What’s Halloween without creepy crawly spiders hanging out in their webs peering down at you? While the Simple Crochet Spiders may lean a bit more to the cute side than the creepy, one thing’s for sure, they’re sure to add some fun to your holiday decor.
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The Inspiration
Do you love i-cords? Do you wish that you had fun and unique ways to use them in your projects?
There are a few pieces of inspiration behind this pattern design. One is simply that it’s going to be Halloween soon and everyone needs creepy spiders hanging out with them. Am I right?!! Well, the yarn kind anyway. I’m definitely not a fan of the real kind. Those can just hang around outside and do all the good things they do in the world without interacting with me.
Another piece of inspiration came from exploring new and varied techniques with my designs. Recently I’ve been playing around with i-cords and I wanted to explore using them in various ways and with various projects. Below you will learn how to insert pipe cleaners into your i-cords to make bendable limbs! So much fun and so many possibilities!
The final piece of inspiration came after most of the spider was created. I was just playing around with adding more detail and having fun, and this is how the spider ended up having fangs.
The Yarn
For this project, I opted to use Red Heart Super Saver yarn. I love the fact that it comes in so many fun colors, is pretty widely available or can be ordered online, and hello, it’s super inexpensive especially if it’s on sale or you’re using a coupon. Many of my amigurumi pieces have been made with this yarn over the years!
The Super Saver Yarns are 100% acrylic so they hold up well to amigurumi pieces that will be loved by little hands. While the Super Saver line is all a worsted weight, Medium, Size 4 I have noticed that some colors seem to always run slightly thicker than others. This happens with other brands sometimes too. It’s just something to be aware of, especially if the gauge is important.
Some people say that the Super Saver yarns are too scratchy and dry out their hands. Agreeably they aren’t your softest yarn, but I don’t have an issue with this. For me, all the available colors make up for this. I’m a fan! As for drying out your hands, I think that this happens when you work with fibers a lot. I just try to remember to put lotion on my hands periodically. And while we’re being honest, I’m not the best at remembering to do this until my hands are cracked and bleeding. Winter time is the worst for me. I tend to use Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (fragrance-free) and overall it does an okay job. It would probably work even better if I remembered to put it on consistently. Do you have a favorite lotion that keeps your hands from drying out? Let me know!
And now, that we’re a bit off topic, let’s get to our pattern!
The Pattern
Difficulty
Beginner to Intermediate
Pattern requires making i-cords which may be unfamiliar to a beginner (learn how to make an i-cord here).
Materials
- Crochet Hook, Size E/4 (3.5 mm)
- Stitch Marker(s)
- Scissors
- Stuffing
- Tapestry Needle
- Pipe Cleaners in a color close to your main color (I used less than 2 per spider)
- Red Heart Super Saver (worsted 4-Medium, 100% acrylic, 364 yds/333 m, 7 oz/198 g), Color (A): Black -OR- Coffee, 1 skein, Color (B): Lemon, 1 skein
Gauge
Exact gauge is not essential to this project, but tension should be maintained.
Finished Measurements
Using hook size E/4 (3.5 mm) measures approximately 1.75 inches (4.5 cm) at it’s widest, not including the legs, and 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) in length.
Design Notes
- This pattern is written using US crochet terminology.
- This pattern is written in rounds. The i-cords are made in rows.
- At the end of each round, I will note in parenthesis how many stitches you should have once completed.
- It will be helpful to place a stitch marker at the beginning stitch of the round and to move it up as you start each additional round.
- I chose to use a size E crochet hook. That said, the ultimate desired result is to achieve a tight crochet fabric that when stuffed will not allow the stuffing show through. If a different sized hook works better for you, then by all means, use it! Do note, however, that if you change the hook size or the type of yarn you are using, that this will have an effect on the size and look of your finished item.
- This pattern uses very little yarn and would make a great stash buster project.
Abbreviations/Stitches Used
- ch – Chain
- Rnd(s) – Round(s)
- Rows – Rows
- sc – Single crochet
- sc2tog – Single crochet 2 stitches together (decrease)
- sl st – Slip stitch
- st(s) – Stitch(s)
- [ ] – Work instructions between brackets as many times as directed
- * – Work as directed from this point
- magic circle/adjustable ring
Special Stitches
i-cord (learn how to make an i-cord here)
Let’s Make Our Spider!
Body
Using Color A
- Rnd 1: 6sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (6sts)
- Rnd 1 alternative: If you don’t know how to/do not like using an adjustable circle you can ch2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
- Rnd 2: 2sc in each st (12sts)
- Rnd 3: [Sc in the next sc, 2sc in next st] 6 times (18sts)
- Rnd 4: [Sc in the next 2sc, 2sc in the next sc] 6 times (24sts)
- Rnds 5-6: Sc in each st around (24sts for 2 rounds)
- Rnd 7: [Sc in the next 2sc, sc2tog] 6 times (18sts)
- Rnds 8-9: Sc in each st around (18sts for 2 rounds)
- Rnd 10: [Sc in the next sc, sc2tog] 6 times (12sts)
- Rnd 11: Sc in each st around (24sts for 2 rounds)
- Begin to firmly stuff your piece and continue as you go along.
- Rnd 10: [Sc in the next sc, sc2tog] 4 times (18ts)
- Fasten off. Leave a tail for sewing the body to the head.
Head
Using Color A
- Rnd 1: 6sc in adjustable (magic) circle. (6sts)
- Rnd 1 alternative: If you don’t know how to/do not like using an adjustable circle you can ch2 and then 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6sts)
- Rnd 2: 2sc in each st (12sts)
- Rnd 3: [Sc in the next sc, 2sc in next st] 6 times (18sts)
- Rnds 4-5: Sc in each st around (18sts for 2 rounds)
- Rnd 6: [Sc in the next sc, sc2tog] 6 times (12sts)
- Begin to firmly stuff your piece and continue as you go along.
- Rnd 7: [Sc in the next sc, sc2tog] 4 times (8sts)
- Fasten off, leaving a tail to close up the hole. Add additional stuffing. Close the hole and weave in the end.
Assembly
Position the head onto the body in the desired way and pin in place. Use the tail left from making the body to attach the head. Weave in the end.
Fangs
Optional
Using Color A
- With the front of the head facing you, insert your hook under a st just slightly down from the center front and to the right just a little. The goal is to make your fangs so they are just lower than the midpoint but centered on the face of your spider. Make a sl st.
- Ch 3
- *Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook (I work in the back bar of the chains), sc in the last ch, sl st back into the same space where you made your inital sl st* Insert your hook under a st just left of the fang you just created and make a sl st. Repeat from * to create your second fang. Fasten off and weave in both ends.
Legs
Make 8
(learn how to make an i-cord here)
Using Color A
Leave a longer starting and ending tail.
>Design Note: When making an i-cord the piece is often somewhat flat looking until you pull on both ends to have the stitches constrict and create a tube. When making your spider legs you want to keep the piece flatter, so don’t pull on the ends to form it into a cord. We’ll be placing the pipe cleaner inside to allow the legs to be bendable. I’ll explain more below.
- Ch 3
>Design Tip: In the next part work into the back bar of the sts as directed. This will make for a more professional looking i-cord by making the base flat.
- Insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, yarn over and draw up a loop, insert hook into next ch, yarn over and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook)
- Row 1: Carefully drop 2 loops from hook. Holding onto the dropped loops with your non-dominant hand (the one not holding the hook) so they don’t come undone when you do the next part, ch1, insert hook into the closest dropped loop to the hook, ch 1 (2 loops on hook), insert hook into the last dropped loop, ch 1 (3 loops on hook)
- Rows 2-9: Repeat Row 1
>Design Tip: You can make your legs longer or shorter by increasing or decreasing the number of rows.
- Finish your i-cord by slip stitching through each loop on the hook. Described: With three loops on the hook, yarn over, draw through the first loop (still 3 loops on hook, but one is the new working yarn), yarn over, draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through last two loops on the hook, cut yarn keeping a tail long enough to stitch the pipe cleaner into the leg and attach the leg to the body.
>Design Note: An alternative way of ending your i-cord is to yarn over and pull through all three loops at once, cut your yarn (leaving the extra length for stitching to the body), and fasten off. This method, however, will draw the end to a slight point. Arguably, the point may not be noticed once attached to the body. You decide what you like better!
Assembling the Legs
Now that you have your eight i-cords made, and you’ve remembered to leave them as flat as possible, it’s time to cut your pipe cleaners and make it so that your legs bend! Lay the pipe cleaner on top of one of the eye cords and cut it to the same length. Thread one of the tails and whip stitch the sides of your i-cord together, encasing the pipe cleaner and forming the tube. Be sure to make a few extra stitches on the ends to make sure that it’s all closed up.
Once your pipe cleaners are all stitched in, decide which tail you want to use to attach the legs to the body. Weave in the other end. Now pin your legs to the body to determine placement. For me, it helped to bend my legs into the shape that I ultimately wanted them to be in to make sure that I would be satisfied with their height and placement. It was extremely helpful to pin them all into place before stitching them on too, but do be careful! If you have long pins it’s easy to jab right through the body and into your hand. Once you’re satisfied with how your spider looks attach the legs.
Eyes
Using Color B or another eye color of choice
There are a variety of ways that you can put eyes on your spider. I cut a piece of worsted weight yarn long enough to do my stitching and then split it in half lengthwise, using only two strands to stitch with. I made French knots for my eyes but you could also use small whip stitches.
More Options
These guys are pretty much a blank canvas ready to be decorated. Try switching out their colors. Adding embroidery. You get the idea. Have fun! And please do share your creations!
Looking for more great Halloween patterns?
These may be of interest! 1. Bat Wing Crochet Shawl 2. Crochet Candy Corn Cuties 3. Crochet Candy Corn Bunting
Reach Out, Share, and Follow Along!
As always, I’d love to see your creation if you’re willing to share! Comment below or tag me on social media. You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram (tag @jenhayescreations and use the hashtag #jenhayescreations to show off your work and have a chance to be featured), and stay tuned to find me in the future on YouTube!
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**You are welcome to sell products you’ve made using my patterns, but if you do so, I ask that you provide a link back to my original post and give me credit for the pattern. You are welcome to share my photos and patterns on social media as long as you do so by using only 1-2 pictures and provide a link directly to my blog post for the pattern. You may not copy, republish, sell, distribute, translate without permission, or claim my photos, tutorials, or patterns as your own in any way. ** Thank you!
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