Ever since I started my blog, over 9 years ago now, I have been making these stuffed critters which I fondly named Puffy Stuffies. They are all made in this same style with the same row counts and everything. They all just have minor adjustments and varying details to make them look like the individual animals. Originally I began making them with Bernat Blanket yarn and a K hook. With the closing of JoAnn’s, I’ve recently discovered Premier Yarn’s Parfait Chunky, so I have been making them in this small style with a G hook and LOVE them!
The Puffy Stuffy Chick design was made so long ago, that it’s among the very first patterns I posted on my first blogging platform. Recently I updated it to be completely no-sew, because…sewing…ew. I loved it so much I wanted to make a duck as well! Now, baby ducks and baby chicks, made in this style would look pretty much the same, so I worked this one up into a mallard duck. I love how he turned out!
If you’re interested in a printer-friendly PDF of the Mallard Duck Puffy Stuffy Pattern, you can find the design in my Ravelry or Etsy shops! If you prefer to use the free blog copy below, I still appreciate you being here! And another great way to support my blog is simply by sharing! Thank you for supporting my business!
Materials:
Used here:
Parfait Chunky – Goblin, Toffee, Teddy Bear, and Carrot
Worsted Weight black acrylic yarn for the eyes – 1 yd
OR Flat Back Round Kawaii eyes and hot glue gun (sizes depends on your preference!)
Alternate Yarn/Hook combos:
DK weight yarn with 2mm or 2.25mm hook
Worsted Weight yarn with 3.5mm hook
Big Twist Posh with 4mm hook
Bernat Blanket with 6.5mm hook
*Note: making it with dk yarn and the 2mm hook makes a great keychain size, using these fun attachments below. Place the screw up from the inside of the head before closing up, and glue the rivet onto the screw to secure. You can find this technique used on my Unicorn Puffy Stuffy.
Metal Pull Ring Rivets with Screws
Metal Lobster Claw Clasp and Split Key Rings
Fabri-Tac, Permanent Adhesive, Fabric Glue
Terms and abbreviations to know:
magic ring
rnd, rnds – round, rounds
st, sts – stitch, stitches
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
inc – increase, work 2 sts into same st
FLO – front loop only
Special Stitches:
popcorn st – popcorn stitch
- Make 5 dc sts in same st
- Drop loop of the last dc.
- Insert hook into the top of the 1st dc sts.
- Pick up dropped loop from the last dc.
- Pull dropped loop through the top of the 1st dc.
dc bobble – double crochet bobble
- Yarn over, and insert hook into designated st.
- Pull up a loop.
- Yarn over, and pull through 2 loops, leaving 2 loops left on hook.
- Yarn over, and insert hook into same st.
- Pull up a loop.
- Yarn over, and pull through 2 loops, leaving 3 loops left on hook.
- Yarn over, and insert hook into same st.
- Pull up a loop.
- Yarn over, and pull through 2 loops, leaving 4 loops left on hook.
- Yarn over, and insert hook into same st.
- Pull up a loop.
- Yarn over and and pull through 2 loops leaving 5 loops left on hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops.
invsc2tog – invisible single crochet 2 together, this is essentially a decrease, but done in such a way as to make the continuous stitching smoother, and the decrease not as noticeable.
- Insert hook into front loop only of next stitch, DO NOT yarn over.
- Insert hook into front loop of second st.
- Yarn over. Pull through 2 loops.
- Yarn over and pull through last 2 loops.
Notes:
The Mallard Duck Puffy Stuffy is worked in the round from the top, down, with no joining. The use of a st marker to mark each rnd is helpful when working with thicker yarns. The body and wings are made all in one piece. This yarn can be tricky to work with, so here are some tips: to be sure you’re not missing any sts, always count each rnd, until you’re more comfortable. Because the yarn is so thick, the sts will be very close together, especially during the increasing rnds. Do NOT pull yarn too tightly while sewing or closing, because it can break. Pull gently.
Mallard Duck Puffy Stuffy
Body, beginning at the head in green
Begin with a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring; 6 sts
Rnd 2: inc in each st around; 12 sts
Rnd 3: inc in each st around; 24 sts
Rnd 4: (inc, sc in next 3 sts)6x; 30 sts
Rnds 5-9: sc in each st around; 30 sts
Rnd 10: sc in next 6 sts, pull orange through to complete the 6th st, but do NOT cut green, in orange popcorn st, pull green back through the loop at the end of your popcorn st and fasten off orange, in green sc in next 23 sts; 30 sts
Pull cream or off white through to complete the last st of the rnd, and fasten off green.
Rnd 11: in cream, sc in each st around; 30 sts
Pull brown through to complete the last st of the rnd, and fasten off cream. Continue in brown.
Rnd 12: in FLO of next st work 5 dc sts, sc in next 11 sts, FLO of next st work 5 dc, sc in next 17 sts; 38 sts
Rnd 13: sc in the unworked back loop under the wing, sk all the dc sts of the wing, sc in next 11 sts, sc in unworked back loop under the other wing, sk all the dc sts of second wing as well, sc in next 17 sts; 30 sts
Rnd 14: sc in each st around; 30 sts
Rnd 15: sc in the next 4 sts, *pull orange through to complete the last st, in orange dc bobble, pull brown through all 5 loops to complete the bobble st* and sc in next 4 sts, repeat from * to *, in brown sc in next 20 sts
Stop here if you wish to sew the eyes on with worsted black yarn. If you are gluing eyes on later, continue to finish.
Eyes: cut about 6-8 inches of black yarn for each eye. Use your tapestry needle to stitch the eyes over rnds 7 and 8 off to each side of the beak. Eyes should span 4 sts over rnd 8 with lashes going up to rnd 7. Knot black yarn inside the head.
Begin stuffing and continue to close.
Rnd 16: (invsc2tog, sc in next 3 sts)6x; 24 sts
Rnd 17: invsc2tog 12x; 12 sts
Finish off adding any more stuffing, if desired.
Rnd 18: invsc2tog 6x; 6 sts
Fasten off leaving about a 6-inch tail. Using your tapestry needle, sew the bottom closed, knot, and weave in ends.
I hope you have enjoyed making the Mallard Duck Puffy Stuffy! If you love this design, be sure to check out some of my other free patterns on the blog! Follow me along on Instagram for more sneak peeks and new pattern releases! If you loved making any of my patterns, and show them off on Instagram, please be sure to tag @ekaygdesigns to let me know, and I will share in my stories!