The crochet Simple Skull – Sugar Skull Reversible Softie pattern is one that you can use as decoration for Halloween or Día de los Muertos, or gift to your favorite skull-loving friend. This is the first pattern in the 2019 Halloween Crochet Along with CAL Central.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Supplies for this project were generously provided by Fairfield and Red Heart. Camera and vinyl backdrop were generously provided by B&H Photo Video and Pro Audio.
I decided to continue my Halloween amigurumi trend by making a crochet skull pattern as a buddy for last year’s Black Cat Softie. The Simple Skull – Sugar Skull Reversible Softie has a split personality. One side is the simple skull with basic eyes, a triangle nose, and a longer set of teeth…
And, the other side is inspired by a sugar skull (calavera) and includes flower eyes, an upside down heart-shaped nose, and a narrower set of teeth.
Basically, this is a pattern that gives you options! You can make the two different sides like I did, or pick and choose your favorite features for one side and leave the other side blank. Make it your own! I like having both sides because you can display the Simple Skull side through Halloween and then flip it over to the Sugar Skull side through Día de los Muertos. If you’re not familiar with the Mexican holiday (which is NOT a Mexican version of Halloween), you can learn more about it in Top 10 Things to Know About the Day of the Dead.
This amigurumi skull pattern is made in the “rag doll style,” meaning that each side is crocheted in a flat piece and these are seamed together at the end.
This is the first pattern in the Halloween Crochet Along with CAL Central. If you’re just hearing about this CAL, you can get all the information you need, including the schedule, and enter for your chance to win one of 3 amazing giveaway prizes here.
- Join in by crocheting the patterns as you have time.
- Share your progress and post pictures of your finished projects. Tag your projects and posts #CALCentral and #HalloweenCAL2019 on all social media.
- If you’d like to chat with other crocheters, join the CAL Central Crochet Facebook group, or visit this thread in the CAL Central Ravelry group.
- By the end of the CAL, you’ll have up to 10 spooky Halloween projects.
- Use this button below on your Ravelry project pages or elsewhere on social media. Right click (on desktop) or tap and hold (on mobile) to save.
If you make your own Simple Skull – Sugar Skull Reversible Softie project, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!
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Simple Skull – Sugar Skull Reversible Softie
Crochet Skull Pattern by Underground Crafter
This reversible amigurumi pattern includes two variations – a simple skull and a sugar skull. Make both variations for a two-sided softie, or choose one to repeat on both sides, or keep one side blank in your version. This pattern was designed for the 2019 Halloween Crochet Along with CAL Central.
Finished Size
- Approximately 7” (18 cm) across at widest point before stuffing.
Materials
- Red Heart Super Saver (100% acrylic, 7 oz/198 g, 364 yd/333 m) – 1 skein each in 311 White (CA), 312 Black (CB), and 319 Cherry Red (CC), or approximately 130 yd (119 m) in CA, 35 yd (32 m) in CB, and 20 yd (18.5 m) in CC in any medium weight yarn.
- US Size F-5/3.75 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
- 15 mm black safety eyes – 1 pair.
- Fairfield Poly-Fil Crafter’s Choice Dry Packing Fiber Fill.
- Clover Quick Locking Stitch Marker Set.
- Clover Chibi tapestry/yarn needle.
Gauge
- Through Rnd 9 = 4” (10 cm) diameter. Exact gauge is not critical for this project. Stitches should be small so that fiber filling doesn’t show.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- BL – back loop only – Marly Bird has a helpful tutorial for identifying the back loop here.
- CA – Color A
- CB – Color B
- CC – Color C
- ch – chain
- dc – double crochet
- FL – front loop only – Marly Bird has a helpful tutorial for identifying the front loop here.
- hdc – half double crochet
- rep – repeat
- Rnd(s) – Round(s)
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.
- () Repeat instructions between parentheses into same stitch or space.
- [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.
Pattern Notes
- When choosing colors, please note CA is the color of the Skull Shapes and seam; CB is the color of the Eyes, Simple Nose, and Teeth; and CC is the color of the Flowers and Heart Nose.
- The beginning of the Skull Shape is crocheted in the round in unjoined spirals and then it is finished in rows. The Eyes, Flowers, and Heart Nose are crocheted in the round. The Simple Nose and Teeth are crocheted flat in rows.
- Oombawka Design Crochet has a helpful magic adjustable ring tutorial here.
- When working in the round, place marker at end of round to mark final stitch. Move marker up each round.
- Fiber Flux has a helpful tutorial for crocheting over your yarn tails here.
- Ch 1 at beginning of Rows and Rounds does not count as a stitch.
- Sl st throughout pattern are for joining and do not count as stitches.
- Helpful embroidery tutorial videos, including the cross stitch, are available at the end of this blog post.
- A helpful photo tutorial for seaming crochet pieces together with single crochet is available here.
Pattern Instructions
Skull Shape – Simple Skull
- With CA, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
- Rnd 1: (Right Side) Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull the yarn tail tightly to close ring, place stitch marker to mark last st (see Pattern Notes). (6 sts)
- Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
- Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] around. (18 sts)
- Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] around. (30 sts)
- Rnd 6: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] around. (36 sts)
- Rnd 7: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] around. (42 sts)
- Rnd 8: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts] around. (48 sts)
- Rnd 9: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts] around. (54 sts)
- Rnd 10: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts] around. (60 sts)
- Rnd 11: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 9 sts] around. (66 sts)
- Rnd 12: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 10 sts] around. (72 sts)
- Rnd 13: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 11 sts] around. (78 sts)
- Rnd 14: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 12 sts] around. (84 sts)
- Rnd 15: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 13 sts] around. (90 sts)
- Rnd 16: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 14 sts] around. (96 sts)
- Rnd 17: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 15 sts] around. (102 sts)
- Do not fasten off. Begin crocheting in rows.
- Row 1: Hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 16 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, skip next 82 sts. (20 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and in next 19 sts.
- Row 3: Rep Row 2 once.
Form Teeth
- Row 4: Rep Row 2 once, changing to CB in last yo of final sc. Do not fasten off CA.
- Row 5: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, changing to CA in last yo of sc, fasten off CB, sc in next 18 sts, changing to CB in last yo of final sc, fasten off CA, sc in last st.
- Row 6: Rep Row 2 once, changing to CA in last yo of final sc. Fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 18”/45.5 cm) for embellishing details.
- Rows 7-11: Rep Row 2, 5 times. Fasten off CA.
Skull Shape – Sugar Skull
- Rep Skull Shape – Simple Skull through Row 2.
- Rows 3-5: Rep Row 2, 3 times.
Form Teeth
- Row 6: Turn, ch 1, sc in first 5 sts, changing to CB in last yo of fifth sc, do not fasten off CA, continue while crocheting over CA yarn tail (see Pattern Notes), sc in next 10 sts, changing to CA in last yo of final sc, fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 18”/45.5 cm) for embellishing details, sc in next 5 sts.
- Rows 7-11: Rep Row 2, 5 times. Fasten off CA.
Eyes – Simple Skull (Make 2)
- With CB, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
- Rnd 1: (Right Side) Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull the yarn tail tightly to close ring, place stitch marker to mark last st (see Pattern Notes). (6 sts)
- Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
- Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] around. (18 sts)
- Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts] twice; rep from * around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 5: Hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st. Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.
Nose – Simple Skull
- With CB, ch 2.
- Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, 2 sc in next ch. (2 sts)
- Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st, 2 sc in next st. (3 sts)
- Row 3: Turn, ch 1, sc in first st and each st across to last st, 2 sc in last st. (Increased by 1 st)
- Rows 4-6: Rep Row 3, 3 times. (7 sts)
- Fasten off CB with a long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.
Flower Eyes – Sugar Skull (Make 2)
- With CC, ch 4, skip 3 ch, join with sl st to next ch to form ring.
- Rnd 1: Ch 1, 12 dc in ring, join with sl st to first dc. (12 sts)
- Rnd 2: Ch 1, (dcFL, hdcFL, scFL) in same st, skip 1 st, *(scFL, hdcFL, 2 dcFL, hdcFL, scFL) in next st, skip 1 st; rep from * around, (scFL, hdcFL, dcFL) in first st, join with sl st to first dc. Fasten off CC. (36 sts/6 petals)
- Join CB with sl st to BL of any st from Rnd 1 and begin working behind petals.
- Rnd 3: Ch 1, 2 dcBL in same st and in each st around, do not join, place stitch marker to mark last st. (24 sts)
- Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. (36 sts)
- Fasten off CB with a long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.
Heart Nose – Sugar Skull
- With CC, ch 4, skip 3 ch, join with sl st to next ch to form ring.
- Rnd 1: Ch 2, (2 dc, 2 hdc, dc, ch 1, dc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st) into ring. (10 sts + 2 ch-2 sp + 1 ch-1 sp)
- Rnd 2: Sl st to ch-2 sp, 2 hdc in next st, [2 sc in next st] twice, sc in next 2 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 sts, [2 sc in next st] twice, 2 hdc in next st, sl st in ch-2 sp. (18 sts + 1 ch-1 sp)
- Fasten off CC with a long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.
Assembly – Simple Skull Face
- Position Eyes and Nose to Skull Shape, using locking stitch markers to pin in place and following pictures as a guide. With yarn needle and yarn tail, sew first Eye to Skull Shape. With yarn needle, weave in ends on back of Front Piece. Repeat for second Eye and Nose.
- Thread yarn needle with CB from Teeth. Embroider cross stitch teeth (see Pattern Notes).
- With yarn needle, weave in ends.
Assembly – Sugar Skull Face
- Position Flower Eyes and Heart Nose to Skull Shape, using locking stitch markers to pin in place and following pictures as a guide.
- Once satisfied with positioning, place safety eyes into crocheted Eyes through ring at beginning of Flower. Attach by firmly securing washers on back of safety eyes.
- With yarn needle and yarn tail, sew first Eye to Skull Shape. With yarn needle, weave in ends on back of Front Piece. Repeat for second Eye and Nose.
- Thread yarn needle with CB from Teeth. Embroider teeth (see Pattern Notes).
- With yarn needle, weave in ends.
Assembly and Finishing
- Position Faces with Wrong Sides together and Right Sides facing out. Starting on the front of your preferred face, join CA with slip stitch through both layers in the side of Row 1 (beginning of narrow part) of Skull Shape. Ch 1 and join together with single crochet seam (see Pattern Notes). Stuff narrow part of Skull Shape firmly with fiber filling once it is seamed. Continue seaming until approximately 2” (5 cm) remain unseamed. Stuff firmly with fiber filling and continue to seam, adding stuffing as necessary. Join with sl st to first sc, fasten off CA.
- With yarn needle, weave in ends.