Free crochet pattern: Animal Crossing Marshal bag

September 29, 2014

So here’s the first of the free Animal Crossing bags! It’s everyone’s favorite smug rodent: Marshal!

You will need:

4mm hook & 6mm hook
2 skeins of ww yarn in white (or make 2 out of 1)
small bits of ww yarn in pastel purple, pastel pink, and black
yarn needle
acrylic or fabric paint

The reason I picked him first was because I had the right yarn for him already haha.

This pattern will serve as a base for all other patterns too, which will come in handy when I make more later ;)

Before the actual pattern starts, make a few rectangle swatches, like 1 inch x 3 inches. Why? Because you need to dip-dye the bangs and you’ll need to test a few times to get a color you like! Keep in mind that Marshal’s bangs are officially a blonde/beige color, I just wanted to do pink haha.

Grab an old towel that you can get paint on. Take 8 oz of water, put 2-3 drops of acrylic or fabric paint in, mix really well, then dip half of one of your swatches in. Take it out after a few seconds, dab it with the towel until it’s damp (not dripping), then dip it in ¼ of the way in, wait for a few seconds, then dab with the towel. If the color is not strong enough, repeat this process as many times as you need. You might want to add another drop or two of color though, and try another swatch if it’s taking too long.

My first test swatch turned out well so I only did one. Please note: I haven’t had issues with acrylic paint washing off, but if you plan on washing this many times, fabric paint is a better, safer choice.

Now, here are all the pieces you’ll have to make:

(not shown: purse strap!)

First up we’ll be making the body of the bag, his circle face. Crochet this with 2 strands of white and a 6mm hook. Use the hdc stitch. Everything else will be made with one strand and a 4mm hook.

Make two of these.

Start with a magic circle of 6

r1: 2hdc in each st (12)

r2: 2hdc in each st (24)

r3: *hdc, 2hdc* repeat (32)

r4: *hdc, hdc, hdc, 2hdc* repeat (40)

r5: *hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc, 2hdc* repeat (50)

bind off. On one of them, leave like a foot long tail to sew them together.

After you have two, sew the edges together with the right sides out.

[Now on this bag I did r6 hdc each stitch, then put the two wrong sides together and sewed around the edges, and flipped back out, but…I think it’s better if you stop on r5, and sew the edges together with the right sides out. Haha.]

Sew from pink mark to pink mark. Leave the top open…unless you’re going to make a mini throw pillow!!! How cute! Then you attach the ears, stuff it, and close it up!

…kay. Next is the ears. Make two. When they’re done, put them in between the two layers, and sew them JUST onto the top layer.

With purple & 4mm hook, make a magic circle with 6

r1: 2hdc into each st (12)

switch to white

r2: 2hdc into each st (24)

Bind off, leave a few inches of tail to sew to head.

If you want, you can make two MORE in just white for the back of the ears, but I don’t think it’s necessary.

At this point, attach the ears to the head.

Now, the bangs. I struggled with these a bit, but I got them pretty good I think!

First you’ll make 3 sort-of triangles with white and your 4mm hook. This is done with a single crochet stitch.

Start with a magic circle of 6

r1: *sc, sc, 2sc* repeat (8)

r2: *sc, sc, sc, 2sc* repeat (10)

bind off, leave a few inches of tail to sew to each other.

Attaching them together is kind of difficult to explain. Just..do it. Then do a single crochet around the perimeter of your new set of bangs.

You should end up with this.

You will now do 6 more rows of single crochet, but on each side, there will be an increase or a decrease.

Just lay your piece flat and when you get to the side, increase or decrease as indicated. It’s really easy to figure out :P

You will now need to dip dye your bangs. Once the color is good, leave it in front of a fan to dry, and don’t sew it on until it’s dry (may take several hours) DO NOT attach any parts of the face until you’ve sewn on the bangs. You don’t want to end up with one of the eyes half-covered by the bangs because you were too impatient! Unless you’re going for that emo-marshal look. Hey, that might be cute.

Now, the eyes. Grab your black and 4mm hook

r1: Chain 6, turn, then do 2sc into each st (10) turn, ch1

r2: 2sc into each st (20)

r3: sc around (20), ch 3

Bind off and leave a few inches few sewing.

While you’ve got your black yarn and 4mm hook out, do a quick chain of 7 & bind off for the ^ mouth.

For the blush, grab your pink yarn and 4mm hook.

Start with a magic circle of 6

r1: 2sc into each st (12)

r2: 2sc into each st (24)

Bind off and leave a few inches of tail for sewing.

So now you have all the pieces (save for the strap), hopefully you’ve paid attention and the ears and bangs are sewn on. From there do the eyes next, followed by the blush, and lastly the mouth.

So cute!

To make the purse strap, chain until it’s long enough lol, then do a couple of rows of hdc, and sew it on. If making a cross-body strap, position it like this: