Create a charming Frog Play Set featuring five adorable frogs, a small pond with lily pads and bugs, and a storage log that opens to tuck everything inside. This pattern walks you through crochet shapes, embellishments, and a reinforced plastic-canvas log for lasting play. You will enjoy stitching lots of tiny details and assembling a delightful sensory play set that makes a perfect handmade gift.
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β Frogs :
Info :
I like to make my frogs first, so when it comes time to make the log, I can seat all my frogs side-by-side and judge how long I need to make the log.
Materials :
Fingering weight yarn - Green (I used Katia Amigurumi 100% cotton). Optional: Contrasting colors of embroidery floss or crochet thread for speckles. 2mm crochet hook; 3mm for larger frog. Black embroidery floss for eyes, nostrils and mouth (4mm safety eyes if desired). Fiberfill. Scissors, yarn needle, straight pins.
β Body :
Round 1 :
Magic circle with 6 scs. (6)
Round 2 :
Inc in each st. (12)
Round 3 :
(Sc, inc) x6. (18)
Round 4 :
(Sc x2, inc) x6. (24)
Round 5-9 :
Sc in each st. (5 rows) (24)
Round 10 :
(Sc x2, dec) x6. (18)
Round 11 :
(Sc, dec) x6. (12) Stuff.
Info :
Sl st in next st. Finish off with long tail to sew hole closed, finish off and weave in end.
β Speckles :
Infos :
There are a few different options for making speckles. Speckled Yarn - use speckled yarn. Embroidery - embroider small straight stitches or French knots after assembly. Crochet - stitch them onto the body while crocheting (instructions below).
Info :
Crocheting speckles is done with random patterning. Join your speckle color on row 5, make 1 stitch, then change back to the main color. Carry the speckle colored strand along and crochet over it until you wish to make another speckle. Then change to the speckle color, make 1 stitch, and then change back to the main color. Sometimes the speckle color shows through where you are crocheting over it, but that just adds to the speckle effect throughout the body. Continue with speckles from rounds 5 thru 9, then drop your speckled color and finish up in the main color.
β Eyes :
Round 1 :
Magic circle with 6 scs. (6)
Round 2 :
(Sc, inc) x3. (9)
Round 3 :
Sc in each st. (9)
Info :
Sl st in next st and finish off with long tail for sewing. Using black embroidery floss, secure end inside eye bump. Sew a French knot or embroider a circle for an eye. Note: I have used a 4mm safety eye, but the eye bump is tight and it is difficult to get the back on the eye post. When I did use safety eyes, I had to trim down the post after attaching the washer so it would fit inside the eye bump. Stuff eyes and pin to top of head where you like them. Sew in place with whip stitches. Finish off and hide ends inside body.
β Feet and Legs :
Round 1 :
(Ch 3, sl st in the 2nd ch from hook and next ch) x3. (3 toes made)
Round 2 :
Ch 1. Sc in the base of each toe. (3)
Round 3 :
Ch 1, turn. Sc in the front loops of each st. Turn and sc in the 3 back loops on the other side of the same row. (6)
Info :
Begin working in continuous rounds.
Round 5-12 :
Sc in each st. (8 rows) (5) No need to stuff.
Info :
Sl st in the next st and finish off with a long tail. Thread the tail onto your yarn needle and sew the top of the leg opening closed. Fold the leg in half and sew the top of the leg to the back of the ankle with a couple of stitches. Position on the sides of the body and pin in place. Sew the leg to the body at the ankle, hip, and about halfway up the leg; on the front and back. Finish off and hide ends inside body.
β Face :
Info :
Using black embroidery floss and yarn needle, secure yarn inside the body by sewing back and forth inside the body so it isn't visible. Embroider the mouth using the photos as your guide. Use simple straight stitches; one long stitch for the straight mouth and three for the smile. For the frown, use one long straight stitch then tack it down with a tiny stitch at the center to hold it. After embroidering the mouth, add a couple of tiny vertical straight stitches for the nostrils. Secure your thread by sewing back and forth inside the body so it isn't visible and then clip the end. Feel free to experiment and make the mouths the way you like them.
β Log :
Materials :
Worsted weight yarn - Brown and Tan (I used Bernat Super Value in Taupe Heather and Oatmeal). Optional: contrasting embroidery floss for speckles. 3.75mm crochet hook. Plastic canvas, brown, a 10.5" x 13.5" piece cut to fit inside log. Scissors, yarn needle, straight pins, thin permanent marker. Optional: sew-on magnet or Velcro dots to keep open end of log closed. Optional: scrap piece of plastic canvas or other stiff plastic like from a milk carton.
β Log Ends :
Info :
Each end of the log is worked a bit differently. You will be closing up one end (closed end), and the other end you'll secure the disk just at the top so it will hinge open to store your frogs inside the log. You'll be making two sets of 2 disks each and sandwiching them together with a piece of plastic between. This reinforces the disks so they will be nice and stiff.
β Hinged End (Inside) :
Round 1 :
Magic circle with 6 scs. (6)
Round 2 :
Inc in each st. (12)
Round 3 :
(Sc, inc) x6. (18)
Round 4 :
(Sc x2, inc) x6. (24) Finish off and weave in ends. Set aside.
β Hinged End (Outside) :
Round 1 :
With Brown yarn: Magic circle with 6 scs. Join with sl st to first st. Join tan yarn. (6)
Round 2 :
With Tan yarn: Inc in each st. Join with sl st to first st. Join brown yarn. (12)
Round 3 :
With Brown yarn: (Sc, inc) x6. Join with sl st to first st. Join tan yarn. (18)
Round 4 :
With Tan yarn: (Sc x2, inc) x6. Join with sl st to first st, finish off and weave in ends. (24)
Info :
Optional: Cut a circle from scrap plastic canvas to fit between two disks. Place two disks together wrong sides facing each other with optional plastic canvas sandwiched between.
Round 5 :
With Brown yarn, work through both layers of the disks, working into corresponding stitches on each disk: (Sc x3, inc) x6. (30)
Round 6 :
Sl st in each st. (30) Join with sl st. Finish off and weave in ends. Set aside until after you've created the log.
β Closed End (Inside) :
Round 1 :
Magic circle with 6 scs. (6)
Round 2 :
Inc in each st. (12)
Round 3 :
(Sc, inc) x6. (18)
Round 4 :
(Sc x2, inc) x6. (24) Sl st in next st and finish off. Weave in tails. Set aside.
β Closed End (Outside) :
Round 1 :
With Tan yarn: Magic circle with 6 scs. Join with sl st to first st. Join brown yarn. (6)
Round 2 :
With Brown yarn: Inc in each st. Join with sl st to first st. Join tan yarn. (12)
Round 3 :
With Tan yarn: (Sc, inc) x6. Join with sl st to first st. Join brown yarn. (18)
Round 4 :
With Brown yarn: (Sc x2, inc) x6. Join with sl st to first st, finish off and weave in ends. (24)
Info :
Place the two disks together with wrong sides facing and optional plastic canvas between. With Tan yarn, work through both layers of the disks: 5. (Sc x3, inc) x6. (30) 6. Sl st in each st. (30) Join with sl st. Finish off and weave in ends. Set aside until after you've created the log.
β Plastic Canvas Insert :
Info :
In order to cut your plastic canvas insert to the correct size, roll it up tightly and slide it inside your log. Push against it a bit inside the log to stretch it while inside to get best sizing. Make note where the plastic canvas overlaps; mark with permanent marker. Also mark where the plastic canvas sticks out of the log. Remove and cut so it is 4-6 squares longer than the point where it overlapped when it was inside the log. Trim the length so it is the same length as the log.
Item Name (P1) :
Using yarn needle and a 24" piece of brown yarn, use a running stitch to sew the tube together so edges overlap by 4-6 rows. Start by stitching over your beginning tail to secure it on the outside. You may want to pin it. Stitch in about every 3rd square; it will be tight enough. Secure ending tail by sewing into previous stitches on the outside of the log. Clip end.
β Main Trunk of Log :
Info :
At the end of each row, join with sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. Ch 3 and do not turn (ch-3 counts as a stitch in each row). With brown or chosen yarn(s). Ch 33. Join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Round 1 :
Ch 3 and dc in each ch across. Join with sl st in top of the beginning ch-3. Join with sl st. (33)
Round 2-27 :
Ch 3. Dc in next st, fpdc, (dc x2, fpdc) x10. Join with sl st. (26 rows - see below*) (33)
Round 28 :
Ch 1. Beginning in the same st, (sc x2, fpsc) x11. Join with sl st. (33)
Info :
*Check the length of the log starting at about row 22 by placing your frogs lined up along the log to determine how long you need to make it. Add rows if you want it longer or subtract to shorten. Do not finish off. Place a safety pin in your loop to keep from unraveling during next steps. Weave in starting tail.
β Log Assembly :
Item Name (P1) :
Attaching the Plastic Canvas Tube: 1. Place the plastic canvas tube inside the log, lining up the seam of the canvas tube to the seam of your crocheted log (that seam is the bottom of the log). Position the flat portion at the bottom of your log. 2. Thread your yarn needle with a long piece of brown yarn (about 24"). 3. Start with the end of the log you left off on (the same side where you have your safety pin - keep safety pin in place). This will be the "closed" end of the log. 4. Secure the yarn tail to the inside of the yarn log. 5. Use a running stitch and sew the end of the yarn log to the plastic canvas sheet. Sew through the posts of the stitches and into the first row on the plastic sheet. Note: by sewing into the posts you are leaving the ends of the rows of the log free to work into when attaching the log-end disk. 6. Finish off, weave in end. 7. Repeat for 2nd end (this will be the "hinged" end) but begin stitches near top of log (opposite seam). 8. Do not finish off. Continue on to securing the first log-end disk.
β Attaching the Log-End Disks :
Hinged End 1 :
1. Continue from attaching the plastic canvas tube. Feed yarn up to top of log if necessary. 2. Using the disk that ends with brown stripe, line it up with the inside of the log. 3. At the top of the log, use whip stitch to sew a hinge on the disk - just at the top of the log (about 4-5 stitches). Be sure to sew through all 3 layers: (1) disk, (2) plastic canvas, (3) crocheted log yarn. Test as you go to make sure it flaps open and closed how you like it. 4. After securing top of disk, continue whip stitching around end of the opening to give nice finish by whip stitching into both layers: the plastic canvas and the crocheted log yarn. 5. Secure end and finish off.
Closed End 1 :
1. Place the disk for the closed end (the one that ends with a tan stripe) inside the end of the log where you ended your stitching (your safety pin should still be in that last loop). 2. Line up the stitches so you begin working in the last st made on the disk. 3. Remove the safety pin and insert your crochet hook. With the outside of the log facing you, crochet through both layers (both loops of the last row of sts of the log and the BLO of the disk). a. Special Increases* are made as follows: Sc through next log st and next disk st, and then sc in next log st and same disk st. (Sc x9, special inc*) x3 (33) 4. Secure ends and finish off.
β Adding the Magnet or Velcro Closure :
Round 1 :
With brown yarn: 1. Magic circle with 6 scs. (6) 2. Sc in each st. (6) Finish off with long tail for sewing. Stuff with yarn ends.
Item Name (P1) :
To attach: Sew one end of magnet pair or one side of velcro to the stub. Hold stub inside opening of log. Open and close log and note where flap will match up; pin in place. Place other side of magnet/velcro onto flap and pin. When happy with placement, sew stub to floor of inside log and other side of magnet/velcro to the flap. If desired, attach a Ch-6 loop to bottom of flap for grabbing.
β Branch Stumps :
Start with Tan Round 1 :
Magic circle with 6 scs. Join with sl st. (6)
Start with Tan Round 2 :
Ch 1. Inc in each st. (12) Join with sl st and finish off.
Change to Brown Round 3 :
Sl st loosely in each st. Sl st in BLO of first st. Ch 1. (12)
Round 4 :
In BLO: Sc in same st as joining, and each st around. (12)
Round 5-8 :
Sc in each st for 4 rows. (12)
Round 9 :
Sl st in next st, ch 1, turn. Beginning in the next st: Sc x6, sl st. Leave remaining sts unworked.
Round 10 :
Ch 1, turn. Beginning in the next st: (Sc, inc) x2, sc, sl st. (6) Finish off with a long tail for sewing. Stuff.
Info :
Attach branch stumps by pinning to log; position stumps for stability. Whip stitch in place and add stuffing before closing hole. Finish off and weave in ends.
β Pond/Pool :
Materials :
Worsted Weight Yarn - Light Blue and Green (Bernat Super Value in Cool Blue and Kelly). 3.75mm crochet hook. Scissors, yarn needle.
Info :
At the end of each row, ch 1 and turn. The chain does not count as a st.
Round 1 :
Magic circle with 3 scs (3)
Round 2 :
Inc in each st (6)
Round 3 :
(Sc, inc) x3 (9)
Round 4 :
(Sc x2, inc) x3 (12)
Round 5 :
(Sc x3, inc) x3 (15)
Round 6 :
Sc x2, inc, (sc x4, inc) x2, sc x2 (18)
Round 7 :
(Inc, sc x5) x3 (21)
Round 8 :
Sc x3, inc, (sc x6, inc) x2, sc x3 (24)
Round 9 :
(Sc x7, inc) x3 (27)
Round 10 :
Sc x4, inc, (sc x8, inc) x2, sc x4 (30)
Round 11 :
(Inc, sc x9) x3 (33)
Round 12 :
Sc x5, inc, (sc x10, inc) x2, sc x5 (36)
Round 13 :
(Sc x11, inc) x3 (39)
Round 14 :
Sc x6, inc, (sc x12, inc) x2, sc x6 (42)
Round 15 :
(Inc, sc x13) x3 (45)
Round 16 :
Sc x7, inc, (sc x14, inc) x2, sc x7 (48)
Round 17 :
(Sc x15, inc) x3 (51)
Round 18 :
Sc x8, inc, (sc x16, inc) x2, sc x8 (54)
Round 19 :
(Inc, sc x17) x3 (57)
Round 20 :
Sc x9, inc, (sc x18, inc) x2, sc x9. Ch 1, rotate mat clockwise and work along the flat edge. Sc in the same st and in the sides of each row across. Ch 1 and sl st in first st made. Finish off. (about 80 sts made + 1 ch at each corner)
Round 21 :
Turn mat over and join green with sc in same corner. Sc across flat edge. At corner, sc, ch 1, sc in same st. Rotate mat clockwise and work the following all around the curved edge of the mat: (Ch 3, sc x2) all around the curve of the mat until you get to the corner. Sl st to join. If your stitches donβt come out exactly even, ease last few sts of pattern to fit. Finish off and weave in all ends.
β Embellishments :
Materials :
Crochet thread, embroidery floss, or fingering yarn (green, red, black, yellow). 2mm crochet hook for embellishments. Scissors, yarn needle. Optional: Waterproof fabric glue.
Butterflies (Make 2) :
Start with yellow: 1. Magic circle with: Sc, dc, sc, sl st, (sc, tr x2, sc, sl st) x2, sc, dc, sc, sl st. Sl st in first st and finish off with long tail for sewing. Pull circle closed, weave in starting tail. With black: thread a 24" piece of black thread/yarn onto needle. Feed down through top center of butterfly's wings towards back; leave long tail as one antenna. Sew through wings from back to front to place dots or lines. Wrap black tightly around center of wings 2-3 times to create body. Tie ends and trim. Use yellow tail to sew butterflies in place or glue.
Ladybugs (Make 3) :
Start with red: 1. Magic circle with 6 scs. Join with sl st to first st. Keep long red tail for sewing and change to black. 2. Ch 1. Sc in same st and next st. Finish off with long tail for sewing. Thread tail onto yarn needle and sew through base of 2nd black st from front to back. Use tail to make dots on ladybug with straight stitches or French knots. Weave in tail and clip. Use long red tail to sew ladybug in place or glue. Place one on the log and two on the pond.
Lily Pads (Make 3) :
With Green: 1. Magic circle with 6 scs. Do not join. Ch 1, turn. (6) 2. Increase in each st. Do not join. Ch 1, turn. (12) 3. (Sc, inc) x6. Do not join. Ch 1, turn. (18) Finish off with long end for sewing. Pull magic circle closed and weave in starting tail into the back. Position where you like them on the pond and sew in place or use waterproof glue.
Vine :
With green - begin with a long starting tail. Ch 15. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook. In next chains: sc, hdc x2, sc, sl st. Rotate piece and work on opposite side of the leaf in the free loops: sl st, sc, hdc x2, sc, sl st in end and in the BLO in first st on other side. Ch 1. Surface crochet sl sts down center spine of the leaf, then sl st in first unworked chain just below the leaf. Repeat Ch 15 until vine is desired length (example ~18" and had 17 leaves). Finish off with long tail and tack down beginning and end of vine on the back or underside of the log. Weave tail into log and clip ends.
β Final Assembly and Finishing :
Info :
Attach frogs to log by placing and sewing legs and bottom to log or leave loose for play. Sew lily pads and embellishments onto pond. Attach vine and leaves to log by tacking down ends and a few spots along length so it lays naturally. Add butterflies and ladybugs as desired. Sew in any remaining ends and check that magnets or velcro close properly. Place frogs into log for storage.
This sweet Frog Play Set brings a little pond to life right in your hands! With five tiny frogs, a cozy log for storage, and a decorative pond full of lily pads and bugs, itβs perfect for gifting or imaginative play. Customize colors, speckles, and faces to make each frog unique and full of personality. π§ΆπΈβ¨