Oh, Nessie!

Free pattern at the end of the post!

I thought crocheting would be easy.

The DIY kit said it was. I kind of remembered how to knit. It couldn’t possibly be that hard.

Well. 

I was in for a rude awakening. But also a new habit that I didn’t want to kick.

In 2014, I had the opportunity to travel to Scotland for work. Though there wasn’t much downtime, I did make that time-honored/obligatory stop at the souvenir shop to pick up a few things for my family at home — keychains, tea and cookies for my English expat Grandma, a towel that looks like a kilt when you wrap it around yourself, you know, the stuff people really want when you come home from abroad.

Then something else caught my eye: a DIY Loch Ness Monster crochet kit. “How hard could this be?” I thought. “I’ve knit before, and this says it’s easy right on the package.” 

Nessie Box
The “easy” project that started it all.

So I bought it and tossed it in my carry-on.

Fast forward to the flight back home.

“Step one: MR 6”

Was this thing written in code?

Looking back at the how-to section, I saw what could only be described as some sort of mystical guide featuring the illustrated hands of a magician.

Scanning the page — “MR… MR… MR… aha, there it is… Magic Ring!” — I tentatively began to copy the illustrations. But after multiple attempts and no signs of success, I reluctantly put Nessie away.

It was time to call in the reinforcements. 

These “reinforcements” arrived a few weeks later in the form of my sister-in-law visiting from out of town (lucky for me, she’s both a wonderful human being and a willing crochet instructor… win!)

Sitting at the kitchen table, she taught me how to chain and double crochet, but the elusive “Magic Ring” was still a mystery to both of us. 

With new-found confidence in my crocheting skills, I turned to the internet’s ever-growing tutorial dumping ground — YouTube.

“Magic Ring Crochet.”

“Magic Ring Crochet Slow Motion.” 

“Magic Ring Crochet Slow Motion Left Handed.”

The hours passed by.

Until — finally! — I had it.

“Step two: DC 2 in each”

Oh yeah, I’ve got this! I knew how to double crochet, and off I went, increasing and decreasing with the confidence of a pro… in slow motion. Yes, my progress was glacial, but it was confident nonetheless!

Until half way through. When I unceremoniously ran out of yarn.

Huh? I thought this was an all-in-one kit!

I was perplexed. But when someone tells me I can’t do something, I get really angry, dig my feet in, and suddenly want to do it even more.

So, I emptied the craft bins in my closet until I found a skein of green yarn and started over.

And then… there he was! … My much-larger-than-expected Nessie! 

Now, some of you may see where this is going, but I didn’t.

I called my Grandma that night and complained about my great Scottish waste of money, an “all-in-one kit” that didn’t even have enough yarn to do even half the project.

Grandma, who if you’ll remember was born and raised in England, responded plainly, “well, the UK terms for crochet are different than the US terms. When it says ‘Double’ in the UK, it means ‘Single’ in the US, so your project is twice as big as it should be.”

My response: silence. Embarrassed silence.

US vs UK terms

Sheepishly, I went back to the pattern, re-did the entire thing… and haven’t put the hook down since.

So, in honor of the saga that got me completely “hooked,” (wink, wink) I decided the first pattern I’d share with you all would be my very own version of Nessie. Hope you enjoy!

What’s your “origin story?” Show us a photo of your first crochet project in the comments!

And if you make an actual Nessie of your own, I’d love to see it on Instagram — just use the hashtag #HookedAndLeft!

Edited by the amazing Briana Hoffman: briana.hoffm@gmail.com

Nessie
level: intermediate

Free pattern!

Materials
Caron Simply Soft: Sage
Caron Simply Soft: Red
3.25 hook
Finishing Needles
Stuffing
10 mm green eyes

Terms (US)
SC Single Crochet
MR Magic Ring
INC increase
SC2TOG Single Crochet two together
HDC2TOG Half Double Crochet two together
HDC Half Double Crochet
SS Slip Stitch

Head
In sage
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: INC in each (12)
Round 3: (INC, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 4: (INC, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: (INC, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 6: (INC, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
Round 7-8: SC in each (36)
Round 9: (SC2TOG, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Insert eyes between rows 5 and 6 with 13 stitches in between
Round 10: (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 11: (SC2TOG, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 12: (SC2TOG, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (12)
Stuff
Round 13: (SC2TOG) repeat 6 times (6)
Fasten off

Mouth
In sage
CH 4
Round 1: SC in second stitch from hook, SC, 3 SC in next stitch, down the other side SC in 2 (7)
Round 2: 3 SC In next stitch, 2 SC, 3 SC in next stitch, 3 SC (11)
Round 3: SC, INC, 4 SC, INC, 4 SC (13)
Round 4: SC, INC, SC, INC, 4 SC, INC, SC, INC, 2 SC (17)
Round 5: SC in each  (17)

Attach between round 1 and 4 of the head, under where you counted the stitches between the eyes. Stuff the mouth.

Neck
In sage
CH 21, SS to 1st, leave a long tail when you begin
Round 1: SC2TOG, 2 SC, SC2TOG, 2 SS, SC2TOG, 2 SC, (HDC2TOG, 2 HDC) two times (15)
Round 2-4: 3 SC, 3 SS, 3 SC, 6 HDC (15)
Round 5-9: SC in each (15)
Round 10: 3 SC, 6 HDC, 3 SC, 3 SS (15)
Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing.

Attach round 10 of the neck between round 13 and 9 of the head, and round 1 of the neck to round 4 of the body.

Body
In sage
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: (INC, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 4: (INC, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: (INC, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 6: (INC, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
Round 7: (INC, 5 SC) repeat 6 times (42)
Round 8: (INC, 6 SC) repeat 6 times (48)
Round 9: (INC, 7 SC) repeat 6 times (54)
Round 10-11: SC in each (54)
Round 12: (INC, 8 SC) three times, 27 SC (57)
Round 13: SC in each (57)
Round 14: (INC, 9 SC) three times, 27 SC (60)
Round 15-16: SC in each (60)
Round 17: (SC2TOG, 9 SC) three times, 27 SC (57)
Round 18: SC in each (57)
Round 19: (SC2TOG, 8 SC) three times, 27 SC (54)
Round 20-21: SC in each (54)
Round 22: (SC2TOG, 7 SC) repeat 6 times (48) 
Round 23: (SC2TOG, 6 SC) repeat 6 times (42)
Round 24: (SC2TOG, 5 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
Round 25: (SC2TOG, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 26: (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (24) Stuff, and continue stuffing as you go
Round 27: (SC2TOG, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 28: (SC2TOG, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (12) 
Round 29: (SC2TOG) repeat 6 times (6)

Fasten off

Attach bottom of neck (round 1 of neck) around round 4 of the body.
Fasten off.
Attach bottom of neck (round 1 of neck) around round 4 of the body.

Flippers
In sage, make 4
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 3: (2 SC in next stitch, 1 SC) repeat 3 times (9)
Round 4: (2 SC in next stitch, 2 SC) repeat 3 times (12)
Round 5: (2 SC in next stitch, 3 SC) repeat 3 times (15)
Round 6-7: SC in each  (15)
Round 8: (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (12)

SS to fasten off, leave long tail for sewing

Flipper 1 and 2: Attach between rounds 9-14, the neck should be centered between them with 13 stitches in between the flippers at round 9 and round 14 (there will be an arch to each flipper.)

Flipper 3 and 4: Attach between rounds 17-21 in line with flippers 1 and 2 with 13 stitches in between the flippers at round 17 and 21.

Tail
In sage
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: SC in each (12)
Round 4: (INC, 3 SC) repeat 3 times (15)
Round 5: SC in each (15)
Round 6-10: 2 SC, 2 SS, 2 SC, 9 HDC (15)
Round 11-12: SC in each (15)
Round 13: 9 HDC, 2 SC, 2 SS, 2 SC (15)
Round 14: 8 HDC, HDC INC, SC, SC INC, 2 SS, SC, SC INC (18)
Round 15: 9 HDC, HDC INC, 2 SC, SC INC, 2 SS, 2 SC, SC INC (21)
Round 16: SC in each (21)
Round 17: (INC, 3 SC) 3 times, 9 SC (24)
Round 18: (4 SC, INC) 3 times, 9 SC (27)
Round 19: (INC, 5 SC) 3 times, 9 SC (30)
Round 20: SC on each (30)

Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing

Attach around Round 25 of the body and stuff.

Hat
In red
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: (INC, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 4: (INC, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: (INC, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 6: (INC, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
Round 7: (SC2TOG, 2 SC) repeat 9 times (27)
Round 8: SC in each, SS in first (27)

Make a 1 inch pom pom, attach to the center of the top of the hat, attach hat to head from the center of the head to right over the right eye. 

Thank you to Heather (@itsnotknitting) and Gabbie (@drunkcrocheter) for testing Nessie and giving such wonderful feedback.

12 thoughts on “Oh, Nessie!”

  1. Congratulations on your new blog! It looks beautiful and I really enjoyed your Nessie crochet journey! Lol Sounds like a lot of us out here. I look forward to reading more of where your crochet takes you.

    1. Thank you so much for the encouragment, Katie! I’m glad I’m not the only one with this kind of story.

  2. Chrissy Congrats on your blog! I am so happy for you. I am going to make a Nessi as well! Fibre Share Partner
    Round 1.

  3. How awesome! I love how you described your experience! Welcome to the wonderful world of crochet! My Grandpa and Grandma taught me how to crochet when I was a kid, but I never got past chains and single crochet. About ten years ago I picked it up as a hobby to fill time while traveling. Now I’m hooked like you!

    1. Thank you – I love that your grandparents taught you how to crochet, and that you picked it up again years later. I attribute my confidence in trying crochet to my Grandma teaching me how to knit years ago, even though I don’t knit now.

  4. What a wonderful story! Super love your website!!!!! I would love it just as much even if I wasn’t your mum. ❤️

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