I kept being drawn to these super sweet Hello Cotton yarns over the past few weeks, and knew I had to make something super summery and cute with them. These little balls are just 25g (62m) and come in a delicious rainbow of colours.
They're definitely the kind of little balls of yarn you want to collect and keep just because the look so adorable. Although you should use them, because they are just perfect for little projects like amigurumi and this case, little 90s style smiley patches.
You could do so many different things with these little emoji style smiley faces, I'm planning on stitching mine on various garments and bags (because I've become slightly obsessed and made a fair few now!).
It's a really quick and simple project and a fun way to add some summery 90s nostalgia to your crafty makes.
What you'll need...
1 x ball Hello Cotton in Safron (121) 25g/62m
1 x ball Hello Cotton in Coal (160) 25g/62m
1 x Tapestry Needle
Abbreviations (I use UK terms in this pattern - the US equivilents can be found in brackets below)
ch - chain
dc - double crochet (single crochet)
rep - repeat
rnd - round
slst - slip stitch
st - stitch
How to make...
First you need to make your crochet circle, it's nothing too difficult, ideally you'll start with a magic ring to get a nice closed up centre, but you can just do 2 chains and work your first round into the 2nd chain from hook if you find the idea of magic ring too daunting.
We'll be working our circle in rounds of continuous crochet, so no joining or turning, just working straight into the next stitch, I recommend marking the end of your round so you know where you are. To do this I always just use a piece of scrap yarn caught between the last and the first stitch of the round.
Rnd 1: magic ring, 1ch, work 6dc into ring, do not join at end, just work directly into first st on next rnd. 6 sts
Rnd: 2dc in each st to end of rnd. 12sts
Rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc in next st, rep from * to end of rnd. 18sts
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc in next st, rep from * to end of rnd. 24sts
Rnd 5: *3dc, 2dc in next st, rep from * to end of rnd. 30sts
Rnd 6: 2dc, 2dc in next st, *4dc, 2dc in next st rep from * to 2sts from end, 2dc. 36sts
Rnd 7: *5dc, 2dc in next st, rep from * to end of rnd. 42sts
Finishing: work 1slst in next two sts, fasten off and weave in ends.
Embroidering the face...
This might be tricky to explain but it's not especially tricky to do. I've made a little video of me doing mine to give you an idea and I suggest using the photo above to guide you, although I have tried to write out what I did below.
To add the smiley element to our crochet circle, we're going to embroider in the Coal cotton. With around 50cm of the cotton threaded on your needle, embroider the face as follows, starting 2 or 3 stitches back from the end of the last rnd and 2 rows down, insert your needle and work one stitch down one row and then one more down one more row this forms the right side top of the smile, then following the bottom of the fifth round of crochet, work in back stitch for 14 stitches to form the smile, then add the top of the left side of the smile by working one stitch up one row and one stitch down one row. For the eyes, just use your own judgement for placement and work two long stitches (covering around 2 rnds of crochet but in a straightish line), I doubled up each stitch by working the same stitch twice to make the eyes a little thicker. Weave in your ends and you're done!
I’d love to see your creations so if you do make any of these please give me a tag on Instagram or Facebook 😃