I finally finished editing this tutorial! It took me forever, things kept coming up. First, I got distracted with Halloween crafts, then I got sick, then my husband got sick. It seemed the like universe was against this tutorial. It’s all done now, though.

Since I started my channel two years ago, I’ve had several requests to make some Disney patterns. Of course, I started with Mickey and Minnie! I’ve actually procrastinated making this pattern because I was stumped as to how to make the face. I was busy worrying about how to make that odd shape all in one piece and I didn’t even think about how easy the other parts are. It turns out, it was much easier than I thought it would be. I did have to make up a new-ish stitch in order to make it work though. The new stitch is called “Triple Increase”, you crochet three in one stitch. I have seen triple increases used in other patterns, but it was always written as “crochet three in one stitch”. The term “triple increase” finally gives a name to this non-standard stitch. I mulled over a few other names for it. Should it be called a double increase? It’s one more stitch than a standard increase and it increases the stitch count for the round by two stitches, so maybe “double increase” is an appropriate name. “Triple increase” also makes sense because you’re crocheting three in one stitch. Between the two potential names, “triple increase” seemed the best. “Double increase” might be confusing since you’re crocheting three, not two. So “triple increase” it is!

Once I started using triple increases, the shape of the face was much easier to figure out. Now that I have the ability to make strange shapes without having to make separate pieces, the task of making a pattern for Mickey didn’t seem as daunting. I’m very happy with how it turned out. The next dilemma was how to make the eyes. Should I use safety eyes, like I do normally? It would look more like Mickey of I tried to recreate his eyes as illustrated. One of the most common complaints I get is that safety eyes are hard to find in stores. I buy my safety eyes online, but that can be difficult for some people, especially for my younger viewers who need a parent to help them buy safety eyes online.

In the past, I’ve used needle felting to create eyes that are more true to the original character. However, not everyone likes needle felting. That’s understandable, it can be difficult and requires special materials that don’t really have any other use. So I had to figure out another way to make the eyes without using special materials. That’s where embroidery comes in! I went with a chain stitch to help recreate the eyes. To make a chain stitch, you bring your yarn out of the place you want to start, then go back into that same stitch and come out in the next stitch over. Don’t pull the yarn tight yet. Instead, leave a loop. Then bring your needle back through the loop, then pull tight. This makes a stitch that looks like similar to a crochet chain.

Using a chain stitch means you can freely create shapes on amigurumi without having to follow the exact stitch pattern of the crochet. Now we can make complex eye designs, no safety eyes or special materials necessary.

Anyway, I don’t think many of you will read the details of how this pattern came to be. Most will skip straight to the pattern. I would love to post just the pattern, but I have to write a few paragraphs of coherent thoughts in every post in order for the bots crawling the page to think I’m worthy of ads lol.

On to the pattern, enjoy!

MATERIALS:

• Medium – 4 worsted weight yarn in black, red, cream, white, and yellow

• Size G – 4 mm crochet hook (or whatever size hook your yarn recommends. I use a slightly smaller hook than is recommended for my yarn)

• Tapestry needle large enough to fit your yarn

• Toy stuffing

Check out the Materials page to see the exact materials I use in my patterns/tutorials

–

TERMS:

• BL DEC: Back loop invisible decrease

• CH: Chain

• FO: Finish off

• INC: Increase

• INV DEC: Invisible decrease

• MR: Magic Ring

• RNDS: Rounds

• SC: Single Crochet

• SLST: Slip stitch

• ST: Stitch
• TRPL INC: Triple increase (SC three in one stitch).

* “Triple increase” isn’t an official crochet term. Normally, this is written as “make three single crochets in one stitch”. Triple increase is just a way to make it shorter to write and say.

–

FACE:

Cream yarn

1. MR with 6 SC (6)

2. INC x 6 (12)

3. (SC 1, INC) x 6 (18)

Special term! TRPL INC = Triple Increase: make three single crochets in one stitch.

4.

a. SC 2, TRPL INC,

b. SC 5, TRPL INC,

c. SC 2, TRPL INC,

d. SC 5, TRPL INC

(26)

5.

a. SC 5, TRPL INC,

b. SC 1, INV DEC,

c. SC 1, TRPL INC,

d. SC 5, TRPL INC,

e. SC 8, TRPL INC

(33)

6.

a. SC 2, INV DEC,

b. SC 3, TRPL INC,

c. SC 1, INV DEC,

d. SC 1, TRPL INC,

e. SC 3, INV DEC

f. SC 2, TRPL INC,

g. SC 11, TRPL INC

(38)

7. SC 38 (38)

FO

–

SNOUT:

Cream yarn

1. MR with 6 SC (6)

2. INC x 6 (12)

3. (SC 1, INC) x 6 (18)

4.

a. SC 9,

b. (SC 1, INV DEC) x 3

FO

(15)

–

NOSE:

Black yarn

1. MR with 4 SC (4)

2. INC x 4 (8)

3. SC 8 (8)

• Sew closed using black yarn and a whip stitch. Sew through the front loop of each stitch and pull tightly to close.
• Sew the nose to the snout using black yarn

–

–

EYES:

Black and white yarn

Embroider on the eyes using a chain stitch.

1. Thread black yarn through the body and come out on the face next to the nose where the pupil should go (see above photo).

2. Insert the needle back into the same stitch where you came out. Don’t pull the yarn tight all of the way, make sure to leave a loop.

3. Bring your needle out in the next stitch, then back through the loop you left from the previous stitch.

4. Pull tightly to form the chain stitch.

5. Continue working chain stitches until you have a small oval. This will form the pupil.

6. Once the pupils are formed, thread your needle with white yarn and work chain stitches around the pupils for for the whites of the eyes.

7. Bring your white yarn up through the top-center of the pupil and work one chain stitch to form the highlights on the eyes.

8. Weave your yarn back into the body a few times so it won’t come loose.

9. Cut your yarn and you’re done!

–

HEAD and BODY:

Black and red yarn

1. MR with 6 SC (6)

2. (INC) x 6 (12)

3. (SC 1, INC) x 6 (18)

4. (SC 2, INC) x 6 (24)

5. (SC 3, INC) x 6 (30)

6. (SC 4, INC) x 6 (36)

7. (SC 5, INC) x 6 (42)

8-14. (SC 42) x 7 RNDS (42)

15. (SC 5, INV DEC) x 6 (36)

16. (SC 4, INV DEC) x 6 (30)

17. (SC 3, INV DEC) x 6 (24)

18. (SC 2, INV DEC) x 6 (18)

19. (SC 2, INC) x 6 (24)

20. (SC 3, INC) x 6 (30)

21. (SC 4, INC) x 6 (36)

• Change to red yarn

22-28. (SC 36) x 7 RNDS (36)

29. (SC 4, INV DEC) x 6 (36)

30. (SC 3, INV DEC) x 6 (24)

32. (SC 2, INV DEC) x 6 (18)

• Stuff the head and body

33. (SC 1, INV DEC) x 6 (12)

• Sew the bottom shut with your yarn by sewing through the front loop of every stitch and pulling it tight until it closes.

–

EARS (make 2):

Black yarn

1. MR with 5 SC (5)

2. INC x 5 (10)

3. (SC 1, INC) x 5 (15)

4. (SC 2, INC) x 5 (20)

5. (SC 3, INC) x 5 (25)

6-8. (SC 25) x 3 RNDS (25)

9. (SC 3, INV DEC) x 5 (20)

10. (SC 2, INV DEC) x 5 (15)

11. (SC 1, INV DEC) x 5 (10)

FO, don’t stuff the ears

–

ARMS (make 2):

Black yarn

1. MR with 6 SC (6)

2. (SC 1, INC) x 3 (9)

3-9. (SC 9) x 7 RNDS (9)

FO, stuff the arm

–

GLOVES (make 2):

White yarn

1. MR with 6 SC (6)

2. INC x 6 (12)

3-4. (SC 12) x 2 RNDS (12)

5. CH 3, SC 16 (16)

6.

a. SLST 2 *SLST through both sides of the thumb

b. (SC 2, INV DEC) x 3

(9)

7. SC 9 (9)

8. INC x 9 (18)

FO, don’t stuff the gloves

–

–

LEGS (make 2):

Black yarn

1. MR with 5 SC (5)

2. INC x 5 (10)

3-12. (SC 10) x 10 RNDS (10)

FO, stuff the legs

–

SHOES (make 2):

Yellow yarn

1. MR with 6 SC (6)

2. INC x 6 (12)

3. (SC 1, INC) x 6 (18)

4. (SC 5, INC) x 3 (21)

5. (SC 21) x 3 RNDS (21)

6.

a. SC 9,

b. INV DEC,

c. SC 10

(20)

7.

a. SC 6,

b. INV DEC x 4,

c. SC 6

(16)

8.

a. SC 6,

b. INV DEC x 2,

c. SC 6

(14)

9.

a. SC 4,

b. INV DEC x 3,

c. SC 4

(11)

10. INC x 11 (22)

11. SC 22 (22)

12. BL DEC x 11 (11)

FO, fold over the cuff of the shoe

–

BUTTONS (make 2):

White yarn

1. MR with 4 SC (4)

2. INC x 4 (8)

FO

–

SHORTS (make 2)

Red yarn

1. CH 12, SLST the first and last CH together to make a ring

2-4. SC 12 x 3 RNDS

FO