Bayleef Plushie

Having recently acquired my much cherished copy of HeartGold,  and my starter pokemon being Chikorita (altho my strongest pokemon is still my Ampharos),  I decided to make Bayleef.   Bayleef is my favorite of the evolutions and I just *had* to have one. :)

The colors for some reason aren't showing up properly in these photos, the leaves are a nice sage green,  but in the outdoor lighting they tend to show more blue.

The headdress of Bayleef is one of those pieces you kind of have to fiddle around with and maybe improvise a little on as you're making it.  Took me a little bit of fussin' with it,  but it finally worked.

The pattern below hasn't been tested by anyone other than me at this point,  but I've checked it several times to be sure it's right.  If you find a mistake or just get confused,  post and I'll either fix it or try to help as soon as I can :)

Bayleef

Materials:

WW yarn in medium yellow, sage green
G hook
Fiberfill
Felt in white, black, red and a red-orange (dark orange will work too)
sewing needle and thread to match the felt colors


HEAD/NECK:

Using yellow:

Rnd 1:  6 sc in magic ring  (6)
Rnd 2:  2 sc in each sc around  (12)
Rnd 3:  sc in next sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (18)
Rnd 4:  sc in next 2 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (24)
Rnd 5:  sc in next 3 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (30)
Rnd 6:  sc in next 4 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (36)
Rnd 7-12:  sc in each sc around  (36)
Rnd 13:  sc in next 14 sc, dec over next 2 sc,  sc in next sc,  dec over next 2 sc,  sc in next sc, dec over next 2 sc,  sc in remaining 14 sc  (33)
Rnd 14:  sc in next 15 sc,  dec3 (dec over over the next 3 sc)  sc in remaining 15 sc  (31)
Rnd 15:  sc in the next 8 sc,  ch 8,  skip next 15 sc,  sc in next sc and remaining sc of round  (24)
Rnd 16:  sc in each sc and each ch around  (24)
Rnd 17-25:  sc in each sc around  (24)
F/O

Mouth pieces (make 3):

Row 1:   Ch 7,   sc in second chain from hook and each chain across  (6)
Row 2-3:  sc in each sc across (6)
Row 4:  dec over first 2 sc,  sc in next 2 sc,  dec over last 2 sc,  (4)
Row 5   dec over 2 sc (twice)  (2)
F/O Weave in ends.

Place 2 of the pieces together and attach yarn to either corner.  Sc through both pieces evenly along sides  (ends of rows), around the small end and back up the other side.  Do not sc across the foundation row.   This is the 'lower jaw' part of the mouth. 
F/O.  Weave in ends.

Match the foundation rows (row 1) to the lower portion of the opening at the neck. Securely sew the lower jaw part into place (using photos for reference and pinning first to ensure you have it like you want). 

For upper/inside of the mouth,  take the third of the mouth pieces and work around the edge of this piece the same as you did the two pieces together.  Don't sc across the foundation row. 
F/O and weave ends.  

Place this piece in the upper opening of the head  (stuff the front of the head first,  as that will become more difficult to stuff after you've closed up the mouth.)  Once you have securely sewn this piece in,  finish stuffing and shaping the head and neck. 

Cut two pieces of red felt to match the inside proportions of the upper and lower mouth,  and glue or sew them into place as shown.


BODY:

Using yellow:

Rnd 1: 8 sc in magic ring  (8)
Rnd 2:  2 sc in each sc around   (16)
Rnd 3:  sc in next sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (24)
Rnd 4  sc in next 2 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (32)
Rnd 5:  sc in each sc around  (32)
Rnd 6:  sc in next 3 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (40)
Rnd 7:  sc in each sc around  (40)
Rnd 8:  sc in next 9 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (44)
Rnd 9-23:  sc in each sc around  (44)
Rnd 24:  sc in next 9 sc,  dec over next 2 sc around  (40)
Rnd 25:  sc in each sc around  (40)
Begin stuffing and shaping body at this point,  if you haven't already.  Continue to stuff moderately firm and shape as you progress.
Rnd 26:  sc in next 3 sc,  dec over next 2 sc around  (32)
Rnd 27:  sc in each sc around  (32)
Rnd 28:  sc in next 2 sc,  dec over next 2 sc around  (24)
Rnd 29:  sc in next sc,  dec over next 2 sc around  (16)
Rnd 30:  dec over next 2 sc around  (8)
F/O.  Add any stuffing needed to finish the shaping of the body.  Weave tail through the last round and gently pull to tighten.  Secure and weave in end.

FRONT LEGS:  (make 2)

Rnd 1:  6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2:  2 sc in each sc around  (12)
Rnd 3:  sc in next sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (18)
Rnd 4:  working in Back Loops Only,  sc in each sc around  (18)
Rnd 5-8:  working again through both loops, sc in each sc around  (18)
Rnd 9:  hdc in first 4 stitches,  sc in next 10 stitches,  hdc in remaining 4 stitches  (18)
Rnd 10-12:  repeat Rnd 9  (18)
F/O.  Stuff moderately but taking care to not bulge out the 'bottom' off the foot too much.  Try to keep it as flat as possible.   (if you wish,  a small circle of plastic cut from a milk jug or similar plastic to the size of the bottom of the foot can put in the leg and situated at the bottom before stuffing)

BACK LEGS: (make 2)

Rnd 1-11:  repeat as for Front Legs  (18)
(Back legs are one row shorter than front legs)
F/O,  stuff as for Front Legs.

TAIL:

Rnd 1:  4 sc in magic ring  (4)
Rnd 2:  sc in next sc,  2 sc in next sc,  sc in next sc,  2 sc in last sc  (6)
Rnd 3:  sc in next sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (9)
Rnd 4:  sc in each sc around  (9)
Rnd 5:  sc in next 2 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (12)
Rnd 6:  sc in each sc around  (12)
Rnd 7:  sc in next 3 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (15)
Rnd 8:  sc in each sc around  (15)
Rnd 9:  sc in next 4 sc,  2 sc in next sc around  (18)
Rnd 10:  sc in each sc around  (18)
F/O.   Stuff moderately firmly,  shaping the tail as you stuff.

COLLAR LEAVES:  (Make 8)

Row 1:  Ch 2,  sc in second chain from hook  (1)
Row 2:  3 sc in sc  (3)
Row 3-7:  sc in each sc across,  turn (3)
Do not fasten off at end of row 7.  Ch 1 and working down the side of the 'leaf'  sc in end of each row,  3 sc in end, 7 sc back up other side of leaf. 
F/O leaving a tail.   With yarn needle,  weave the tail through row 7,  across the flat end of the leaf,  very gently tug to gather up the bottom of the leaf.  Secure and weave in ends.


HEAD DRESS:

This piece is somewhat difficult to manage in crochet, and is very likely to require a little improvising  on your part.  If you find that you aren't happy with it,  or just don't want to fiddle with it - and I don't blame you, :) - you can simply cut the collar leaves AND headress out of felt instead.   When cutting the Headdress from felt,  cut it a little extra wide on the 'undamaged' long side,  so to all allow you to place a pipe cleaner along that side and wrap the felt around it (just enough to cover the pipe cleaner) and securely sew it closed.

Row 1:  Ch 5.  Sc in second ch from hook and each remaining ch  (4)
Row 2-4:  sc in each sc across  (4)
Row 5:  2 sc in first sc,  sc in each of next 2 sc,  2 sc in last sc  (6)
Row 6:  2 sc in first sc,  sc in each of next 4 sc,  2 sc in last sc  (8)
Row 7-9:  sc in each sc across (8)
Row 10:  sc in first 3 sc,  turn  (leave remaining stitches unworked)  (3)
Row 11-12:  sc in each sc across  (3)
Row 13:  sc in each sc across,  ch 6  (3 sc,  6 ch)
Row 14:  sc in second chain from hook and each remaining ch,  and in each sc  (8)
Row 15-19:  sc in each sc across  (8)
Row 20:  dec over first 2 sc,  sc in next 4 sc, dec over last 2 sc  (6)
Row 21:  dec over first 2 sc,  sc in next 2 sc,  dec over last 2 sc  (4)
Row 22:  dec over first 2 sc,  dec over last 2 sc  (2)
Row 23:  dec over 2 sc  (1)
Do not F/O.   Ch 1 and sc evenly around the piece, paying attention to the shaping as you go.  Slip stitch to first sc of edging round.  Weave in ends.  

Base of Headdress:

Rnd 1:  ch 5:  slip stitch to form a ring.  8 sc in ring (8)

Holding the head dress at the base (rows 1-4),  with yarn needle and matching yarn or thread,  sew rows 1-4 into a 'stem' shape.  Then sew this stem to the base.  You may wish to include a small piece of a pipe cleaner in the 'stem and base'  to help stablize the piece.  Adding a tiny bit of stuffing helps too if you want.    Again,  this particular piece may require some fiddling with to get it like you want it.

ASSEMBLY:

I highly recommend that you pin the pieces together first,  to ensure that you have everything positioned as you like, before sewing it together.

Sew head/neck to body as shown.   Sew front legs to body as shown with the 'slight points' of the tops of the legs to the outside  (allowing you to position the legs more naturally.  Back legs are sewn on in the same manner.   Tail is placed at the top of the back end of the body.

Collar leaves are sewn on as shown,  evenly around the base of the neck where it attaches to the body.  Headdress is sewn on slightly forward on the head,  positioned as you like. 

Cut two small rounded squares of felt.  Cut each of those squares in half.  These are the 'toenails' sewn to the bottom of the feet facing front.

Eyes are cut from white, orange and black felt as shown,  with a tiny oval of white for the 'catch light'.  Nostrils are whipstitched over a stitch just above the front of the mouth.   Eye brows are just an outline stitch in whatever shape pleases you.  I went for the 'I'm-fixin'-to-lay-the-smackdown-on-ya' look.  LOL

I chose to run an outline stitch around the eyes using a single strand of black sewing thread just to help define the eye from the body.  If your shades of yellow are of a slightly deeper tone,  you may not need to do that,  but it does give a nice finished look to the doll.

BAYLEEF and POKEMON are copyright Nintendo.

This pattern is an original pattern by Linda Potts (April 2010).  Please do not claim this pattern as your own.  If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site.  You may print and keep a copy for your own personal use but you may not sell or distribute it, or sell items made from this pattern.