100 Years of David Attenborough
Celebrate the iconic David Attenborough by decorating your neighbourhood with this fantastic post box topper, complete with flowers and an array of animals.
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to find out how to make this wonderful yarn bombing project.
Project and instructions by Natalie Beard
You will need
How To Make
You Will Need
* 4mm Crochet Hook
* 5mm Crochet Hook
* Women's Institute Premium Acrylic DK Yarn 100g - 3 x Sage, 1 x Brown, 1 x Honey, 1 x Vanilla, 1 x Light Blue, 1 x Orange, 1 x Yellow, 1 x Aqua, 1 x Rust, 1 x White, 1 x Mid Brown, 1 x Black, 1 x Magenta, 1 x Dark Lilac
* 10mm Toy Safety Eyes
* Toy Stuffing
* Stitch Markers
* Yarn Needle
* Scissors
* Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Pattern Notes
This pattern is written using UK crochet terms.
This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.
The base is worked using a 5mm hook and with double strand throughout.
The characters on top are worked using a 4mm hook.
Head
Using 'Vanilla' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 5: *3dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (30dc)
Rnds 6-11: 1dc in each st. (30dc)
Insert safety eyes between R9 and R10, 6sts apart.
Start to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 12: *3dc, dc2tog* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 13: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 14: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 15: *dc2tog* rep around (6dc)
Fasten off and sew shut, sew in your ends.
Using a small amount of pink yarn, sew a simple mouth.
Ears (make 2)
Using 'Vanilla' and 4mm hook, ch3, fasten off leaving a long tail to sew each to either side of the head, just below the eye line.
Leg (make 2)
Using 'Brown' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: In BLO, 1dc in each st. (12dc)
Rnds 4-6: 1dc in each st. (12dc)
Fasten off 'Brown', change to 'Honey'.
Rnds 7-16: 1dc in each st (12dc)
Fasten off 1st leg, do not fasten off 2nd leg and ch3. Continue working around both legs.
Rnd 17: 12dc around 1st leg, 3dc into the ch, 12dc around 2nd leg, 3dc into the other side of the ch. (30dc)
Rnds 18-27: 1dc in each st (30dc)
Change to 'Brown', do not fasten off 'Honey'.
Rnd 28: 1dc in each st (30dc)
Fasten off Brown, change to 'Honey'.
Rnd 29: 1dc in each st (30dc)
Fasten off 'Honey', join 'Light Blue'.
Rnds 30-39: 1dc in each st (30dc)
Start to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 40: *3dc, dc2tog* rep around (24dc)
Rnd 41: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around (18dc)
Rnd 42: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around (12dc)
Rnd 43: In FLO, *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Fasten off 'Light Blue'. Join 'Vanilla' in BLO of Rnd 42.
Rnds 44-46: 1dc in each st (12dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the head.
Arm (make 2)
Using 'Vanilla' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: Work 6dc in the MC (6dc)
Rnd 2: *dc, 2dc in next st* rep around (9dc)
Rnd 3: 1dc in each st (9dc)
Rnd 4: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around (6dc)
Lightly stuff hand with toy stuffing.
Rnds 5-14: 1dc in each st (6dc)
Fasten off 'Vanilla', join 'Light Blue'.
Rnd 15: Working into BL’s 1dc in each st (6dc)
Rnds 16-18: 1dc in each st (6dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to either side of the body.
Hair
Using 'White' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 5: *3dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (30dc)
Rnd 6: 1dc in each st (30dc)
Rnd 7: Dc, 2htr, *2tr into the next st * 2times, 2htr, slst, htr, 2tr into the nxt st, htr, dc, 17htr, slst into the last st.
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the head.
Body
Using 'Yellow' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnds 5-10: 1dc in each st (24dc)
Insert safety eyes between Rnd 5 and Rnd 6, 5sts apart.
Rnd 11: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 12: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around. (12dc)
Start to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 13: *dc2tog* rep around. (6dc)
Change to 'Black', do not fasten off 'Yellow'.
Rnd 14: Working in FLO, 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 15: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 16: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Change to 'Yellow' do not fasten off 'Black'.
Rnds 17-19: 1dc in each st around. (24dc)
Change to 'Black' do not fasten off 'Yellow'.
Rnds 20-22: 1dc in each st around. (24dc)
Change to 'Yellow' do not fasten off 'Black'.
Rnd 23: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 24: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around. (12dc)
Continue to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 25: *dc2tog* rep around. (6dc)
Sew shut and fasten off.
Using a little 'Black', sew a simple mouth, between Rnd 7 and Rnd 8, in between the eyes.
Antenna
Using 'Black' and 4mm hook, Ch10.
Fsten off leaving a long tail to sew in place at the top of the head after weaving the chain through the 1st row of the head.
Wing (make 2)
Using 'White' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the body.
Head and Body
Using 'Black' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 5: *3dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (30dc)
Rnd 6: *4dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (36dc)
Rnd 7: *5dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (42dc)
Rnd 8-15: 1dc into each st around. (42dc)
Rnd 16: *5dc, dc2tog* rep around (36dc)
Rnd 17: *4dc, dc2tog* rep around (30dc)
Start to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 18: *3dc, dc2tog* rep around (24dc)
Rnd 19: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around (18dc)
Rnd 20: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 21: *3dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (30dc)
Rnd 22-27: 1dc into each st around. (30dc)
Rnd 28: *3dc, dc2tog* rep around (24dc)
Rnd 29: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around (18dc)
Rnd 30: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around (12dc)
Rnd 31: *dc2tog* rep around (6dc)
Fasten off and sew shut, sew in your ends.
Eyes (make 2)
Using 'White' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 5: *3dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (30dc)
Rnd 6: *4dc, 2dc in next st* rep 2times, 2dc, htr, tr, *2dtr in the nxt st* rep 2times, tr, htr, dc, *2dc in the nxt st*, *4dc, 2dc in next st* rep 2times.
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to either side of the head.
Insert safety eyes into the centre, where the MC is situated.
Beak
Using 'Orange' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: 1dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 4: *1dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 5: 1dc into each st around. (18dc)
Rnd 6: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 7: 1dc into each st around. (24dc)
Rnd 8: *3dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (30dc)
Rnd 9: 1dc into each st around. (30dc)
Fasten off 'Orange', change to 'Aqua'.
Rnd 10-11: 1dc into each st around. (30dc)
Fasten off 'Aqua', change to Yellow.
Rnd 12-13: 1dc into each st around. (30dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the head, between the eyes. Lightly stuff with fibre filling before sewing in place.
Wings (make 2)
Using 'Black' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3-4: 1dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 5: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around (9dc)
Rnd 6-7: 1dc into each st around. (9dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to either side of the body.
Feet (make 2)
Using 'Orange' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: 2dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 3-4: 1dc into each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 5: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around (9dc)
Rnd 6: 1dc into each st around. (9dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the underside of the body.
Head
Using 'Black' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: Work 6dc in the MC (6dc)
Rnd 2: dc in each st around. (6dc)
Change to 'Rust'
Rnd 3: *dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (9dc)
Rnd 4: dc in each st around. (9dc)
Rnd 5: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 6: dc in each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 7: *dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 8: *2dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 9: *3dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (30dc)
Insert safety eyes between Rnd 8 and Rnd 9, 8sts apart.
Rnd 10: *4dc, 2dc in next st* rep around. (36dc)
Rnds 11-15: dc in each st around. (36dc)
Rnd 16: *4dc, dc2tog* rep around. (30dc)
Start to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 17: *3dc, dc2tog* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 18: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 19: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 20: *dc2tog* rep around. (6dc)
Fasten off and sew shut, sew in your ends.
Body
Using 'Rust' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc into MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: *2dc into next st* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 3: *dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnds 5-17: dc in each st around. (24dc)
Start to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 18: 2dc, dc2tog* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 19: *dc, dc2tog* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 20: *dc2tog* rep around. (6dc)
Fasten off and sew in the ends.
Ears (make 2)
Using 'Rust' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc into MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: dc in each st around. (6dc)
Rnd 3: *dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (9dc)
Rnd 4: dc in each st around. (9dc)
Rnd 5: *2dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 6: dc in each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 7: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around. (9dc)
Rnd 8: dc in each st around. (9dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the head.
Legs (make 2)
Using 'Rust' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc into the MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: *dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (9dc)
Rnds 3-4: dc in each st around. (9dc)
Lightly stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 5: *dc, dc2tog* rep around. (6dc)
Rnds 6-7: dc in each st around. (6dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to the bottom of the body.
Arms (make 2)
Using 'Rust' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: *dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (9dc)
Rnd 3: dc in each st around. (9dc)
Start to lightly stuff with toy stuffing.
Continue stuffing after every couple of rounds.
Rnd 4: *dc, dc2tog* rep around. (6dc)
Rnd 5: dc in each st around. (6dc)
Rnds 6-7: dc in each st around. (6dc)
Rnds 8-9: 1dc in each st around. (6dc)
Rnds 10-11: dc in each st around. (6dc)
Rnds 12-13: dc in each st around. (6dc)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew to either side of the body.
Tail
Using 'Rust' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc in MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: *dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (9dc)
Rnd 3: *2dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 4: *dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 5: *2dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (24dc)
Rnds 6-10: dc in each st around. (24dc)
Rnd 11: *3dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (30dc)
Rnds 12-13: *dc in each st around. (30dc)
Rnd 14: *4dc, 2dc into next st* rep around. (36dc)
Rnds 15-18: *dc in each st around. (36dc)
Rnd 19: *10dc, dc2tog* rep around. (33dc)
Rnd 20: *9dc, dc2tog* rep around. (30dc)
Rnd 21: *8dc, dc2tog* rep around. (27dc)
Rnd 22: *7dc, dc2tog* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 23: *6dc, dc2tog* rep around. (21dc)
Rnds 24-26: *dc in each st around. (21dc)
Rnd 27: *5dc, dc2tog* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 28: *4dc, dc2tog* rep around. (15dc)
Rnd 29: *3dc, dc2tog* rep around. (12dc)
Rnds 30-32: dc in each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 33: Stitch the tail closed by squeezing both sides of the opening together, ch1 and 1dc through both sts, 6times (6dc)
Face
Using 'Honey' and 4mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 6dc into MC. (6dc)
Rnd 2: Dc in each st around. (6dc)
Rnd 3: *dc, 2dc in next* rep around. (9dc)
Rnd 4: Dc in each st around. (9dc)
Rnd 5: *2dc, 2dc in next* rep around.(12dc)
Rnd 6: Dc in each st around. (12dc)
Rnd 7: *3dc, 2dc in next* rep around. (15dc)
Rnd 8: Dc in each st around. (15dc)
Rnd 9: *4dc, 2dc in next* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 10: Dc in each st around. (18dc)
Rnd 11: *2dc, 2dc in next* rep around. (24dc)
Insert the safety eyes between Rnd 6 and Rnd 7, 4sts apart.
Place nose in the centre of the MC.
Note: If you do not have a toy nose to use, you can instead use some dark yarn and thread a nose using a yarn needle.
Rnd 12: *3dc, 2dc in next* rep around. (30dc)
Rnd 13: *4dc, 2dc in next* rep around. (36dc)
Fasten off Honey, join Mid Brown.
First the bobbles.
Rnd 14: *1dc, 1bbl* 9times, 18dc. (36sts)
Rnd 15: 1dc into each st around. (36dc)
Rnd 16: 1dc, *1dc, 1bbl* 8times, 19dc. (36sts)
Rnd 17: 1dc into each st around. (36dc)
Rnd 18-25: Repeat Rnds 11-14, 4 more times.
Rnd 26: *4dc, dc2tog* rep around. (30dc)
Start to stuff with toy stuffing.
Rnd 27: *3dc, dc2tog* rep around. (24dc)
Rnd 28: *2dc, dc2tog* rep around. (18dc)
Rnd 29: *1dc, dc2tog* rep around. (12dc)
Rnd 30: *dc2tog* rep around. (6dc)
Fasten off and sew shut, sew in your ends.
(Make as many as you like, to fill the base)
Using Yellow, make a MC.
Rnd 1: 5dc in MC. (5dc)
Fasten off Yellow, attach either Magenta/Dark Lilac/Aqua to any st.
Rnd 2. Work [slst, ch3, 2dtr, ch3, slst] in each st around.
Fasten off and sew in the ends.
Ch3 counts as tr throughout.
Using a double strand of 'Sage' and 5mm hook, make a MC.
Rnd 1: Ch3 (counts as 1st tr), 11tr in MC. (12tr)
Rnd 2: Ch3, 1tr into the same st, 2tr into each st around. (24tr)
Rnd 3: Ch3, 2tr in next st, *1tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (36tr)
Rnd 4: Ch3, 1tr, 2tr into the next st, *2tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (48tr)
Rnd 5: Ch3, 2tr, 2tr into the next st, *3tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (60tr)
Rnd 6: Ch3, 3tr, 2tr into the next st, *4tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (72tr)
Rnd 7: Ch3, 4tr, 2tr into the next st, *5tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (84tr)
Rnd 8: Ch3, 5tr, 2tr into the next st, *6tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (96tr)
Rnd 9: Ch3, 6tr, 2tr into the next st, *7tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (108tr)
Rnd 10: Ch3, 7tr, 2tr into the next st, *8tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (120tr)
Rnd 11: Ch3, 8tr, 2tr into the next st, *9tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (132tr)
Rnd 12: Ch3, 9tr, 2tr into the next st, *10tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (144tr)
Rnd 13: Ch3, 10tr, 2tr into the next st, *11tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (156tr)
Rnd 14: Ch3, 11tr, 2tr into the next st, *12tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (168tr)
Rnd 15: Ch3, 12tr, 2tr into the next st, *13tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (180tr)
Rnd 16: Ch3, 13tr, 2tr into the next st, *14tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (192tr)
Rnd 17: Ch3, 14tr, 2tr into the next st, *15tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (204tr)
Rnd 18: Ch3, 15tr, 2tr into the next st, *16tr, 2tr in next* rep around. (216tr)
Rnds 19-21: 1tr in each st (216tr)
Rnd 22: Ch3, 15tr, tr2tog *16tr, tr2tog* rep around (204tr) Rnd 23: ch3, 14tr, tr2tog *15tr, tr2tog* rep around (192tr) Rnd 22: ch3, 13tr, tr2tog *14tr, tr2tog* rep around (180tr)
Fasten off and sew in the ends.
Use a length of elastic (long enough to fit around the post box) and weave in and out of Rnd 22.
Optional
Make a A5 tent sign, using foam board, 1 piece of black felt and iron on glitter vinyl that you cut the letters out using a Cricut. Alternatively, you could stich the lettering or use fabric paint if you do not have a Cricut.
Making Up
Decide where you would like to position each item on top of the main post box topper. Then use a glue gun to stick everthing in place.
