Montessori Baby Toy Free Crochet Pattern | Sensory Toy

Create a fun, colourful and interactive crochet toy with this Sensory Learning Toy Crochet Pattern. This Montessori-inspired project features a handmade crochet tissue box with 10 removable number pieces, perfect for encouraging hands-on play while introducing little ones to colours and numbers.

Children can enjoy pulling the colourful pieces from the box, arranging them, counting them and putting them back inside again. The combination of bright colours, different shapes and repetitive play makes this a lovely addition to a playroom or nursery.

This is also a wonderful crochet project for using a selection of colourful yarns and makes a thoughtful handmade gift for birthdays, Christmas or other special occasions.

-MATERIALS-

·         DK yarn in chosen colours

·         3.5mm crochet hook

·         Embroidery needle and scissors

-ABBREVIATIONS-

·         Magic Loop (I chain two and crochet into first loop to create ring)

·         CH – Chain

·         ST – Stitch

·         SL ST – Slip stitch

·         SK ST – Skip stitch

·         SC – Single crochet

·         HDC – Half double crochet

·         DC – Double crochet

·         SC2TOG – Single crochet two together

·         JOIN and FO – SL ST into next ST, chain one, cut yarn

·         FO- Fasten off

·         FLO – Front loops only

·         BLO – Back loops only

·         T – Turn

 -CONSTRUCTION NOTES-  

-          Do not join the yarn at the end of rounds unless stated to do so, just keep going in a spiral (if you struggle with the stitch count use a stitch marker at the beginning of rounds.)

-          Numbers written inside {} state the number of stitches at the end of round.

-          Pattern written inside () should be repeated the number of times stated.

-          Always pin your work into place before you sew together.

-          Pattern is written using US Crochet terminology.

-TISSUE BOX-

Note – box is made in separate pieces and then sewn together.

Bottom of box – make with chosen colour.

1.       CH41, from the 2^nd CH from hook SC across, CH1, T {40}

2-23. SC across, CH1, T {40} – 22 rows.

24.   SC around entire piece doing 3SC in corners to help turn.

Join and FO leaving a long tail for sewing together later.

Short Sides – make 2 with colour of choice.

1.       CH23, from the 2^nd CH from hook SC across, CH1, T {22}

2-13. SC across, CH1, T {40} – 12 rows.

14.   SC around entire piece doing 3SC in corners to help turn.

Join and FO leaving a long tail for sewing together later.

Long Sides – make 2 with colour of choice.

1.       CH41, from the 2^nd CH from hook SC across, CH1, T {40}

2-13. SC across, CH1, T {40} – 12 rows.

15.   SC around entire piece doing 3SC in corners to help turn.

Join and FO leaving a long tail for sewing together later. 

Top of Box – make with chosen colour.

1.       CH41, from the 2^nd CH from hook SC across, CH1, T {40}

2-10. SC across, CH1, T {40} – 9 rows.

11-14.                  SC10, CH1, T {10} 4 rows.

FO.

Re-join yarn at the opposite end of row 10.

15-18. SC10, CH1, T {10} – 4 rows

19.   SC10, CH20, SK20 STS, SC10, CH1, T {40}

20-29. SC across, CH1, T {40} – 10 rows.

30.   SC around entire piece doing 3SC in corners to help turn.

Join and FO leaving a long tail for sewing together later.

Joining the pieces:

Note – the pieces are sewn together on the inside of work. Once all joined you will have to turn your work inside out for it to be the right way.

 -          Holding right sides of pieces together and using he long tails left from pieces made, I used whip stitch to sew along seams. I did this by sewing going through consecutive stitches from each piece.

-          I joined all the side pieces to the base piece first, after I sewed up the side pieces. Lastly, I sewed the top on.

-          To finish turn piece the right way.

-NUMBER AND COLOUR GRIDS-

-          Each square on this grid represents 3SC across and 3 rows of SC up.

-          Blank squares are to be made with white yarn.

-          Marked squares are to be made with chosen colour.

-          You may use any colour changing method you like, I cut and changed colour for each change. I didn’t carry the yarn as you could see the colours through the white squares.

-          Grids with all number templates can be found below.

Number Squares – begin with white yarn and change colours as indicated.

1.       CH22, from the 2^nd chain SC21, CH1, T {21}

2-23. SC across, CH1, T {21} – 20 rows.

24.   SC around entire square doing 3SC in corners to help turn.

Change to same colour used for number.

25.   SC around entire square doing 3SC in corners to help turn.

Join and FO.