Blue Baboo: A Crochet Lovey Pattern

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Meet Mr Adorable:  Blue Baboo!  He’s cute.  He’s fun.  He’s your next favorite crochet lovey pattern!

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Be still my Ombre loving heart… I am over the top in love with this guy!  Let me tell you how he came to be.

I’ve been working on a round ripple baby blanket design using Red Heart Ombre yarn.  I seriously can’t get enough of the color transitions in this line of yarn.  They are just beautiful.  I know a lot of people think the Super Saver Yarn is a bit scratchy.  But I’ve found that if I work the afghan bits with a larger hook, it gives it drape and it’s soft enough.  And Super Saver Yarn is great for amigurumi with a smaller hook.

So I was working on the as yet unfinished/unpublished round ripple afghan and thinking about how the color transitions from so light it’s almost white to a deep dark hue. Its like that with all the yarns I’ve tried… the Beneficent Bella Baby Afghan, the Strawberry Lemon Peel Blanket and the Tulip Stitch in Twilight Blanket to name a few others.  So there I was crocheting away when I had the most brilliant upon brilliant of ideas.  WHAT IF.. I unwound a skein and used the different intensities of yarn color in strategic spots for  the head and arms of a lovey and then worked the blanket portion just as it came off the skein!

And BOOM!  Project at hand was abandoned and I was off… I scrambled upstairs and sure enough, I had an extra skein of Ombre yarn leftover from the Sedge Stitch Baby Blanket. I bought that extra skein for another idea that went to the wayside and now… perfect for my new project:  an adorable bear crochet lovey pattern!

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Sigh!  A little unwinding and forethought for good yarn use and BAM.. a great crochet gift for the cost of ONE skein of Red Heart Super Saver Ombre yarn. You can often find the yarn on sale in the $6 range at Walmart or on Amazon. Even if you get pay full price, you’re looking at making a high end bit of goodness for under $10.  That’s the biggest win in MY book.

Read through the crochet lovey pattern below for all the special notes on how to unwind the skein and which sections to crochet with which shade of color.  Also note that if you are making this lovey for a small child, please consider embroidering the eyes instead, like we did with the Bunny Lovey, another very popular crochet lovey pattern.  Some simple stitches for sleepy eyes would be adorable as well.

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Purchase an ad-free printable version of the Blue Baboo Crochet Lovey Pattern here

Blue Baboo Crochet Lovey

Here is what you will need:

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet AbbreviationsUS to UK Crochet Conversion Chart.  Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.

Finished baby blanket is approximately 28″ square.   If you’d like yours larger, add stitches in multiples of 4.

Special notes about using Red Heart Ombre yarn

Red Heart Ombre yarn transitions gradually from light to dark.  In order to achieve the same result in this crochet lovey pattern, you will need to unwind the skein so that you can access the correct colors to create enough contrast in the bear and blanket.  Here are some guidelines:

  • Each component should each be worked in one piece. The blanket starts at the center, on the light side of the color spectrum.
  • The muzzle is worked with the lightest color
  • The nose is worked with the darkest color
  • The head is worked with a medium dark to dark color
  • The ears and arms are worked with the light colors

My skein had a light-to-medium color in the center.  The outside of the skein started with a light to medium color.  I unwound the outside of the skein to get to the darker yarn (but not the VERY darkest).  I worked the head from this part of the skein.  Then I worked from the center of the skein to make the blanket, all in one piece (no yarn joining).

Then I strategically unwound skein of yarn to find the darkest yarn segment for the nose and the lightest for the muzzle and crocheted those 2 pieces.  I worked from the lightest color for the ears.  Finally I used the lighter color yarn for the arms.  If you look closely you will notice that the arms are not exactly the same; one transitions to a darker shade.

This is a bit of an art and doesn’t need to be perfect.  Just strive to get a contrast between the facial components and to make sure that the center of the afghan and the bear look nice together in your own eyes.  I hope you love this crochet lovey pattern as much as I do!

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Lovey Blanket

Use J/10 6mm crochet hook for blanket.

R1:  Ch 4, join to form ring, ch 3 (counts as 1st dc here and throughout), 11 dc in ring, join w/sl st to top of beginning ch 3 (12 dc)

R2:  Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 2 dc in ea st around, join with sl st to top of ch 3. (24 dc)

R3:  Ch 3, *skip next st (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in next st, repeat from * around.  End row with a dc in base of ch 3, ch 2,  join with sl st to top of ch 3.

R4:  Sl st into ch 2 sp, ch 3 (1 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2dc) in next ch 2 sp, repeat from * around.  Join with sl st to top of ch 3.

The next 3 rows set up the pattern of ripples (mountains and valleys).  At each valley, skip the 2 stitches that make up the valley.  At the peak ch-2 space, work a V stitch (dc, ch 2, dc) or a DOUBLE V stitch (2dc, ch 2, 2dc).  Work 2 rows with a DOUBLE V-stitch in the peak, followed by 1 row with a SINGLE V-stitch in the peak. The stitches between the valley and peak are worked in double crochet stitches.  This creates the 3 row pattern repeat as follows:

R5:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp [note: this is a DOUBLE V-stitch], dc in next st, skip next 2 st, dc in next st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R6:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next st *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp, [note: this is a DOUBLE V-stitch], dc in next 2 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 2 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R7:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next 2 st *(dc, ch 2, dc) in ch 2 sp, [note: this is a SINGLE V-stitch], dc in next 3 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 3 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

Crochet Lovey Pattern

R8:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next 2 st *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp [note: this is a DOUBLE V-stitch], dc in next 3 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 3 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R9:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next 3 st *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp, [note: this is a DOUBLE V-stitch], dc in next 4 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 4 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R10:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next 4 st *(dc, ch 2, dc) in ch 2 sp, [note: this is a SINGLE V-stitch], dc in next 5 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 5 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R11:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next 4 st *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp [note: this is a DOUBLE V-stitch], dc in next 5 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 5 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R12:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next 5 st *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp, [note: this is a DOUBLE V-stitch], dc in next 6 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 6 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R13:  Sl st into next st, ch 3, dc in next 6 st *(dc, ch 2, dc) in ch 2 sp, [note: this is a SINGLE V-stitch], dc in next 7 st, skip next 2 st, dc in next 7 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a sl st to top of ch 3.

R14:  Sl st into next st, ch 1 and sc in same st, sc in next 6 st *(2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in ch 2 sp, sc in next 7 st, skip next 2 st, sc in next 7 st.  Repeat from * around.  Skip last 2 st and join with a slip stitch to the first sc in round (or join with an invisible join if you prefer).  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Bear Head:

Use H8/5 mm hook for head and arms

R1:  ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6 st)  Work in rounds.

R2:  2 sc in ea st (12 st)

R3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (18 st)

R4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (24 st)

R5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (30 st)

R6:  *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around. (36 st)

R7-14:  sc around. (36 st)

R15:  *sc in next 4 st, sc next 2 st together.  Repeat from * around (30 st)

R16: *sc in next 3 st, sc next 2 st together.  Repeat from * around (24 st)

Insert Safety Eyes between rows 11 & 12 of head.  There should be approximately 5 stitches between the eyes.

R17: *sc in next 2 st, sc next 2 st together.  Repeat from * around (18 st)  Stuff.

R18: *sc in next st, sc next 2 st together.  Repeat from * around (12 st)

R19:  *sc next 2 st together.  Repeat from * around (6 st).  Fasten off, leaving a long strand for finishing.  Weave through last 6 stitches, pull tight, weaving in ends or knotting of to secure.

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Muzzle

Make a magic ring

R1: 6 sc into ring (6 sts).  Work in rounds

R2:  *sc in next 2 st, 4 sc in next st.  Repeat from * once. (12 st)

R3:  *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next 4 st.  Repeat from * once (20 st)

R4-5:  sc around.  At the end of round 5 join with an invisible join (or sl st to next stitch), then fasten off and leave a long strand for sewing.

photo of a digital crochet amigurumi ebook

Nose

Make a magic ring

R1: 6 sc into ring (6 sts).  Work in rounds

R2:  *sc in next 2 st, 4 sc in next st.  Repeat from * once. (12 st)  Join with an invisible join (or sl st to next stitch), then fasten off and leave a long strand for sewing.

Ears (Make 2)

Make a magic ring

R1: 6 sc into ring (6 sts).  Work in rounds

R2:  *2sc in ea st, repeat from * around (12 st)

R3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next.  Repeat from * around.  (18 st)

R4-6:  sc around (18 st)

R7:  *sc in next st, sc next 2 st together.  Repeat from * around (12 st)

Fasten off, leaving a long strand for sewing

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Sewing Facial Features

Lightly stuff muzzle and position under the eyes and sew down, referring to photo. Then position nose on the top of the muzzle (see photo) and sew down.  Before fastening off the yarn from the nose, take a stitch below the nose into the magic ring of the muzzle.

Fold each ear in half and sew on either side of the head.  They should be positioned over rows 5-8 on each side.

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Arms (Make 2)

Make a magic ring

R1:  5 sc into ring.  (5 st)   Work in rounds

R2:  2 sc in ea st (10 st)

R3:  *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st.  Repeat from * around (15 st)

R4-6:  sc around (15 st)

R7:  *sc in next st, sc next 2 st together.  Repeat from * around. (10 st).

R8-17:  sc around (10 st).

Sl st to next sc and fasten off leaving a long strand for finishing.  Stuff firmly, leaving the top ½” unstuffed.

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Assembly

Position arms so that tops of arms touch in center of blanket to form a straight line to opposing points on the blanket.  Sew arms down where they join (shoulder/armpit area) to the blanket, leaving the rest of the arms free.  Sew head on top of arms.  Sew through arms and blanket to secure.

Crochet Lovey Pattern

Purchase an ad-free printable version of the Blue Baboo Crochet Lovey Pattern here

There’s something about crocheting cute things that speaks right to my heart! Be sure to check out these free heartwarming patterns:

So many of you love my darling amigurumi crochet heart pattern, my valentine crochet bottle cover and the ever so popular crochet heart appliqué!

I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making this Blue Baboo Crochet Lovey Pattern I’d love to see yours (and your color choice) on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo.  If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo!  I’d love to see your work!

Crochet Lovey Pattern

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12 Comments

  1. I really like this, and will be checking out the Ombre yarn. Thank you and I hope you got some sleep.

  2. Well…gonna try this. I have a skein of ombré that fell apart and got super tangled and knotted…Couldn’t piece together the gradient to use this skein to finish a blanket. Wasn’t happy and just frogged my blanket. Remembered this pattern from you and…YAY! This will be a great way to use my pieces parts ombré yarn. Thank you!

  3. FYI. Rd 7 & rd 8 on the blanket are the same?? I had to skip rd 8 and go to rd 9 to follow pattern. Was this a mistake?
    Liked doing the lovey.

  4. If you wanted to make it bigger, would you just keep following the pattern routine, or would you need more increases at the end of each spike? Thanks.

    1. Basically you just repeat the double V, double V, single V increase pattern. You want to be sure it lays flat and neither pulls nor ruffles. So if you need to adjust that in your own work as you go along, just do a double V if you need more stitches and a single V if you need less. Hopefully that make sense.

  5. End of row 2 does not say to join the round….. is that just a given? I am so afraid of failure that I try to do EXACTLY what the pattern says, but it doesn’t look right if it isn’t joined……………….