Cookie Pals: Derek the Duck

Whoops, running a bit (okay, a lot) behind schedule today, so I'll keep this short and sweet: it's time for another Cookie Pal pattern! Woohoo! This week's Cookie Pal is the ever adorable Derek the Duck. 

I guess you could say that Derek is a bit of a class clown. He loves to make people laugh and has a special affinity for bad puns; he's a real "quack-up!" (I couldn't resist, guys. Just look at that truly terrible pun for a moment and bask in its awfulness...) When he's not practicing his stand up routine, you can catch Derek hanging out at the beach or the skate park with his friends. Derek likes to keep things chill but is always there when you need him. 

And now you can make your own cute duck friend (with or without the puns) by following along with this fun pattern! Derek has the same basic construction as Beverly the Bear, up through the legs, meaning that the head, body, and legs are all worked in one piece. (Hooray for minimal sewing!) If you'd like to reference the step-by-step photos for the body, be sure to check out the pattern for Beverly. They should be helpful if you're confused about any aspects of the pattern. 

If you'd like an ad-free printable PDF version of this pattern (along with all of the other 10 Cookie Pal patterns), you can find one on Ravelry. It includes both a step-by-step photo version and a text only version of the pattern for simpler printing. 

You can find the accessory patterns here. 

Stitch Glossary:
st(s) = stitch(es)
ch = chain
ss = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
inc = sc increase (work 2 sc in the same st)
dec = sc decrease (decrease over 2 sc sts)
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet

Materials:

• About 90-110 yds of I Love This Cotton! Yarn (or other aran weight yarn) in main color and accent color
• Size E (3.5mm) crochet hook
• Fiberfill stuffing
• 6mm safety eyes (2)
• Tapestry needle
• Optional: Stitch marker

Gauge:
2" = 10 sc sts
2" = 10.5 rows of sc

Note: Unless otherwise specified, this pattern is worked in continuous rounds without joining or turning. I recommend using a stitch marker and moving it after each round to help you keep your place.

Duck Bill: 
Using the accent color: 
Ch 9
Round 1: inc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 6 sts, inc, working up the other side of the chain, inc, sc in the next 6 sts, inc, ss to first sc to join (20)
Rounds 2-4: ch 1, sc around, ss to join (20)
Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing.  

Body:
Using the main body color:
Round 1: Make a magic circle and work 6 sc into the circle, pull taut to close (6)
Round 2: inc 6 times (12)
Round 3: [inc, sc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: [sc, inc, sc] 6 times (24)
Round 5: [inc, sc in the next 3 sts] 6 times (30)
Round 6: [sc in the next 2 sts, inc, sc in the next 2 sts] 6 times (36)
Round 7: [inc, sc in the next 5 sts] 6 times (42)
Rounds 8-11: sc around (42)
Round 12: [sc in the next 3 sts, inc, sc in the next 3 sts] 3 times, sc in the next 21 sts (45)
Round 13: [inc, sc in the next 7 sts] 3 times, sc in the next 21 sts (48)
Round 14: [sc in the next 4 sts, inc, sc in the next 4 sts] 3 times, sc in the next 21 sts (51)
Rounds 15-17: sc around (51)
Round 18: [sc in the next 4 sts, dec, sc in the next 4 sts] 3 times, sc in the next 21 sts (48)
Round 19: [dec, sc in the next 7 sts] 3 times, sc in the next 21 sts (45)
Round 20: [sc in the next 3 sts, dec, sc in the next 3 sts] 3 times, sc in the next 21 sts (42)
Round 21: [dec, sc in the next 5 sts] 6 times, (36)

Let's pause crocheting here and add on the face. You'll notice that rounds 12-20 have created a head that protrudes slightly on one side; this is the front of the head where you’ll be adding the face. Place a stitch marker through the loop on your hook to hold your place while you decorate. 

Stuff the duck bill you made earlier and sew it in place across rounds 15-18 using the tapestry needle and the long yarn tail. Place the eyes between rounds 13 and 14, about 8 sts apart. Begin stuffing the head and continue to stuff as you go. Remove the stitch marker and place the yarn loop back on your hook so that you can resume crocheting.

Round 22: [sc in the next 2 sts, dec, sc in the next 2 sts] 6 times (30)
Round 23: [dec, sc in the next 3 sts] 6 times (24)
Round 24: [sc, dec, sc] 6 times (18)
Round 25: [sc, inc, sc] 6 times (24)
Round 26: [inc, sc in the next 3 sts] 6 times (30)
Round 27: [sc in the next 2 sts, inc, sc in the next 2 sts] 6 times (36)
Rounds 28-35: sc around (36)
Round 36: [sc in the next 2 sts, dec, sc in the next 2 sts] 6 times (30)

Now we’re going to start forming the legs. Please pay careful attention to your stitch count as you go to ensure that both legs end up the same size.

Switch to accent color​
Round 37: sc in the next 11 sts, skip the next 15 sts, sc in the last 4 sts (15)
Note: Once you finish the first 11 sts, you should be centered in the front of the duck. If you find that the face is slightly more to one side than the other, you can shift the stitches here to compensate (ex: sc in the first 9, skip the next 15, sc in the last 6). If it helps, you can mark the center stitch first. As long as you have 15 sts for each leg, the pattern will work. 
Rounds 38-41: sc around (15)
Round 42: [dec, sc in the next 3 sts] 3 times (12)
Ss twice to even off the leg and then fasten off, leaving the leg open. We'll close up the hole when we add the feet. 

Now it’s time to make the second leg using the sts we skipped back in round 37. Join the accent color yarn (I like to join mine centered on the back side). There are a couple different options for starting the leg. I’m going to walk you through both and you can choose whichever you prefer.

First, the easiest option:
Leg Round 1: ss, sc in the next 14 sts (make sure you don’t crochet into the side of the first leg; you only want to use the 15 sts you skipped in round 37), sc into the ss you just made (15)
You’ll notice that this leaves a small hole between the legs. You can easily sew this shut later with the yarn tail leftover from the end of the leg and no one will ever notice it.
Leg Rounds 2-5:  sc around (15)
Leg Round 6:  [dec, sc in the next 3 sts] 3 times (12)
Ss twice to even off the leg and then fasten off, leaving the leg open. 

OR if you’re like me and are determined to sew as little as possible, you can use this second option for making the other leg:
Leg Round 1: ss, begin to sc in the next 14 sts. Once you reach the side of the other leg, pick up several loops along the side of the leg by inserting your hook, yarning over, and pulling up a loop. Leave all the loops on your hook. Then insert your hook in the next stitch where you actually want to make a sc, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through all of the loops on your hook to finish the st. Then sc around in the remaining sts and make your last sc into the ss you made at the beginning of the round (15)
This will close up the gap between the legs so that you won’t need to sew it shut later. And the rest of the leg is the same from here:
Leg Rounds 2-5:  sc around (15)
Leg Round 6:  [dec, sc in the next 3 sts] 3 times (12)
Ss twice to even off the leg and then fasten off, leaving the leg open. 

Webbed Feet (make 2):
Using the accent color:
Round 1: Make a magic circle and work 6 sc into the circle, pull taut to close (6)
Round 2: inc 6 times (12)
Round 3: [inc, sc] 6 times (18)
Round 4: ss, sc, *(hdc, dc 2 times, hdc) in the next st, ss, (hdc, dc 2 times, hdc ) in the next st, ss, (hdc, dc 2 times, hdc) in the next st, sc, ss
Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing (18)

Finish stuffing legs. Using the tapestry needle and long yarn tail, sew one foot to the bottom of each leg opening. The back of the foot (the round section) should line up with the back of the leg and the front of the foot (the bumpy section) should protrude from the front. 

Wings (make 2):
Using the main body color:
Round 1: Make a magic circle and work 6 sc into the circle, pull taut (6)
Round 2: sc around (6)
Round 3: inc 6 times (12)
Round 4: sc around (12)
Round 5: [dec, sc] 4 times (8)
Rounds 6-7: sc around (8)
Round 8: [dec, sc in the next 2 sts] twice (6)
Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing. Flatten the wing and do not stuff. Sew one wing to each side of the body somewhere around rounds 25-28.  

Optional: Fuzzy Feathers
For a tuft of fuzzy feathers on its head, take a couple of 2-3” strands of the main body color yarn, insert your hook between rounds 4 and 5 and pull the strands partway through until a loop forms. Using your fingers, pull the loose strands on the other end through the yarn loop you just made and pull taut to fasten in place. Trim to your desired length and gently separate the strands of loose yarn to fray them. ​

Weave in any remaining ends. Ta-dah! You've made an extra adorable little duck! 

I hope that you enjoyed meeting Derek and making this pattern! ​If you have any questions or comments about the pattern, you can reach me in the comments section below, by email, or on social media. If you end up making a little duck, I'd love to see a picture, so please share. And don't forget to check back next week for the next Cookie Pal! (If you don't want to wait, the PDF with all 11 Cookie Pals in one place is available on Ravelry.) Happy Hooking! 

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​***You're welcome to do whatever you'd like to with finished products made from this pattern but if you do sell them, I ask that you link back to my page. You may not copy this pattern, repost it anywhere (either altered or in its original form), or claim it as your own. You may not use any photos on this site for your own use. ***