Piplup

Is that a penguin? No, it’s a Piplup! This Piplup inspired Pokémon just loves the water, but needs to dress warmly against the cold! He’s a proud little buddy and surprisingly difficult to befriend, but once he warms up to you, he will love you until the end of time!

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner

U.S. Terminology

Materials

Hook: 3.5 mm

Yarn: Worsted Weight: Approx. 120 yards- Blue, Light Blue, White, Yellow (I used Impeccable by Loops and Threads)

12 mm Safety Eyes or Embroidered Eyes

Polyfill

Needle

Optional: Stitch Markers and pins

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

Working around a Chain-This pattern requires you to work around a chain, forming a slight oval. To do this, you will work along the top of the chain, then across the bottom of the same chain. Afterwards, you will work in rounds for all subsequent rows.

Eyes– Because the whites of the eyes are made separate and attached to the head, it creates a thick layer through which the safety eyes need to pass. This also means that the amount of post you have coming through the other end is shorter. If you are worried about it being short on the other end for anchoring it with your washer, or if it seems too difficult to pass it through both layers, you may want to consider embroidering your eyes instead.

Colour Change– When changing from one colour to another, in your final SC stitch before the colour change, after you have 2 loops on your hook, pull through with your new colour.

Pattern:

Eyes: (make 2)

See photos below to help construct the eyes.

In white colour yarn:

R1: CH 4, SC in 2^nd and 3^rd CH from hook, 3 SC in last CH. Working around the other side of the chain, SC, INC SC in the last CH (8 st)

R2: (INC SC, SC) x4 (12 st)

R3: INC SC, 3 SC, INC SC, SC, INC SC, 3 SC, INC SC, SC (16 st)

On the first eye, FO and weave in end.

When you have finished the second eye, do not FO, as you will now connect the two eyes together. (See Photo 1)

Continuing on with the second eye:

R1: CH 3. (See Photo 2) Connect to the first eye with a SC roughly in the same position as where your last SC was on the second eye but on the opposite side, and 3 additional SC across. (3 CH, 4 SC) (See Photo 3)

R2: Turn, CH 1. 4 SC, 3 SC into CH, 4 SC (11 st)

R3: Turn, CH 1. SC2TOG, 7 SC, SC2TOG (9 st)

Loosely SL ST all the way around both eyes, putting 2-3 stitches in each corner, and SL ST to the first stitch. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing on. (See Photo 4) You can also SC around, but I found with my yarn that it made the white of the eyes too big.

Head:

In blue colour yarn:

R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)

R2: 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)

R7-8: SC around (36 st)

Rows 9-13 include colour changes and are all 36 stitches around. Don’t worry if the edges of your colour changes are a bit uneven, they will be completely covered by the white of the eyes that will be added later! The colour changes are indicated as B-blue and L-light blue. Remember to start the colour change in the previous stitch when completing the final yarn over and pull through!

R9: 15 B SC, L SC, B SC, L SC, B SC, L SC, 16 B SC (36 st)

R10-11: 15 B SC, 6 L SC, 15 B SC (36 st)

R12-13: 16 B SC, 4 L SC, 16 B SC (36 st)

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

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

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

If you have opted to use embroidered eyes, you can skip the next step. At this point you will construct the eyes. Use the included photo below to help you complete this process. In each of the white ovals that make the eyes, three small holes will be in the centre, left from the chain you made. Place your 12 mm eye through the top hole of each oval. Next, line up the whites of the eyes so the top is between R7-8 of the head, and covers the edges of the colour changes. Make sure that the 3 light blue pointed tips are visible. When you are happy with the placement of the whites of the eyes, you can push your safety eyes through the head and attach at the back with washers.

Start to stuff the head.

R17: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)

FO, leaving a long tail for sewing later.

You will now finish sewing on the whites of the eyes. Pin the whites of the eyes in place, using the pins to help with the placement and proper curving around the head. When sewing into place, I went up and down through the SL ST instead of around as I found it created a cleaner stitch. Weave in ends.

Finish stuffing your head, making sure to stuff firmly.

Beak:

In yellow colour yarn:

R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)

R2: (SC, INC SC) x3 (9 st)

R3: SC around (9 st)

FO and SL ST to first SC from previous row. Leave length of yarn for sewing to the head. Stuff the beak using a small amount of stuffing. Pin to the head so that is covers the junction between the light blue and white. Sew on the beak and weave in the ends.

Body:

In light blue colour yarn:

R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)

R2: 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)

R6-14: SC around (30 st)

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

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

Start to stuff the body.

R17 (SC, INV DEC) x6 in last stitch, switch to blue (12)

We will now be working on the collar and cape of the Pokémon. The first row of both components is worked in the FLO. All subsequent rows are worked in both loops.

Collar:

We will be coming back to the beginning of this collar later, so it may make it easier to identify the first stitch of the collar by using a stitch marker

In blue colour yarn:

R1: In the FLO, ({SL ST, HDC}, DC INC, {HDC, SL ST}) x2 (12 st)

You will now continue on to the back of the body, making the cape. This is worked in rows.

Cape:

Note: The CH 2 does NOT count as a stitch

In blue colour yarn:

R1: In the FLO, INC SC, SC, 2 INC SC, SC, INC SC (10 st)

R2: Turn, CH 2. 3 DC, INC DC, 2 DC, INC DC, 3 DC (12 st)

R3-4: Turn, CH 2, turn. DC across (12 st)

R5: Turn, CH 2. DC2TOG, 8 SC, DC2TOG (10 st)

R6: Turn, CH2. DC2TOG, 6 DC, DC2TOG (8 st)

R7: DC2TOG, 4 DC, DC2TOG (6 st)

Don’t turn! At this point we are going to add another row around the collar and cape. SC up the side of the cape until your reach the collar.

Working across the collar: (SL ST, SC, {HDC, DC}, {DC, HDC}, SC, SL ST) x2 (16 st)

Continue to SC down the other side and bottom, connecting it to the first SC that your started on the other side of the cape with a SL ST. FO and weave in ends.

You can at this point sew the head onto the body, with the beak centered between the two parts of the collar. Weave in ends.

Large Tail Piece:

In blue colour yarn:

R1: 4 SC into MR (4 st)

R2: (SC, INC SC) x2 (6 st)

R3: (SC, INC SC) x3 (9 st)

SL ST to first SC from previous round. FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Flatten the triangular tail piece, and sew near the base of the tail. See photo for proper placement

Small Tail Piece:

In blue colour yarn:

R1: 4 SC into MR (4)

R2: 3 SC, INC SC (5)

SL ST to first SC from previous round, FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Flatten the tail piece, and sew just above the large tail piece. See photo for proper placement.

Wings: (make 2)

In light blue colour yarn:

R1: 4 SC into MR (4 st)

R2: (SC, INC SC) x2 (6 st)

R3: (SC, INC SC) x3 (9 st)

R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x3 (12 st)

R5-6: SC around (12 st)

R7: (2 SC, INV DEC) x3 (9 st)

R8-10: SC around (9 st)

To close, pinch sides closed and 4 SC across through top of stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving length of yarn.

Pin onto the body, around round 13 between the collar and cape and sew into place. Weave in ends.

Feet: (make 2)

In yellow colour yarn:

R1: 4 SC into MR (4 st)

R2: INC SC x4 (8 st)

R3-6: SC around (8 st)

R7: (2SC, INV DEC) x2 (6 st)

To close, pinch sides closed and 3 SC across through top of stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving length of yarn for sewing. Pin the feet to the bottom of the body in a position that you like. Sew in place, from the back of the feet to about hallway up (3-4 rounds) so they stay in place. Weave in ends.

White Dots: (make 2)

In white colour yarn:

R1: 5 SC into MR (5 st)

SL St to first SC of previous row and FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Pin dots to body, one below each collar. Weave in and out around your dots and weave in ends.

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! If you have a Ravelry account, please add your project here.