Itty Bitty Alligator Crochet Pattern

Let's start with the tail and body.
 
Foundation: Ch 2, SC 6 in second hook from Ch. 6
Round 1. 2SC, SC 5. 7
Round 2. SC around. 7
Round 3. 2SC, SC 6. 8
Round 4. SC around. 8
Round 5. 2SC, SC 7. 9
Round 6. SC around. 9
Round 7. 2SC, SC 8. 10
Round 8. SC around. 10
Round 9. 2SC, SC 4, 2SC, SC 4. 12
Round 10. 2SC, SC 5, 2SC, SC 5. 14
Rounds 11-13. SC around. 14
Round 14. 2SC, SC 6, 2SC, SC 6. 16
Rounds 15-16. SC around. 16
Round 17. 2SC, SC 7, 2SC, SC 7. 18
Rounds 18-19. SC around. 18
Round 20. 2SC, SC 8, 2SC, SC 8. 20
Round 21. 2SC, SC 9, 2SC, SC 9. 22.
Rounds 22-23. SC around. 22
Round 24. SC 5, 2SC in next around. 26
Round 25. SC 6, 2SC in next around. 30
Round 26. SC 7, 2SC in next around. 34
Round 27. SC around. 34
Round 28. SC 8, 2SC in next around. 38
Rounds 29-30. SC around. 38
Round 31. SC 9, 2SC in next around. 42
Rounds 32-40. SC around. 42
Round 41. SC 9, 2SCtog around. 38
Rounds 42-45. SC around. 38
Round 46. SC 19, {2SC} twice, SC 8, {2SC} twice, SC 8. 42
Round 47. SC 21, {2SC} twice, SC 8, {2SC} twice, SC 10. 46
Round 48. SC 21, {2SC} twice, 2SCtog, SC 8, 2SCtog, {2SC} twice, SC 10. 48

Upper Jaw
To create the jaw you’ll switch from working in rounds to working in rows, turning the piece after each row.
Row 1. Begin by Chaining 1 and turning piece, continuing from where you left off on Row; SC 37, Ch 1, turn. 37
Row 2. {2SCtog} twice, SC 29, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 33
Row 3. SC 6, 2SCtog, SC 17, 2SCtog, SC 6, Ch 1, turn. 31
Row 4. 3DC, SC 29, 3DC, Ch 1, turn. 35
Row 5. SC 1, 2SCtog, SC 29, 2SCtog, SC 1, Ch 1, turn. 33
Row 6. 2SCtog, SC 29, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 31
Row 7. SC 6, 2SCtog, SC 15, 2SCtog, SC 6, Ch 1, turn. 29
Row 8. SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, SC 11, {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, Ch 1, turn. 25
Row 9. SC 3, {2SCtog, twice, SC 11, {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, Ch 1, turn. 21
Row 10. SC 3, 2SCtog, SC 11, 2SCtog, SC 3, Ch 1, turn. 19
Rows 11-21. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 19
Row 22. 2SCtog, SC 15, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 17
Row 23. 2SCtog, SC 13, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 15
Row 24. {2SCtog} twice, SC 9, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 13
Row 25. {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 9
Row 26. {2SCtog} twice, SC 1, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 5
Finish off.

Edging
JWSC at left side of upper jaw (when upside down) and SC around edge for a total of 54 stitches.

Bottom Jaw
Foundation: With alligator upside down, JWSC to same stitch that you started the edging for Upper jaw.
Row 1. SC across, ending where the last stitch of edging does, Ch 1, turn. 13
Rows 2-9. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 13
Row 10. SC 1, 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, SC 1, Ch 1, turn. 11
Rows 11-20. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11
Row 21. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 11
Finish off.

Edging
Foundation: JWSC at left side of upper jaw (when upside down) and SC around edge for a total of 48 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 48
 
Edging
Row 1. 2SCtog, SC 42, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 46
Row 2. SS 3, SC 40, SS 3.
Finish off.

Lower insert
Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 13, turn. 12
Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook; SC across, Ch 1, turn. 12
Rows 2–9. SC across
Row 10. SC 5, 2SCtog, SC 5. 11
Rows 11–17. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11
Row 18. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 9
Lower insert
Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 13, turn. 12
Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook; SC across, Ch 1, turn. 12
Rows 2–9. SC across
Row 10. SC 5, 2SCtog, SC 5. 11
Rows 11–17. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 11
Row 18. 2SCtog, SC 7, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 9
Row 19. 2SCtog, SC 5, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 7
Finish off.
 
Edging
Join at right hand corner and SC all around edge. 39

Teeth
Foundation: With DMC White, begin on left hand side; SC around posts of edge stitches beginning at post between 5th and 6th stitch from corner, for 28 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 28
Row 1. SC 1, Ch 1, SS 1 across row. 14 teeth, 42 stitches

Upper insert
 
Foundation: Begin with DMC #3328, Ch 15, turn. 15
Row 1. Beginning in second Ch from hook, SC across, Ch 1, turn. 15
Rows 2–19. SC across, Ch 1, turn. 15
Row 20. 2SCtog, SC 11, 2SCtog, Ch 1, turn. 13
Row 21. {2SCtog} twice, SC 5, {2SCtog} twice, Ch 1, turn. 9
Finish off.
 
Edging
Join at right hand corner and SC all around edge. 51

Teeth
Foundation: With DMC White, begin on left hand side; SC around posts of edge stitches beginning at post between 6th and 7th stitch from corner, for 40 stitches, Ch 1, turn. 40
Row 1. SC 1, Ch 1, SS 1 across row. 20 teeth, 60 stitches

Legs {Make 4}
 
Foundation: Ch 2, SC 6 in second Ch from hook. 6
Round 1. 2SC in each around. 12
Round 2. SC 1, 2SC in next around. 18
Round 3. SC 2, 2SC in next around. 24
Round 4. SC 10, {2SCtog} five times in back loop only , SC 4. 19
Round 5. SC 8, {2SCtog} four times, SC 3. 15
Round 6. SC 8, {2SCtog} twice, SC 3. 13
Rounds 7–12. SC around. 13
Finish off.
 
Working the toes
JWSC to third stitch for Row 4, working in the front loop only; SC 1, Ch 1, DC 1,
Ch 1, SC 1 repeat four times and finish off.

Nostrils {Make 2}
 
Foundation: Ch 2, 5DC in second Ch from hook. 5
Finish off.

Assembly
Step 1: Stuff body fully and let stuff extend into upper jaw.

Step 2: Sew upper jaw insert into upper jaw, going through only the top loops of the stitches so your thread won’t show through either side.

Step 3: Sew lower jaw and upper jaw together at ends.

Step 4: Sew lower jaw insert into lower jaw using the same method as for upper jaw.

Step 5: Using a long thread, loop through the head where you made the extra stitches. This will give a recessed area to sew on your eyes.

Step 6: Sew eyes into recesses you just made. For this project I recommend going with beads or small buttons, something a little larger and shinier than a French knot looks best.

Step 7: Sew nostrils to front of upper jaw.

Step 8: Take legs and pinch them sideways, then sew to body at evenly spaced intervals.
 
You're done!

This pattern is excerpted with permission from "Itty Bitty Crocheted Critters: Amigurumi with Attitude!" by Erin Clark and published by Tuttle Publishing.