Crochet Root Babies ~ a tutorial and a giveaway

But summer also came to an end. The sharp autumn wind whirled the brightly coloured leaves through the air and tugged at the root-children's clothes.

"Hoo," called the wind, "hurry home, it's getting cold here. It's time to go to bed."...... And all the little root-children went down under the ground again to start their long winter's sleep.

Sibylle von Olfers. The Story of the Root-Children.

My friend Sonia made up this pattern in the year 2000 while sitting (sometimes lying) on her bed breastfeeding her son. He was a bit of  a snuggler and didn't like her to leave when he fell asleep so she sat and hooked this pattern, pulling it ot a few times and trying something else. It is actually a very forgiving pattern and was one of the very first things I crocheted (back before I had even read a pattern or knew what the stitches were called). Sonia has graciously allowed me to share this pattern with you on the www - may it go forth and produce many babies.

You will need: brown yarn (8ply), cream mohair yarn, skin coloured knit material (tricot, old tshirt..), 3inches of size 1 bandage, embroidery threads for eyes and mouth, stuffing wool, thin linen thread, sewing threads, wool needle, crochet hook (2.5mm or 3mm).

Body~ Crochet the body using the brown yarn ~ (NB these are Australian crochet terms our double crochet is an American single crochet)

chain 3 (loosely) and form into a ring.
next row 5dc (double crochet)
next row 7dc (increase in the 2nd and 4th stitches)
then inc every third stitch three times until 9dc
then inc every 5th stitch x3 (15dc)
then inc every 7th stitch x3 (21dc)
then inc every 9th stitch x3 (27dc)
then 42 dc with increase
next row decrease every 6th stitch x5 (30dc)
then dec. every 3rd stitch x4 (12dc)
(this brings you to the neck of the root baby which should be approx index finger width)
make 2 dc then reverse direction and 8 dc
reverse direction and inc. every 3rd stitch (1 2 3 45 6 7 8)
reverse direction in inc. in 3rd and 7th stitches until 12 stitches wide
reverse then dec. every 3rd stitch (9 stitches)
reverse then dec in bold 1  23 4 56 7 89 (6 stitches)
reverse, decrease 3 times (3 stitches)
reverse then decrese the three remaining stitches together
double stitch around the face edge, finish off.

Head and Hair ~
I am going to make a wild assumption that you already know how to make a simple formed head (it is ok if you don't, they are simple and I will put a bunch of pictures at the end of this post to step you through: failing that there are loads of great tutorials on making heads - do some googling you will be fine).

Ok so make a 2.5 -3inch simple formed head (eyeline only) with the size 1 bandage, linen thread and stuffing wool.
Using you choice of skin material cover the head and embroider small eyes and a mouth.

Bringing it together ~
Stuff the bodysuit with fluffed out wool til it is firm but not hard; remember to leave room for your baby's head.

Pop the head in and sew it securely into the body suit; gather suit around the neck and hide your ends.

With the cream mohair yarn sew loops around the face, then cut the loops open. All done, sing a little lullaby and put that baby to bed.

The giveaway bit ~ Ok hands up who can't crochet or just dosen't even want to try; 'tis ok I used to throw little crochet tantrums and fling my hook on the floor. Lucky for you I made a couple of extra babies. If you would like to put your name in the hat, leave a comment to that effect and I will make sure your name goes in. I'll get my big girl to pull one out next Wednesday...sometime... probably early evening my time. We don't mind where you live but you need to make sure I can contact you.

Ok basic how to make a head pictures now follow ~ (don't ever let a child watch you make a head, it is brutal)