Not My Gumdrop Buttons! Free Gingerbread Man Pattern

Do you have a favourite movie? One of my favourites to watch has always been Shrek. I don’t know if it is the twist on classic fairy tales or the bits of adult humour sprinkled throughout, but I am always willing to watch! There are so many amazing characters in this film, but by far the best (to me anyways!) is the Gingerbread Man. His gumdrop buttons, broken gingerbread legs, ridiculous happy and sad faces, what is not to love?!

To celebrate Christmas in July (and my love of Shrek), I have written an easy to follow pattern of my take on the Gingerbread Man. If you make this pattern, please tag me @thecozychipmunk and #thecozychipmunk so I can see your creation! Happy crocheting!

Difficulty: Beginner/Medium

Materials:

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4) in brown and white (I used Impeccable by Loops and Threads in Soft Taupe and White)
• Embroidery Thread: Red, Purple, Blue (and white if you wish to crochet white eyes)
• Hooks: 3.5 mm/ 1.25 mm
• 12 mm Safety Eyes
• Polyester Fibre Filling
• Needle
• Optional: Stitch markers, pins

Stitches

• MR- Magic Ring
• SC- Single Crochet
• INC SC- 2 single crochet into same stitch
• SL ST- Slip Stitch
• St- stitch
• INV DEC- Invisible Decrease
• BLO- stitch into back loop only
• FLO- stitch into front loop only

Other Notes:

Magic Ring alternative– if you do not feel comfortable doing a magic ring, you can also chain 2 and work the indicated number of stitches into the chain

Colour Changes– this pattern calls for several colour changes throughout. When I change colours, in the last stitch I complete the last yarn over and pull through using the new colour. For instance, in a single crochet, I put my hook through the next stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, then yarn over and pull through with the new colour.

White eyes– I used safety eyes for this pattern, but as the original Gingerbread Man has white eyes, you can follow the instructions for making the gumdrop buttons to make white eyes that can then be sewn onto the head

Stitching- I save stitching the mouth, eyebrows etc. on until the end, but if you prefer to do this before fully stuffing the head go for it!

White Icing– for the icing rounds, you will be working in the front loops only. When you switch back to the brown yarn, you will be working in the back loops of the SAME ROW that you worked your white yarn. This will make the white yarn stick out slightly.

Pattern

*Please note that this pattern works in the round. If you are more comfortable working in rows, you can alternatively join each row with a slip stitch and chain 1 before moving onto the next row/round

Body:

Start with brown yarn and 3.5 mm hook

R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)

R2: 6 INC SC (12 st)

R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)

R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)

R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)

R6: (4 SC, INC SC) x6 (36 st)

R7: (5 SC, INC SC) x6 (42 st)

R8-12: SC around (42 st)

R13: (5 SC, INV DEC) x6 (36 st)

R14: (4 SC, INV DEC) x6 (30 st)

R15: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)

Insert safety eyes between rows 9 and 10, 6-7 stitches apart

R16: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18 st)

Begin stuffing head

R17: (SC, INV DEC) x 6 (12 st)

I like to reinforce my necks when building a one piece body. To do this, in the next row, SC in the BLO. Then, SC over this new row, and row 17. This will make a slightly thicker stitch which will make your neck stronger. I used different coloured yarn to demonstrate each row. You can skip this step if you want and move directly to row 19

R18: SC BLO around (12 st)

R19: SC around R 17 and 18 (12 st)

Finish stuffing head

R20: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)

R21: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)

R22: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)

R23: (4 SC, INC SC) x6 (36 st)

R24-27: SC around (36 st)

Continue to SC around until at the centre-back in relation to where you placed your safety eyes. This is the new end of the row.

Switch to white yarn in last stitch. Remember to move your stitch marker!

R28: SL ST in FLO around (36 st)

Switch to brown yarn in last stitch

R29: SC in BLO of Row 27 (36 st)

R30: (4 SC, INV DEC) x6 (30 st)

R31: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)

Begin stuffing

R32: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18 st)

R33: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12)

R34: INV DEC around (6 st)

Or for the last round, I like to take an embroidery needle, and run it through the front loop of each stitch around, pulling tight. I find this makes a cleaner close.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Arm (make 2)

Using brown yarn and 3.5 mm hook:

R1: 5 SC into MR (5 st)

R2: INC SC around (10 st)

R3: SC around (10 st)

Switch to white yarn in last stitch of previous row

R4: SL ST in FLO around (10 st)

Switch to brown yarn in last stitch of previous row

R5: SC in BLO of row 3 around (10 st)

R6-7: SC around (10 st)

R8: (3 SC, INV DEC) x2 (8 st)

R9-10: SC around (8 st)

Stuff to just above white icing line in arm

Close arm- you can sew the arm closed or, fold in half, 3 SC through top stitches. Fasten off and leave tail for sewing on later

Leg (make 2)

Using brown yarn and 3.5 mm hook:

R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)

R2: INC around (12 st)

R3: SC around (12 st)

In last stitch, switch to white yarn

R4: SL ST in FLO around (12 st)

In last stitch, switch to brown yarn

R5: SC around in BLO of R3 (12 st)

R6: (4 SC, INV DEC) x2 (10 st)

R7: SC around (10 st)

R8: (3 SC, INV DEC) x2 (8 st)

Stuff leg just above icing line

R9-12: SC around (8 st)

Just like the arms, close by 3 SC across top stitches. Leave a long tail for sewing later

Details and Sewing:

Leg Stitches

In the movie, the Gingerbread Man has his legs put back on using white icing stitches. To recreate this, thread some white yarn onto your needle and sew several vertical lines onto each leg around rounds 7-9. I made them look a bit haphazard to look more like in the film. You can choose to skip this step if you wish!

Eyebrows and Mouth

Using your needle, stitch on the eyebrows in blue embroidery thread above your eyes, and shape a mouth using red embroidery thread. The Gingerbread Man is very expressive, and often either has a smiley face or frown.

Gum Drop Buttons (make 2)

Using 1.25 mm hook and purple embroidery thread:

R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)

R2: SL ST around (6 st)

Fasten off and leave long thread for sewing. Sew on buttons onto front of Gingerbread Man. You can use the same steps to make white icing eyes instead of using safety eyes

Sewing

Sew on arms on either side of body so white lines roughly line up with those on the tummy.

Sew legs onto bottom of body so they stick out slightly to each side, or position how you prefer!

ANDDDDD you’re done!

Thank you so much for making this pattern! If you run into any problems or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through Facebook or Instagram! Please remember to tag me @thecozychipmunk #thecozychipmunk so I can see your completed creation! You can find the link for sharing your work on Ravelry here!

Copyright 2019, The Cozy Chipmunk. All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce or translate in part or in whole, this pattern in any form in print or online. You may sell your completed creation, but please reference me as the designer and link back to my website. No Wholesale. You may post a link to this pattern if you wish to share it. Please do not re-publish photos as your own.