Free Pattern: Baby D – a just-hatched duckling

Smaller than the Ultra Mini Ugly, tinier than Lil Other Brother, Baby D is the cutest just-hatched duckling you’ll ever want to give away. The latest duck I’ve been making for The Little Yellow Duck Project, Baby D is a really small version of Darryl – a duck and with only 11 rounds for the body and head and another 2 for the beak, he works up in well under an hour, like a half hour or less. Like some of the other mini ducks, Baby D is a great size to be used as a bag charm, backpack clip, or key chain.

Materials:

Just a little worsted weight yarn in 2 colors. (The head and body are worked in one color. The beak is in another color and needs very little yarn.)
6mm black safety eyes
E crochet hook (3.5 mm)
Tapestry Needle
Polyfill Stuffing

Abbreviations (US Terms):

CH: Chain
dec: Single Crochet Decrease
inc: Single Crochet Increase
SC: Single Crochet
SC3tog: Single Crochet 3 Together
SS: Slip Stitch

Notes:

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Head and Body (make 1 in main color):

Round 1: Ch 7, Starting with second chain from hook, 5SC, 4 SC in same stitch, now crochet back up the other side, 5SC, inc (last increase is in the first chain) (16)

Round 2: 14SC, inc, SC (17)

Round 3: inc, 14SC, inc, SC (19)

Round 4: inc, 16SC, inc, SC (21)

Round 5: inc, 8SC, 3SCtog, 8SC, 3SCtog (you’ll include 2 stitches from the next round in your last 3SCtog) (20)

Round 6: Flatten in half, 6SS through both sides starting by slip stitching through the next stitch and the stitch before the SC3tog you just made, stuff (not a full round, you will be slip stitching the top together through both sides to finish the body, there will be 5 stitches left unworked, that is where you will be working the head in the next round)

Round 7: (SC, inc) 3x (last inc in SS) (9)

Round 8: (2SC, inc) around (12)

Rounds 9-10: SC around (12)

Add plastic safety eyes 1 row down from the top, 4SC apart.

Round 11: (dec) 6x (6)

FO leaving long tail

Stuff head

Weave tail through front loop of Round 11 and pull tight. Tie knot and pull into head.

 

Beak (make 1 in contrasting color):

Round 1: CH 3, (SC, inc), repeat up the other side of the chain (6)

Round 2: (2SC, inc) 2x (8)

FO leaving long tail

Sew beak onto head with running stitch.

You’re done!

Little Yellow Ducks Escape During Duck Races

Yesterday was the 8th Annual Rubber Duck Derby during the Healthy Kids Day celebration in Tarrytown, NY. It was the perfect opportunity to release ducks “into the wild” as part of The Little Yellow Duck Project. In my attempt to be inconspicuous, I did not take pictures of the released ducks, but I did look on as several were discovered.

I was able to capture some of the very exciting Rubber Duck Races, in case you’re wondering what a rubber duck race looks like. I know another rubber duck race got major exposure over the past few days. If you get a chance to go to one, I would recommend it. They’re just fun.

Big Ducks at the Rubber Duck Derby

Rubber Duck Race about to begin

Big Ducks Dump the Little Ducks

They’re Off!

They all appear in the distance

Edging closer

They’re going full speed ahead

There’s a clear leader in the race

Masses of Ducks Race By

 

 

 

 

Free Pattern: Darryl – a duck

Free Crochet Pattern: Darryl – a duck

Final tweaks made and Darryl is finally ready to be posted! Darryl is the second duck from Duck Evolution and works up in an hour or less. I’m making a few more this morning getting ready to release them at the Rubber Duck Derby in Tarrytown, NY today as part of The Little Yellow Duck Project. Seems like the perfect event to be releasing crocheted ducks into the wild.

Materials:

A little worsted weight yarn in 2 colors. (The head and body are worked in one color. The beak is in another color and needs very little yarn.)
9mm black safety eyes
G crochet hook (4.0 mm)
Tapestry Needle
Polyfill Stuffing

Abbreviations (US Terms):

CH: Chain
dec: Single Crochet Decrease
inc: Single Crochet Increase
SC: Single Crochet
SC3tog: Single Crochet 3 Together
SS: Slip Stitch

Notes:

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Head and Body (make 1 in main color):

After round 1

Round 1: Ch 12, Starting with second chain from hook, 10SC, inc, now crochet back up the other side, inc, 9SC, inc (25)

Round 2: 11SC, inc, inc, 11SC, inc (28)

Round 3: 26SC, inc, SC (29)

Round 4: inc, 26SC, inc, SC (31)

Round 5: inc, 28SC, inc, SC (33)

Round 6: inc, 30SC, inc, SC (35)

Round 7: inc, 32SC, inc, SC (37)

Round 8: inc, 16SC, 3SCtog, 16SC, 3SCtog (you’ll include 1 stitch from next round in your last 3SCtog) (35)

Round 9: Flatten in half, SS13 through both sides starting by slip stitching through the next stitch and the stitch before the SC3tog you just made, stuff (not a full round, you will be slip stitching the top together through both sides to finish the body, there will be 7 stitches left unworked, that is where you will be working the head in the next round)

After round 9

Slip Stitch through both sides

 

Round 10:  inc, inc, SC, inc, inc, SC, inc (12)

After completing Round 10

Round 11: (SC, inc) around (18)

Rounds 12-15: SC around (18)

After round 15

Round 16: (SC, dec) 6x (12)

Add plastic safety eyes 3 rows down from the top, 6SC apart.

Round 17: (dec) 6x (6)

FO leaving long tail

Stuff head

Weave tail through front loop of Round 17 and pull tight. Tie knot and pull into head.

 

Beak (make 1 in contrasting color):

After beak round 3

Round 1: CH 4, (2SC, inc), repeat up the other side of the chain (8)

Round 2: (3SC, inc) 2x (10)

Round 3: (4SC, inc) inc (12)

FO leaving long tail

Sew beak onto head.

You’re done!

 

P.S. Keep an eye out for more sizes of Darryl still being developed.

 

My Little Yellow Duck Project Stats – Most Effective Pattern

Other Brother Darryl – My Most Reported Duck

By day I’m a Data Analyst, so naturally I was wondering which duck pattern had resulted in the highest percentage of reports on The Little Yellow Duck Project website.

In the below chart of ducks released vs ducks reported, you’ll see the recently released pattern Other Brother Darryl has proven to be the most reported both by percentage and quantity. Duck patterns where I only made and released 1 or 2 are not included in the chart.

I would note that by the time I started making Other Brother Darryls I had become much more strategic about where I left ducks. Also, all of Other Brother Darryl’s tags included the handwritten message Where did you find me? Add me to the map at www.TheLittleYellowDuckProject.org on the back of the tag.

To be fair to Love Bug who sits at the bottom of the list with none reported was handed out at the Rehab/Nursing/Hospice facility my aunt was staying at where internet access would have been more limited and patients may have had a difficult time even reading the tag.

Pattern	Released	Reported	Reporting Rate
Other Brother Darryl	15	10	67%
Darryl	10	6	60%
Quick Quack	13	7	54%
Lil Ugly	10	5	50%
Filbert	9	4	44%
Sewn Duck	9	4	44%
Ultra Mini Ugly	17	7	41%
Mini Duckling	10	4	40%
Just Duckie	33	9	27%
Ugly	13	3	23%
Felt Duck	10	2	20%
Phat Beak	6	1	17%
Love Bug	5	0	0%

 

I have 7 Lil Other Brothers ready to go, but they have not been released yet. It will be interesting to see if they report as well as Other Brother Darryl or if Other Brother Darryl remains on top.

I’ll keep you updated on the results.

Free Pattern: Lil Other Brother – a tiny duck

While in the middle of little yellow duck mass production yesterday, I couldn’t resist temptation and created a half size of Other Brother Darryl. The pattern worked out just as imagined and Lil Other Brother was born. This one works up in a half hour or less so you can make even more for The Little Yellow Duck Project. Because its smaller, it’s also a great size for a bag clip or keychain.

Other Brother Darryl with 2 Lil Other Brothers

Materials:

A little worsted weight yarn in 2 colors. (The head and body are worked in one color. The beak is in another color and needs very little yarn.)
9mm black safety eyes
G crochet hook (4.0 mm)
Tapestry Needle
Polyfill Stuffing

Abbreviations (US Terms):

CH: Chain
dec: Single Crochet Decrease
inc: Single Crochet Increase
SC: Single Crochet
SC3tog: Single Crochet 3 Together
SS: Slip Stitch

Notes:

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Head and Body (make 1 in main color):

After Round 1

Round 1: Ch 7, Starting with second chain from hook, 5SC, 3SC in last chain, now crochet back up the other side 4SC, 2SC in last chain (14)

Round 2: 6SC, inc, 7SC (15)

Round 3: 7SC, inc, 7SC (16)

Round 4: 8SC, inc, 7SC (17)

Round 5: 8SC, inc, 8SC (18)

Round 6: SC3tog, 5SC, SC3tog, flatten in half, SS4 through both sides starting by slip stitching through the next stitch and the stitch before the SC3tog you just made, stuff (not a full round, you will be slip stitching the top together through both sides to finish the body, there will be 5 stitches left unworked, that is where you will be working the head in the next round)

After completing Round 6

Slip Stitch through both sides

Round 7: (SC, inc) 3x (The last inc will be in the SS connecting the 2 sides) (9)

Round 8: inc around (18)

After Round 8

Rounds 9-11: SC around (18)

After Round 11

Round 12: (SC, dec) 6x (12)

Add plastic safety eyes 3 rows down from the top, 6SC apart.

Round 13: dec 6x (6)

FO leaving long tail

Stuff head

Weave tail through front loop of Round 19 and pull tight. Tie knot and pull into head.

 

Beak (make 1 in contrasting color):

After Round 2

Round 1: CH 3, (SC, inc), repeat up the other side of the chain (6)

Round 2: (2SC, inc) 2x (8)

FO leaving long tail

Sew beak onto head onto bottom row of eyes.

You’re done… now go make some more!

 

 

Finished Lil Other Brother

5 Lil Other Brothers and 2 Other Brother Darryls

Free Pattern: Other Brother Darryl – a duck

Free Crochet Pattern for Other Brother Darryl – a duck

To celebrate Little Yellow Duck Day (which was officially yesterday), I am finally posting the patterns for Larry, Darryl, and Other Brother Darryl. They all work up in an hour or less and are great for The Little Yellow Duck Project. Hopefully you’ll make a bunch and spread them all over the world.

Materials:

A little worsted weight yarn in 2 colors. (The head and body are worked in one color. The beak is in another color and needs very little yarn.)
12mm black safety eyes
G crochet hook (4.0 mm)
Tapestry Needle
Polyfill Stuffing

Abbreviations (US Terms):

CH: Chain
dec: Single Crochet Decrease
inc: Single Crochet Increase
SC: Single Crochet
SC3tog: Single Crochet 3 Together
SS: Slip Stitch

Notes:

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Head and Body (make 1 in main color):

After Round 1

Round 1: Ch 11, Starting with second chain from hook, 9SC, 3SC in last chain, now crochet back up the other side 8SC, 2SC in last chain (22)

Round 2: 10SC, inc, 11SC (23)

Round 3: 11SC, inc, 11SC (24)

Round 4: 12SC, inc, 11SC (25)

Round 5: 12SC, inc, 12SC (26)

Round 6: 13SC, inc, 12SC (27)

Round 7: 13SC, inc, 13SC (28)

Round 8: 15SC, inc, 12SC (29)

Round 9: 15SC, inc, 13SC (30)

Round 10: SC3tog, 12SC, SC3tog, SS9 through both sides, stuff (not a full round, you will be slip stitching the top together through both sides to finish the body, there will be a few stitches left unworked, that is where you will be working the head in the next round)

After completing Round 10

Slip Stitch through both sides

Round 11: (SC, inc) 4x (The last inc will be in the SS connecting the 2 sides) (12)

After Round 11

Round 12: inc around (24)

Rounds 13-16: SC around (24)

After Round 16

Round 17: (2SC, dec) 6x (18)

Round 18: (SC, dec) 6x (12)

Add plastic safety eyes 4 rows down from the top, 8SC apart.

Round 19: dec 6x (6)

FO leaving long tail

Stuff head

Weave tail through front loop of Round 19 and pull tight. Tie knot and pull into head.

 

Beak (make 1 in contrasting color):

After Beak Round 2

Round 1: CH 4, (2SC, inc), repeat up the other side of the chain (8)

Round 2: (3SC, inc) 2x (10)

FO leaving long tail

Sew beak onto head on row below eyes.

You’re done!

 

Duck Evolution

I wanted to create a rubber duck shaped one piece duck.

The first version was Larry. I thought the beak was too long and that the body shaping needed some work.

So next came Darryl.

He looked like some of the other ducks I had made from Lisa van Klaveren’s Just Duckie Lovey pattern so I wanted to try another variation with a bigger head and body.

So then Other Brother Darryl was created which I TOTALLY loved!

After a few days and while making a second one of each and tweaking the patterns, I realized all three had turned out pretty well. In the end, I’ve decided to post patterns for all three of them.

Patterns for Larry, Darryl, and Other Brother Darryl will be up in the next few days and the ducks created will be released as part of The Little Yellow Duck Project this weekend.

Red, Orange, Yellow and Buckets of Rain

I just got back from the Garner Arts Festival in Garnerville, NY and my feet are still wet, as they may be for the next few days, but it was a lot of fun. I went to see the community tapestry that Sara Divi put together. I had contributed 6 pieces for it and loved seeing the final product especially how everyone’s pieces blended together in a sea of red, orange, and yellow. With all the contributions she got it was huge!

Sara was also showing her amazing installation We Should Have Just Let Go which is a huge knit maze made from the yarn of unraveled old sweaters. Watching dancers flow through it was very cool. My son loved running around in it and that we could see each other through it since it was knit on such large needles. Her maze was at the center of a room filled with textile goodness including the largest knitting needles I think I will ever see. My father said they were 115’s!!! It looked like scarves or sweater arms were the single strands of yarn used with them.

With all the artists showing, I kept being drawn back to a sculpture that could be seen between a few of the buildings next to the flowing water. The waterfall background added drama to the striking piece.

Since everything was so huge, when a storm came through, it too was huge. Buckets of rain dropped down from the sky while I was waiting for my food at a food truck with a LONG wait. I got soaked. It may still be a while before I dry off.

Even with squishy wet socks and sneakers and jeans heavy with water stuck to my legs, it was a fun Sunday.

 

Free Pattern: Ugly – a cute little duck

Lil Ugly (left), Ugly (center) Ultra Mini Ugly (right)

Ugly – a cute little duck was created last year for The Little Yellow Duck Project. It works up in a little over an hour. I’ve made the Ugly pattern in 3 sizes. This is the largest size, but the example pictures used in the pattern are from the Lil Ugly.

Materials:

A little worsted weight yarn in 2 colors. If you use a thinner weight yarn use a C hook or smaller. If you use a bulky or super bulky weight yarn, use a J hook. The Ugly is cute in all weights of yarn.
9mm black safety eyes (12mm if using bulky or super bulky weight yarn, make French knots instead if using a very thin yarn)
C or E crochet hook (2.5mm or 3.5mm). The smaller hook will make a smaller Ugly.
Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations (US Terms):

CH: Chain
DC: Double Crochet
FSC: Foundation Single Crochet
dec: Single Crochet Decrease
FSC: Foundation Single Crochet
FLO: Front Loops Only
FSC: Foundation Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
inc: Single Crochet Increase
SC: Single Crochet
SC3tog: Single Crochet 3 Together
SS: Slip Stitch

Notes:

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Head and Body (make 1 start in main color):

Round 1: 6SC in magic circle (6)

Round 2: (SC, 4SC in next SC, SC) 2x (12)

Round 3: (inc, SC) 6x (18)

Round 4: (inc, 2SC) 6x (24)

Round 5: (inc, 3SC) 6x (30)

Round 6: (2sc, inc, 2SC) 6x (36)

Rounds 7-9: SC around (36)

Round 10: (4sc, dec) 6x (30)

Round 11: SC around (30)

Round 12: (dec, 3SC) 6x (24)

Round 13: SC around (24)

Round 14: (SC, 3SCtog, 3SC, 3SCtog, 2SC) 2x (16)

Round 15: (SC, dec, SC) 4x (12)

Round 16: SC around (12)

Flatten the head. Your working yarn will be on the left towards the front. Add plastic safety eyes between rows 10 and 10 11 sc apart.

Stuff

Round 17: (SC, inc) 6x (18)

Round 18: (2SC, inc) 6x (24)

Rounds 19-20: SC around (24)

Round 20: (2SC, dec) 6x (18)

Round 21: (SC, dec) 6x (12)

Round 22 (and part of 23): 2SC, dec, (the dec should be in the front center, if it is not, SC until you get to the front center), change to contrasting color (do not cut the main color yet), FLO for the rest of the round: in the first stitch (SS, HDC, 2DC) in the next stitch (DC, HDC), 6 SC, in the next stitch (HDC, DC), next stitch (2DC, HDC, SS)

Final Round (starts a few stitches into round 19): Change back to main color (you can cut the contrasting color), SC through both loops, 5 dec in unworked back loop from last round, FO leaving a long tail. (6)

Stuff

Pull the loose end in contrasting color where the feet ended into the body and tie a knot with the other end of the yarn from the feet. Pull it into the body.

Weave tail from main color through final round and pull tight. Tie knot and pull into body.

Beak (make 1 in contrasting color):

Round 1: CH 1, 6 FSC, turn and SC up other side (12)
Rounds 2-3: SC around (12)
FO leaving long tail
Sew beak onto head. I like to use 3 or 4 longer stitches between the eyes when sewing on the beak.

Wings (make 2 in main color):

You will be working on both sides of the chain.
CH 5, SC in the second chain from hook, 2SC, 3SCinc, continue to work up the other side of the chain working over your end, 3SC, inc (11)
SS into the first stich and FO
Pull both ends tight

Sew wings onto body.

You’re done!

Free Pattern: Ultra Mini Ugly – a teeny tiny lil duck

 

The Ultra Mini Ugly – a teeny tiny lil duck is the smallest size Ugly. The little brother of A Lil Ugly, the Ultra Mini Ugly was also created for The Little Yellow Duck Project and works up in under an hour. I’m posting the Ugly patterns in three sizes as three separate patterns so that they are easier to read. A Lil Ugly (the next size up), was posted a few days ago. The full size Ugly pattern should be up in the next few days.

A Lil Ugly (left) and an Ultra Mini Ugly (right) for size comparison

Exactly which worsted weight yarn you use makes a big difference in the final size. In the below picture of three different Ultra Mini Uglies, the one on the left is make in Red Heart Super Saver and came out the biggest. The other two use Red Heart Super Saver for the beak and feet only. The two grey ducks were made from ends of balls of yarn I had lying around and I’m not sure what yarn they were made from, but they were worsted weight yarns.

Three Ultra Mini Uglies in Different Types of Worsted Weight Yarn

Even though they were made out of worsted weight yarn, some of the Ultra Mini Uglies I made were too small to be released in the wild with just a Little Yellow Duck tag attached so I added a jump ring and lobster claw which can be found in the jewelry findings section of a craft store. The metal of the ring was easy to bend open and closed with my bare hands and was not difficult to put on the duck. The clasps are fun because you can clip the duck onto gates or wire fences and you do not need to worry about the duck blowing away in the wind. I did add a warning to the LYD tags to remove the metal ring and clasp before giving to a child.

Materials:

A little worsted weight yarn in 2 colors.
6mm or 9mm black safety eyes
E crochet hook (3.5mm)
Tapestry Needle
Optional – large lobster claw and jump ring to use the Ugly as a key chain or bag clip

Abbreviations (US Terms):

CH: Chain
DC: Double Crochet
FSC: Foundation Single Crochet
dec: Single Crochet Decrease
FSC: Foundation Single Crochet
FLO: Front Loops Only
FSC: Foundation Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double Crochet
inc: Single Crochet Increase
SC: Single Crochet
SC3tog: Single Crochet 3 Together
SS: Slip Stitch

Notes:

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Head and Body (make 1 start in main color):

Round 1: 6SC in magic circle (6)

Round 2: (SC, 4SC in next SC, SC) 2x (12)

Round 3: (inc, SC) 6x (18)

Round 4: (inc, 2SC) 6x (24)

Rounds 5-7: SC around (24)

Round 8: (SC, SC3tog, 3SC, SC3tog, 2SC) 2x (16)

Round 9: (SC, SC3tog) 4x (8)

Flatten the head. Your working yarn will be on the left towards the front. Add plastic safety eyes between rows 7 and 8 1 sc apart.

Stuff

Round 10: SC around (8)

Round 11: inc around (16)

Rounds 12: SC around (16)

Round 13: dec around (8)

Round 14: dec (the dec should be in the front center, if it is not, SC until you get to the front center), change to contrasting color, FLO for the rest of the round: in the first stitch (SS, HDC) in the next stitch (DC, HDC), 2 SC, in the next stitch (DC, HDC)

Stuff

Round 15: Change back to main color, SC through both loops, 3 dec in unworked back loop from last round, FO leaving a long tail. (4)

Pull the loose end in contrasting color where the feet ended into the body and tie a knot with the other end of the yarn from the feet. Pull it into the body.

Weave tail from main color through final round and pull tight. Tie knot and pull into body.

Beak (make 1 in contrasting color):

Round 1: CH 1, 4 FSC, turn and SC up other side (8)
Round 2: HDC around (8)
FO leaving long tail
Sew beak onto head. I like to use 3 or 4 longer stitches between the eyes when sewing on the beak.

Wings (make 2 in main color):

You will be working on both sides of the chain.
CH 3, Turn, SC in second chain from hook, inc, continue to work up the other side of the chain working over your end, inc, inc (7)
SS into the first stich and FO
Pull both ends tight

Sew wings onto body.

You’re done!