Pokemon #0840: Applin

Difficulty 2/5

This week’s pattern is Applin! Generation 8 of Pokemon is probably my least favorite. The Pokemon themselves are probably the least interesting for me, even though the world and character designs were genuinely great. I have very few favorite Pokemon from this generation, but Applin was definitely one of the best. Hydrapple even became one of my regular Pokemon in generation 9!

This is a small doll, but it's deceptively complex to put together due to the number of colors and bit of color work crochet needed to required to make it. The good news is you don't need much of each color, so it's a good doll for using up leftover yarn from other projects. I also used fabric scraps from other projects instead of fiberfill for stuffing, which gave the added benefit of a firm, rigid structure that helps the doll sit upright. He's a great addition to any desk!

Happy crafting!

Materials 


-Yarn. Use a worsted or aran weight in a material of your choice. I use acrylic for my doll patterns due to its firm weave which provides some structure, but you may use any material you wish. You will need:
For regular Applin: (A) ~30m of bright red, (B) ~30m of dark red, (C) ~30m of orange-red, (D) ~30m neon green, (E) ~30m of dark green, (F) ~10m of pale green, (G) ~10cm of black.
For shiny Applin: (A) ~30m of emerald green, (B) ~30m of leaf green, (C) ~30m of tan, (D) ~30m neon green, (E) ~30m of dark green, (F) ~10m of pale green, (G) ~10cm of black.

-4.0 mm (size G) crochet hook


-Fiberfill or crafting scraps for stuffing (I used shredded up fabric scraps from making curtains this time, like those pictured below)


-Yarn needle


-Pins


-Scraps of yarn for round markers

-Materials to make the details on the eyes using the method of your choice. You can glue or sew on fabric or felt scraps, embroider them on, or needle felt them. I used needle felting in the doll pictured.

Gauge: Gauge is not important for this work. With the given yarn and hook size, the finished doll will stand about 10 inches (25 cm) in height; adjust yarn and/or hook size if a bigger or smaller doll is desired. Just make sure your stitches are of a consistent size and tightness.

 

Notation (US crochet)


ch: chain


st: stitch


sc: single crochet


hdc: half-double crochet

dc: double crochet


slst: slip stitch


inc: increase stitch (perform 2 sc in the next stitch)


dec: decrease stitch (insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through the stitch. Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through first loop. Yarn over again, pull through all 3 loops on hook.)

Pattern
Body (Make 1)
Round 1: With A, 6 sc in starter circle. (6)
Round 2: inc in each st around. (12) Join the rounds with a sl st. ch 1, turn.
Round 3: Working in front loops only, *sc in next st, then inc in following st.* Repeat from * to * around. (18) Return to working in whole loop at the end of the round, but continue working in the same direction for the remainder of the body - this will produce a small divet at the top where Applin’s eyes will go.
Round 4: *sc in next 2 st, inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (24)
Round 5: *sc in next 3 st, inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (30)
Round 6: *sc in next 4 st, inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (36)
Round 7: *sc in next 5 st, inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (42)
Rounds 8-10: *sc in each st around. (42)
 

From here, we will be doing a bit of color work. Drop colors when not in use towards the center of the doll.
 

Round 11: *With B, sc in next st. With A, sc in next 5 st. With B, sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round. (42)
Round 12: *With B, sc in next 2 st. With A, sc in next 3 st. With B, sc in next 2 st.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round. (42) Finish off A, and continue on working only with B.
Rounds 13-16: sc in each st around. (42)
Round 17: *With B, sc in next 3 st. With C, sc in next st. With B, sc in next 3 st.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round. (42)
Round 18: *With B, sc in next st. With C, sc in next 3 st. With B, sc in next 3 st.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round. (42)
Round 19: *With C, sc in next 5 st. With B, sc in next 2 st.* Repeat from * to * to the end of the round. (42) Finish off B, and continue working only with C.
Round 20: *sc in next 5 st, dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (36)
Round 21: *sc in next 4 st, dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (30)
Round 22: *sc in next 3 st, dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (24) Begin to stuff, and continue to do so as you work.
Round 23: *sc in next 2 st, dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (18)
Round 24: *sc in next st, dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (12)
Round 25: dec in each st around. (6)
Round 26: dec around until closed. Finish off, and weave in ends.
 

Eyes (Make 2)
Round 1: With D, 6 sc in starter circle. (6)
Round 2: sc in each st around. (6)
Round 3: inc in each st around. (12)
Round 4: sc in each st around. (12)
Round 5: *sc in next st, inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (18)
Rounds 6-10: sc in each st around. (18)
Round 11: *sc in next st, dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (12)
Round 12: dec in each st around. (6)
Round 13: dec around until closed. Finish off, leaving tail. Do not stuff.
 

Main tail piece (Make 1)
Round 1: With E, 5 sc in starter circle. (5)
Round 2: sc in each st around (5)
Rounds 3-4: inc in each st around. (10)
Round 5-9:  *sc in next st, inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (15)
Round 10: *sc in next 2 st, inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (20)
Rounds 11-13: sc in each st around. (20) Finish off, leaving tail. Stuff firmly.
 

Top tail piece (Make 1)

Work in rows.
Row 1: With F, ch 5. (5) ch 1, turn.
Row 2-7: sc in each st across. (5) ch 1, turn.
Row 8: dec, sc, dec. (3) ch 1, turn.
Rows 9-11: sc in each st across. (3) Finish off, leaving tail.

Assembly
1. Sew the eyes together by whip stitching along ~1cm of the bottom edge of each, as shown in the picture below.

 

2. Use a whip or applique stitch to attach the top tail piece to the main tail piece.

3. Pin and whip stitch the completed eyes and tail to the body.

 

4. Use your yarn needle to pull a ~10cm strand of G through around a stitch post near the tip of the tail. Remove the needle, then tie two simple loop knots to secure the strand in place. This will produce the "hairs" on the end of Applin's tail. Trim the "hair" until it is approximately 3cm long on each side.

5. Add details to Applin’s eyes using the method of your choice. I used needle felting in the doll pictured.

 

Conclusions

If you liked this pattern, please feel free to make it and post on your blog of choice! All I ask is that you please provide credit to me (Danielle Delp) as the pattern author, and if you’re on Ravelry to add your photos to the pattern’s page - the more the merrier! Please do not sell dolls made from this pattern, to respect the intellectual property rights of the original artist that designed the character. If you like my work and would like to support my pattern-making, please consider subscribing to my Patreon! Links to Ravelry and Patreon are in the About Me section above.

See you next week!