Fraidy M-80 Amigurumi Firework

Summer is upon us here in the US, and that means firework season!  If you’re looking for a softer and less loud option, here’s a fun little amigurumi firework pattern to celebrate.  It’s his time to shine, but as you can see this poor little ‘Fraidy M-80 is scared of his own lit fuse!

This pattern is great if you don’t like sewing too many pieces together. Some basic crocheting skills are needed, but even if you are a beginner, you should be able to make this project.  I’ve also included some photo guides after the pattern to help you along the way.

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in red (approx. 21 yards), black (approx. 5 yards),  yellow (approx. 1 yard), orange (approx. 1 yard), and less than 1 yard of white/cream.
• US size E (3.5mm)crochet hook 
• Polyfill
• Yarn needle
• Stitch Marker
• Slicker brush
• Craft felt in black/white or safety eyes
• Black embroidery thread
• Needle
• Scissors

Optional:

The following materials are to place in the bottom of the firework which makes it flat and easier to stand on its own.

• Cardboard
• Hot glue gun/glue sticks

Abbreviations

Sc – Single Crochet

Inc – Increase

Ch – Chain

Dec – Decrease

Sl St – Slip Stitch

St(s) – Stitch(es)

BLO – Back Loop Only

FLO – Front Loop Only

Notes 

• Gauge is not terribly important here as long as you are producing a nice and tight fabric so that the polyfill will not poke through.
• This pattern is written using US terminology.
• Unless otherwise noted, pattern is worked up in continuous (spiral) rounds. I recommend using a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.
• Size of finished item measures approximately 7 inches tall and roughly 6 inches around.  
• Please note that I crochet left-handed and my photo guides reflect this. If you crochet right-handed (with your hook in your right hand), all the stitches are the same and will look the same, you will just be working in the opposite direction as I am.

Special Stitches Used 

Increases are made by making 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch.

Decreases are made by using the invisible decrease method – Insert hook under front loop only of next two stitches, yarn over, draw through first two loops on hook, yarn over, draw through remaining two loops to finish.  Unless otherwise noted in pattern, use invisible decrease method.  

Back Loop Only – rather than insert your hook into both loops, insert your hook under the back loop only and work the indicated stitch. 

Front Loop Only – rather than insert your hook into both loops, insert your hook under the front loop only and work the indicated stitch.

Need help making a single crochet into the back loop only/front loop only? Check out this video: https://youtu.be/GiHnfSsg11U

Pattern

Body

Using red yarn:

Rnd 1:  Make 6 sc into a magic circle. (6)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)

Rnd 3:  (Sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)

Rnd 4:  (Sc 2, inc) 6 times. (24)

Rnd 5:  in BLO, sc all.  (24)

Rnd 6:  Sc all. (24)

**If you are choosing to add a cardboard circle to make the bottom flat and give it the ability to freely stand, do it at this point.  See below under Photo Guide for additional guidance.

Rnds 7-20:  Working in both loops again, sc all.  (24)

Rnd 21:  In FLO, sc all. (24)

Finish Off.  Before continuing, create felt pieces for eyes with the black and white craft felt, and make eyebrows using your needle and black embroidery thread.  See Photo Guide for additional help on this.  Stuff firework before moving on, making sure not to overstuff.

Top and Fuse 

For this first row, we will be working out of the back loops left over from the FLO row. 

Attach cream or white colored yarn by inserting a hook into one of the back loops and pulling the cream yarn through, then ch1.

Rnd 1:  (For this row there is no need to use the invisible decrease) Sc in same st as ch 1, dec in next st.  (Sc 1, dec) 5 times. (16)

Rnd 2: Dec in each st. (8)

Rnd 3: Switch to black yarn, Dec in each st. (4)

Continue sc in each st until fuse measures approx 2.5″ long.

Finish Off

Flame 

Rnd 1:  Make 4 sc into magic circle (4)

Rnd 2:  Sc 4. (4)

Rnd 3:  (Sc 1, inc) two times. (6)

Rnd 4: (Sc 1, dec) two times. (4)

From here, insert hook into a stitch opposite the one you are working on, create a sl st and FO.

Cut strands of red, yellow, and orange yarns, making them at least 4″ long.  Insert hook in stitches on flame and pull through to attach.  Add strand to each available space so it is completely covered in yarn strands.  Then, taking slicker brush, brush attached yarn strands until they begin to fuzz up.  Turn the flame around occasionally and brush completely, making sure to get each yarn strand.  Once all done, you will likely need to trim the flame down to size.  Once trimmed, brush again to fluff it up a little more.  See photo guide for additional guidance on how to do this.

Assembly

Attach the flame to the top of the fuse, and weave in ends.

Photo Guide 

Adding Cardboard Circle to Bottom of Firework

Trace the bottom of your firework on cardboard.  Cut cardboard circle and trim it until it fits nicely inside the bottom of the firework.  Now, add some hot glue and carefully insert the cardboard circle and press it down to make it flat.

Face 

Using black and white craft felt, create two white ovals and two black circles for the eyes.   Create a smaller black oval for the mouth.  Place the black circles on the white ovals, then place the eyes on your firework to see how you like their shape.  Glue using a hot glue gun or sew into place.

To create eyebrows, take black embroidery thread and, starting from the back of your piece coming through the front, poke your needle through about one stitch length away from the eyes and about one stitch down from the top.  Then pass the needle back through to create a diagonal line for the eyebrow.  The top of the eyebrows on my firework landed about two stitches above the eye.

Repeat the same process on the other side, then knot ends in back of your work to secure.

Making the Flame

Once you have the flame base completed, cut 30-35 strands of red, yellow, and orange yarn.  Make sure they are at least approximately 4 ” long (they get harder to attach the shorter they are!)  Insert your hook between stitches as shown in picture.  Loop one of the strands of yarn that you cut evenly around hook.

Pull strand through.  Now wrap the two ends around your hook and pull through the loop that is currently on your hook.  Once pulled through,  tighten by pulling on the two strands.

As you can see, it’s going to start looking a little crazy but continue filling in each stitch yarn strands until everything is covered.  Make sure to cover the area towards the base as well!

Taking your slicker brush, and holding the flame in your other hand, begin to brush the yarn strands.  Keep turning the flame around while brushing to make sure you are getting all of the yarn pieces brushed out.   Eventually the flame will be completely soft and fluffy.  Trim the flame up a bit if needed.

Once done trimming the flame to your desired length, brush it once more to get it nice and fluffy again, and your flame is all done!  Be sure to save the fuzz that comes off the slicker brush.  Just like yarn scraps, it’s excellent to reuse as stuffing.  Attach the flame to the top of your firework’s fuse, and you’re all done!

Now you have your very own ‘Fraidy M-80 I hope you’ve enjoyed this cute little amigurumi firework pattern!