Peeper the Spider

What You Will Need

Yarn:

• Black (for the body and legs)
• White or cream (for the eyeball)
• Red (for the iris and the veins)
• Tip: Use a DK or light worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn. Cotton gives crisp stitches that look great on the eyeball, while a softer acrylic makes the legs extra squishy.

Tools:

• 3.5 mm (E/4) crochet hook. Go down a size if your stuffing peeks through.
• Poly-fil or fiberfill stuffing
• Yarn needle with a large eye for sewing and weaving in ends
• Stitch markers
• Sharp scissors
• Straight pins for placing the pieces before sewing
• Optional: 8 black pipe cleaners (about 6 inches each) if you want bendable, posable legs

The Basics (US Terms)

• MR = magic ring
• sc = single crochet
• inc = increase (work 2 single crochets into the same stitch)
• dec = decrease (work 2 single crochets together, invisible decrease is best)
• All pieces are worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
• When changing colors, pull the new color through on the last stitch of the previous round, and carry on with the new color.

Let Us Get Started

We will make three types of pieces, the eyeball, the body, and the legs, and then sew them together.

Part 1: The Eyeball

Worked with black, red, and white yarn. Start at the pupil.

1. Round 1 (black): Work 6 sc into a magic ring. (6 stitches)
2. Round 2 (black): Inc in every stitch around. (12 stitches)
3. Round 3 (red): (1 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)
4. Round 4 (red): (2 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches) The red ring makes the iris around the black pupil.
5. Round 5 (white): (3 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (30 stitches)
6. Rounds 6 to 10 (white): Work 1 sc in every stitch around. (30 stitches)
7. Round 11: (3 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches)
8. Round 12: (2 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)
9. Stuff the eyeball firmly so it is nice and round.
10. Round 13: (1 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (12 stitches)
11. Round 14: Dec 6 times. (6 stitches)
12. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing. Pull the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Do not cut the tail yet.

Part 2: The Body

Worked with black yarn.

1. Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring. (6 stitches)
2. Round 2: Inc in every stitch around. (12 stitches)
3. Round 3: (1 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)
4. Round 4: (2 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (24 stitches)
5. Rounds 5 to 9: Work 1 sc in every stitch around. (24 stitches)
6. Round 10: (2 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (18 stitches)
7. Stuff the body firmly.
8. Round 11: (1 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (12 stitches)
9. Round 12: Dec 6 times. (6 stitches)
10. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing. Pull the tail through the front loops of the last 6 stitches and pull tight to close.

Part 3: The Legs (Make 8)

Worked with black yarn. Start at the foot tip.

1. Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring. (6 stitches)
2. Round 2: (1 sc, inc) repeat 3 times. (9 stitches)
3. Rounds 3 to 30: Work 1 sc in every stitch around. (9 stitches) Each leg should be about 6 to 7 inches long.
4. If you are using a pipe cleaner, fold the top over a little so the end is not sharp, and slide it inside the leg now. Add a tiny bit of stuffing around it.
5. If you are not using a pipe cleaner, stuff lightly with a thin layer of stuffing.
6. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing. Leave the end open, since it will be sewn to the body.

Assembly and Finishing

This is where Peeper comes to life. Take your time pinning before you sew.

Embroidering the Eye Details:

1. Using a tiny bit of white yarn, embroider two or three small straight stitches on the black pupil, slightly off center, to make a sparkly highlight.
2. Using red yarn, embroider 5 or 6 thin, uneven veins on the white part of the eyeball. Start from the edge of the red iris and stitch outward, with each vein 3 to 5 stitches long. Make some slightly curved and add a few tiny branches.
3. Weave in the ends on the inside of the eyeball.

Attaching the Eyeball:

1. Place the eyeball on the top of the body, with the pupil facing up and slightly forward.
2. Pin it in place, then use the long tail from the eyeball to sew around the base, going through the top stitches of the body.
3. Sew all the way around so the eyeball feels secure and does not wobble.

Attaching the Legs:

1. Flatten the open end of each leg.
2. Pin the legs around the sides of the body, 4 on each side, just below the eyeball. Space them evenly, with the front legs angled slightly forward and the back legs angled slightly back.
3. Sew each leg on firmly with the long tail, going around twice so they can hold up the eyeball.
4. Bend each leg at the middle and again near the tip to give Peeper that classic spidery shape.
5. Weave in all remaining ends.

A Few Friendly Tips

• Keep it snug: Keep your tension tight and even. Loose stitches let the stuffing show through, which is especially noticeable on the white eyeball.
• Color changes: Make the color changes at the start of a round. A slight jog is normal and will be hidden by the veins.
• Vein planning: Pin the red yarn in place before you stitch, and look at it from a few angles. Fewer veins look cleaner and spookier than too many.
• Standing strong: If Peeper does not stand well, sew the legs a little lower on the body and add a bit more stuffing to the legs.
• Make it your own: Try a green iris for a monster eye, a purple body for a witchy look, or a tiny bow on one leg for a sweeter spider.
• Safe for little ones: Since all the details are embroidered, this spider is safe for small children. Skip the pipe cleaners if the toy is for a baby or toddler.

I hope you enjoy making this spooky little friend. He is such a fun project and makes a wonderful handmade Halloween gift.

If you run into any trouble or just want to share how your spider turned out, please reach out. I love seeing what you create.

Happy crocheting and happy Halloween!