Pikachu, I choose you! Are you a Pokémon trainer? One of my favourite things about the app Pokémon Go is all of the special event Pokémon, such as summer 2018’s ‘Summer Style’ Pikachu. This little guy with his sunglasses, straw hat and orange stripes was popping up all over the place! While he may be gone from the game, you can still have your own ‘Summer Style’ Pikachu to show off at the next Community Day with this pattern!
If you make this pattern, consider adding it to your projects on Ravelry!
Difficulty:
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Materials:
Yarn: Worsted Weight (4) in Yellow, Brown, and a small amount of Black, Green, Red and Orange
Embroidery Thread or Fingerling Yarn: Black, Red, Yellow and White
Hooks: 3.25 mm, 2.25 mm and 1.25 mm (or 1.00 mm)
Polyester Fibre Filling
Needle
Optional: Stitch markers, pins
Stitches
MR- Magic Ring
SC- Single Crochet
INC SC- 2 single crochet into same stitch
INC SL ST- 2 Slip stitches into same stitch
INC HDC- 2 half-double crochet into same stitch
SL ST- Slip Stitch
HDC- Half-Double Crochet
DC- Double Crochet
St- stitch
CH- chain
INV DEC- Invisible Decrease
BLO- stitch into back loop only
FO- Finish off
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 first chain
Continuous Rounds– each row is completed in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated
Colour Variations– Regular Pikachu usually has brown or black stripes, but Summer Style Pikachu has both orange stripes and tail base. Feel free to substitute his stripes with brown or black if you prefer him to be more traditional!
Working around a chain– This pattern requires you to work around a chain. When you reach the end of the top side of your chain, you then across the bottom side of the chain as well.
Colour Change– When changing from one colour to another, in your final SC stitch after you have 2 loops on your hook, pull through with your new colour
Pattern
Head
Using a 3.25 mm hook and yellow yarn,
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC x6 (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)
R7-16: SC around (36 st)
R17: (4 SC, INV DEC) x6 (30 st)
R18: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)
Start stuffing, making sure to stuff firmly. Continue stuffing as you complete following rounds
R19: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18 st)
R20: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
R21: (INV DEC) x6 (6 st), weave in ends and FO
Alternative final round: Whip stitch through FLO around and pull tight. FO
Weave in ends
Body
Using 3.25 mm hook and yellow yarn
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC x6 (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: 11 SC, switch to orange in last SC, 8 SC, switch back to yellow in last SC, 11 SC (30 st)
R7-8: SC around (30 st)
R9: 12 SC, switch to orange in last SC, 8 SC, switch to yellow in last SC, 10 SC (30 st)
R10: SC around (30 st)
R11: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)
Start stuffing, continue to stuff as completed following rounds
R12: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18 st)
R13: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff remainder of body then sew the body to the bottom of the head
Arms (make 2)
Using a 3.25 mm hook and yellow yarn
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: (2 SC, INC SC) x2 (8 st)
R3-6: SC around (8 st)
FO, leaving a length of yarn and stuff the arms. Pin arms to the front of the body facing forwards (rounds 8-10) and sew to body. Weave in ends
Legs (make 2)
Using a 3.25 mm hook and yellow yarn
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC x6 (12 st)
R3-5: SC around (12 st)
R6: (SC, INV DEC) x4 (8 st)
R7-10: SC around (8 st)
DO NOT FO YET. Stuff base of foot.
To close, pinch sides closed and 4 SC across through top of stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving length of yarn.
Pin legs to base of body. I like to put my legs a bit to the sides of the body, between rounds 3 and 6. Sew to body and weave in ends.
Tail
Pikachu’s tail works in a zigzag, progressively getting smaller as it works towards the base. To achieve this zig zag, every other round includes a chain 4 to build out the tail on one side, and skips several stitches on the other side to shorten it. It begins by working around a base chain, then working in the round. The tail can be a bit tricky, so use the guiding photos to help you complete it!
Using a 3.25 mm hook and yellow yarn
R1: CH 7, SC in 2nd CH from hook, as well as 5 next CH. 6 SC across bottom of chain (12 st) (photo 1)
R2: SC around (12 st) (photo 2) Flatten tail so it is the shape of a rectangle
R3: CH 4, 2SC, skip 8 stitches, 2 SC (8 st) (photos 3 and 4)
R4: SC in each of the CH 4, 4 SC (8 st)
SC- this is the new end of round 4- move stitch marker to reflect this
R5: CH 4, SC, skip 5 stitches, 2 SC (7 st) (photo 5)
R6: SC in each chain, 3 SC (7 st)
SC- this is the new end of round 6, move stitch marker to reflect this
Switch to orange yarn in final stitch
R6: 1 SC, CH 4, SC, skip 4 stitches, SC (7 st)
R7: SC, SC in each of the CH 4, 2 SC (7 st) (photo 6)
To close, pinch sides closed and 3 SC across through top stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing to the back. Along several edges of the tail, you’ll note that there are open spaces. Sew each of these openings closed with some extra yarn.
Sew tail to bottom of Pikachu.
Hat
Using a 3.25 mm hook and brown yarn
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC x6 (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)
R7-10: SC around (36 st)
R11: In the BLO, (5 SC, INC SC) x6 (42 st)
You should be left with the front loops visible. We will later use these to connect the green band
R12: (6 HDC, INC HDC) x6 (48 st)
R13: (7 SC, INC SC) x6 (54 st)
R14: (8 SC, INC SC) x6 (60 st)
R15: (14 SC, INC SC) x4 (64 st)
R16: SL ST around ( 64 st)
FO, weave in ends
Hat Band
Using a 3.25 mm hook and green yarn, attach yarn to one of the front loops left from round 11 of the hat. I held my hat so that when my hook went through the stitch, it was pointing towards the middle of the hat, versus outwards towards the brim. SC around in each front loop and SL ST to the first SC. FO and leave a very long tail of yarn (we will later use this to sew the hat onto the head).
Flowers
You will make 2 flowers, one with red and one with yellow petals. Repeat the same steps for each flower.
Using a 1.25 mm hook (or 1.00 mm if you prefer) and white embroidery thread/fingerling yarn
R1: 8 SC into MR, SL ST to 1st SC.
FO, leave tail for sewing onto hat later.
R2: With petal colour thread, slip knot onto your hook and make a SC into the same stitch as where you SL ST in white. In the next stitch, 5 DC. Repeat SC, 5 DC around. SL St to first SC, FO and weave in petal coloured ends (24 st)
Sew your flowers onto hat using the white embroidery tail. Weave in ends.
Leave hat for later.
Sunglasses
‘Summer Style’ Pikachu wears aviator sunglasses to keep his eyes shaded. These are shaped to be wider on one end than the other. You will need to make one of each side of his sunglasses. To make the sunglasses, you will be making a chain then working around both sides of the chain.
First Lens
Using a 2.25 mm hook and black yarn
R1: Chain 5, SC into 2nd chain from hook as well as the following 2 SC. In the final chain, SC, HDC, DC, HDC. On the other side of the chain, SC, SL ST, INC SL ST. SL ST to your first SC to join.
FO and leave long piece of yarn for sewing.
Second Lens
Using a 2.25 mm hook and black yarn
R1: Chain 5, 1 SC in 2nd chain from hook, SC in next 2 CH. In the final chain, SC, INC SL ST. On the other side of the chain, SL ST, SC, in final st, HDC, DC, HDC. SL ST to your first SC to join.
FO and leave long piece of yarn for sewing.
Each lens should be positioned so that the larger side (the one with the HDC, DC, HDC in the corner) is nearer the edge of Pikachu’s head and the smaller side is in towards where his nose would be. In the top left-hand corner of each lens, use a small bit of white embroidery thread to make it appear like it has a reflection.
Ear (make 1)
While Pikachu usually has 2 ears, in ‘Summer Style’ Pikachu, he only has one showing (the other is hidden under his big hat!) so you only need to make one. You can make 2 if you wish, but it may make it tricky to fit both under his hat afterwards.
Using a 3.25 mm hook and black yarn
R1: 4 SC into MR (4 st)
R2: 3 SC, INC SC (5 st)
R3: 4 SC, INC SC (6 st)
R4: 5 SC, INC SC, change to yellow yarn in final SC (7 st)
R5: 6 SC, INC SC (8 st)
R6: 6 SC, INV DEC (7 st)
R7: SC around (7 st)
R8: 5 SC, INV DEC (6 st)
R9: SC around (6 st)
R10: 4SC, INV DEC (5 st)
To close, pinch sides closed and SC 2 across through top of stitches of both sides. FO and leave long end for weaving in.
Putting it Together
Start by positioning your ear and hat so that the hat sits over the edge of the ear just a bit. Pikachu’s hat in the game is angled, but place it how you like. Pin your ear to the head. Remove the hat and sew the ear in place. Weave in the ends.
Place your hat back on Pikachu’s head in the same position as before, then position your sunglasses and pin them in place. I pinned mine to so the top of the sunglasses lines up with round 9, about 2 stitches apart. Make sure that when you are pinning them, they are opposite to the orange stripes on the back of the body. Once you are happy with their placement, remove the hat.
When sewing them on to make sure they keep their shape, I sewed down under the top of the stitch and up through the next stitch, all the way around. (see photos). Connect the two lenses together by sewing at the top with some of your leftover yarn, then weave in the ends.
Face Details
Cheeks: With Red yarn, about 2 rounds down and out a bit from the sunglasses, stitch on cheeks (I passed my needle around 3 times). If you prefer large cheeks, you can instead 6 SC into a MR, SL ST to first SC and FO, leaving a long piece of thread to sew onto the face.
Nose: With black embroidery thread or fingerling yarn, stitch a straight line between the sunglasses, 1 round down.
Mouth: Pikachu has many different expressions, so have fun making a mouth that fits the personality of your Pikachu! See the photo for how I stitched on his mouth.
Sewing on the Hat
Position the hat back in place where you want it, making sure to cover a bit of the ear. Pin in place. Using the long tail of green yarn and a needle. go through the top of a Green SC stitch, into the Pikachu head, and back up, several stitches over. Repeat this process around the whole head. I go around the whole hat several times to make sure it is firmly secured. I try to do the stitches a bit loosely so there isn’t visible pulling.
All that’s left to do is grab some Pokéballs and catch some Pokémon!
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!
Copyright 2018, 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.
