Free Pattern Friday! Spooky String of Sheep(ish) Spiders

Happy Fall! My favorite time of the year starts in September at my house. I know the calendar says that it's still summer, but as soon as August is over, my kids are begging me to get out our big Rubbermaid container of Halloween decorations. Lots of the decorations are handmade, from paper plate Jack-o-lanterns to dried glue ghosts, and even though they're not store-bought, they are the ones worth the most to us.

When Vickie Howell asked me to do a guest blog post for Caron using her Sheep(ish) yarn, I knew I had to take advantage of the amazing color palette she chose for her brand. Usually Halloween is all orange and black, and more recently purple, but I decided to have some fun and take a few liberties. This is where you get to use your imagination (and your stash of Sheep(ish)!) to make as many brightly colored spiders you want. Mix and match pipe cleaners to give them creepy crawly legs of all sorts. Of course if you want your decoration a little scarier and a lot more traditional, you can make them all black.
You might be "spooked" to find out how quickly this decoration comes together! If you're a beginner, check out my Baby Monster pattern to learn how to do an adjustable ring.

Sheep(ish) Spiders!

You will need...

Yarn: 
 Stitch.Rock.Love Sheep(ish) by Caron
  Red(ish)
  Lime(ish)
  Hot Pink(ish)
  Magenta(ish)
  Lime(ish)
  Black(ish)


Hook:
  Size E/3.5 mm
  Size G/4.0 mm 

Notions:
  Black safety eyes (6mm)
  Polyester stuffing  
  Yarn needle
  Embroidery needle
  Black embroidery floss
  Pipe cleaners (I used silver)

Key: 
ch: chain 
sc: single crochet 
st: stitch 

Spider body

SPIDER:
Starting at top of head, make an adjustable ring, ch 1, and sc 6 into the ring. Pull closed.
Rnd 1: Work 2 sc into each st (12)
Rnd 2: (2 Sc into next st, sc into next st)* rep to end of round (18)
Rnd 3: (2 Sc into next st, sc into next 2 st)* rep to end of round (24)
Rnds 4-5: sc into each st (24)
Rnd 6: (Sc2tog, sc into next 2 st)* rep to end of round (18)
Rnd 7: (Sc2tog, sc into next st)* rep to end of round (12)
*Insert safety eyes and stuff spider firmly.
Rnd 8: Sc2tog around (6)
Fasten off. Use yarn tail to sew opening closed.
Using embroidery needle and black embroidery floss, embroider a "v" shape with loose stitches where the mouth belongs. Loose stitches will make the smile curve. Knot the floss and hide within the body.

Insert pipe cleaners through last rows of body.

Cut pipe cleaners in half. The standard length of a pipe cleaner is 12", so just make sure you have four 6" lengths (two pipe cleaners) for each spider. Insert each half pipe cleaner through the bottom of the spider's body and out through the other side. Bend the pipe cleaners as shown above.


WEB
With Black(ish) yarn and a G hook, crochet a chain long enough to drape across the area you wish to hang your String of Spiders. I hung mine on the mantle and chained 275 stitches. Fasten off and set aside.


ASSEMBLY
With Black(ish) and a yarn needle, thread varying lengths of yarn into the tops of the Spiders' bodies. Knot close to the surface and pull tail to pull knot inside. Tie the other end of the yarn to the Web. Space the spiders evenly across its length. Hang as desired.


*If the spiders are to be given to children as toys, please omit the safety eyes and embroider them, and use strands of yarn for the legs instead of pipe cleaners.

Happy Halloween!