These clowns have been around for ages.  I crocheted my first clown doll when I was a young girl and still enjoy making them today.  This pattern is an oldie but a goodie!

Craft Supplies:

• 4 oz Worsted weight yarn - main color
• Small amount contrasting color for border around hat and collar & for pompoms; Worsted weight yarn
• Small amount of white or other solid color for face; Worsted weight yarn
• Red yarn for mouth or scraps of felt for face
• 3" Styrofoam ball
• Size H crochet hook
• Yarn needle

Legs (make two):

Chain 37; turn

Row 1:   2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 3 dc in rem ch; ch 3 turn

Row 2:   2 dc in 1st dc, 3 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next 2 dc, *3 dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next 2 dc; repeat from * to end of row; cut yarn

Arms (make two):

Chain 25; and follow instructions for rows 1 and 2 of legs.

Collar:

Chain 20

Follow instructions for rows 1 and 2 of legs but before cutting yarn, change color to contrasting color and crochet a row of 1 sc in each dc.

Hat:

• Chain 10 (this will be the height of the hat)
• sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across; turn
• sc in each sc for 11 more rows.
• Join sides to form tube.
• Close one end of tube to form top of hat
• On other end, work sc around
• 1st row of brim: 2 dc in each sc
• 2nd row of brim: *3 dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next 2 dc; repeat from * to end of row.
• 3rd row of brim: Change to contrasting color and work 1 sc in each dc. Cut yarn

Head:

Chain 4, join to form a ring; work 10 sc in ring

• Round 2: Inc 1 sc in every other sc (total of 15 sc)
• Round 3: Inc 1sc in every 4th sc (total of 18 sc)
• Round 4:  Inc 1 sc in every 5th sc (total of 21 sc)
• Round 5:  Inc. 1 sc in every 6th sc (total of 24 sc)
• Round 6 through 13: work even
• Round 14: Dec 1 sc in every 6th sc; insert Styrofoam ball before finishing.
• Round 15: Dec 1 sc in every 5th sc
• Round 16:  Dec 1 sc in every 4th sc
• Decrease to close end

Finish:

• After knotting off  and cutting each piece weave loose ends back into crocheted piece using a yarn needle.  This helps hide the knots and end pieces of yarn
• Make a small pompom for the top of the hat and attach it.
• Make 2 pompoms next size for hands.  Attach one to the end of each arm.
• Make 2 pompoms size larger for feet and attach one to the end of each leg.
• Sew arms and legs together with yarn needle and a matching piece of yarn.*
• Attach the collar to the bottom of the head by sewing it in place then attach the arms and legs to the head.
• Sew the hat on top of the clown's head.
• Make a face by either embroidering one with yarn and a yarn needle ( I made the sample using two x for eyes and an outline stitch and red yarn to make the mouth) or cut a face out of felt and glue or sew it onto the head
• Optional: work a chain of desired length to form a loop and attach it to the top of the clown's head to hang him on the wall.

*I have always found the easiest way to join the arms and legs together is to line up the top of the arms and legs altogether and whip stitch the top 1 1/2" or so with a yarn needle and matching yarn. I stitch both the inner and outer curves then stitch the whole arm leg assembly to the bottom of the head.  Be sure to put the two legs between the arms.

Printable Instructions

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