Croki: Alligator Loki and Sylvie Free Horn Add On!

This horn hat pattern is a free pattern expansion for the Grinning Gator pattern from Fostering Sewing: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FosteringSewing 

You can also use the Croki pattern pieces to upgrade any premade stuffed alligator and can even add it to other animals (like the "glorious porpoise" meme I have seen going around). 

Getting Started

Before You Begin

Read the entire tutorial to get an idea of how the pieces fit together and what to expect.  

Note that all pattern pieces have a 1/4” seam allowance. The sew line is marked by a dashed line on the pattern.

Prewash your fabric in the same way that you will wash your finished product (or run it through the washer and dryer just in case this happens to your finished plush). 

Fabric Recommendations 

This pattern is designed for mid weight woven fabric like quilting cotton. You are welcome to experiment with other fabric types and textures, but this may change the final shape. 

Printing

I recommend using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat. You can get it for free here.

Print the document at 100% or actual size. The Croki Horn Hats are available in US Letter and A4 sizes. Choose the one that is applicable to you.  

Before cutting out pattern pieces, measure the 2” x 2” square. This will ensure that your pattern pieces are the right size. 

US Letter Croki Pattern Pieces

 A4 Croki Pattern Pieces

 

Putting the Loki Horn Hat Together 

Assemble the Pieces 

Cut out two Croki Cap pieces and four Croki Horns (two reverse). 

Pin and sew the two Croki Cap pieces (right sides together). Make sure that the marked area is left open for turning and stuffing. 

Pin and sew two sets of Croki horns (right sides together). Leave the bottom of the horns open for turning and stuffing. 

Trim the seams down to 1/8" (making sure not to cut into your sewing). Then turn the pieces right ways out. I highly recommend using hemostats for turning and stuffing long thin pieces like the horns Use an iron to press the pieces and help set the shapes. 

Firmly stuff the horns. Start with small bits of stuffing, making sure that it gets pushed all the way into the tip of het horn. There is no additional support for these pieces (wire, etc), so the stuffing is the thing that will keep the horns upright. 

Loosely stuff the cap, just enough to give it a bit of dimension but not enough to fill it up. 

Ladder stitch the opening on the cap closed. 

Pin the cap onto the Alligator's head, just behind the raised eyes (where the head begins to flatten.) Then ladder stitch it into place. 

Once the cap is secure, pin the horns in place. The dotted circles on the pattern pieces are to help with alignment, but you are welcome to play around with the horn placement and find the look that you like best. 

Once you are happy with the horn placement, ladder stitch the horns in place. 

You did it! I would love to see your creations! Share your makes using #FosteringSewingPatterns and #FSGator on Instagram and join the Fostering Sewing Patterns group on Facebook! 

Putting the Sylvie Horn Headband Together 

Assemble the Pieces 

Cut out two Sylvie Headband pieces and four Sylvie Horns (two reverse). Disregard the straight dotted line on the horns for the time being. 

Pin and sew the two Sylvie Headband pieces (right sides together). Make sure that the marked areas on each end are left open for turning and stuffing. 

Pin and sew two sets of Sylvie Horns (right sides together). Leave the bottom of the horns open for turning and stuffing. 

Trim the seams down to 1/8" (making sure not to cut into your sewing). Then turn the headband and one of the horns right ways out. I highly recommend using hemostats for turning and stuffing long thin pieces like the horns and headband. Use an iron to press the pieces and help set the shapes. See notes below on creating the second (broken) horn. 

Using the straight dotted line on the horn pattern piece as a guide, do a running stitch around the horn. 

Then gather the thread, creating a cinched area in the center of the horn. 

Flip this horn right ways out and stuff it to create a broken horn. Stuff the other horn without doing this gathering step.

Lay the headband piece on top of the Alligator forehead piece. Place the headband on the head so that the top of the headband is 2" from the top of the pattern piece and the bottom of the headband is about 3" from the top of the pattern piece. 

Machine stitch or hand stitch the headband in place. 

If you would like to, you can also hand applique the headband onto a finished alligator by folding the raw edges inside and ladder stitching them shut. Then ladder stitch the headband to the finished alligator head. 

Once the headband is secure, pin the horns in place. The dotted circles on the pattern pieces are to help with alignment, but you are welcome to play around with the horn placement and find the look that you like best. The grey circle indicates the side to place the broken (shorter) horn on. 

Once you are happy with the horn placement, ladder stitch the horns in place. 

 

You did it! I would love to see your creations! Share your makes using #FosteringSewingPatterns and #FSGator on Instagram and join the Fostering Sewing Patterns group on Facebook!