Welcome back to the workbench. Our hands are ready, and our yarn awaits.
It is I, Patricia. Today, we elevate our craft. We are moving beyond basic cylinders and spheres. We are mastering proportion, character, and tension. The Sloane Garden Sloth requires your focus. Every stripe must align. Every decrease serves a structural purpose. Follow my numbers exactly, and you will hold a masterpiece.
About This Creation
This design relies heavily on the ‘Baby Schema’ proportion ratio. We maintain a 60/40 head-to-body scale to capture that endearing youthfulness. The wide-set eyes are not a mistake; they are a calculated design choice. By dropping the eye placement to Rounds 13 and 14, and spacing them generously, we create a gaze that invites connection. The overalls are constructed seamlessly from the neck down, requiring careful color management to prevent jarring transitions.
Project Snapshot
✨ Dimensions: 12 inches tall (using DK weight yarn).
✨ Difficulty: Advanced Artisan.
✨ Time Investment: 14 to 18 hours.
Materials
🧶 DK Weight Cotton Yarn: Beige (Skin), White, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Terracotta, Olive Green, Yellow, Pink.
🧶 Crochet Hook: 2.5mm (or size needed for tight tension).
🧶 12mm Safety Eyes (x2).
🧶 Premium Fiberfill stuffing.
🧶 Tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
🪡 sc: single crochet
🪡 inc: increase (2 sc in one stitch)
🪡 dec: decrease (sc2tog)
🪡 ch: chain
🪡 sl st: slip stitch
🪡 hdc: half double crochet
🪡 dc: double crochet
🪡 BLO: back loops only
🪡 FLO: front loops only
The Pattern
1. The Head and Neck
We begin at the top of the head in Beige yarn. Work in continuous spirals.
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
🧶 R4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24)
🧶 R5: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30)
🧶 R6: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36)
🧶 R7: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42)
🧶 R8: [6 sc, inc] x 6 (48)
🧶 R9: [7 sc, inc] x 6 (54)
🧶 R10 to R16: sc in all 54 sts (54)
🧶 R17: [7 sc, dec] x 6 (48)
🧶 R18: [6 sc, dec] x 6 (42)
🧶 R19: [5 sc, dec] x 6 (36)
🧶 R20: [4 sc, dec] x 6 (30)
🧶 R21: [3 sc, dec] x 6 (24)
🧶 R22: [2 sc, dec] x 6 (18)
🧶 R23: [1 sc, dec] x 6 (12)
Stuff the head firmly now. Pay special attention to rounding out the cheeks.
🧶 R24 to R28: sc in all 12 sts (12)
2. The Main Body and Overalls
We continue directly from the neck. Do not cut the Beige yarn yet.
🧶 R29: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
🧶 R30: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24)
🧶 R31: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30)
Change to Olive Green yarn.
🧶 R32: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36)
🧶 R33: sc in all 36 sts (36)
Change to White yarn.
🧶 R34: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42)
Change to Dark Brown yarn.
🧶 R35: sc in all 42 sts (42)
Change to Terracotta yarn.
🧶 R36: [6 sc, inc] x 6 (48)
From here, maintain the stripe pattern (Olive, White, Brown, Terracotta) for every round.
🧶 R37 to R44: sc in all 48 sts (48)
Stuff the upper body firmly. We will now split for the legs.
3. The Legs
Count 24 stitches from your hook. This is the first leg.
🧶 R45 to R49: (Continuing the stripe sequence) sc in 24 sts, joining in the round (24)
Change to Olive Green yarn for the cuff.
🧶 R50: [2 sc, dec] x 6 (18)
Change to Beige yarn for the lower leg.
🧶 R51: BLO sc in all 18 sts (18)
🧶 R52 to R55: sc in all 18 sts (18)
Stuff the leg.
🧶 R56: [1 sc, dec] x 6 (12)
🧶 R57: [dec] x 6 (6)
Fasten off and weave in the end. Rejoin yarn at the crotch to complete the second leg using Rounds 45 through 57.
4. The Eye Assembly (Make 2)
Use White yarn.
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Insert the 12mm safety eye through the center hole before attaching to the head.
5. The Arms (Make 2)
Start with White yarn for the hands.
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: sc in all 12 sts (12)
Change to Beige yarn.
🧶 R4 to R18: sc in all 12 sts (12)
Stuff the bottom lightly; leave the top flat.
🧶 R19: Pinch flat and crochet 6 sc through both sides to close (6)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
6. The Snout and Tooth
Snout (Dark Brown yarn):
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: sc in all 12 sts (12)
Fasten off. Leave a tail.
Tooth (White yarn):
🧶 R1: ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch (3)
Fasten off.
7. The Overall Straps and Pocket
Straps (Olive Green yarn, make 2):
🧶 R1: ch 16, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and next 13 ch (14)
Fasten off.
Pocket (Olive Green yarn):
🧶 R1: ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 4 ch (5)
🧶 R2 to R4: ch 1, turn, sc in 5 sts (5)
Fasten off. Embroider tiny flowers using scrap yarn before sewing.
8. The Sandals (Make 2)
Sole (Beige yarn):
🧶 R1: ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 3 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Work down the opposite side: sc in next 3 ch, inc in last ch (12)
Fasten off.
Straps (Olive Green yarn):
🧶 R1: ch 8, fasten off. Sew across the sole in an ‘X’ shape.
9. The Toes (Make 6)
Use White yarn.
🧶 R1: 4 sc in a magic ring (4)
Sl st to first st, fasten off. Sew three toes to the front of each Beige foot.
10. The Sun Hat
Use Beige yarn.
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
🧶 R4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24)
🧶 R5: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30)
🧶 R6: BLO sc in all 30 sts (30)
🧶 R7 to R10: sc in all 30 sts (30)
🧶 R11: FLO [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36)
🧶 R12: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42)
🧶 R13: [6 sc, inc] x 6 (48)
Fasten off.
Hat Sunflower:
🧶 Center: Dark Brown, 6 sc in a magic ring. Fasten off.
🧶 Petals: Yellow, attach to center edge. [ch 3, dc, ch 3, sl st in next st] x 6. Fasten off.
11. The Acorn Bag
Base (Terracotta yarn):
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
🧶 R4 to R8: sc in all 18 sts (18)
Cap (Dark Brown yarn):
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
🧶 R4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24)
Fasten off cap. Sew cap to base. Attach a chain of 30 sts for the strap.
12. The Watering Can
Use Beige yarn.
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
🧶 R4: BLO sc in all 18 sts (18)
🧶 R5 to R10: sc in all 18 sts (18)
🧶 R11: BLO [1 sc, dec] x 6 (12)
🧶 R12: [dec] x 6 (6)
Fasten off.
Spout:
🧶 R1: 4 sc in a magic ring (4)
🧶 R2 to R4: sc in 4 sts (4)
🧶 R5: inc, 3 sc (5)
Fasten off, sew to front.
Handle: ch 10, sc in 9 sts. Sew to back.
13. The Flower Pot
Pot (Terracotta yarn):
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: BLO sc in all 12 sts (12)
🧶 R4: [3 sc, inc] x 3 (15)
🧶 R5: sc in all 15 sts (15)
🧶 R6: [4 sc, inc] x 3 (18)
🧶 R7: FLO sc in all 18 sts (18)
Fasten off.
Soil (Dark Brown yarn):
🧶 R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
🧶 R2: [inc] x 6 (12)
🧶 R3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18)
Fasten off. Sew inside the pot.
Sprout (Olive Green yarn):
🧶 ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch, ch 3, sl st back down. Sew to the center of the soil.
14. Assembly Instructions
➡️ Step 1: Sew the white eye assemblies to the head between Rounds 13 and 16. Ensure they are spaced 8 stitches apart. Snap the safety eyes into place securely before closing.
➡️ Step 2: Center the brown snout between the eyes, resting just below them.
➡️ Step 3: Attach the white tooth just beneath the right side of the snout. Embroider a simple black smile line.
➡️ Step 4: Sew the arms to Round 31 of the body.
➡️ Step 5: Pin the overall straps over the shoulders, crossing them in the back, and sew them down. Sew small brown bobbles to the front base of the straps.
➡️ Step 6: Center the pocket on the belly and sew the bottom and sides.
➡️ Step 7: Attach the tiny pink flowers to the top right of the head.
➡️ Step 8: Dress your sloth with the bag, hat, and sandals.
