Ladybug for Mom

Hi Everybody,
Boy, I didn't look at the page for a week, and I can't believe how busy everyone has been! I just came up with my second from-scratch pattern: a ladybug for my mom's birthday. I know there are a ton of ladybug patterns out there, but I wanted to make my own. And hey, there can never be too many lady bug patterns! I thought I would share it with you all. So now it is my FIRST PUBLISHED PATTERN! If anybody makes it, let me know and post a picture so I can see how it turned out.

One thing that is different about mine than the others I have seen is that I made the body and head in black (one continuous piece), with separate spotted red wing covers. Note that I used black Caron Simply Soft for the head, body, stand, and legs, while I used an old yarn from my stash equivalent to Red Heart for the red wing covers. Because these are different weight yarns, you might have to do some adjusting if you use red and black yarn of the same brand/weight instead of different weights like I did. (for those without access to these yarn brands, the red yarn was of a heavier weight than the black)



Ladybug Pattern

Head and Body:
Rnd 1) Using magic loop (links in other posts on this site or google it), start with a circle of 6 sc
Rnd 2) 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)
Rnd 3) *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * around (18)
Rnd 4) *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * around (24)
Rnds 5 - 8) sc around
Rnd 9) *Dec, sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * around (18)
Rnd 10) *Dec, sc in next sc; repeat from * around (12)
If using safety eyes, attach them now (see Finishing below)
Stuff head tightly and continue to chrochet in the round
Rnd 11) *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next sc; repeat from * around (18)
Rnd 12) *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * around (24)
Rnd 13) *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc; repeat from * around (30)
Rnd 14) *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 4 sc; repeat from * around (36)
Rnds 15 - 24) sc around
Rnd 25) *Dec, sc in next 4 sc; repeat from * around (30)
Rnd 26) *Dec, sc in next 3 sc; repeat from * around (24)
Rnd 27) *Dec, sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * around (18)
Rnd 28) *Dec, sc in next sc; repeat from * around (12)
Stuff body tightly.
Rnd 29) Dec around (6)
sl st in next sc, sew through the 5 sc and 1 sl st and pull tight. finish off.

Wing Covers:
Note that at the end of each row you will ch 1 and turn your work
Ch 15
1) sc in 2nd ch from hook and in remaining 13 ch (14)
2) sc 3, 2sc in next sc, sc 3 (8) [you will come back later and use the remaining 7 sc on the foundation row for the second wing cover]
3) sc 4, 2 sc in next sc, sc 3 (9)
4) sc 8, 2 sc in next sc (10)
5) sc across (10)
6) sc in 9, 2 sc in next sc (11)
7 - 11) sc across (11)
12) sc, dec, sc in next 4 sc, dec, sc in next 2 sc (9)
13) sc across (9)
14) sc, dec, sc in next 3 sc, dec, sc (7)
15) sc across (7)
16) dec, sc in next 2 sc, dec, sc (5)
17) dec, sc dec (3)
18) dec, sc (2)
Finish off - 1st wing cover complete
Start second wing cover by making a slip knot and joining with a sc to the inside edge of the remaining foundation row (i.e., not on the tail end, but next to the wing cover you just made)
2) sc 3, sc 2 in next sc, sc 3 (8)
3) sc 3, sc 2 in next sc, sc 4 (9)
4) 2 sc, sc in next 8 (10)
5) sc across (10)
6) 2 sc, sc in next 9 (11)
7 - 11) sc across (11)
12) sc in 2, dec, sc in next 4, dec, sc (9)
13) sc across (9)
14) sc, dec, sc in next 3, dec, sc (7)
15) sc across (7)
16) sc, dec, sc in next 2, dec (5)
17) dec, sc, dec (3)
18) sc, dec (2)
Finish off

Legs/stand:
Ch 30 and join, making sure not to twist the chain.
sc around.
*Ch 5, sc in 1st ch from hook and remaining 3 (1st leg made)
sl st in next 2 sc of base -
Repeat from * 2 more times (3 legs made)
sl st in next 5 sc
Repeat from * to - 3 times (3 more legs made)
sl st in next 5 sc and finish off

Finishing:
Sew wing covers in neck constriction.
Balance body on stand to determine placement. Sew stand to body.
Cut small circles of white felt and sew small round buttons thru felt to head (or use safety eyes instead of buttons - I don't have to worry about this with my mom! :) )
Cut varying sized circles of black felt and sew to wings
Use red embroidery floss to sew on mouth

And You're Done!