Olive Skull Basketweave Teether Free Crochet Pattern
Olive Skull Basketweave Teether Free Crochet Pattern
Introduction
This little teether is made for babies who are just starting to grab, chew, and explore the world with their hands and mouths. It pairs a soft, textured basketweave panel with a smooth wooden ring, so there is something interesting to touch and something safe to gnaw on. The olive cotton gives it a calm, modern look, and the tiny ochre skull on the front adds a playful little edge that grown-ups love. It works up quickly in worsted cotton with simple double crochet and post stitches, making it a lovely first project or a sweet handmade gift.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) cotton yarn — approx. 50 yds olive, 20 yds ochre.
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6).
- Notions: 2.5-inch (6.5 cm) wooden teething ring, tapestry needle, scissors, stitch marker (optional).
- Finished size: Panel 4 inches (10 cm) wide x 6 inches (15 cm) long, folded to fit the 2.5-inch (6.5 cm) wooden ring. Skull appliqué approx. 1.5 inches (4 cm) across.
Abbreviations
- ch — chain
- dc — double crochet
- fpdc — front post double crochet (work the stitch around the post of the stitch below, from the front)
- bpdc — back post double crochet (work the stitch around the post of the stitch below, from the back)
- sc — single crochet
- inc — increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec — decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together)
- MR — magic ring
- rep — repeat
- st(s) — stitch(es)
Gauge
16 sts and 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in basketweave pattern. To check, crochet a small swatch of the panel pattern and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if needed to match.
Tips Before You Start
- Cotton has little stretch, so keep your tension relaxed — tight post stitches make the basketweave stiff and hard to fold around the ring.
- Count your blocks as you go: each row should have five groups of 3 stitches (3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15 dc).
- Leave a generous tail on the skull appliqué; you will use it to sew the skull in place and to add the eyes.
- Check that your wooden ring is smooth and splinter-free before assembling, since baby will be chewing on it.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Basketweave Panel (olive)
Row 1: Ch 17, dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across (15 dc).
Row 2: Ch 3, turn, [fpdc around next 3 sts, bpdc around next 3 sts] rep to last 3 sts, fpdc around last 3 sts (15 sts).
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, [bpdc around next 3 sts, fpdc around next 3 sts] rep to last 3 sts, bpdc around last 3 sts (15 sts).
Rows 4–16: Alternate Rows 2 and 3, working Row 2 on even rows and Row 3 on odd rows (15 sts each row).
Fasten off.
Skull Appliqué (ochre)
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into ring (6 sts).
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 4: Sc in each st around (18 sts).
Rnd 5: [Sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).
Rnd 6: Dec x6 (6 sts).
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Eyes (olive)
With olive yarn, embroider two French knots on the skull for eyes, placing them side by side in the upper half of the skull.
Assembly and Finishing
Fold the panel in half widthwise to form a loop. Insert the wooden ring through the loop. Using olive yarn, sew the two short ends of the panel together securely, working through both layers so the band closes around the ring. Sew the skull appliqué centered on the front of the panel with the long ochre tail, then weave in all ends. Gently block the panel with a light mist of water and let it dry flat, keeping the wooden ring out of the water.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the ochre skull for a heart or star appliqué for a softer, non-spooky look.
- Use a contrasting cotton color for the post-stitch blocks to make the basketweave texture pop.
- Make a second panel in a different color and sew them back to back for a reversible teether.
