Little Venus / Little Goddess
This is the "Venus of Willendorf" which is an ancient sculpture, speculated to be a fertility goddess figurine. I've seen some patterns online for crochet versions, but they're either pay-to-crochet or not what I was looking for. So I threw one together. I hope you like it!
FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.
NEITHER THIS PATTERN NOR ITEMS MADE FROM IT MAY BE SOLD.
YOU WILL NEED:
WW Yarn
One size F hook
Some sort of stuffing (I used poly-fil, but I think cotton would have worked better.)
A yarn needle
HEAD/BODY
Rnd 1) Ch 2. 6 sc in 1st ch. (6 sc)
Rnd 2) 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3) *2 sc in next st, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (18 sc)
Rnds 4-5) Sc around. (18 sc)
Rnd 6) *sc2tog, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (12 sc)
Piece is now turned inside out and worked so that the "wrong" side forms the "braids" of the head.
Rnd 7) Ch 1. TURN. IN BACK LOOPS ONLY, Sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Continue working through both loops, normally.
Rnd 8) Sc around. (12 sc)
Rnd 9) 2 sc in each st around. (24 sc)
Stuff Head.
Rnd 10) Sc in first 5 sc, 2 sc in each next 2 sts, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next 5 sts. (28 sc)
Rnd 11-12) Sc around. (28 sc)
Rnd 13) Sc2tog, sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog twice, sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog. (24 sc)
Rnd 14) *Sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around. (18 sc)
Rnd 15) 2 sc in each st around. (36 sc)
Rnds 16-18) Sc in each st around.
Rnd 19) Sc2tog around. (18 sc)
DO NOT fasten off.
LEGS
Rnd 20) IN BACK LOOPS ONLY: Sc around. (18 sc)
Continue working through both loops, normally.
Rnds 21-23) Sc around. (18 sc)
Stuff Body.
Rnd 24) *Sc2tog, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. (12 sc)
Rnds 25-26) Sc around. (12 sc)
Rnd 27) Sc2tog arond. (6 sc)
Stuff Legs.
Sl st bottom of legs closed (flat). Sl st tightly through the middle to just below the belly, to define the legs. Draw yarn through at final sl st, fasten off, and weave in ends. Alternatively, sew a tight line from toes to belly.
BREASTS (make 2)
Rnd 1) Ch 2. 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6 sc)
Rnd 2) 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3) Ch 1. 3 hdc in next 3 sts. Sc remaining 9 sts. (12 sts)
Fasten Off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Sew breasts partially on (with the hdc sts on top), stuff lightly, finish sewing on.
ARMS (do this twice)
Attach yarn at shoulder. Sc along body to halfway down breast, then over to middle. Ch1, turn, sc along first line of sc, back to shoulder. Fasten off and weave in ends.
<3
Oh that is soo gorgeous! And very creative!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you! I hope you enjoyed it!
DeleteLOVE it! Will definitely have a go at making one. Thanks for sharing the pattern :)
ReplyDeleteHow did it go? =)
DeleteCan't wait to try this, thank you! BB )O(
ReplyDeleteDid you get a chance? I hope you enjoyed it!
DeleteThank you! I love it!
ReplyDeleteAww, you're so welcome!
DeleteThank you for sharing!!! The pattern works up quickly.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear it! Yes, I tend to be a bit impatient, so the quicker projects are my favorites. =)
Deleteim so excited to try this
ReplyDeleteDid you give it a try? How did it go?
Deletethanks for this. i can give this as a present to my Art History teacher. :D
ReplyDeleteThat's great!! I think I first saw this sculpture in a history or art history course, too. I hope s/he enjoys it! =)
DeleteThis is amazing! I wish I could crochet better, I would LoVe to make one.. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's as difficult as it sounds, and there are lots of ways to 'cheat' with this type of pattern, if you need to get creative. Just practice with other, simpler in-the-round type patterns until it's comfortable for you. Once working in-the-round and tightly is "old hat," the rest isn't so hard. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and I've come to realize that you only get better by trying the stuff you can't do yet. =)
Delete('course, I still can't really knit on double-pointed needles! Would you believe, I often will finish knit hats by crocheting the smallest part of the crown? No-one's noticed yet...)
This is wonderful and I would love to make them as gifts, but I don't know how to read patterns it makes no sense to me. I learned how to crochet from YouTube, so I cant read patterns. Do you have a YouTube video where you make this or can you make one? Thank you for making such a wonderful pattern for everyone's use.
ReplyDeleteHey! I don't think you check this anymore but thank you so much for the pattern! I just finished my little Venus and she's adorable! Also, it came out to almost the exact height of the actual statue, so kudos for getting that measurement so exact!
ReplyDeleteYou are super welcome! I am so happy people are still getting joy from this pattern. And hey, I wasn't aiming for the perfect size, but I'm definitely glad it turned out that way! =D
DeleteWorking in the round in other patterns I’m used to connecting each round with a slip stitch. Otherwise I find it hard to keep track of what row I’m on. Do you assume we will do that? Or do you just keep going ‘round and ‘round?
ReplyDeleteHi Katie! I meant to work in continuous rounds (the patterns I learned on used this method, such as amigurumi). So yes, round and round =) If I ever have difficulty keeping track of the round, I tuck a short slip of a differently-colored yarn between two stitches at the beginning of the round, so that it sticks out and acts as a marker. I don't knot it, so I can just pull it out when I'm ready. On the smaller rounds, I usually just count.
ReplyDeleteLearning to work with sl-st joined rounds was as strange for me as I'm sure continuous rounds sounds to you. I love that there's so much to learn about crochet and knitting, though!
I crocheted once for gift a friend, and i have come back to crochet it again for my children. Thank you for your beautiful pattern.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely, you've made my day!
ReplyDelete