Say hello to Chubmander, the chubby fire lizard!

A few years ago, I freehanded a bunch of chubby Pokemon for my daughter's 1 year celebration. There's a Korean ritual called "doljabi" where the child picks an object from a table of items with symbolic meanings. Traditionally, items include yarn (long life), coins (wealth), and sometimes objects related to professions (such as a stethoscope or book). The object chosen was believed to foretell the child's future. 

Of course, I had to do this to foretell my daughter's Pokemon journey! She ultimately picked Squirtle (pattern to come)! I later went on to do the same for my son and he picked Bulbasaur. Sorry Charmander, I guess you didn't get any love!

Find the free patterns for Pikachub and Chubmander on my blog as well.

 

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MATERIALS: 

*Click HERE for a list of my favorite tools. 

• #3 light worsted yarn - Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/8
• Lemon Curd (21) - yellow color - 10 g
• Orange (30) - 40 g
• Whiskey (16) - dark orange - 2 g
• Note: You will need less than one skein of each color.
  
  
• Embroidery floss - DMC 6 strand
• 3371 Black Brown

• 336 Navy Blue

• 5200 Snow White
  
  
•  2.75 mm hook

• Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, sewing pins, fabric glue

• Fiber fill stuffing
• Optional:  Two 5 mm x 7 mm oval safety eyes if not embroidering them

 

MODIFICATION NOTES: If making this pattern using a #6 super bulky weight yarn, please make the following modifications. These adjustments will help make your larger creation more proportional.

• MATERIALS
  • #6 super bulky yarn - Hobbii Honey Bunny Yarn
    • 1 skein of Peach (33) - light orange - 80 g
    • 1 skein of Pastel Yellow (21) - 20 g
  • #3 light worsted cotton yarn - Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/8
  • 1 skein of White (01) - 1 g
  • 1 skein of Cornflower (83) - light blue - 2 g
  • 4.5 mm hook
  • The rest of the materials are the same!

• PATTERN MODIFICATIONS
  • HEAD: Rnds 7-10 (4 rnds total) → Rnds 7-9 (3 rnds total)

• Measurements: 10 in. x 4 in. [~24 cm x 10 cm] if using the prescribed materials.

 

TERMS: 

• Flo - front loops only
• Dec - (invisible) decrease
• Inc - increase
• Sc - single crochet
• Slst - slip stitch
• St(s) – stitch(es)
• Rnd(s) – round(s)
• [#] – stitch count
• (…) x # – repeat the instructions within the parentheses # of times
  
  

NOTES/TIPS: 

• We will be working in a spiral and will be using the "yarn under" method of crocheting.
• Please do not copy/redistribute any part of this pattern as your own. This includes reposting/translating without permission. Feel free to sell your finished products in small quantities - I only ask that you give credit to help support my work. Tag #curiouspapaya so I can feature you!
• Measurements: 4 in. x 2.5 in. [10 cm x ~6 cm] if using the prescribed materials.
• Difficulty: Intermediate-Beginner + 

 

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HEAD

In Orange yarn

*You can also find the premium, printable PDF HERE if you prefer. Please note that this pattern is able to remain free due to the ads on this page. Thank you for your support!

Rnd 1: Make a magic circle and (sc) x6 [6]

Rnd 2: (inc) x6 [12]

Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 [18]

Rnd 4: sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x5, sc [24]

Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 [30]

Rnd 6: 2 sc, inc, (4 sc, inc) x5, 2 sc [36]

Rnds 7-10 (4 rnds total): sc all around [36]

Rnd 11: (5 sc, inc) x6 [42]

Rnd 12: sc all around [42]

Rnd 13: (5 sc, dec) x6 [36]

Rnd 14: (4 sc, dec) x6 [30]

Rnd 15: (3 sc, dec) x6 [24]

Stuff. Be sure to stuff the cheeks well.

If using safety eyes, insert them between rnds 10-11, 7 sts apart.

Rnd 16: (dec) x12 [12]

Fasten off and leave a tail for closing up the piece. Go through the flo and pull the hole closed. [img 1]

 

FLAME

Starting in Yellow Curd yarn

Rnd 1: Make a magic circle and (sc) x4 [4]

In the next rnd, we will begin the color changes. w = Whiskey (dark orange), y = Lemon Curd (yellow).

*Tip: Instead of carrying the yarn over (which is a crochet technique typically used for tapestry wall hangings or garments), let it hang with some slack before picking it up again.

Rnd 2: y - sc, inc, w - sc, inc [6]

Rnd 3: y - sc, inc, sc, w - inc, sc, inc [9]

Rnds 4-5 (2 rnds total): w - 2 sc, y - 2 sc, w - 5 sc [9]

Lightly stuff. Cut the Lemon Curd yarn and continue in Whiskey yarn.

Rnd 6: (sc, dec) x3 [6]

Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. Go through the flo and pull the hole closed. [img 2]

 

TAIL/BODY

Starting in Orange yarn

Rnd 1: Make a magic circle and (sc) x4 [4]

o = Orange, y = Lemon Curd (yellow).

Rnd 2: y - inc, o - 2 sc, inc [6]

Rnd 3: y - 2 sc, o - 3 sc, inc [7]

Rnd 4: y - sc, inc, o - (sc, inc) x2, sc [10]

Rnd 5: y - 3 sc, o - 6 sc, inc [11]

Rnd 6: y - 2 sc, inc, o - 8 sc [12]

Rnd 7: y - 4 sc, o - 8 sc [12]

Place a st marker to hold your place. Sew on the flame and secure the knot on the inside of the tail.

Rnd 8: y - 4 sc, o - 4 sc, inc, 3 sc [13]

Rnd 9: y - 3 sc, inc, o - 4 sc, inc, 4 sc [15]

Rnd 10: y - 5 sc, o - (2 sc, inc) x3, sc [18]

Rnd 11: y - 5 sc, o - 4 sc, (inc, sc) x3, 3 sc [21]

Rnd 12: y - 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, o - sc, inc, 12 sc, inc, sc [24]

Stuff. Continue onto the body. [refer back to img 2]

Rnd 13: (flo) - y - (2 sc, inc) x2, o - (2 sc, inc) x6 [32]

Rnd 14: y - (3 sc, inc) x2, o - (3 sc, inc) x6 [40]

Rnds 15-20 (6 rnds total): y - 10 sc, o - 30 sc [40]

Rnd 21: y - (3 sc, dec) x2, o - (3 sc, dec) x6 [32]

Rnd 22: y - 8 sc, o - 2 sc, dec, 16 sc, dec, 2 sc [30]

Rnd 23: o - sc, y - 6 sc, o - 23 sc [30]

Cut the Lemon Curd yarn and leave a short tail to crochet over. Continue in Orange yarn.

Rnds 24-25 (2 rnds total): sc all around [30]

Stuff. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. [img 3-4]

 

*Note: The opening of the body will appear to be really large! That's correct.

 

 

ARMS/LEGS

Make four in Orange yarn

Stuff. Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing. [img 5]

ASSEMBLY

Head/Body: Sew the body onto the back of the head spanning rnds 7-13, ~12 sts wide. [img 6]

*Note: Lay the body against a flat surface and pin the limbs on so they touch the surface. Do NOT eyeball this or you'll have floating limbs. The inner limbs will touch the Yellow belly.

Arms: Sew the arms on 6 sts apart from the belly-side between rnds 1-3 (counting from the neck down). [img 7]

Legs: Sew the legs on 6 sts apart from the belly-side between rnds 11-13. [img 7]

 

 

FACIAL FEATURES

*Tip: Use sewing pins to mark the line of symmetry on the face.

Mouth: For the chibi “w” smile, watch my tutorial HERE. Note that Bulbachub's smile is slightly wider in the tutorial.

• Step 1: Cut a strand of Black Brown embroidery thread (undo 1 strand to make it thinner if you have the kind with 6 strands and set it aside).

• Step 2: Weave into the side of the head and leave a short tail (for securing into a knot at the end). Come out between rnds 10-11 at the midpoint of the mouth.
  
  
• Step 3: The whole mouth is 2 sts wide. Weave 1 st over to one side of the mouth and leave a little slack to create the curve.
  
  
• Step 4: Repeat step 3 for the other side of the mouth. [img 8]

 

 

Embroidered Eyes: 

• Step 1: Cut 18 in. [~46 cm] of Navy Blue embroidery thread.

• Step 2: Mark where each eye will be with sewing pins between rnds 10-11, 7 sts apart.
  
  
• Step 3: Weave into the side of the head similarly to how we did for the mouth. Come out where one eye will be.
  
  
• Step 4: Weave through each eye ~8x to create rounder eyes.
  
  
• Step 5: Weave back out where you entered from and secure the tails into a knot.
  
  
• Step 6: Cut 12 in. [~30 cm] of Snow White embroidery thread to create the highlight.
  
  
• Step 7: Enter into the head and pierce into the middle of the eye to create one highlight.
  
  
• Step 8: Weave out to the other eye and do the same.

• Step 9: Weave back out where you entered from and secure the tails into a knot. [img 9]

 

You're finished! If you liked this pattern, please leave a comment below. I would love to see your finished makes over on Tiktok or Instagram. Tag me @curiouspapaya!