National Crafts Month: Crochet a Creepy Monkey!

National Craft Month continues with a truly intense craft: The Creepy Monkey from Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More! This is not a craft for beginners—it’s as tough and unforgiving as March. But if you’re a crafter, you’re not afraid of a challenge! And besides, this monkey is so darned cute I’ll leap at any opportunity to share it.

The world needs more of these sweet little monkeys. Make them!

MONKEY

Difficulty Level: Epic

Gauge: 5 sc x 5 rows = 1" x 1"

Materials:

Yarn: terracotta and taupe

Hooks: US size E and US size 1

3/8" pie-wedge eyes

Felt: cream

DMC embroidery floss in dark brown and gold

stuffing

needle and thread

scissors

BASICS

Head and Body
Use size E hook and taupe-colored yarn. Make 1 Basic Head and 1 Basic Body. (See patterns on page 94-95).

DETAILS

Ears
Use size E hook and taupe-colored yarn. Make one pair. (Ch 2, dc 5) in magic ring. Fasten off.

Tail
Use taupe-colored yarn. Ch 27, sl st 25.

Fez
Use size E hook and terracotta-colored yarn.

Row 1: Sc 6 in magic ring, sl st to close {6}.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc 1 in same, inc around, sl st to close round {11).

Row 3: Ch 1, sc 1 in same, sc 1, [inc, sc 1] around, sl st to close round {17}.

Row 4: Ch 1, working in back loops, sc around, sl st to close round {17}.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {17}.

Row 6: Ch 1, sc 7, inc, sc 8, inc, sl st {19}.

Row 7: Ch 1, sc 3, inc, sc 9, inc, sc 5 {21}.

Row 8: Ch 1, sc 9, inc, sc 10, inc {23}. Clean fasten off.

Switch to size 1 hook and gold embroidery floss. Chain stitch around edge.

Tassel

1. Cut 4 5"-long sections of gold embroidery floss. Fold 3 of them in half over the fourth.

2. Pull a single thread of the same floss, fold it in half over the same point, and thread the ends into a needle.

3. Wrap the thread around the bundle of floss a few times and stitch in place.

4. Twist the single 5" segment and fold in half, allowing it to twist. Pull the end through the top of the fez and stitch in place. Trim ends.

Vest

Use size E hook and terracotta-colored yarn.

Row 1: Ch 16.

Row 2: Inc, sc 13, inc {17}.

Row 3: Ch 1, flip, inc, sc 15, inc {19}.

Row 4: Ch 1, flip, inc, sc 17, inc {21).

Row 5: Ch 1, flip, inc, sc 19, inc {23}.

Row 6: Ch 1, flip, sc across {23}.

Row 7: Ch 1, skip 1 sc 20, skip 1, sc 1 {21}.

Row 8: Ch 1, skip 1, sc 18, skip 1, sc 1, fasten off {19}.

Switch to size 1 hook and gold embroidery floss. Chain stitch around edge.

ASSEMBLY

1. Stuff head and body and stitch together.

2. Cut cream-colored felt according to template. Your template should be about 1 5/8” wide and 1 5/16” tall.

3. Stitch nose with padded satin stitch. Stitch mouth as a French knot.

4. Stitch or glue felt face to head. Attach eyes.

5. Stitch ears to either side of head.

6. Stuff fez lightly and stitch to head.

7. Wrap vest snugly around body and stitch in place.

8. Stitch tail to back of body.