Switch to a Garlic Shampoo

Updated for Halloween, here is the revised version of my free Brain Slug pattern. Make one and wear it with pride! Ravelers can get the .pdf download here.

 

Brain Slug Pattern

The story of the Brain Slug Pattern comes from Halloween 2007. At 5pm on Halloween night, my husband and I decided we needed to go out on the town with costumes. We had just finished watching all 4 seasons of Futurama and I had just discovered amigurumi.  Putting those two together, I crocheted 2 brain slugs in an hour, found some hair clips to fix them to our heads, and out we went.  We didn’t even have to change clothes.

Read all instructions before beginning or crochet at your own risk.

 

Supplies:
*1 skein Red Heart Sport in Limeade. It was what I had on hand and the color matches pretty well to the cartoon. One skein made nearly 3 brain slugs but I had used a bit of my skein earlier in a different amigurumi.
* “F” Hook. or “G” hook. Gauge isn’t really important. Use the size hook that gives you a firm fabric.

* Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends.

Optional Supplies:
* White Felt for the Eye or you could make a spiral with some white yarn. I used felt.
* Black Bead for the pupil
* Polyfill Stuffing or stuffing of your choice

Rough Directions. I haven’t tested these directions, they’re made from my notes and I’ve never written a pattern before. You have been warned.  This pattern is worked in spirals. Do not join rounds unless otherwise specified. Use a stitch marker to mark your rounds.

Abbreviation Explanation: I used my own hybrid of writing this so let me explain. When I say for example: 1sc, 2sc, continue around, it means to work 1 sc in the next stitch, then in the following stitch work a 2sc increase stitch and to continue in that pattern around the round.

Body:

To start: Make Magic Ring, or ch 2 and sc in 2nd ch from the hook.
R1: 8 sc in ring
R2: 1sc in next st, 2sc in next (inc.) continue around
R3: Rep
R4: 1 sc in next st, 1 sc, 2 sc (inc.) continue around.
R5: 1sc, 1sc, 1sc, 2sc (inc) continue around
R6-?: Sc evenly around until Brain Slug reaches desired length. Leave a marker in the last sc round, this will be the placement for the brain slug tentacles.
Begin decrease rounds by working a Decrease, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1sc, 1 sc decrease. Continue in this manner until you have a small hole left that you can still put your hand inside. Stuff your brain slug with fiber filling.

R?: Dec, 1 sc, 1 sc, dec, around.
R?: Dec 1sc, dec, etc until the bottom is closed up. Fasten off.

Tentacles: Go back to the last evenly sc row (where you left your handy-dandy stitch marker). With a new slipknot on your hook, sc around the post in the marked row. Continue to sc around the posts in the marked row. See Special Note*.
R2: Inc each stitch around by working 2 sc in each sc from the previous round.. This will make the tentacles look ruffled.
R3: rep. Rep this as many times as you would like to create longer tentacles.

*Special Note: Because the Brain Slug is worked in non-joined rounds (which creates a spiral effect), I found it necessary to make a diagonal sc stitch on the opposite side of where you started the tentacle round. This will ensure that the ends will meet on the same row. So be sure to do that.

Antenna: Attach new slipknot to hook. On top of the brain slug head and slightly to the side of center, sc around post. Ch 3, or 4, or however long you want the antenna to be. Sc. in 2nd ch from hook. Fasten off. Rep on opposite side for second antenna. I found sticking a bit of beading wire down in the antenna helps give it a little shape. You may also want to try using green pipe cleaners for the antenna.

Eye: I just cut an oval out of white felt and blanket-stitched it on with clear nylon beading thread. Brought the needle up in the middle of the felt and attached the bead.

 

 

 Enjoy your brain slug! You might want to switch to a garlic shampoo…just in case. 

 

 This pattern and photos are property of Haley N. Brock. All rights reserved. Pattern is available for personal use only. Pattern may not be sold or used to produce items for sale without express written permission from the designer. © Copyright 2008 by Haley N. Brock.