PlanetJune by June Gilbank: Blog
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© June Gilbank 2009
Mop Top Mascots are a fun way to use up scraps of yarn. They stand about 4″ tall, and the real joy of them is that they are so easy to make, and easy to customize with funky colours or embellishments. Who wouldn’t appreciate a little mascot like these?!
This pattern is Donationware – the pattern is available for free, but if you like it please consider sending me a donation to show your appreciation:
Send me a donation and receive the easy-to-print PDF version of the pattern as a thank you!
The PDF pattern also contains advice and suggestions for making the accessories to convert your mascots into Lemmings 🙂
Donations of any size are much appreciated. Just add the amount you wish to donate, and, once you have checked out and paid, your pattern will instantly be available to download from your PlanetJune account.
The complete pattern and instructions are available below, regardless of whether or not you choose to pay for them 🙂
This is a PlanetJune original crochet pattern. Feel free to use items made from this pattern however you wish, but I’d appreciate credit as the pattern designer. Please do not reproduce the pattern anywhere else; instead post a link to www.planetjune.com/moptop
Not ready to make it yet? Add it to your Ravelry queue: 
Terminology
| ch | chain |
| invdec | invisible decrease Note: If you prefer, you may use a standard sc2tog decrease in place of each invdec. |
| sc | single crochet (double crochet for UK/Aus) |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| st | stitch |
You will need…
- E US/3.5mm and H US/5mm crochet hooks
- Small quantity of worsted weight yarn in two colours
- Small quantity of eyelash yarn for hair
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle to weave in ends
- Polyester fibrefill stuffing
- Eyes, approx 8mm diameter
Notes
- Do not join at the end of each round; rounds are worked in continuous spirals.
- Fuzzy yarn stitches are worked in back loops only; worsted weight yarn stitches are worked in front and back loops (unless otherwise specified).
- Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round. Move the marker up each time you start a new round.
- Working with fuzzy (eyelash or novelty) yarn can be a challenge until you get the hang of it. See my Fuzzy Yarn tips for my advice.
- Use worsted weight yarn and E hook unless instructed otherwise.
Colour code
A: the yarn colour of the face, hands and feet
B: the yarn colour of the body
Head
worked from nose back
With A, make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnd 2: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) three times. (9 st)
Rnd 3: sc in each st around. (9 st)
Rnd 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) three times. (12 st)
Rnd 5: sc in each st around. (12 st)
Rnd 6: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st) three times. (15 st)
Rnd 7: sc in each st around. (15 st)
Note: If using animal (safety) eyes, insert them now (roughly between Rnds 5 and 6) and attach the backs.
Rnd 8: (invdec, sc in next 3 st) three times. (12 st). Stuff head through hole.
Rnd 9: invdec six times. (6 st). Fasten off and weave in ends.
Body
worked from bottom up
With B, make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 st)
Rnd 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) six times. (18 st)
Rnd 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 st) six times. (24 st)
Rnd 5: in back loops only, sc in each st around. (24 st)
Rnd 6: in both loops from now on, sc in each st around. (24 st)
Rnd 7: (invdec, sc in next 2 st) six times. (18 st)
Rnd 8: sc in each st around. (18 st)
Rnd 9: (invdec, sc in next 4 st) three times. (15 st)
Rnds 10-11: sc in each st around. (15 st)
Rnd 12: (invdec, sc in next 3 st) three times. (12 st)
Rnds 13-14: sc in each st around. (12 st). Stuff body through hole.
Rnd 15: (invdec, sc in next 2 st) three times. (9 st)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of yarn to attach body to head.
Foot (make 2)
worked from toe back
With A, make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnds 2-4: sc in each st around. (6 st)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end to attach foot to body.
Arm (make 2)
worked from hand to shoulder
With A, make a magic ring, ch 1.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 st)
Rnds 2-3: sc in each st around. (6 st)
With B:
Rnds 4-8: sc in each st around. (6 st)
Join with sl st to next st. Fasten off, leaving long end of B to attach arm to body.
Hair
With eyelash yarn and H hook, ch 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6 st)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 st)
Rnd 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st) three times. (15 st)
Rnd 4: sc in each st around. (15 st). Join with sl st and fasten off, leaving long yarn end to attach hair to head.
Finishing
Place the head on top of the neck opening. Using a yarn needle and the long yarn end from the body, sew the body to the head all around the open end of the neck.
Position the arms at each side of the body so that the top of the shoulder is 2 rounds below the top of the body. Using a yarn needle and the long yarn end from each arm, sew the arms to the body all around the open end of the arms.
Flatten both feet, then position them at the front of the body, so the toes peek out from beneath the body. Using a yarn needle and the long yarn end from each foot, sew the feet securely to the body.
Position the circle of hair over the top and back of the head. Using a yarn needle and the long yarn end from the hair, attach the hair to the head by sewing all around the edge of the circle. Fluff out any clumps of lashes that are trapped by the stitches by raking over the hair a few times with the yarn needle.
Add accessories as desired to give your new friend some personality!
I hope you enjoy this pattern. Please leave me a comment below if you do, and consider leaving me a donation. Thanks!
59 Comments »
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Deborah said
I have just finished the five Lemmings for my son. The worst bit to do was the pick axe but I persevered and after much trial and error have succeeded. I would add that I added curtain weights to the bottom block of the builder lemming and managed to get him to stand unaided without support. Thoroughly enjoyed this project. Thank you.
Renee Holt said
those little guys are too cute. Thanks for sharing.
banu said
These are like “ALF” . They like Alf’s family. Thank you for the pattern. very sweety
jacqui christiance said
I love these little guys. Thank you for sharing your designs, your knowledge of your craft and and your generosity. Thank you, jacqui
Patricia Taplin said
Love these mascots June, I make small bags in pink in crocodile stitch with these just sticking out the top, as presents, and they are so loved. So thank for this lovely pattern. Regards Patricia.
Caz said
You have a very real gift; your critters et al look so ‘real’ – thanks for sharing!
Becky said
I am very new to this. Could you tell me how you add that cute hair?
June said
Becky, all you need to do is follow the instructions for Hair in the above pattern. You might also want to check out my Fuzzy Yarn Tips for additional pointers on working with the eyelash yarn 🙂
Laura Cline said
I don’t remember the Lemmings video games, but they look just like Fraggles. I swear I remember pics of some people making a boatload of these and staging them all over a building.
June said
Well remembered, Laura – that was a very cool project! I blogged about it here way back in 2009 if you want to see some photos 🙂
Ellisen said
Love your fantastic mop tops. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Manda said
These are really cute and adorable! Thanks for sharing this pattern and other patterns! Manda
Marl said
C’est un tr
Adele Davis said
How tall is the Mop Top?
June said
As it says in the intro, they are about 4″ (10cm) tall 🙂
Wolvie said
I
Alisha said
Does anyone make and sell these. I live in the US and would love one
June said
Alisha, check the of my customers do list of my customers who sell items based on my patterns at www.planetjune.com/buytoys – maybe you’ll find one of them who has what you’re looking for in stock, or can custom-make it for you 🙂
Une grenouille rouge said
Thank you so much for this adorable lemmings ! I didn’t resist to make one.
You can see it at unegrenouillerouge.com/?p=138
Tammy said
I LOVE these!! I thought they were the Fraggle Rock characters too! I don’t know how to crochet, but if I ever learn I’m definitely making these! Thanks!!!
Crochetlover said
Hello!
This little figurs are soooo cute! I will do some to my parents and my brother, the would like it. Im from Sweden by the way, so i dont write so good english, so you know
Thank you for the pattern!
Yady said
Hi June,
Do you know about geocaching? In short, it’s a treasure hunting game using GPS devices. Among the items found in geocaches (the treasure ‘chests’) are travel bugs, trackable items that travel from cache to cache with the help of people who find them.
When we got married last month, my husband and I placed a travel bug in a geocache near the wedding venue. This travel bug consists of a bride and groom that I made by adapting your pattern to make a smaller version. Of course, I added a link to the pattern in the travel bug’s profile (which can be found here: www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=3315531).
Thanks very much for the wonderful pattern!
June said
How lovely, Yady, and congratulations to you and your new husband! I hope the little wedding pair have lots of travel adventures 🙂
Yady said
Hi,
Almost five years after my last comment, and I’m still making these occasionally. And now I’ve adapted the pattern for a bigger version, for a birthday gift for my daughter who turns two next month…
www.stack.nl/~wynke/pictures/biglem.jpg
June said
Wow, it’s great to know that you’re still enjoying my pattern after all this time, Yady! Thanks so much for dropping back in to let me know 🙂
Aram said
Hi,I really love these two funny dolls.I am from Iran and I haven’t seen them before.I can’t stop waiting,I am going to make them as soon as possible,but I couldn’t get what is the part about back loops for?? I have finished the faces but stopped at that part
June said
Aram, the back loops only round is used to create a sharper corner between the bottom and the side of the body, so the base of the body will sit flat on the ground without curving up at the sides.
stinne said
lovly little creatures…
i hope it
June said
Thanks, Stinne! And I’m happy for you to use my picture, providing you’re linking back to my site (which you are!) 🙂
Vero said
Realmente fant
Lana said
Hi, love the pattern, I’m a big Lemmings geek and I’ve already started making one! =D I was just curious what kind of eyelash yarn you used for the basic lemming. Is it a particular brand? I’m having trouble finding that particular green color
June said
Hi Lana, I used Patons Cha-Cha in Reggae which I think is now discontinued (although you may be able to find some on eBay, and I see there’s some up for sale or trade on Ravelry – that’s probably your best chance to get it) . Eyelash yarns aren’t anywhere near as common as they were a couple of years ago – luckily (for me!) I bought a lifetime’s supply when they were still in fashion. It’s very difficult to find anything except Fun Fur these days 🙁
Moira said
I’ve never worked with either eyelash yarn or fun fur. What’s the difference when doing one of these little guys?
June said
‘Fun Fur’ is the brand name of one type of eyelash yarn (made by Lion Brand). Some people call all eyelash yarns ‘fun fur’. Check out my General Fuzzy Yarn Tips to see some of the other types of eyelash/novelty yarns you could use. Each type gives a slightly different effect, but, these days, many types have been discontinued and most craft stores don’t stock many/any types, so the most important factor is to choose one you can find easily, and in a colour you like 🙂
Moira said
These little dudes are so easy to do! I’m still fairly new to crochet (four tiny whales, one cthulhu, and 12 octagons for a blanket) and it only took me a few hours to put one of these together! I’d have been quicker but I was watching Torchwood at the same time and kept getting distracted. 😀
I put a pic on FB with a link to your pattern.
I ended up picking up a multi-colored eyelash yarn so each one I do will have different hair.
melissa rose said
thank you 🙂 now i can make one, or to, or three :-P, in my next class 🙂
June said
Melissa, the arms are very tiny, so you don’t need to stuff them. You might find that the yarn ends inside the arms (from changing colour at the wrists) are enough to fill out the arms without any stuffing. You can squeeze a tiny bit of stuffing into the arms too, if you want, or just leave them unstuffed – whichever you’d prefer 🙂
melissa rose said
hey i love these, but i was wondering, i havent made any yet and ive only made a doll in d3 so for that i have to stuff the arms, but u dont specify if u stuff them or not so im assuming no…????? thank you
Thread Bear said
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
What a great littel pattern. I’ll be starting on my first lemming tomorrow, at a gift for my friend’s birthday.
From one crochet designer to another, hats off!
Wahoo! said
Wow lemmings are so cute! When I go to Calfronia next summer I will be very busy making them on the plane!
Also now I know what I can make for everyone’s birthday!
Marianne said
Oh Wow! These are so cute! Thanks so much! I’ll try to remember to come back on payday (Friday) and leave you a donation. You are so generous to make this pattern available. Thanks again. 🙂
ole casthoej said
Thanks for a lot of inspiration, never thought that mascots could be made in this way. Good luck!
Ali said
I just love the the patterns that you share with us. Thanks
Michal said
These are so cute!! Thanks for sharing this pattern!
Naware said
I have been looking for something to make for a gf two lil ones and these look like just the ticket! I’m SO excited and can’t wait to make them, will be posting pictures on my own blogs for anyone to see! (you can find me on Twitter for any updates)
Anne said
Thank you so much for this pattern, I have 4 great Grand Daughters and I know they’ll absolutely love these.
Kisses, Anne
arcalae said
Lemmings! How cute, an ultimate amigurumi keychain for a gamer geek like me ^^ thanks!
Max California said
I love you
Anne said
Oh no! More lemmings??!
<3 thanks alot!!
Adry said
Hi June!
They are so lovely!
I did a translation of the pattern, and put it in my blog. I linked your blog, of course. Is it ok?, tell me if you don
Maryangela said
Hi, June!
First of all, I’dlike to say I find your work really cool – and I so apreciate the your tutorials! It’s very generous of you and they have helped me a lot. I have this blog in portuguese where there’s a link to your page.
For there’s very little information on amigurumi in portuguese, I’d like to know if I could translate your material and make it avaible in my blog. Note that I would always refer to you as the author and always link to your page. It’s just a way to build the amigurumi comunity here in Brazil. Please, let me know what you think about it. Thank you so much!
Mary
sara (sarloz) said
These are so cute! I also thought of the fraggles the minute i saw them. I love them!
susan said
wow these are fabulous, your patterns are great, tfs, hugs susan
Jasmine said
Thank-you so much for the wonderful pattern! Lemmings was my favourite game!
Jana said
VERY cute! And if they are as simple as you say, perhaps one for each of the kids in my class as a year end gift won’t be too hard or time consuming to do!
I will be back next week to download it when I can leave a donation (payday Saturday! WooHoo!)
marteks said
Adorable! These are the cutest things I have seen in a very long time!
san's said
OMG these are soooooooo cute thanks for the pattern
Carolyn said
I love them. They look like Fraggles!
rosselyn said
I think they are lemmings, I loved them