Marcel The Shell (With Shoes On): Crochet!

"My only regret is that I will never own a dog" - we'll make Marcel a dog, too

Posted by Kari D.

About

My sister-in-law asked if I could make a crochet plushie of Marcel to which I replied "What's Marcel the shell?" - I know, I know...have I been hiding in a hole? How could I just now be meeting the little dog loving, dorito hang gliding shell? Nevertheless, the kids and I are now smitten with the viral video that stars a little guy with one googly eye and a shell for a head. Here's the plushie version I came up with:

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You Will Need (7 things)

  • Super Glue
  • 1 1 inch Googley Eyes
  • soft brown, white, pink, green Worsted Weight Yarn
  • Size G Crochet Hook
  • Size E (3.5 Mm) Crochet Hook
  • dark brown & white Felt
  • Needle And Thread

Steps (6 steps, 150 minutes)

  1. 1

    SHELL:
    Using soft brown yarn and Hook Size E
    Begin by working in the round...
    Magic Circle (6)
    R1: *sc 1, 2 sc in next st* around (9)
    R2: dhc around (9)
    R3: 2 sc in ea st around in front loops only (18)
    R4: dhc around (18)
    R5: *sc 5, 2 sc in next st* around in front loops only (21)
    R6: dhc around (21)
    R7: *sc 5, dec 1* around in front loops only (18)
    R8: *2dhc in next st* 8 times, *1dhc, 2dhc in next st* 5 times (31)
    R9: dhc around (31)
    R10: dhc around (31)
    R11: dhc around (31)
    R12: dhc around (31)
    R13: sc around in front loops only (31)
    R14: *5 sc, dec 1* around (24)
    here you will start working in rows and shaping the googley eye hole...
    R15: dhc 18, ch 10, sl st to first dhc of this row (you should sk 6 st when you do this)
    R16: 1 sc into next st and sc across chain row, 1 sc into next st, turn, ch 1
    R17: sc across chain row, 1 sc into next st, turn, ch 1
    R18: sc across chain row, 1 sc into next st, turn, ch 1
    R19: sc across chain row, 2 sc down shell side, turn, ch 1
    R20: sc across chain row decreasing twice evenly, 1 sc down shell side, turn, ch 1
    R21: sc across chain row decreasing once in the middle, 2 sc down shell side, turn (do not ch 1)
    R22: sc across chain row decreasing once, 1 sc on side of shell
    Connect chain row to the shell by matching stitches between the two rows
    (you may need to sc2tog once or twice)

  2. 2

    SHOES (make 2):

    Start using White and have Pink at the ready, Hook Size E
    Begin by working in rows...

    Ch 5
    R1: sc across (4), turn, ch 2
    R2: sc across (5), turn, ch 2
    R3: sc across (6), turn, ch 1
    R4-R7: sc across, (6), turn, ch 1

  3. 3

    Continue by working in the round...

    R8: sl st around (23)
    R9: sl st in front loops only (23) sl st into first st on this round. F.O.
    Starting 1/2 way on one of the longest sides of shoes, attach pink
    R10: 10 sc, drop pink and join white , 13 sc (23)
    R11: (p/u pink) 1 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec, 1 sc, ( p/u white ) 2 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 1 sc (18)
    R12: (p/u pink), dec four times, (cut pink and leave tail inside shoe, p/u white ), 2 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 2 sc (12)
    R13: 12 sc (12)
    F.O. & Stuff

  4. 4

    EYE CUP:

    Using Green and Hook size G
    Working in the round...

    Magic Circle (6)
    R1: 2 sc in each st around (12)
    R2: 12 dhc around (12)
    F.O. tightly to cup the circle.
    Glue 1" googley eye into the eye cup.

  5. 5

    ASSEMBLY:

    Stuff Shell firmly through eye hole, adjusting firmness with the shape of the shell

    Using a good embroidery thread or matching yarn, sew shoes onto the underside of shell

    Using a good embroidery thread or matching yarn, sew green eye cup in the hole of the shell

    Cut out Dark Brown and Off-White felt in the shape of Marcel's mouth/teeth and sew in place on shell

  6. 6

    ALLEN:
    Grab a few yarn scraps and tie together with embroidery thread to give Marcel a doggie :)