Crab crochet pattern (free PDF)

R1starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc 8, 3 sc in the last ch; continue along the other side of the chain: sc 7, 2 sc in the last ch (the one you made the first sc in)(20)
R22 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 2 sc(26)
R33 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 9 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 4 sc(32)
R45 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 12 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 5 sc(38)
R57 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 15 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 6 sc(44)
R68 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 18 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 8 sc(50)
R79 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 21 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 10 sc(56)
R811 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 24 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 11 sc(62)
R913 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 27 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 12 sc(68)
R1014 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 30 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 14 sc(74)
R11(BLO)74 sc(74)
R12–1574 sc(74)
R16(5 sc, dec, 10 sc, dec, 10 sc, dec, 6 sc) ×2(68)
R1768 sc(68)
R18(5 sc, dec, 9 sc, dec, 9 sc, dec, 5 sc) ×2(62)
R19(8 sc, dec, 8 sc, dec, 8 sc, dec, 1 sc) ×2(56)
R20(4 sc, dec, 7 sc, dec, 7 sc, dec, 4 sc) ×2(50)
R21(6 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 1 sc) ×2(44)
R22(3 sc, dec, 5 sc, dec, 5 sc, dec, 3 sc) ×2(38)
R23(4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec, 1 sc) ×2(32)
R24(2 sc, dec, 3 sc, dec, 3 sc, dec, 2 sc) ×2(26)
R25(2 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 1 sc) ×2(20)
Size before assembly: an oval about 10.9 × 7.7 cm at the widest, 6.1 cm long; 25 rounds. The piece is oval: the rounds go around the chain, and on the finished toy the chain (the long side of the oval) runs side to side; the starting chain is at the bottom of the piece (on the finished toy). The round-start marker is in the middle of a long side (the piece's centre line), while R1 starts at a turn: after R1 shift the round start — sc 4 more (not counted in any round) and place the marker there. The increases fall on the turns.
With peach: ch 10.
Change to coral (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R10).
→ Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 20 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with coral: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3–912 sc(12)
Size before assembly: about 1.6 cm at the widest, 3.1 cm long; 9 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff firmly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with cream: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R524 sc(24)
R6–724 sc(24)
R81 sc, (dec, 2 sc) ×5, dec, 1 sc(18)
R9(1 sc, dec) ×6(12)
R10dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 3.2 cm at the widest, 2.5 cm long; 10 rounds.
Change to coral (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R5).
Change to cream (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R8).
→ Insert the safety eyes now (positions: see “Face”) and fix the backs. Start stuffing (firmly) and keep adding as you decrease.
Top up the stuffing if needed. Fasten off leaving a 15 cm tail; with the needle weave it through the front loops of all 6 stitches of the last round, pull tight and hide the end inside.

R1with coral: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(3 sc, inc) ×3(15)
R4–915 sc(15)
Size before assembly: about 2 cm at the widest, 3 cm long; 9 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff firmly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done.

R1with coral: 4 sc in MR(4)
R2inc ×3, 1 sc(7)
R31 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc, inc, 1 sc(10)
R41 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc(13)
R5–813 sc(13)
Of these: upper — 2 (left and right); lower — 2 (left and right). Size before assembly: about 1.7 cm at the widest, 2.6 cm long; 8 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done. Bend ≈ 30° around round 4. After stuffing, bend the piece so the inner side of the bend faces forward on the finished toy (on the piece: in round 4, 0.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ). On the inner side draw rounds 4 and 5 together (1 rounds go into the fold): with the needle and matching yarn make 3–4 stitches through the loops of both rounds over about 3 st, pull to the angle and hide the end inside.

R1with coral: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2(1 sc, inc) ×3(9)
R3–69 sc(9)
R77 sc, dec(8)
Of these: front — 2 (left and right); mid — 2 (left and right); back — 2 (left and right). Size before assembly: about 1.2 cm at the widest, 2.4 cm long; 7 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Stuff lightly just before sewing it on; a little less near the edge, then add a pinch when the seam is nearly done. Bend ≈ 55° around round 3. After stuffing, bend the piece so the inner side of the bend faces down on the finished toy (on the piece: in round 3, 2.5 st from the centre front line, downward ). On the inner side draw rounds 2 and 4 together (2 rounds go into the fold): with the needle and matching yarn make 3–4 stitches through the loops of both rounds over about 2 st, pull to the angle and hide the end inside.

R1with pink: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
A flat circle about 1.5 cm across; 2 rounds.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (30–40 cm) for sewing. Do not stuff.

Safety eyes and noses go in before the piece is stuffed and closed (see the pieces above); embroidery is easier before the piece is sewn on.

Safety eye with a printed glint 14 mm (on the eye bump) (2: one on each eye bump; the left one is described, the right is its mirror): in round 1, on the centre top line.
Embroidery in black thread (on the oval body), straight stitches through: (in round 16, 2.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (between rounds 15 and 16, 1.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 15, on the centre front line) → (between rounds 15 and 16, 1.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 16, 2.5 st from the centre front line, toward the toy's left ).