Sorry Ash, but we know who the real star here is.

This week was super busy with

University projects and orders, so Im couple of days late with this weeks pattern,
sorry! But its finally time for Pikachu to make an appearance! The tail was a bit tricky
to work out, so Ive included a lot of photos and a (hopefully!) thorough description to
help you out.

If you dont crochet you can find this guy at either my Etsy.

Enjoy!

You will need:

3.0mm crochet hook

yellow yarn
black yarn
brown yarn
red felt
2 x 10mm safety eyes
fabric glue
polyester filling

If youre unclear on how to read my patterns head over the FAQ. Theres also a link
there to a photo-tutorial of all the stitches and techniques I use. :)

HEAD

1. (in Yellow) MR 6 (6)

2. [ inc ]x 6 (12)
3. [ inc, sc ]x 6 (18)
4. sc, [ inc, sc 2 ]x 5, inc, sc (24)
5. [ inc, sc 3 ]x 6 (30)
6. sc 2, [ inc, sc 4 ]x 5, inc, sc 2 (36)
7-10. sc 36 (36)
11. [ inc, sc 5 ]x 6 (42)
12-13. sc 42 (42)
14. [ dec, sc 5 ]x 6 (36)
15. sc 2, [ dec, sc 4 ]x 5, dec, sc 2 (30)
16. [ dec, sc 3 ]x 6 (24)
Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later. Insert safety eyes between rows 11 and
12, with approximately 7 stitches between them.

BODY

1. (in Yellow) MR 6 (6)

2. [ inc ]x 6 (12)
3. [ inc, sc ]x 6 (18)
4. sc, [ inc, sc 2 ]x 5, inc, sc (24)
5. [ inc, sc 3 ]x 6 (30)
6-8. sc 30 (30)
9. [ dec, sc 3 ]x 6 (24)
10-12. sc 24 (24)

Finish off.

LEG (make 2)

1. (in Yellow) MR 6 (6)

2. [ inc, sc ]x 3 (9)
3-6. sc 9 (9)

Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later.

ARM (make 2)

1. (in Yellow) MR 6 (6)

2. [ inc, sc 2 ]x 2 (8)
3-4. sc 8 (8)
5. dec, sc 6, (7)

Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later.

EARS (make 2)

1. (in Black) MR 5 (5)

2. inc, sc 4 (6)
3. inc, sc 5 (7)
4. inc, sc 6 (8)
5. (in Yellow) inc, sc 7 (9)
6-8. sc 9 (9)
9. dec, sc 7 (8)
10-11. sc 8 (8)

Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later.

TAIL * (EDITED 18th July, 2016)

1. (in Yellow) ch 7 (7)

2. turn, sc 12 (6 on either side of chain) (12)
3-4. sc 12 (12)
5. sc 3, skip 6, sc 3 (6)
6. sc 6, ch 4 (10)
7. sc 2, skip 4, sc 2 (6)
8. (in Brown) sc 6 (6)
9. sc 6 (6)

Finish off, leaving a tail for attaching later.

Ok, so the tail can definitely be a bit confusing, so heres where a bunch of images
come in. So the first row is simple enough, make a chain of 7. Then on the second
row, turn your work, and starting in the second chain from the hook sc 6 down one
side, and keep going to sc 6 up the other side as well.

Then continue with rounds 3 and 4 normally (1. below). Round 5 can be a bit tricky
again. This is how were going to create the first zig-zag. We want to go halfway and
then turn the work a skip to the other side. So first sc 3 normally (2. below), then
were going to pretend the next 6 stitches arent there. I find it easier to turn my work
(3. below), count six stitches, and then insert my hook into the 7th stitch (4. below),
continuing as normal for the rest of the round.

At the end of round 6 were going to chain 4 (2. below). This will become the other
side of the zig zag. Chain 4, then insert your hook back into the first stitch of round
six (3. below), like you would if there were no chain and you were simply starting
round 7. Then youll skip stitches like you did above. When you get to where the
chain 4 is youre going to have to crochet in the front or back loop only, since there
isnt a proper sc to insert into.
After that youll change colour, and thankfully be done. I like to take a length of
yellow yarn and whipstitch the open parts (where you skipped stitches and chained)
closed to give the tail a neater shape. Hopefully that explanation wasnt too
confusing!

(* Added July 18 2016) If it was, you can try to crochet the tail as a flat piece instead
- to build up the thickness of the tail, you could make 2 of the flat versions and then
stitch them together. I dont have any pictures of this part, since it was added to the
original pattern later, sorry! Note, when it says ch 1, turn, the next sc will be in the
second chain from the hook (ie. always skip the first stitch when turning, since its
just the chain we did at the end to get the right height).

FLAT TAIL

1. (in Yellow) ch 6
2-4. ch 1, turn, sc 6
5. ch 1, turn, sc 3
6. ch 1, turn, sc 3, ch 2
7-8. ch 1, turn, sc 5
9. ch 1, turn, sc 2 10-11. (in Brown) ch 1, turn sc 2

Finish off, leaving a long enough tail to attach to the body.

Press the tail flat and thats the end of all the crocheting! Stuff the head, body, and
legs. The legs dont require much stuffing. Everything is ready for assembly.
I like to pin all the pieces together to make sure theyre positioned properly when
before I attach them. I usually find them easiest to attach in this order: legs, tail
(stitch on back detail), arms, head, ears. I like to attach the head first because it
makes it easier to ensure the ears are even.
After youve attached the tail, but before you attach the head, make sure you
remember to embroider on the two stripes Pikachu has at the back. I usually use the
same yarn Im using to attach the tail to the body.
The last thing left to do is the cheeks! Take a piece of red felt, and cut out two small
circles. Then simply glue them in place underneath the eyes.