There is a particular magic in the transition from late summer to early autumn, where the light turns golden and the air grows crisp. Barnaby was born from that very feeling. He is not merely a toy; he is a companion for garden walks and cozy afternoons. I have designed him with rich textures—tweed for his work clothes and soft cotton for his plumage—to capture that tactile joy we so love.
About This Creation
This project focuses heavily on texture and wardrobe construction. Unlike simple amigurumi where details are embroidered, Barnaby features removable clothing layers (the overalls) and structural accessories (the beret). We are using a “rag doll” join for the legs to allow him to sit naturally on a shelf or among your pumpkins. The use of flecked or tweed yarn for the overalls is the secret ingredient here—it instantly elevates the aesthetic from “cartoon” to “heirloom.”
Project Snapshot
📊 Difficulty: Intermediate (Color changes, clothing construction) ⏰ Est. Time: 8–10 Hours 📏 Size: Approx. 22cm (8.5 inches) tall
“The beauty of the handmade is found in the small imperfections of the tweed and the tension of your stitch.” — Patricia
Materials & Tools Needed
🧶 Yarn A (Body): Worsted weight soft acrylic or cotton in Cream/White (approx. 100g) 🧶 Yarn B (Beak/Feet): Worsted weight in Mustard Yellow 🧶 Yarn C (Overalls): Aran/Worsted weight Tweed yarn in Rust/Burnt Orange (looks like distinct flecks) 🧶 Yarn D (Beret): Worsted weight in Moss Green 🧶 Scrap Yarn: Dark Brown (sunflower center), Bright Yellow (petals) 🪡 Hook: 3.5mm (E) for body, 4.0mm (G) for clothing to ensure fit ✨ Other Materials: 10mm safety eyes, polyfill stuffing, tapestry needle, stitch markers, rustic twine for hat ties.
Abbreviations & Stitches Used
ch: chain sl st: slip stitch sc: single crochet hdc: half double crochet dc: double crochet inc: increase (2 sc in one st) dec: decrease (sc 2 together) BLO: back loop only FLO: front loop only
The Complete Barnaby Project
Component 1: The Head (Yarn A – White)
➡️ R1: Start with a magic ring, 6 sc into ring (6) ➡️ R2: Inc in every st around (12) ➡️ R3: (Sc 1, inc) x 6 (18) ➡️ R4: (Sc 2, inc) x 6 (24) ➡️ R5: (Sc 3, inc) x 6 (30) ➡️ R6: (Sc 4, inc) x 6 (36) ➡️ R7: (Sc 5, inc) x 6 (42) ➡️ R8: (Sc 6, inc) x 6 (48) ➡️ R9–18: Sc in each st around (48) [10 rounds of plain stitching for a nice round shape] ➡️ R19: (Sc 6, dec) x 6 (42) ➡️ R20: (Sc 5, dec) x 6 (36) ➡️ R21: (Sc 4, dec) x 6 (30) Insert safety eyes between R14 and R15, spaced 9 stitches apart. Begin stuffing firmly. ➡️ R22: (Sc 3, dec) x 6 (24) ➡️ R23: (Sc 2, dec) x 6 (18) ➡️ Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Component 2: The Beak (Yarn B – Mustard)
➡️ R1: Ch 6. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 4, 3 sc in last ch. Rotate to work on other side of chain: sc 3, inc in last st (12) ➡️ R2: Inc, sc 3, inc x 3, sc 3, inc x 2 (18) ➡️ R3–5: Sc in each st around (18) ➡️ R6: (Sc 5, inc) x 3 (21) ➡️ Fasten off, leave tail. Stuff lightly.
Component 3: The Body (Yarn A – White)
➡️ R1: Magic ring, 6 sc (6) ➡️ R2: Inc in every st (12) ➡️ R3: (Sc 1, inc) x 6 (18) ➡️ R4: (Sc 2, inc) x 6 (24) ➡️ R5: (Sc 3, inc) x 6 (30) ➡️ R6: (Sc 4, inc) x 6 (36) ➡️ R7: (Sc 5, inc) x 6 (42) ➡️ R8–12: Sc in each st around (42) ➡️ R13: (Sc 5, dec) x 6 (36) ➡️ R14–16: Sc in each st around (36) ➡️ R17: (Sc 4, dec) x 6 (30) ➡️ R18–20: Sc in each st around (30) ➡️ R21: (Sc 3, dec) x 6 (24) ➡️ R22: (Sc 2, dec) x 6 (18) ➡️ Fasten off, stuff firmly.
Component 4: Webbed Feet (Make 2, Yarn B – Mustard)
➡️ R1: Magic ring, 6 sc (6) ➡️ R2: Inc in every st (12) ➡️ R3: (Sc 1, inc) x 6 (18) ➡️ R4–6: Sc in each st around (18) Flatten the piece. Do not stuff the foot part. ➡️ R7: To make toes (Ch 3, dc in same st, sl st in next st) repeat 3 times across the front to create 3 webbed bumps. ➡️ Fasten off.
Component 5: The Wings (Make 2, Yarn A – White)
➡️ R1: Magic ring, 6 sc (6) ➡️ R2: Inc in every st (12) ➡️ R3: (Sc 1, inc) x 6 (18) ➡️ R4–7: Sc in each st around (18) ➡️ R8: (Sc 4, dec) x 3 (15) ➡️ R9: Sc in each st around (15) ➡️ R10: (Sc 3, dec) x 3 (12) ➡️ R11: Flatten the opening and sc across through both layers (6 sc). ➡️ R12: Turn, ch 1, (sk 1, 3 dc in next st, sl st in next) x 2. This creates a scalloped feather edge. Fasten off.
Component 6: Rustic Tweed Overalls (Yarn C – Rust)
These are worked from the legs up. ➡️ Leg 1: Ch 15, join to form circle. Sc around for 6 rounds. Fasten off. ➡️ Leg 2: Ch 15, join, sc around for 6 rounds. Do not fasten off. ➡️ Join: Ch 2, join to Leg 1 with a sc. Sc around Leg 1 (15), sc across ch 2 (2), sc around Leg 2 (15), sc across back of ch 2 (2). Total base for hips. ➡️ Hips R1–5: Sc in each st around. ➡️ R6: (Sc 6, dec) around. ➡️ R7: Sc around. ➡️ Bib: Locate the center 10 stitches on the front. Attach yarn. Work back and forth in rows of sc for 6 rows. ➡️ Straps: Ch 20 (measure against your stuffed duck), sc back down the chain. Sew to back of pants and tack to front bib corners with a decorative knot.
Component 7: Sunflower Beret (Yarn D – Green)
➡️ R1: Magic ring, 8 hdc (8) ➡️ R2: 2 hdc in each st (16) ➡️ R3: (Hdc 1, inc) x 8 (24) ➡️ R4: (Hdc 2, inc) x 8 (32) ➡️ R5: (Hdc 3, inc) x 8 (40) ➡️ R6: (Hdc 4, inc) x 8 (48) ➡️ R7: (Hdc 5, inc) x 8 (56) ➡️ R8: Sc in each st around (56) ➡️ R9: (Sc 5, dec) x 8 (48) ➡️ R10: (Sc 4, dec) x 8 (40) ➡️ R11: Ch 1, FLO dc in each st around to create a ruffled brim. Fasten off. ➡️ Ties: Attach rust-colored yarn or twine to sides of the hat to tie under the chin.
Component 8: Sunflower Appliqué (Make 2 – Hat & Overalls)
➡️ Center (Brown): Magic ring, 6 sc. Sl st to join. ➡️ Petals (Yellow): Join yarn. (Ch 2, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in next st) repeat around for 6 petals.
Assembly & Final Touches
- Body Construction: Sew the head to the body securely.
- Face: Sew the beak centered between the eyes. Add small pink blush lines with yarn if desired.
- Limbs: Sew wings to the sides of the body (R19). Sew feet to the bottom of the body, slightly splayed outwards.
- Dressing Barnaby: Slide the overalls onto the body before sewing the wings if the fit is tight, otherwise dress him after. Sew the sunflower appliqué to the bib of the overalls.
- The Hat: Place the beret on the head, tilted slightly to the side. Sew the second sunflower to the brim. Tie the straps under his chin in a loose bow.
Tips & FAQs
Q: Can I use velvet yarn? A: You certainly can for a softer feel, but you may lose the “rustic” stitch definition of the overalls. If you do, go down a hook size to prevent holes.
Q: My beret keeps falling off. A: Use a few hidden stitches to tack the hat directly to the head, or use sewing pins to hold it in place for photography before securing.
A Final Word
Barnaby is now ready to explore your world. I hope his creation brought you a quiet moment of peace amidst the noise. May your stitches be even and your tea be hot.
Yours in craft, Patricia
