Following on from the adventures of Chilli Billy and his friends (you can see what they got up to in this blog post), I’ve written up a free pattern for him so all you chilli lovers out there can have one of your own, or maybe you’ll even grow a whole crop!

(Please note: I prefer to use US crochet terms in my patterns. If you are more familiar with UK terms a handy stitch conversion chart can be found at the bottom of my Free Patterns page along with an explanation of the abbreviations used.)

Size: Chilli Billy is approximately 5″ (12 cm) tall.

You will need:

• 3 mm crochet hook
• Scissors
• 3 mm knitting needle (or thereabouts)
• Yarn needle
• Oddments of Light Worsted Weight (DK/8ply) yarn in Red and Green
• 2 x 6 mm black plastic safety eyes
• 30 cm long Black pipe cleaner

The Pattern:

Make 1 piece, starting at tail. Working in continuous spiral rounds.
With Red yarn make 2 ch.
Rnd 1: 3 sc in second ch from hook. (3 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each of next 3 st. (6 sts)
Rnd 3: sc in each st around.
Rnd 4: [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 3 times. (9 sts)
Rnds 5-6: sc in each st around. (2 rounds)
Rnd 7: [sc in each of next 2 st, 2 sc in next st] 3 times. (12 sts)
Rnds 8-10: sc in each st around. (3 rounds)
Rnd 11: [sc in each of next 3 st, 2 sc in next st] 3 times. (15 sts)
Rnds 12-21: sc in each st around. (10 rounds)
Stuff chilli, continue stuffing as you go
Rnd 22: [sc in each of next 3 st, dec] 3 times. (12 sts)
Rnds 23-25: sc in each st around. (3 rounds)
Insert safety eyes between Rnds 20 and 21, spacing them 3 stitches apart.
Change to Green yarn.
Rnd 26: sc in each st around.
Rnd 27: working in back loops only: sc in each st around.
Rnd 28: dec 6 times. (6 sts)
Stalk: Slst to next st, 6 ch, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, Slst in each of next 3 ch, Slst to next st on top of chilli.
Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for finishing. Thread yarn tail onto yarn needle, pick up front loop only of remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the yarn end.

With Green yarn embroider a small ‘V’ just below the eyes for the mouth.

To make the leaves: Holding chilli right way up, insert hook into any leftover front loop from Rnd 27 – picture (a). Pull up a loop of Green yarn, 3 ch, Slst in same loop as join, Slst in next st, *(Slst, 3 ch, Slst) in next st, repeat from * to end 4 more times. (6 picots made)

Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for finishing. Thread yarn tail onto yarn needle and sew the tip of each picot to the chilli – picture (b).

Cut the pipe cleaner in half and bend over the tips to create blunt ends.

Insert the 3 mm knitting needle from side to side between Rnds 10 and 11 – picture (c). Wiggle the needle around a bit to make the hole big enough. Insert one of the pipe cleaner halves into the hole created by the knitting needle – picture (d).

Bend the legs into shape.
Repeat the above process in between Rnds 16 and 17 for the arms.

Chilli Billy is ready to show off all his HOT moves…

…succulents and capsicums really know how to party!

(Carlos the Cactus’ pattern is also available here as a paid for download in my Etsy shop)