This design channels the formidable energy of a world-class athlete into a highly concentrated, adorable form. We engineer profound contrast. A legendary figure is reduced to a soft, stout baby body with undeniably pinchable cheeks. It is a brilliant blend of internet culture and precise yarn mechanics.
Project Snapshot
🧶 Skill Level: Intermediate
🧶 Completion Time: 4 Hours
🧶 Finished Size: 6 inches tall
Materials
🪡 Worsted weight yarn in Skin Color, Bright Blond, Norwegian Red, Navy Blue, White, Black, and Bright Green
🪡 3.5mm crochet hook
🪡 9mm safety eyes
🪡 Fiberfill stuffing
🪡 Yarn needle
🪡 Stitch marker
Abbreviations
✨ mr: magic ring
✨ sc: single crochet
✨ inc: increase
✨ dec: decrease
✨ sl st: slip stitch
✨ ch: chain
✨ st(s): stitch(es)
The Pattern
Head (Skin Color)
🧶 R1: 6 sc in mr (6)
🧶 R2: inc x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 (18)
🧶 R4: (sc 2, inc) x 6 (24)
🧶 R5: (sc 3, inc) x 6 (30)
🧶 R6: (sc 4, inc) x 6 (36)
🧶 R7: (sc 5, inc) x 6 (42)
🧶 R8: (sc 6, inc) x 6 (48)
🧶 R9-R12: sc 48 (48)
🧶 R13: sc 12, (inc) x 6, sc 12, (inc) x 6, sc 12 (60)
🧶 R14-R16: sc 60 (60)
✨ Insert safety eyes strictly between R14 and R15. Count exactly 9 stitches between them, placing them securely between the cheek increases we built in R13.
🧶 R17: sc 12, (dec) x 6, sc 12, (dec) x 6, sc 12 (48)
🧶 R18: (sc 6, dec) x 6 (42)
🧶 R19: (sc 5, dec) x 6 (36)
🧶 R20: (sc 4, dec) x 6 (30)
🧶 R21: (sc 3, dec) x 6 (24)
🧶 R22: (sc 2, dec) x 6 (18)
✨ Fasten off. Stuff the head aggressively in the lower front quadrants to force the cheeks outward. The back of the head should remain rounded.
Hair Cap & Topknot (Bright Blond)
🧶 R1: 6 sc in mr (6)
🧶 R2: inc x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 (18)
🧶 R4: (sc 2, inc) x 6 (24)
🧶 R5: (sc 3, inc) x 6 (30)
🧶 R6: (sc 4, inc) x 6 (36)
🧶 R7: (sc 5, inc) x 6 (42)
🧶 R8: (sc 6, inc) x 6 (48)
🧶 R9-R13: sc 48 (48)
✨ Fasten off. Leave a very long tail for sewing.
✨ Topknot: Rejoin yarn at R1 of the cap. Surface sl st, ch 4, sc back down the chain, sl st into the next st of R1. Repeat 3 times tightly to form his signature mini bun.
Body (Norwegian Red Jersey)
🧶 R1: With Red yarn, 6 sc in mr (6)
🧶 R2: inc x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 (18)
🧶 R4: (sc 2, inc) x 6 (24)
🧶 R5: (sc 3, inc) x 6 (30)
🧶 R6-R9: sc 30 (30)
🧶 R10: Switch to Navy Blue yarn. sc 30 (30)
🧶 R11: Switch to White yarn. (sc 3, dec) x 6 (24)
🧶 R12: Switch back to Red yarn. sc 24 (24)
🧶 R13: (sc 2, dec) x 6 (18)
✨ Fasten off. Stuff the body firmly, emphasizing a stout, rounded belly.
Arms (Make 2)
🧶 R1: With Skin Color, 6 sc in mr (6)
🧶 R2-R3: sc 6 (6)
🧶 R4: Switch to Red yarn. sc 6 (6)
🧶 R5-R6: sc 6 (6)
✨ Fasten off. Do not stuff. Press flat.
Legs & Cleats (Make 2)
🧶 R1: With Black yarn, 6 sc in mr (6)
🧶 R2: (sc 1, inc) x 3 (9)
🧶 R3: Switch to White yarn. sc 9 (9)
🧶 R4: Switch to Skin Color. sc 9 (9)
🧶 R5-R6: sc 9 (9)
✨ Fasten off. Stuff lightly at the base to maintain the shoe shape.
Viral Accessories: The Phone
🧶 Row 1: With Black yarn, ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (4)
🧶 Row 2-4: ch 1, turn, sc 4 (4)
✨ Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Viral Accessories: The Green Onion
🧶 R1: With White yarn, 4 sc in mr (4)
🧶 R2: Switch to Bright Green yarn. sc 4 (4)
🧶 R3-R5: sc 4 (4)
✨ Fasten off. Fray the green yarn tail slightly for texture.
Assembly
➡️ Pin the hair cap to the head, ensuring the topknot sits dead center. Sew securely around the edges.
➡️ Sew the head to the body. Match the 18 stitches of the neck to the 18 stitches of the body opening.
➡️ Attach the arms symmetrically on either side of the body at R12, angling them slightly forward.
➡️ Attach the legs to the bottom of the body between R3 and R6. Space them 2 stitches apart to allow him to sit upright.
➡️ Tack the phone into one hand with a single black stitch.
➡️ Tack the green onion to the other hand, or slip it under his arm.
