Crochet King's Guard toy ~ free pattern

Originally published 19 September 2022 under my crochet business, Liz & Lottie.

These crochet King's Guards are made in one piece with almost no sewing! Suitable for beginners with just a 4mm hook and some 8ply/DK yarn, make a set of these soldiers for a castle play set.

I started drafting this pattern back in 2015, hoping to make a set of little soldiers for a toddler's Grand Old Duke of York play set. My amigurumi skills were not quite up to it and I made a set of peg dolls instead.

With the sad news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I thought it might be time to finish it off. We have not been to visit our girls' grandmother's home in England since 2016. The youngest has never seen the Grenadier guards in person before but was very interested in the soldiers when watching the tv coverage of the proclamation of King Charles III. I had barely cut the threads on my draft prototype of this pattern before she toddled off with it to play with her castle blocks.

This pattern is basically a simple 12 stitch tube, crocheted in the round and finished with an invisible decrease. It was originally inspired by a photo I saw on Pinterest many years ago of crochet nutcrackers for the Christmas tree but I could not find a pattern anywhere and wanted to change the colours anyway.

This is a toy designed to be played with so don't worry much about perfection. I used acrylic yarn and expect it to get a bit fluffy over the years. Cotton yarn will always keep longer and come out of a gentle quick wash in the washing machine a bit nicer but just use what you have on hand as these colours are a bit hard to come by in cotton.

You will need:

• DK/Light worsted/8ply yarn (Black, red, white, flesh tone of any kind)
• 3.5mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Toy stuffing

Stitches are in US terminology. Start from the base and work up to the helmet.

Round 1: Make a slip knot and chain 4. Slip stitch into the first chain to make a loop. You may use a magic circle instead if you prefer. Chain 1, make 6 Single Crochet (SC) into the loop. Slip stitch to join. Chain 1. (6)

2: 2SC in each stitch around to increase. Slip stitch to join. Ch 1. (12 stitches)

3 - 14: SC in each stitch in the round. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round as you go. At the end of round 14, slip stitch to join and fasten off. (12)

15: Connect white yarn, Ch 1. SC around. Slip stitch to join. Fasten off. (12)

16. Connect red yarn, Ch 1. SC in each stitch around. Do not slip stitch to join the round. (12)

17 - 23. SC in the round maintaining a stitch count of 12 and using a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round. Slip stitch to join and fasten off at the end of round 23. (12)

24. Connect flesh tone and Ch 1. SC in each stitch around. Do not slip stitch to join. (12)

25 - 28. SC in the round maintaining a stitch count of 12. At the end of round 28, slip stitch to join and fasten off. (12)

29. Final colour change, connect the black yarn again and Ch 1. SC in each stitch around, do not slip stitch to join. (12)

30 - 37: SC in the round maintaining a stitch count of 12. At the end of round 37, slip stitch to join, but do not chain 1. Insert small wads of stuffing, pushing down with a pari of scissors. When stuffed firmly, move on to decreasing and sewing the hole shut.

38: Use the invisible decrease method (video here) to decrease to 6 stitches. Fasten off and cut your yarn leaving a tail for sewing. Take a darning needle and sew the hole closed. I find the drawstring approach works best.

Embellishments

I chose a simple white cross and embroidered eyes to finish off my Grenadier guard but you can swap the cross for yellow buttons, use safety eyes or add a mouth.

You can use this pattern as a base then change the colours to create other people. 

Please don't sell this pattern but if you make any toys from it you are welcome to sell or gift those.