Later Alligator!

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by Hannah (BitterSweet)

Sorry to say, this highly anticipated spring has been something of a downer thus far. Stepping off the plane from Tokyo, the blast of cold air that greeted me came as quite a shock, as I had thought that New England was experiencing very similar weather during my absence. Sure, 60 – 70 degrees over in Tokyo is nothing to write home about, but compared to the 30 – 40 degree rains over here, it seems like a tropical paradise! Periodically raining, shining, and then raining again, the rivers have swollen to impressive proportions, fed by brief but massive downpours. Wanting to capture some of the rapidly moving water passing through a nearby stream, I wandered down into town a bit, camera in tow, snapping pictures every few feet. Although I had fully expected to find some interesting and photogenic sights along the river bank, I nearly dropped my camera in the water when I saw a pair of eyes staring back that seemed to find me just as interesting a subject!

From the distance between us, I couldn’t be entirely sure of the accuracy of my vision; Certainly a baby alligator would never turn up in such a remote area, especially without a parent in sight! And yet as I moved closer for a better look, I could hardly question my first assessment. Still small and cute, he bore no resemblance to the fearsome killers I had seen tearing other animals and even humans to shreds on tv, so I quickly dropped my guard and forgot my fears. Still being cautious to look for his guardians, I snapped numerous pictures of this incredible find – Who would have believed otherwise?

Slyly grinning from his perch on a sunny rock, he appeared quite content and self-assured, especially for a young tyke of his age. Perhaps he knew he had quite a reputation in these parts, where the most fearsome wild animals we have are probably tame enough to be considered as pets. Although it was clear that he posed no real danger, I still didn’t want to stick around for too long, in case some enraged mother with teeth of steel showed up, wondering what a vegan might taste like. After reviewing the display on my camera that proved my eyes did not deceive me, I headed for home, excited to show this peculiar critter to anyone who crossed my path.

Cute as he was, I just hope that he doesn’t plan to spend too long in the area… Though small and adorable now, just give him some time to hit a growth spurt and become a true terror. Paired with that confident attitude, I don’t think that any inhabitants of that stream would have a fighting chance! If you’d like to tempt fate and try raising your own baby alligator nonetheless, I wouldn’t ever want to dissuade anyone passionate enough, so here’s the pattern!

Upper Jaw

With green worsted weight yarn and a size F hook, ch4, sc into second stitch from hook, sc 2, sc2 more into last stitch, sc1 into the back of each stitch, sc 2 more into last stitch. (10)
Continuing around in the same direction, sc3, sc2 into next two stitches each, sc3, sc2 into each of the next two stitches. (14)
Sc5, sc2 into next stitch, sc6, sc 2 into next stitch, sc1 (16)
Sc around for 9 rounds
Break yarn and secure.

Lower Jaw

Ch3, sc into second st from hook, sc 4 into next stitch (moving around to the back), sc3 into back of last stitch. (8)
Continuing in a circle, sc2, sc2 into each of the next two sts, sc2, sc2 into each of the next 2 sts. (12)
Sc4, sc2 into next st, sc5, sc2 into next st, sc1. (14)
Sc around for 9 rounds
Do not break yarn.

Body

Lining up the upper jaw next to your current work, sc into first 8 sts of upper jaw, sc into outer 7 st of lower jaw, leaving the inner sts of each piece unworked. (15)
Continuing around the outside, Sc2 into each of the next 2 sts, sc4, sc 2 into each of the next 3 sts, sc5, sc2 into next st (21)
Sc around for 11 rounds
Sc1, sc2 tog* around (14)
Sc5, sc2 tog* twice (12)
Sc around for 7 rounds
Sc2 tog around (6)
Sc2 tog around (3)

Tongue

With red yarn, ch4, sc2 into second st from hook, sc1, sc2 into final st (5)
Ch1, sc2 into second st from hook, sc3, sc2 into final st (7)
Ch1, sc across for 10 rows

Eyes [Make 2]

With white yarn, sc5 into a circle
Sc2 into each st (10)
Sc around
Sc2 tog (5)

Legs [Make 4]

Sc4 into a circle
Sc2 into each st (8)
Sc around for 4 rounds

To Assemble: Through opening between jaws, firmly stuff body. Lightly stuff jaws. Sew tongue to lower jaw along raw back edges. Sew the opening in back with a length of green yarn. Cut triangles out of white felt for the teeth and glue into desired positions. Stuff the eyes, gather together the open end and secure, and attach to top of the head. Glue on half-round beads, buttons, or circles of black felt for the pupils. Stuff all legs and sew onto the body as indicated by the pictures.

Take care of your new baby, but keep an eye on any other small pets when your gator is loose!

47 thoughts on “Later Alligator!”

  2. You are so creative, both with your crafts and your writing! What a gorgeous little critter. I wish I could crochet. Your designs just might be the inspiration I need. Thank you for sharing with us so freely.

  3. Oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh TY TY TY TY TY!!!!! It is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!

  9. He’s croccy-licious! I love him! Thanks for sharing the pattern with us. I love your last one too (hungry hippo) and have just made my own. He’s proven to be as naughty as yours and I think that they have the tendency to take on their owner’s vices, but to the max (in my case booze). I took him out for a quiet drink the other night and he proved to be an absolute disgrace. When his hangover has worn off, he will be posting his tale on my blog (flissy666.wordpress.com) – I’ll let you know when that is!

  11. I really love this little croc – I’ve already started to make one up for myself :-) He seems to be working up quite quick, which is great ’cause I’ve set myself a huge task of crocheting wedding favors for my wedding in September – I should really get started…

    Just a quick question – any chance you could tell me what brand of eyes you use for your soft toys. I can’t find any suitable in my local craft stores so I’m going to have to resort to using ebay.

  17. This alligator is absolutely wonderful. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed the hungry hippo. I have enjoyed making the hippo for the neighbourhood kids and I am sure they will learn to love alligators too.

  19. Again, I love this baby alligator! It’s adorable. :)

    I guess since I’m new, I’m still a little crochet retarded. I was wondering… For the upper jaw, should I be making turning stitches between each row?

    If you can let me know, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you.

  20. My son asked me today for an alligator critter ……guess I won’t have to make up a pattern afterall! SO CUTE!

  21. Hello-
    I love your pattern, but have a question about the directions in the jaw.. I am sort of a begginer. Anyways… I don’t understnad how with the first few moves you end up with 10 sc. “With green worsted weight yarn and a size F hook, ch4, sc into second stitch from hook, sc 2, sc2 more into last stitch” I understand up until here. Now the next move, is that the next row and therefore you are going back and crocheting in the same stiches (which now number five instead of four) “sc1 into the back of each stitch, sc 2 more into last stitch. (10)” If it is in those same stiches (and therefore changing directions), then if you sc in each stich, and 2 in the last, with 5 stiches that gives you 7 at the end.. I’m confused about the 10..

    I know I’m probably not making any sense, but if you could contact me that’d be great as I’d LOVE to do this pattern!

  22. Oh my gosh he is just toooo cute and i love how u did the instructions all in seperate parts. makes it much easier when ya can see how its gonna be before ya even get started. thanks again for sharing, keep em coming! =)

  25. I am so excited to have this pattern i have a long time friend with whom there is a long standing joke about an alligator she thought she seen i will love making this to give her. Thank you so much for this pattern.

  28. hello. i am having trouble understanding the instructions on how to do the upper jaw of the alligator. i would love to do this pattern but i need help if you could please contact me and explain to me how i am suppose to be doing this i would be very grateful.

  29. can you let me know how long the gator is when finished? I am thinking he will make a great draft stopper ..too cute

  30. Do you mind if I make these and sell these? I would not sell the pattern, only the aligator. I understand if you say no. Also, I wanted to ask you on a 1-5 scale, how hard would it be for a newbee to make this? Thanks!

  31. You have no idea how happy I was when I found this alli, my son has been bugging me with this thought of his; amigurumi a croc. So, I guess alli is close enough. Thank you so much!

  32. I’ve only started to get into arts and crafts and all since the arrival of my baby boy. Ths is very cute. I’m sure he’ll like one made by his mummy :)

  33. Hi!!!i’m trying to do this amigurumi for a friend’s child, and i hace a problem just at the beggining :s Doind the upper jaw, i can go on till i have 10 stiches, but doing the next stitches i go on till i have 22…i mean, i made 3sc in next st, 2sc into next 2 st, again3 and 2 sc into the next sts, so they become22….can you explain it to me pliz???is it maybe that when you say sc3 it isn’t 3 ss in the same stitch??mmmmm i’m going crazy!!!but i like it so much and i want to do it….i know that when i finish the one for this child, i’ll do another one for my child that will be born in december :) waiting for answer!!!!

    1. Yep, sounds like you’ve already figured it out; “sc 3” is just single crochet 3 consecutive stitches. If it were an increase, it would read “sc3 into 1 st.”

      Good luck, and happy crafting!

  35. Hi, I have been asked if I could translate your Alligator pattern into danish and would like to know if it is okay with you? And if I can be allowed to put the translated pattern on my very new website – of course with the link to your webside and pattern mentioned a lot of times!
    Pleanse send me an email.

    And thank you for the pattern, I made my own sweet little alligator, it’s such a adorable little thing :)

    With love from Charlotte.

  36. Hi I am having trouble getting started with the jaw I am new to all this and am used to patterns that go step by step. Not sure how to start. Thanks

  37. I am also new to this kind of crochet pattern and do better if directions are wrote out step by step. The alligator is just adorable. My 23 year old grandson realy likes the alligator,and I also like the story . Is there any way you can write the pattern with step by step directions for me? Thanks so much. Betty

  41. Hi, thank you for sharing this pattern :) I put a link to it in my Alligator Creative roundup :) Hope you are okay with this?
    Have a wonderful day! Christine

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