How to Crochet a Worry Worm

Worry Worm Crochet Pattern by Madison – Schutt Farms

What is a worry worm?

Worry worms are a popular make amongst the crochet community. Individuals create these items to sell as keychains, sell as mental-health wellness items, leave in random places in their communities for others to find as a surprise gift, or donate them to schools or places where children in need may be able to find one.

A worry worm is created as a round head and a spiral body to crochet the perfect yarn fidget toy. Worry Worms are accompanied by a poem to introduce and describe how the worry worm should be used. The spiral body of the worm is perfect to twirl and keep your hands/fingers busy. There is also the option to fill the head of the worm with calming essential oils to help relieve stress.

While worry worms are not created be toys, these do make great pals for children. These little creatures help indidivuals to let go of fears and listen to your worries. Warning: keychain and safety eyes are a choking hazard for children under the age of three.

There are numerous different styles of crochet patterns and poems that have been created. I have free handed the below pattern that I’m sharing here with you.

Worry Worm Crochet Materials

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Crochet Hook size G, scissors, poly-fil or similar stuffing, safety eyes, keychain attachment (optional) and tapestry needle (to assemble and weave in ends).

I get my safety eyes from Amazon,

Medium weight, 100% Cotton, Size 4 Yarn

I love Yarnspiration’s Lily Sugar’n Cream Ombre Yarns for this creation. I listed some of my favorites below, the pattern pictures I have captured here use faded denim ombre.

Faded Denim Ombre

Butter Cream Ombre

Capri Ombre

Coral Seas Ombre

CROCHET STITCHES/ABBREVIATIONS

Chain (CH): Yarn over and pull a loop back through.

Slip Stitch (SS): Insert hook in desired stitch, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

Single Crochet (SC): Insert hook in desired stitch, yarn over and pull a loop back through the stitch, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

Increase Single Crochet (INC): Single crochet twice in the same stitch. This would increase the stitch count by 1 each time completed.

Decrease (DEC): Insert hook in front loop only FLO of stitch 1, insert hook in FLO of stitch 2, complete Single Crochet. This would decrease the stitch count by 1 each time completed.

Double Crochet (DC): Yarn over, insert hook in desired stitch, yarn over and pull a loop back through the stitch, yarn over, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

WORRY WORM PATTERN START

Using magic circle technique, 7 SC in magic circle. (7 SC)

progression of crochet project after round 1. — Image of 7 Single Crochets in the Magic Circle (prior to pulling tail tight to close circle).

Second Round: 7 INC (14 SC)

Progress after round 2 of 7 increases. — Image after round 2.

Third – Sixth Round: 14 SC (14 SC)

Progression of worry worm — Image after round 6.

Seventh Round: 7 DEC (7SC)

We will now create a chain to start the body of the worm and complete a row of double crochet back to the head.

Foundation: CH 27, turn.

Image after body's foundation chain. — Image after creating foundation chain to create body.

Starting in 3^nd chain from hook, DC 4 times in each stitch back to the head of the worm. (100 DC) The twisting effect of the body should happen naturally on it’s own as you continue crocheting here.

Progress of crochet body spiral — Progression of body spiral after 8 Double Crochets across first two stitches.

After completing 100 Double Crochets back to the head, CH 2 and SS to the head (Images below).

Cut a long tail to close head, create key chain loop and sew on eyes. Be sure to fill the head with poly-fill or similar stuffing prior to sewing completely closed.

Picture of chain two after body completion — Image of chain two after body completion.

Close up of where to slip stitch from body to head. — Photo of where to slip stitch from the body to the head of the worry worm.

How to sew crochet worry worm head closed — Image of how to use tapestry needle to weave around the head to close.

WORRY WORM ASSEMBLY

Once head is closed, with the tapestry needle, feed yarn to top of head to create a loop that can be attached to a key chain. Next, use the remaining yarn to sew safety eyes to the head. I typically space the eyes between rounds 3-4 and about 4 stitches apart. However, I like to do a lot of different options of spacing because the different eye placement gives the worms their own personality.

Progression picture to show worry work work in progress.

WORRY WORM CROCHET PATTERN END

Check out more of my free patterns on my site including the food creations for Teddy’s Kitchen.

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Pattern source must be disclosed to buyer if pattern is used to create product inventory to be sold. Ex: “Pattern by Schutt Farms”