Little Tortoise crochet pattern (free PDF)

R1with olive: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×6(30)
R62 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(36)
R7(5 sc, inc) ×6(42)
R842 sc(42)
R9(6 sc, inc) ×6(48)
R1048 sc(48)
R11(7 sc, inc) ×6(54)
R1254 sc(54)
R13(8 sc, inc) ×6(60)
R14–1760 sc(60)
R18–2060 sc(60)
R21(BLO)60 sc(60)
R222 sc, (dec, 3 sc) ×11, dec, 1 sc(48)
R23(2 sc, dec) ×12(36)
R24(1 sc, dec) ×12(24)
R25dec ×12(12)
R26dec ×6(6)
Size before assembly: about 8.1 cm at the widest, 6.2 cm long; 26 rounds.
Change to cream (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R17).
Change to sage (pull it through on the last yarn-over of R21).
→ 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.

Round 1with caramel: into a magic ring; 6 sc(6)
Round 2inc ×6(12)
Round 3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
Round 4(2 sc, inc) ×6(24)
Of these: top — 1; front — 1; side, front — 2 (left and right); side, back — 2 (left and right); back — 1. Flat motif — hexagon (worked in rounds, one layer of fabric), about 3.2 × 2.8 cm; 4 rows.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (~30 cm) for sewing. Do not stuff. Weave in the starting tail, pin the motif out to shape on a soft surface and steam it lightly.

Round 1with caramel: into a magic ring; 6 sc(6)
Round 2inc ×6(12)
Round 3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
Of these: lower, front — 2 (left and right); lower, mid — 2 (left and right); lower, back — 2 (left and right). Flat motif — hexagon (worked in rounds, one layer of fabric), about 2.4 × 2.1 cm; 3 rows.
Fasten off leaving a long tail (~30 cm) for sewing. Do not stuff. Weave in the starting tail, pin the motif out to shape on a soft surface and steam it lightly.

R1with sage: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×5, inc, 1 sc(24)
R5(3 sc, inc) ×6(30)
R62 sc, (inc, 4 sc) ×5, inc, 2 sc(36)
R7–1036 sc(36)
R11(4 sc, dec) ×6(30)
R12–1530 sc(30)
Size before assembly: about 4.8 cm at the widest, 4.6 cm long; 15 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 sage: 6 sc in MR(6)
R2inc ×6(12)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×6(18)
R4(BLO)18 sc(18)
R5–618 sc(18)
Of these: front — 2 (left and right); back — 2 (left and right). Size before assembly: about 2.4 cm at the widest, 1.6 cm long; 6 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 sage: 4 sc in MR(4)
R2(1 sc, inc) ×2(6)
R3(1 sc, inc) ×3(9)
R41 sc, (inc, 2 sc) ×2, inc, 1 sc(12)
R512 sc(12)
Size before assembly: about 1.6 cm at the widest, 1.5 cm long; 5 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.

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.

The whole face is embroidered. Order: the eyes (black satin), then the white glints over them, then the nose and mouth, blush last. Mark the centres with pins first and compare with the picture. Bring thread ends out where a sewn-on piece will cover them, or bury them in the stuffing.

Embroidery in black thread (on the head) (2, symmetric: the toy's left side is described, the right is its mirror image), straight stitches through: (in round 4, 7 st from the centre top line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 4 and 5, 6.5 st from the centre top line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 5 and 6, 8 st from the centre top line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 6, 9.5 st from the centre top line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 7, 10 st from the centre top line, toward the toy's left ).
Embroidery in black thread (on the head), straight stitches through: (in round 3, 2 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ) → (between rounds 3 and 4, 1 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's left ) → (in round 4, on the centre bottom line ) → (between rounds 3 and 4, 1 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's right ) → (in round 3, 2 st from the centre bottom line, toward the toy's right ).