Insectosaurus

Monsters vs. Aliens: Insectosaurus
Design by Anna Novitzky

Insectosaurus is inspired by a character from the DreamWorks Animation film Monsters vs. Aliens (2009). Originally a one-inch grub, he was transformed by radiation into a 350-foot monster who attacked Tokyo. He was captured in 1969, and remained in the monsters unit until the events of the film. The crocheted Insectosaurus is smaller in stature, but will rampage into your heart and take up residence.

This pattern is unofficial, and is in no way licensed or endorsed by DreamWorks or Paramount.

Notes:
The pattern is long but simple, and requires no advanced techniques. I recommend reading it all the way through before starting.

Yarn:
Dalegarn Falk DK (100% wool, 106m/50g): 1 skein each of 3418 Burnt Orange (A); 5582 Midnight (B); 2313 Lemon (C); and 0017 Polar White (D).

Gauge isn’t important for this project, but it must be tighter than is usually used for the yarn size, to prevent the stuffing showing through.

Tools and notions:
3.75mm crochet hook
7mm safety eyes
Stuffing or scrap yarn
Darning needle

Abbreviations:
Sc = single crochet (US); double crochet (UK)
Ss = slip stitch
Sc2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together (US); double crochet 2 stitches together (UK)
Sc3tog = single crochet 3 stitches together (US); double crochet 3 stitches together (UK)
St = stitch
Hdc = half double crochet (US); half treble crochet (UK)
Dc = double crochet (US); treble crochet (UK)
Ch = chain
FO = fasten off

For instructions on how to make a magic ring, see Crochet Me.

Instructions:
Work in continuous rounds. Make the eyes first; insert safety eyes and affix to the head roughly between rounds 6 and 7 on the front of the head (the side with 4 rows of dc) before stuffing the head and body. Make sure the position is correct before placing the washer. Stuff the body firmly after row 48 or when the hole is still large enough to fit your hand inside.

Eyes (make 2):
With yarn C:
Round 1: 8 sc in magic ring (8 st)
Pull tight, leaving a gap large enough for the stem of the safety eye. Cut off yarn C.
With yarn D:
2: 2 sc in each st (16 st)
3: *(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) twice, (1 ss, 2 ss in next ss) twice, repeat from * (24 st)
Cut off yarn D.
With yarn A:
4: *(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) three times, (1 ss, 2ss in next ss) three times, repeat from * (36 st). Ss to join, FO.

Head and body (make 1):
With yarn A:
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6st)
2: 2 sc in each st (12 st)
3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (18 st)
4: *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (24 st)
5: *3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (30 st)
6: *4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (36 st)
7: *5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (42 st)
8: 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 6 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, *6 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * twice, 6 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc (48 st)
9: 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 7 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, *7 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * twice, 7 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc (54 st)
10: 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 8 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, *8 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * twice, 8 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc (60 st)
11: 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, *9 dc, 2 dc in next dc, repeat from * twice, 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc (66 st)
12-13: sc in each st
14: In front loops only: *5 sc, 2 sc next sc, repeat from * around (77 st)
15: In both loops: *6 sc, 2 sc next sc, repeat from * around (88 st)
16: *7 sc, 2 sc next sc, repeat from * around (99 st)
17: *8 sc, 2 sc next sc, repeat from * around (110 st)
18-19: sc in each st
20-23: 20 dc, 20 hdc, 50 sc, 20 hdc
24-26: sc in each st
27: *53 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * once (108 st)
28: *34 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (105 st)
29: *33 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (102 st)
30: *32 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (99 st)
31-43: repeat in the form of the previous row, decreasing 3 st each row until 60 st remain.
44: *8 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (54 st)
45: *7 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (48 st)
46: *6 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (42 st)
47: *5 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (36 st)
48: In back loops only: *4 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (30 st)
49: In both loops: *1 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (20 st)
50: sc2tog around, repeating until the hole is closed. FO.

Legs (make 2):
With yarn A:
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 st)
2: 2 sc in each st (12 st)
3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (18 st)
4: *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (24 st)
5: In back loops only: *6 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (21 st)
6-11: sc in each st
Row 12: turn the work, 1 ch, sc 20, leaving remaining st unworked
13: turn, 1 ch, skip 1 sc, sc in each sc to end (19 st)
14-17: repeat the previous row until 15 st remain
18: turn, 1 ch, sc in each sc
19: turn, 1 ch, *3 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * twice (12 st)
20: turn, 1 ch, *2 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * twice (9 st)
21: turn, 1 ch, *1 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * twice (6 st)
22: turn, 1 ch, sc2tog three times (3 st)
23: turn, 1 ch, sc3tog. FO.

Arms (make 4):
With yarn B:
Round 1: 8 ch, ss to join into a ring (8 st)
2-10: sc in each st
11: 4 sc, then join in round, leaving last 4 st unworked
12-13: sc in each st. Ss to close. FO.
Repeat rounds 11-13 for the remaining 4 st.

Tummy (make 1):
With yarn C:
Round 1: 6 sc into magic ring (6 st)
2: 2 sc in each st (12 st)
3: 2 sc in each st (24 st)
4: sc in each st
5: *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (32 st)
6: *3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (40 st)
7: *7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (45 st)
8: *8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (50 st)
9: *9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (55 st)
10: *10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (60 st)
11: *5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (70 st)
12: *6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (80 st)
13-14: sc in each st. FO.

Tail (make 1):
With yarn A:
Round 1: 4 sc in magic ring (4 st)
2: *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (6 st)
3: *2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (8 st)
4-5: sc in each st
6: *3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (10 st)
7-8: sc in each st
9: *4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (12 st)
10-11: sc in each st
12: *5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (14 st)
13-14: sc in each st
15: *6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (16 st)
16-17: sc in each st
18: *7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (18 st)
19-20: sc in each st
21: *8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * (20 st)
10-11: sc in each st
Ss to join, FO.

Antennae (make 2):
With yarn B:
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 st)
2: *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (9 st)
3-4: sc in each st
5: *1 sc, sc2tog, repeat from * around (6 st)
6-8: 2 hdc, 1 sc, 2 ss, 1 sc
9-10: sc in each st
SS to join, FO.

Finishing:
Affix safety eyes and stuff body as mentioned above. Sew tummy to centre front of body, sew arms on both side. Stuff legs and sew below arms, using pictures as a placement guide; stuff tail and sew to back, in line with tops of legs. Sew down eye circles at base and sides, leaving a ridge unsewn at top. Sew antennae behind eyes. Embroider nose using yarn B. Work spine on assembled body, as follows:

Spine:
With yarn B:
Join yarn at tip of tail. Working along the top of the tail and up the centre of the back, *1 sc, 2 ch, repeat from * to just below the antennae. FO.

Weave in all ends.

A PDF of this pattern is available on Ravelry.