Santa Turtle - Crochet Pattern Review

This is a crochet pattern review of the Santa Turtle designed by Happy Turtle Crochet. Review done by Candace of T&C Crafters for EyeLoveKnots.

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It’s me, Candace with T&C Crafters.

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Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am so excited to decorate and finish up my Christmas gifts I’m making for family! When I’m working hard on making gifts, I sometimes get sad that I can’t show my makes with others because it will spoil the surprise if I share it too early. As a compromise, I thought it would be fun to make some cute, Christmas-themed stuffed toys to fill my shelves and share with others.

While checking out some cute crochet Christmas patterns, I fell in love with the Santa Turtle by Happy Turtle Crochet. After making the Sunflower Turtle pattern, I was already familiar with the designer and knew it would be a well-written pattern. This cutie worked up so quickly and is incredibly adorable! My friends and family all agree that everyone needs a Santa Turtle in their lives this holiday season!

What Do I Need to Crochet a Santa Turtle?

Super Bulky (Weight 6) Plush Yarn – I used Bernat Blanket Yarn in Malachite (Green), White, and Coal (Black) and Big Twist Plush in Chili Pepper (Red)
J 10.5/6.5 mm Crochet Hook – I love using my Clover Amour ergonomic hook!
Stuffing
Yarn Needle – I recommend using a steel yarn needle.
15 mm Black Felt Eyes
Santa Turtle, paid crochet pattern by Happy Turtle Crochet via Etsy

Material Notes:

The Santa Turtle crochet pattern calls for weight 5 (bulky) or weight 6 (super bulky) yarn. The designer used Premier Parfait Chunky and Yarn Bee Velvety Smooth and shared that both those yarns are similar in weight even though they have different labels. I used Bernat Blanket yarn and Big Twist Plush yarn to make my Santa Turtle.

In the pattern, the designer indicates that they used a G7/4.5 mm crochet hook. When working with this weight of yarn, I typically use a J10.5/6.5 mm hook instead, so that’s what I used. You will just want to make sure the hook you choose is appropriate for your yarn and tension. If you use too big of a hook, you may have stuffing come out between your stitches.

This pattern requires some stuffing. I like to stuff stuffed toys really full, so I used extra stuffing, but you can choose to stuff them as full as you would like to keep their shape. In addition to finishing off the body of the turtle, you will need to sew on the head, the hat, and the belt of the turtle. I find it easiest to do this type of sewing with a steel yarn needle that doesn’t bend when I am pushing it through the thicker yarn.

The pattern calls for 18 mm safety eyes. I use felt eyes for all my makes to make them safer for kids, so I went with 15 mm black felt eyes. You can choose what you want for your preference. If you use felt eyes, you will want to make sure you have a hot glue gun or fabric glue to attach them.

How Long Does It Take to Crochet a Santa Turtle?

The Santa Turtle took me about two and a half hours to make from start to finish.

What Size is a Crocheted Santa Turtle?

The finished Santa Turtle measures approximately 9 1/2 inches long, 8 1/2 inches wide, and just under 7 inches tall.

Gauge (Not Essential):

Gauge is not provided in this pattern and is not critical for making stuffed toys like this. You mainly want to make sure that your hook size is appropriate for your yarn and that your stitches are tight enough together so that your stuffing doesn’t come out through holes between the stitches.

If you want your Santa Turtle to come out to be the same size as mine, using super bulky weight 6 yarn (Bernat Blanket) and a J10.5/6.5 mm crochet hook, a magic circle with 8 single crochets should measure approximately 1 1/4 inches in diameter.

All About Crocheting the Santa Turtle:

The Santa Turtle crochet pattern is such a fun project! It works up quickly, and the construction is pretty simple, even if you are not an amigurumi expert. You start by making the legs, tail, and head, and then move onto the shell and body. After the turtle is made, it’s the little details that really make this pattern shine! The belt is made separately and sewn onto the back of the turtle, then embroidered to have a cute buckle. The hat is made separately and sewn on at the end as well. I love that the majority of this pattern is crocheted right together, making this a low-sew pattern perfect for quick gifts and market prep.

Skill-wise, I would say that this pattern is great for confident beginners. The only part that may slow you down is connecting the legs and tail as you build the body. The pattern includes photos that help with this part.

If you’re making items for holiday markets, or just like making stuffies in batches, this little turtle is perfect for that. I made all the small pieces first, then zoomed through the body afterwards, and it definitely sped things up. Once you know the steps, you barely need to look at the pattern to make it again!

I’m honestly obsessed with how these Santa Turtles turned out. They’re festive, adorable, and just the right mix of cute and quirky. I can already see them being a huge hit for the holidays, so I’m planning on making a bunch more!

If you loved themed turtles, you HAVE to check out the rest of Happy Turtle Crochet’s patterns. There are so many fun designs. I’ve already stocked up on some more of their patterns to make more!

Looking for More Great Christmas Patterns?

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Santa Turtle – Crochet Pattern Review