Crocheted Snuggler

This is a positioning tool for NICU infants.
Design by Sharri Shively.
Permission to use for all Care Wear affiliates.

Use: H hook and 3- or 4- ply worsted yarn or approximately 4 oz baby sport or sport yarn (pastels only).
Acceptable finished length can be anywhere between 26” and 30”

Version One:

  • Begin: CH 4, join with SL ST to make a ring
  • Row 1: CH 2 (counts as first DC); DC 11 more in ring, join with SL ST (12 DC)
  • Row 2: CH 2 (in this row and all succeeding rows, this counts as first DC stitch); DC in same stitch as CH 2, (this creates an increase); 2 DC in each of 11 remaining DC; join with SL ST (24 DC)
  • Row 3: CH 2, 1 DC in each of remaining 23 DC, join with SL ST
  • Row 4: CH 2, 1 DC in each or remaining 23 DC, CH 2 and turn
  • Row 5-52: Repeat row 4
  • Row 53: Repeat row 3
  • Row 54: Decrease from 24 DC to 12 DC (to decrease, insert hook, YO and pull through. Leaving yarn on hook, insert into next stitch, YO and pull through, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through 2 loops.)
  • Row 55: Decrease from 12 DC to 6 DC
  • Row 56: Decrease from 6 DC to 3 DC; end off, leaving a 6” length of yarn. With a needle, run yarn through top loops of yarn. With a needle, run yarn through top loops of final 3 DC with a gathering stitch and pull closed. Lock stitch shut. Hide excess length of yarn inside snuggler.

Version Two:

  • Begin: CH 25
  • Row 1: DC in second CH from hook and in each remaining CH (24 DC); CH 2, turn
  • Row 2-56: DC in each DC, CH 2, turn (24 DC)
  • Finish off: Leaving yarn length 1½ times the length of the snuggler

Sewing and Stuffing the Snugglers:

Version One:

  • The ends are already rounded and fastened for you! Using piece of yarn 1½ times the length of snuggler, sew shut, using a weaving stitch. (Use 2 stitches per DC). Lay stuffing in snuggler as your sew, filling at least 1/3 to ½ at a time. The longer the piece of fiberfill, the less it will bunch when washed. Also, overlap the fiberfill ends at least 2” using a thinner thickness at the overlap edges so there isn't a bump. Finished product should feel like a very soft loaf of bread when squeezed. It will bend over when held vertically, but not flop in half. One 20 oz bag of fiberfill will stuff 8 to 10 snugglers, depending on how loosely or tightly they are crocheted.

Version Two:

  • On one end, using an 8” piece of yarn, run a gathering stitch through the top of each DC, draw tightly, and knot securely. Hide ends inside the snuggler. At the other end, using a piece or yarn approximately twice the length of the snuggler, gather this end as you did the first, using 8” of the yarn's end. Sew shut with weaving stitch as instructed in Version One, using the remaining length of the gathering yarn.

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