Zippy the Alien Tutorial & Pattern
Download Zippy the Alien Pattern
Welcome to the tutorial for our Zippy the Alien kit. Use the button below to download the pattern or watch the videos for video instructions.
Making the Body (Part 1 of 5)
MAKING THE BODY
👉 Start with a Magic Ring
Begin by creating a magic ring.
Row 1
Crochet 8 Single Crochet (Sc) stitches into the magic ring:
Insert your hook into the ring, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
Yarn over again and pull through both loops on your hook to complete one Sc. Repeat this 8 times.
Pull the loose end of the ring to close it tightly.
Row 2
Increase (Inc) in every stitch around:
Work 2 Single Crochet (Sc) stitches into each of the 8 stitches from Row 1.
At the end of this row, you’ll have 16 stitches.
Row 3
Alternate between Single Crochet (Sc) and an Increase (Inc):
Sc in the first stitch, then Inc in the next stitch. Repeat this pattern around.
You’ll now have 24 stitches.
Row 4
Alternate between two Single Crochets (2 Sc) and an Increase (Inc):
Sc in the first stitch, Sc in the second stitch, then Inc in the third stitch. Repeat this pattern around.
You’ll now have 32 stitches.
Rows 5–12
Single Crochet (Sc) around:
Work one Sc into each stitch for a total of 32 stitches per row.
This forms the main shape of Zippy’s body. Use a stitch marker to keep track of where each row begins.
Place the Eyes
After completing Row 8, attach safety eyes between Rows 8 and 9:
Position the eyes approximately 4 stitches apart for a balanced and alien-like look.
Row 13
Begin decreasing by alternating two Single Crochets (2 Sc) and a Decrease (Dec):
Sc in the first stitch, Sc in the second stitch, then Dec in the third and fourth stitches. Repeat this pattern around.
You’ll now have 24 stitches.
Row 14
Continue decreasing by alternating one Single Crochet (Sc) and a Decrease (Dec):
Sc in the first stitch, then Dec in the next two stitches. Repeat this pattern around.
You’ll now have 16 stitches.
Row 15
Decrease (Dec) in every stitch around:
Work a Dec in each stitch to reduce the total to 8 stitches.
Row 16
Continue decreasing until the opening is small enough to close completely:
Once it’s small, fasten off (FO) and sew the opening shut using the yarn tail and a yarn needle.
Making the UFO (Part 2 of 5)
MAKING THE UFO
👉 Start with a Magic Ring
Create a magic ring to form the base of the UFO.
Row 1
Crochet 8 Single Crochet (Sc) stitches into the magic ring:
Insert your hook into the ring, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
Yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook to complete one Sc. Repeat this 8 times.
Pull the loose end of the ring to close it tightly.
Row 2
Increase (Inc) in every stitch around:
Work 2 Single Crochet (Sc) stitches into each stitch from Row 1.
At the end of this row, you’ll have 16 stitches.
Row 3
Alternate between Single Crochet (Sc) and an Increase (Inc):
Sc in the first stitch, then Inc in the second stitch. Repeat this pattern around. You’ll now have 24 stitches.
Row 4
Alternate between two Single Crochets (2 Sc) and an Increase (Inc):
Sc in the first stitch, Sc in the second stitch, then Inc in the third stitch. Repeat this pattern around. You’ll now have 32 stitches.
Row 5
Work in the Back Loop Only (BLO):
Single Crochet (Sc) into the back loop only of each stitch. This creates a ridge that defines the base of the UFO.
Rows 6–8
Single Crochet (Sc) around:
Work one Sc into each stitch for several rows to form the height of the UFO.
The number of rows may vary depending on how tall you want the UFO to be. Use your judgment or refer to your pattern for the exact row count.
Row 9 (Top Ridge)
Work in the Back Loop Only (BLO):
Single Crochet (Sc) into the back loop only for this row to create another ridge, defining the top edge of the UFO.
Row 10-11
Single Crochet (Sc) around:
Work one Sc into each stitch for a couple of additional rows to finish shaping the UFO.
Row 12 (Final Touch)
Slip Stitch (Sl St) to Row 5 all the way around:
Insert your hook into the stitches from Row 5, yarn over, and pull through both loops on your hook to create a slip stitch. Repeat this around to connect the edges and create the final ridge detail.
Fasten Off (FO)
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail if needed for sewing.
Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook to secure it.
Sew in and hide any loose ends for a neat finish.
Making the Eye (Part 3 of 5)
MAKING THE EYE
👉 Start with a Magic Ring
Create a magic ring to form the base of the eye.
Row 1
Crochet 6 Single Crochet (Sc) stitches into the magic ring:
Insert your hook into the ring, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
Yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook to complete one Sc. Repeat this 6 times.
Pull the loose end of the magic ring to close it tightly.
Row 2
Increase (Inc) in every stitch around:
Work 2 Single Crochet (Sc) stitches into each of the 6 stitches from Row 1.
At the end of this row, you’ll have 12 stitches.
Attach the Safety Eye
Place the safety eye in the center of the crocheted eye piece.
Push the safety eye’s post through the magic ring opening or between stitches, ensuring it is secure.
Attach the safety eye’s backing tightly to lock it in place.
Making the Antennae (Part 4 of 5)
MAKING THE ANTENNAE
You’ll need to make two antennae for Zippy.
👉 Start with a Magic Ring
Create a magic ring as the base for the antenna.
Row 1
Crochet 6 Single Crochet (Sc) stitches into the magic ring:
Insert your hook into the ring, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
Yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook to complete one Sc. Repeat this 6 times.
Pull the loose end of the magic ring to close it tightly.
Row 2
Single Crochet (Sc) around:
Work one Sc into each stitch for a total of 6 stitches.
This row keeps the antenna round and forms the base structure.
Row 3
Shape the antenna with decreases:
Work 2 Single Crochet (2 Sc), followed by a Decrease (Dec) and 2 Single Crochet (2Sc).
Repeat this pattern around. You’ll now have 5 stitches.
Rows 4–6
Single Crochet (Sc) around:
Work one Sc into each of the 5 stitches for three rows.
These rows create the length of the antenna.
Fasten Off (FO)
Leave a long tail for sewing (about 6–8 inches).
Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook to secure it.
Final Assembly (Part 5 of 5)
FINAL ASSEMBLY
Now that you’ve completed all the parts, it’s time to put Zippy and his UFO together! You should have:
💪 1 Body
💪 1 UFO
💪2 Antennae
💪 1 Eye
Attach Zippy’s Eye
Position the eye in the center of Zippy’s face.
Use the long tail from the crocheted eye piece to sew it securely to the body, ensuring it is flat and well-centered.
Double-check that the safety eye is firmly in place before weaving in and trimming the yarn tail.
Attach Zippy’s Antennae
Place the two antennae on the top of Zippy’s head, slightly off-center for a playful look.
Using the long tails, sew each antenna securely to the head.
Knot the yarn inside the body and weave in the ends to hide them.
Prepare the UFO for Assembly
Position the UFO so that the ridge lines (from the BLO stitches) are clearly visible and align with the shape of Zippy’s body.
Check that the top of the UFO is the side with the slip stitch detail.
Attach Zippy to the UFO
Place Zippy’s body in the center of the UFO, ensuring he looks balanced.
Use the long tail from Zippy’s body or the UFO to sew them together.
Stitch around the base of Zippy’s body and the UFO, pulling gently to ensure a snug and secure attachment.
Final Touches
Check that all parts are firmly attached and adjust any positioning if necessary.
Fluff up Zippy’s antennae and smooth out the UFO’s edges for a polished finish.