I don't know about you, but doing thousands of little circles drives me a little be insane. By using the African flower pattern to create the shell of the turtle, you add a little bit more intrigue into what can be quite a repetitive pattern to do. 

 

Pattern Starts: African Flower Turtle

Shell

Using a 4mm hook and an aran-weight yarn in your choice of colour, start in your chosen way:

Chain Start

Ch 1. You’ll work all sts for rnd 1 into the 1st ch.

Chain Ring

Ch 4, join with sl st into 1st ch. You’ll work all sts for rnd 1 into the middle of the ring.

Magic Ring

Create a magic ring. You’ll work all sts for rnd 1 into the middle of the ring.

 

Rnd 1: ch 3 (counts a tr (dc) here and throughout), tr (dc), ch, *2 tr (dc), ch, rep from * 5 times. Join into top of ch 3 with a sl st. (12 tr, 6 ch).

Fasten off. Join next colour into ch-sp with a sl st.

Rnd 2: [ch 3 (counts a tr (dc) here and throughout), tr (dc), ch, 2 tr (dc)] into the same ch-sp. [2 tr (dc), ch, 2 tr (dc)] into all ch-sps. Join into top of ch 3 with sl st. Sl st to ch-sp. (24 tr (dc), 6 ch).

Rnd 3: [ch 3, 6 tr (dc)] into same ch-sp. [7 tr (dc)] into each ch-sp. (35 tr (dc)).

Fasten off. Join next colour into top of any tr (dc).

Rnd 4: ch, dc (sc) into each tr. At each gap between 7-tr (dc), dc (sc) into the ch-sp from rnd 2. (48 dc)

Fasten off. Join next colour into top of an dc (sc).

Rnd 5: ch 3, tr (dc) into each st around. Join with sl st into top of ch 3.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

 

Underbelly

Using 4mm and your rnd 5 yarn.

Chain Start

Ch 1. You’ll work all sts for rnd 1 into the 1st ch.

Chain Ring

Ch 4, join with sl st into 1st ch. You’ll work all sts for rnd 1 into the middle of the ring.

Magic Ring

Create a magic ring. You’ll work all sts for rnd 1 into the middle of the ring.

Rnd 1: 6 dc (sc) into centre. Do not join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: 2 dc (sc) in each st. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: dc (sc), 2 dc (sc) in next st. Rep from * 6 times. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: dc (sc), 2 dc (sc) in next st, dc (sc). Rep from * 6 times. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: dc (sc) in next 3 sts, 2 dc (sc) in next st. Rep from * 6 times. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: dc (sc) in next 2 sts, 2 dc (sc) in next st, dc (sc) in next 2 sts. Rep from * 6 times. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: dc (sc) in next 5 sts, 2 dc (sc) in next st. Rep from * 6 times. (42 sts)

Rnd 8: dc (sc) in next 3 sts, 2 dc (sc) in next st, dc (sc) in next 3 sts. Rep from * 6 times. (48 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

 

Front Flipper (Make 2)

Using 4mm hook and chosen flipper colour. Follow as per underbelly until rnd 4.

Rnd 5: Fold in half, ch 1, insert hook through both sides, dc (sc) in next 3 sts, 2 dc (sc) in next st. Rep from * 3 times. (15 sts)

Fasten off.

 

Back Flipper (Make 2)

Using 4mm hook and chosen flipper colour. Follow as per underbelly until rnd 3.

Rnd 4: Fold in half, ch 1, insert hook through both sides, dc (sc), 2 dc (sc) in next st, dc (sc) in next st, Rep from * 3 times. (9 sts)

Fasten off.

 

Head

Using 4mm hook and chosen flipper colour. Follow as per underbelly until rnd 3.

Rnd 4-7: dc (sc) in each st. (4 rnds of 18sts)

Rnd 8: *dc (sc), inv-dec (or dc2tog (sc2tog)) across next 2 sts. rep from * 6 times. (12 sts).

Rnd 9: *dc (sc), inv-dec (or dc2tog (sc2tog)) across next 2 sts. rep from * 4 times. (8 sts).

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

 

Eyes

Using black, create a French knot in the 4th rnd.

Bring your needle up through where you would like to do your knot. Point the needle down back towards the work and wrap 3 times, starting towards the eye of the needle and wrapping towards the point. Insert the needle into the same spot you started (or as close to it as you can). Pull the needle through and tighten. Careful not to pull through.

Attaching

Take a length of your rnd 5 yarn, lay out your body parts and match up the stitches from your shell and underbelly, using a whip stitch to join. When you reach each limb, weave your yarn through the limb and the shell/belly at the same time. You should have at least 3 sts per limb to secure it.