, you've made your magic ring (MR).

Tip: To check your magic ring formed correctly, gently pull the yarn tail. If the ring tightens neatly, you've made your magic ring!

Crochet 7 single crochet (sc)

Now you'll work 7 single crochet (sc) into the center of the ring.

Hold the ring:

Now you'll work 7 single crochet (sc) into the center of the ring.

Hold both sides of the magic ring (MR) and the yarn tail with your left hand, keeping the tail on the left.

Hook into the ring: Insert your crochet hook through the center of the ring from right to left, going under both strands of the loop.

Hook into the ring:

Insert your crochet hook through the center of the ring from right to left, going under both strands of the loop.

Yarn over and pull up a loop: Yarn over with the working yarn and pull it through the center of the ring, drawing up a loop. You now have two loops on your hook.

Yarn over and pull up a loop:

Yarn over with the working yarn and pull it through the center of the ring, drawing up a loop. You now have two loops on your hook.

Finish the stitch: Yarn over once more and pull through both loops on your hook. You now have one loop left on the hook - that completes your first single crochet (sc) stitch.

Finish the stitch:

Yarn over once more and pull through both loops on your hook. You now have one loop left on the hook - that completes your first single crochet (sc) stitch!

To find where the first stitch of the round begins, place a stitch marker through the first single crochet and lock it in place.

Tip: To find where the first stitch of the round begins, place a stitch marker through the first single crochet and lock it in place.

Make all your stitches: Hook in, yarn over and pull through, then finish the stitch — repeat until you've made all 7 single crochet (sc).

Make all your stitches:

Hook in, yarn over and pull through, then finish the stitch - repeat until you've made all 7 single crochet (sc).

Close the center: When all your stitches are done, put the hook down.

Close the center:

When all your stitches are done, put the hook down. Hold the stitches securely with your right hand, and with your left hand pull the yarn tail firmly to close the center of the ring. Done right, it closes with no visible hole, giving you a smooth, even foundation.

Round 1 complete: You’ve made 7 single crochet (sc) into your magic ring (MR), so there should be 7 stitches in total.

Round 1 complete:

You’ve made 7 single crochet (sc) into your magic ring (MR), so there should be 7 stitches in total.

Tip: Your stitches may feel loose or uneven at first, and that's completely normal when learning crochet.

Increase (inc) in every stitch by crocheting 2 single crochet (sc) into each stitch around.

Total stitches: 14

Round

2
Hook back in: Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin the next round. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.

Hook back in:

Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin the next round. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.

Make 1 single crochet (sc) first: Yarn over by bringing your hook down, behind the working yarn, and up again so the yarn wraps around it.

Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:

Yarn over by bringing your hook down, behind the working yarn, and up again so the yarn wraps around it.

Pull through: Pull the yarn through the stitch. You should now have two loops on your hook.

Pull through:

Pull the yarn through the stitch. You should now have two loops on your hook.

Yarn over again: Wrap the yarn over your hook one more time.

Yarn over again:

Wrap the yarn over your hook one more time.

Pull through both: Pull the yarn through both loops on your hook. You should now have one loop left. That is your first single crochet (sc).

Pull through both:

Pull the yarn through both loops on your hook. You should now have one loop left. That is your first single crochet (sc).

Mark the first stitch: Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.

Mark the first stitch:

Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.

Find the same hole: Find the hole where you just made that stitch - it's right under the bottom of the vertical “V” you created.

Find the same hole:

Find the hole where you just made that stitch - it's right under the bottom of the vertical “V” you created.

Hook back in: Insert your hook into that same hole again.

Hook back in:

Insert your hook into that same hole again.

Make a second single crochet (sc): Now make the second single crochet (sc) in the same stitch to complete 1 increase (inc). You should now see two vertical V shapes going into the same hole - and that's your increase (inc)!

Make a second single crochet (sc):

Now make the second single crochet (sc) in the same stitch to complete 1 increase (inc). You should now see two vertical V shapes going into the same hole - and that's your increase (inc)!

Make all your stitches: Continue crocheting in the same way to make 6 more increases (inc). There should be 14 stitches in total.

Make all your stitches:

Continue crocheting in the same way to make 6 more increases (inc). There should be 14 stitches in total.

Congratulations, you've finished your first two rounds!

You've made a magic ring and your first increases - two of the trickiest things in the whole pattern, already behind you.

Now let's move on to Round 3.