Shrunken Head Guy

Here is the pattern for the Shrunken Head Guy from Beetlejuice and the bride I made for him. 

Don't worry about getting things exactly right with this pattern. Any mistakes you make will most likely benefit the appearance of your Shrunken Head person. Have fun with it, be creative and make some truly ghoulish characters. 

Let me know if you need any help or if you run into any mistakes.
Edit: I forgot to add the ears to the pattern section! They have now been added to the end of the pattern section. I've specified which hook to use in brackets next to section headings.

Shrunken Head Guy

Size

15cm/6in tall

Skill Level

Hard. The pattern requires you to crochet in a continuous spiral and rows. Some of the joining is quite complicated.

Materials

Yarn (DK/8ply)

Tan for the head

Pink or Red for the eye socket

White for the eyes

Brown or Grey for the mouth stitches

Whatever colour you like for the hair

Crochet Hook – 3.0mm and 4.5mm

Filling

Black Felt

Needle and thread

Tapestry needle

Scissors
Fabric Stiffener (optional)

Terminology

***This pattern is written using US crochet terminology***

ch – Chain

sc – Single crochet

hdc – Half double crochet. Yarn over hook, insert hook in stitch, yarn over hook and pull through stitch. Yarn over hook and pull through all three loops on hook.

sl st – Slip stitch

st – Stitch. This term covers ch, sc, dc, sl st and other stitches used in crochet.

sc2tog – Single crochet two stitches together

Turn – Turn work around to start a new row in the opposite direction

Make a ring – Indicates the start of a spiral. Use which ever method you prefer to start the spiral. Method I use: chain 3 then slip stitch in first chain made to make ring.

( ) – The number of stitches that should be in a completed round are placed in brackets at the end of that rounds instructions.

* *  – Repeat instructions within asterisks as directed. 

Instructions

Head (in Tan using 3.0mm)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)

Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (18)

Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (24)

Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (30)

Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (36)

Rnd 7-8: sc in each st around

Rnd 9: *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (42)

Rnd 10-12: sc in each st around

Rnd 13: *sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (48)

Rnd 14-15: sc in each st around

Rnd 16: *sc in next 10 st, sc2tog*  around (44)

Rnd 17-22: sc in each st around

Rnd 23: *sc in next 9 st, sc2tog*  around (40)

Rnd 24-25: sc in each st around

Rnd 26: *sc in next 8 st, sc2tog*  around (36)

Rnd 27: sc in each st around

Rnd 28: *sc in next 4 st, sc2tog*  around (30)

Rnd 29: *sc in next 3 st, sc2tog*  around (24)

Start stuffing.

Rnd 30: *sc in next 2 st, sc2tog*  around (18)

Rnd 31-37: sc in each st around

Rnd 38: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (24)

Rnd 39: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (30)

Rnd 40: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (36)

Rnd 41: *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (42)

Rnd 42: *sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (48)

Rnd 43: *sc in next 7 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (54)

Rnd 44: *sc in next 8 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (60)

Rnd 45: *sc in next 9 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (66)

Rnd 46: *sc in next 10 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (72)

Rnd 47: *sc in next 11 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (78)

Finish stuffing firmly. Cut yarn and fasten off. Weave in ends.

Head Base (in Tan using 3.0mm)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)

Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (18)

Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (24)

Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (30)

Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (36)

Rnd 7: *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (42)

Rnd 8: *sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (48)

Rnd 9: *sc in next 7 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (54)

Rnd 10: *sc in next 8 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (60)

Rnd 11: *sc in next 9 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (66)

Rnd 12: *sc in next 10 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (72)

Rnd 13: *sc in next 11 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (78)

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn. Join the base to the head using the tail of yarn.

Nose (in Tan using 3.0mm)

Chain 21.

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.

Upper Mouth (in Tan using 3.0mm)

If you are unsure of how to work in the back hump of a chain, check out this tutorial on Stitch Diva.

Chain 16.

Row 1: Working in the back humps of the chains, sc in 2^nd chain from the hook, sc in each chain to the end, turn (15)

Row 2: sl st in next 4 st, sc in next st, hdc in next 5 st, sc in next st, sl st in next 4 st (15)

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.

Lower Mouth (in Tan using 3.0mm)

Chain 16.

Row 1: Working in the back humps of the chains, sc in 2^nd chain from the hook, sc in each chain to the end, turn (15)

Row 2: sl st in next 2 st, sc in next st, hdc in next 9 st, sc in next st, sl st in next 2 st

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.

Eye Socket (in Red or Pink using 3.0mm)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)

Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (18)

Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (24)

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn. Make two.

Right Brow (in Tan using 3.0mm)

Chain 17.

Row 1: Right Side, working in the back humps of the chains, sc in 2^nd chain from the hook, sc in next 3 st, hdc in next 6 st, sc in next 6 st (16)

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.

Left Brow (in Tan using 3.0mm)

This is a mirror image of the right brow.

Chain 17.

Row 1: Right Side, working in the back humps of the chains, sc in 2^nd chain from the hook, sc in next 5 st, hdc in next 6 st, sc in next 4 st (16)

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.

Cheekbones (in Tan using 3.0mm)

Chain 4.

Row 1: sc in 2^nd chain from the hook, sc in each st to the end, turn (3)

Row 2: sc in each st to the end, turn (3)

Row 3: sc in next st, sc2tog, turn (2)

Row 4-5: sc in each st to the end, turn

Row 6: sc2tog, turn (1)

Row 7: sc in next st (1)

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn. Make two.

Eyes (in White using 3.0mm)

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)

Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (18)

Rnd 4: sc in each st around

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn. Make two.

Hair Cap (same colour as the hair using 4.5mm)

I add the hair cap so that if there are any gaps when the hair is added to the Shrunken Head, the skin colour won't show through. It is an optional part of the pattern.

Make a ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)

Rnd 3: *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*  around (18)

Rnd 4: *sc in next 2 st , 2 sc in next st*  around (24)

Rnd 5: *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (30)

Rnd 6: *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (36)

Rnd 7: *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st*  around (42)

Rnd 8: sc in next 21 st, leaving the rest of the stitches in the round unworked, turn your work, working in the single crochets you have just made. Sc in 2^nd st from the hook, sc in next 19 st.

Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.

Ears (in Tan using 3.0mm)
Chain 7.
Row 1: sc in 2^nd chain from the hook, sc in each st to the end, turn (6)
Row 2: 2 sc in each st to the end, turn (12)
Row 3: sc2tog six times (6)
Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn. Make two.

Assembly

***These are guidelines only. Be guided by your own eye at all times.***

Add the nose to the head. First you need to cut out a triangle of black felt. The triangle should be about 6 chains high and 5 chains wide. Use the chain you have crocheted for the nose to measure it out. Using black thread, stitch the felt triangle to the middle of the head. Pin the nose to the head over the felt as shown in the photos and stitch on using the tail of yarn left on the nose.

Add the mouth to the head. Cut out a rectangle of black felt a little smaller than the lower mouth. Stitch the rectangle on about a finger width below the nose. Pin the upper mouth and lower mouth in position over the felt rectangle. Join to the head by stitching around the outside of the upper and lower mouth. Don’t stitch the lips down. Use the tails of yarn left on the mouth sections to join them to the head.

Join the eye sockets to the head. Pin on either side of the nose and join to the head using the tails of yarn left on the sockets.

 Join the brows to the head. The important thing to note with the two brow pieces is that each one has an end with 4 slip stitches and an end with 6 slip stitches. The 4 slip stitch end should sit in between the eye sockets and 6 slip stitch end should sit on the outside of the eye socket. Pin the brows over the eye sockets and stitch on using the tails of yarn left on the brows.

Join the cheekbones to the head. Pin the cheekbones under the eye sockets as shown in the photo and stitch on using the tail of yarn left on the cheekbones.

Join the hair cap onto the head. The narrower section of the cap sits on the forehead, the wider section sits on the back of the neck. Stitch on to the top of the head using the tail of yarn left on the hair cap.

Add hair. There are different methods for adding hair to crocheted toys. One method is to take strands of yarn and loop them through the stitches of the head of the toy as shown in this tutorial on esshaych.blogspot.com. This is a simple method but the hairline of your shrunken head will be a little knotty. 

Another method is to stitch each strand of hair on using cotton thread. I used this method for my first Shrunken Head Guy. It’s a slow process and there are faster and better ways to add hair … but there is something relaxing and enjoyable about adding hair a single strand at a time. Only recommended if you want to spend as much time as possible with your creation.

For this project I recommend making a yarn fringe then attaching it to the Shrunken Head.  Here is a tutorial on how to make a yarn fringe. Stitch the yarn fringe on using cotton thread the same colour as the yarn.The shrunken head guy and gal have their hair tied up so they only need to have hair around the edge of the hair cap. If you wish to have the hair hang loose than you will need to zigzag the fringe over the head to avoid a bald spot. 

Making the hair stick up. I used fabric stiffener to make the Shrunken Head Guy’s hair stick up. I tied the hair into the shape I wanted, saturated it in watered down fabric stiffener then let it dry for a few days. It worked quite well and is still holding its shape.

Join eyes to head. Stuff the eyes and pin to the eye sockets. Stitch on using the tails of yarn left on the eyes. Cut out a small circle of black felt for the pupil and stich on to the centre of the eye.

Don’t forget the ears! I always forget the ears. Pin the ears to the side of the head and stitch on.

 And finally, add mouth stitches. Using brown or grey yarn, add ghoulish stitches to the mouth.

And you are done! If you do make a Shrunken Head Person, please, please, please send me a photo. 

Copyright © Kim Lapsley 2012