Bloater

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October 15, 2024

You’re welcome to sell finished products you make from this pattern, I just ask that you credit me (@GeekyHooker) as the designer and link back to this pattern! Copying and distributing the pattern itself is prohibited. Do not use my photos for listings.

If you enjoy my work, tips are always appreciated!

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Bloaters are essentially giant walking fungal infections, so there’s plenty of leeway in this pattern for you to get as sloppy or neat as you want!

Unless otherwise noted, all crocheting is to be done in a continuous spiral.

Head and body:

Using wheat-colored yarn:

Round 1: SC 6 in a magic ring. {6}

Round 2: [Sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {12}

Round 3: [Sc 1, sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {18}

Round 4: [Sc 2, sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {24}

Round 5: [Sc 3, sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {30}

Rounds 6-8: Sc 30. {30}

Round 9: [Sc 3, dec 1] 6 times. {24}

Round 10: [Sc 2, dec 1] 6 times. {18}

Stuff head firmly, then continue crocheting. 

Round 11: In front loops only, [sc 2, sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {24}

Round 12: [Sc 3, sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {30}

Rounds 13-15: Sc 30. {30}

Round 16: [Sc 4, sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {36}

Round 17: Sc 36. {36}

Round 18: [Sc 4, dec 1] 6 times. {30}

Round 19: [Sc 3, dec 1] 6 times. {24}

Stuff the body firmly at this point before continuing. (If you’re using a squeaker, insert the squeaker and carefully stuff around it)

Round 20: Sl st in the first SC, then ch 6 and sl st into 12th stitch in this round to make a dividing line across the body.

Bloater’s leg:

Continue from where you left off on the head and body and stuff as you go along.

Using wheat-colored yarn:

Round 1: Ch 1 and turn, then SC 6 across one side of the dividing chain, then SC 12 around the outer edge. Be mindful of the direction you crochet in along the dividing chain, making sure you crochet with the correct side facing out so that it will continue with the correct orientation along the outer edge. {18}

Round 2-3: Sc 18. {18}

Round 4: [Sc 1, dec 1] 6 times. {12}

Round 5: SC 12. {12}

Round 6: Dec 6. {6}

Fasten off, close the piece, and weave in the end.

Bloater’s opposite leg:

Stuff as you go along

Round 1: Holding the body upside down with the existing leg to your left (have it on your right if you are crocheting left-handed), join your yarn where the dividing chain starts. SC 6 across the remaining side of the dividing chain, then SC 12 around the outer edge. {18}

Round 2-3: Sc 18. {18}

Round 4: [Sc 1, dec 1] 6 times. {12}

Round 5: SC 12. {12}

Round 6: Dec 6. {6}

Fasten off, close the piece, and weave in the end.

Arms (make x2):

Using wheat-colored yarn:

Round 1: SC 6 in a magic ring. {6}

Round 2: [Sc 2 in one stitch] 6 times. {12}

Rounds 3-5: Sc 12. {12}

Round 6: [Sc 2, dec 1] 3 times. {9}

Rounds 7-9: Sc 9. {9}

Round 10: [Sc 1, dec 1] 3 times. {6}

Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Flatten the open end and sew closed using a whipstitch, then sew one arm onto each side of the bloater.

Head bloom:

Using wheat colored yarn:

Keeping a leading length of yarn approximately 9 inches long:

Ch 44, turn, then in the 3rd ch from hook dc. Continue to dc across to the end of the chain. {42}

Fasten off and weave in the end.

Using ½ strands of rust yarn, join with the first dc of the strip and ch 5, then sl st in the next st. From this point on, ch 3-5 stitches, then sl st in either the next st or the same st after each series of chains. Continue until you reach the end of the strip, then fasten off and weave in the end. This is meant to look sloppy and not uniform, so go wild with it!

Find the midpoint of your head bloom strip and pin it to the center of the bloater’s face, approximately between rounds 6 and 7.

Then fold the remaining parts of the strip like an accordion onto the head and pin into place. This is not meant to be uniform, so fold as unevenly as you see fit. Then, using the leading length of yarn on the head bloom strip, sew the head bloom into place. You do not need to sew the entirety of the bloom into place, just the main anchoring points and wherever you would like to secure it down more firmly.

Finishing Details:

Body blooms:

Using ½ strands of rust yarn, insert your hook into the bloater’s body and ch 3-5, then sl st in either the same st or the next st. From this point on, ch 3-5 stitches, then sl st in either the next st or the same st after each series of chains. You can also stitch into the next row above or below to add some variety. Stop and start wherever you like, and add as many or as little blooms as you want, this is meant to be a chaotic mess of fungal blooms all over the body! Don’t forget to add some to the arms and legs!

Mouth:

Using red puff fabric paint, paint a gaping red mouth on the face and allow to dry. Once the paint has dried, using scissors, carefully cut several white plastic dental picks to make teeth. Using jewelry glue and a pair of tweezers, glue on the teeth over the open mouth. Once the teeth have set in place, use the fabric paint to paint a raised line over the top row of teeth to create an upper lip. Use more fabric paint to paint a bloodstain leading down from the mouth.

(OPtional) Extra details:

Using a combination of green, brown, and orange paint, dirty up your Bloater for the final additions of filth!