It’s time for a smoothie! Say ‘hi!’ to these oversized cuddly plush buddies, The Banana Smoothie Buddy and The Banana Buddy! These adorable friends are quick projects with fun details that make them fun to crochet!
Welcome to February, friends! I hope that the weather is treating you a bit better than it is here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, because this crocheter is a bit fed up with shovelling snow at this point. I’m dreaming of Spring, with flowy dresses, blooming flowers, and a stroll down the street, smoothie in hand.
The idea for these adorable Smoothie Buddies came from my recent stint of watching ‘Heated Rivalry’, which, if you haven’t seen it yet, starts with a sweet romance at a Smoothie Shop when Scott and Kip connect over a smoothie called ‘Blue Moon Over Brooklyn’. I won’t add any spoilers, but if you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend!
The Banana Buddy is made in a flat panel with single crochet stitches, and slip stitches. It’s then seamed and a top and bottom are added to close the ends. The Smoothie Buddy is worked from the bottom up, with a little piece of plastic embroidery mesh to help it keep it’s shape. I’ll add that material link for you below! The body of the smoothie features little bananas in colourwork crochet, which makes the smoothie so sweet!
Here are the details!
Here is everything you need to know about The Banana Smoothie Buddies!
You can get the crochet pattern in a few ways!
Get the Lion Brand Kit which includes the yarn and the digital pattern here >>https://lionbrand.sjv.io/dyoJO7
Get the Ravelry PDF here >> https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/banana-smoothie-buddies
Get the Etsy PDF here >> https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/4463444989/banana-smoothie-buddies-crochet-pattern
Yarn
Order the complete Lion Brand Yarn Kit here >> https://lionbrand.sjv.io/dyoJO7
Yarn:
(Makes both stuffies)
Lion Brand Cover Story Posh Twist (Bulky) (100% Polyester) (233 yds/200g): 1 ball #158AU Lemon Meringue, #121AB Brown Butter, #100BB Whipped Cream.
Colour Key:
Banana Buddy – Lemon Meringue (A), Brown Butter (B), Whipped Cream (C).
Banana Smoothie – Whipped Cream (A), Lemon Meringue (B), Brown Butter (C).
Materials
US Size I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook, yarn needle, scissors, polyester stuffing, 2 pairs of 24mm safety eyes, locking stitch markers, a scrap amount of black yarn for the mouth, 5” plastic mesh circle.
Sizes/Measurements
Banana Buddy – 16” tall x 4” wide
Banana Smoothie – 12” tall x 7’ wide.
Gauge
Gauge is not essential to this project.
12 sc x 10 rows = 4”
Notes
- Banana Buddy is worked flat and seamed. Work sl sts loosely as next row sts are worked in the tops of previous row sl sts.
- Banana Smoothie is worked bottom up, in the round. A piece of plastic embroidery mesh is placed between 2 bottom panels to ensure shaping, but it is optional and can be omitted.
Abbreviations
BLO = back loop only
Bpsc = back post single crochet
Ch = chain
Hdc = half double crochet
Sc = single crochet
Sl st = slip stitch
If you love The Banana Smoothie Buddies, be sure to check out these other great patterns on the blog!
Special Stitches:
Exsc (extended single crochet) = insert hook into indicated st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 1 loop, yo and draw through 2 loops.
Invdec (invisible decrease) = Insert hook in FLO of each of next 2 sts, yo and draw through both sts, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook—1 st decreased.Surface sl st (surface slip stitch) = insert hook into indicated st, holding yarn in back of stitches yo and draw up a loop, sl st around the post of next st. To continue, insert hook between the posts of the next 2 sts, holding yarn in back of work, yo and draw up a loop, sl st to finish.
Instructions:
Banana Buddy:
Body
With A.
Row 1: Ch 51, starting in 2nd ch from hook sl st 5, sc 10, exsc 20, sc 10, sl st 5, turn – 50 sts.
Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sl st 5, sc 10, exsc 20, sc 10, sl st 5, turn.
Row 5: Drop A and place loop on a locking st marker, join with B in 1st st, ch 1, sl st in each st across, fasten off, do not turn, pick up A at the start of the row to continue – 50 sts.
Row 6: Ch 1, sl st 5, sc 10, exsc 20, sc 10, sl st 5, turn.
Row 10: Repeat Row 5.
Rows 11-25: Repeat Rows 6-10.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew Row 1 to Row 25 to seam. Using A, Surface sl st across 50 sts in each ‘B’ coloured row. Fasten off and weave in ends. Stuff shape. Insert Safety Eyes approximately 1/3rd of the way from the bottom of the Body. Using black yarn, embroider a smile below eyes using photos as a guide. Using a length of C, embroider a line under each eye using photos as a guide.
Bottom
With B, make a magic loop.
Round 1: Ch 1, 8 sc in loop, join – 8 sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join – 16 sc.
Fasten off B, change to A.
Round 3: Ch 1, [2 sc, sc] around, join – 24 sc.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew to bottom of Body. Weave in ends.
Top
With B, make a magic loop.
Round 1: Ch 1, 8 sc in loop, join – 8 sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, in BLO sc around, join.
Round 3: Ch 1, [2 sc, sc 3] x 2, join – 10 sc.
Round 4: Ch 1, [sc 2, 2 sc, sc 2] x 2, join – 12 sc.
Fasten off B, change to A.
Round 5: Ch 1, [2 sc, sc 3] x 3, join – 15 sc.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew to top of Banana Buddy. Weave in ends.
Banana Smoothie:
Base (Make 2):
With A, make a magic loop.
Round 1: Ch 1, 8 sc in loop – 8 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around – 16 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc, sc] around – 24 sc.
Round 4: [Sc, 2 sc, sc] around – 32 sc.
Round 5: [2 sc, sc 3] around – 40 sc.
Round 6: [Sc 2, 2 sc, sc 2] around – 48 sc.
Round 7: [2 sc, sc 5] around – 56 sc.
Round 8: [Sc 3, 2 sc, sc 3] around, join – 64 sc.
Fasten off 1st piece, do not fasten off 2nd piece. Insert 5” plastic mesh between pieces.
Round 9 (joining): Ch 1, working through both thicknesses of 2 Base Pieces, [2 sc, sc 7] around, join – 72 sc.
Round 10: Ch 1, bpsc around, join – 72 bpsc.
Round 11: Ch 1, [invdec, sc 7] around, join – 64 sc.
Cup
Complete the body of the cup using the charts below.
(Banana Left)
(Banana Right)
Using the Banana Left Chart.
Row 1: Ch 1, with A, sc around, join – 64 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, [with A sc 1, with B sc 2, with A sc 5] around, join.
Row 3: Ch 1, [with A sc 4, with B sc 2, with A sc 2] around, join.
Row 4: Ch 1, [with A sc 3, with B sc 2, with A sc 3] around, join.
Row 5: Ch 1, [with A sc 3, with B sc 2, with A sc 3] around, join.
Row 6: Ch 1, [with A sc 4, with B sc 1, with A sc 3] around, join.
Row 7: Ch 1, [with A sc 3, with C sc 1, with A sc 4] around, join.
Row 8: Ch 1, with A, sc around, join.
Using the Banana Right Chart.
Row 9: Ch 1, with A, sc around, join – 64 sc.
Row 10: Ch 1, [with A sc 2, with B sc 2, with A sc 4] around, join.
Row 11: Ch 1, [with A sc 5, with B sc 2, with A sc 1] around, join.
Row 12: Ch 1, [with B sc 2, with A sc 6] around, join.
Row 13: Ch 1, [with A sc 6, with B sc 2] around, join.
Row 14: Ch 1, [with B sc 1, with A sc 7] around, join.
Row 15: Ch 1, [with A sc 7, with C sc 1] around, join.
Row 16: Ch 1, with A, sc around, join – 64 sc.
Using the Banana Left Chart.
Row 17: Ch 1, with A, sc around, join – 64 sc.
Row 18: Ch 1, [with A sc 1, with B sc 2, with A sc 5] around, join.
Row 19: Ch 1, [with A sc 4, with B sc 2, with A sc 2] around, join.
Row 20: Ch 1, [with A sc 3, with B sc 2, with A sc 3] around, join.
Row 21: Ch 1, [with A sc 3, with B sc 2, with A sc 3] around, join.
Row 22: Ch 1, [with A sc 4, with B sc 1, with A sc 3] around, join.
Row 23: Ch 1, [with A sc 3, with C sc 1, with A sc 4] around, join.
Row 24: Ch 1, with A, sc around, join.
Fasten off. Insert safety eyes between Rounds 8-12 approximately 7 sts apart. Using black yarn, embroider a small mouth below the eyes using photos as a guide. Stuff Cup.
Straw
With A, make a magic loop.
Round 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in loop – 6 sc.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around – 12 sc.
Round 3 (bottom of straw): Sc 6 leaving remaining 6 sts unworked – 6 sc.
Stuff lightly as work progresses.
Rounds 4-15: Sc around – 6 sc.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew remaining 6 sts closed. Join to 1st skipped st of Round 2 leaving a long tail at start for sewing. Do not stuff top of Straw.
Round 16 (top of straw): Ch 1, sc in each skipped st from Round 2 – 6 sc.
Rounds 17-23: Sc around.
Fasten off and weave in end. Using starting tail from Round 16 join, sew small gap closed at the bend in the straw. Weave in ends.
Lid
With B.
Round 1: Ch 8, join to 1st ch to form a ring, ch 1, 2 sc in each ch around – 16 sc.
Round 2: [2 sc, sc] around – 24 sc.
Round 3: [Sc, 2 sc, sc] around – 32 sc.
Round 4: [2 sc, sc 3] around – 40 sc.
Round 5: [Sc 2, 2 sc, sc 2] around – 48 sc.
Round 6: [2 sc, sc 5] around – 56 sc.
Round 7: [Sc 3, 2 sc, sc 3] around, join – 64 sc.
Round 8: Ch 1, bpsc around, join – 64 bpsc.
Round 9: Ch 1, in BLO sl st in each st around, join – 64 sl st.
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Place Lid on top of Cup and sew in place. Insert straw into Round 1 of Lid opening, and sew to secure in place. Weave in ends.
-Lee
