An Introduction from Patricia to Your Fraise the Strawberry Snail Pattern
Hello, my dear friend, it's Patricia! There are some ideas that are just so sweet they make you smile the moment you hear them, and a little snail with a strawberry for a shell is certainly one of them. Welcome to the free pattern for Fraise, a character born right out of a sun-drenched cottage garden fantasy. The joy of amigurumi is in bringing these whimsical daydreams into our hands, stitch by stitch.
We'll be combining a classic, gentle snail body with the iconic shape of a summer berry. It’s a project that is both wonderfully relaxing to create and results in a truly unique and heartwarming friend. I am so delighted to share this Fraise the Strawberry Snail pattern with you for free. Your enthusiasm and support, simply by visiting and sharing my work, are what keep my hooks clicking and allow me to design these little friends. Thank you, and let's begin!
Materials You'll Need for Fraise the Strawberry Snail
I always find that choosing the perfect materials is the first step in breathing life into a character. For Fraise, we want textures that are soft, colors that are cheerful, and notions that add that professional, charming finish.
Absolute Essentials
- Yarn: Worsted weight (Aran/10-ply) yarn in the following colors:
- Creamy Off-White (MC - for the Body)
- Strawberry Red (AC1 - for the Shell)
- Leaf Green (AC2 - for the Calyx)
- Crochet Hook: 2.75mm (C/2) or a size that matches your yarn and tension.
- Safety Eyes: 2x 12mm black safety eyes.
- Embroidery Floss: Small amounts of Golden Yellow and Blush Pink.
- Toy Stuffing: A good quality polyester fiberfill.
- Stitch Marker, Scissors, Darning Needle.
My 'Game Changer' Recommendations
- For the Yarn: I recommend a smooth, 100% cotton yarn (like Scheepjes Catona or Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran) for the snail's body. The excellent stitch definition will make her curves look incredibly neat. For the strawberry, a yarn with a slight sheen can make the fruit look extra juicy and appealing!
- For the Seeds: Using a single strand of yellow embroidery floss, rather than yarn, will give you incredibly precise and delicate little "seeds." It's a small detail that makes a world of difference.
Skills Required & Techniques Demystified for Fraise
This pattern is perfect for an adventurous beginner or intermediate crocheter. The shapes are straightforward, but the magic is in the assembly and embroidery. We'll be using the following techniques, and I've added a note on why each one is important for bringing Fraise to life.
Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR: Magic Ring
- ch: Chain
- sl st: Slip Stitch
- sc: Single Crochet
- inc: Increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec: Invisible Decrease (a decrease worked in the front loops only)
- hdc: Half Double Crochet
- dc: Double Crochet
- st(s): Stitch(es)
- Rnd(s): Round(s)
- MC: Main Color (Creamy Off-White)
- AC1: Accent Color 1 (Strawberry Red)
- AC2: Accent Color 2 (Leaf Green)
- [...] x...: Repeat the instructions in brackets a specified number of times.
- (...): The number in parentheses at the end of a round is the total stitch count.
Technique Insights
- Magic Ring (MR): This is the key to a perfectly closed, pucker-free start for both the tip of Fraise's tail and the point of her lovely strawberry shell.
- Invisible Decrease (dec): Using this method for all decreases creates a much neater and cleaner surface on your amigurumi, which is essential for Fraise's smooth body and perfectly shaped shell.
- Working in a Continuous Spiral: We will work in a spiral for all parts unless noted otherwise. This avoids a seam line, giving our snail a lovely, organic look. Remember to use your stitch marker!
- Assembly & Embroidery: The true artistry here is in the finishing. Pinning the shell firmly in place before you sew is the most crucial step for a stable and well-balanced snail.
A Note on Photos & Your Unique Fraise
Every handmade creation is a little piece of you! Your Fraise will be unique based on your tension, your yarn, and especially the placement of her sweet little strawberry seeds. Embrace this—it's what makes her yours.
Gather your sweet-colored yarns, my friend, and let's bring the utterly charming Fraise to life! The full pattern awaits you below.
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The Fraise the Strawberry Snail Amigurumi Pattern
Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
Main Body (in MC - Creamy Off-White)
Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc] x 6. (18)
Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] x 6. (24)
Rnds 5-20: Sc in each st around. (24) - This forms the main length of the body.
Rnd 21: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] x 6. (18)
Rnd 22: Sc in each st around. (18) - Start stuffing the tail end of the body firmly, and continue to stuff as you go.
Rnd 23: [Sc in next 4 sts, dec] x 3. (15)
Rnds 24-28: Sc in each st around. (15) - This begins to form the neck curve.
Rnd 29: Working in the front loops only for this round, [sc in next 4 sts, inc] x 3. (18) - This pushes the head slightly upwards.
Rnd 30: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] x 6. (24)
Rnd 31: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc] x 6. (30)
Rnd 32: [Sc in next 4 sts, inc] x 6. (36)
Rnds 33-40: Sc in each st around. (36) - This forms the head.
Rnd 41: [Sc in next 4 sts, dec] x 6. (30)
Rnd 42: [Sc in next 3 sts, dec] x 6. (24)
Rnd 43: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] x 6. (18) - Insert 12mm safety eyes between Rnds 36 and 37, about 12 stitches apart. Finish stuffing the head and neck firmly.
Rnd 44: [Sc in next st, dec] x 6. (12)
Rnd 45: Dec x 6. (6)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Using your darning needle, weave the tail through the front loops of the final 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Weave in the end.
Antennae (in MC - Creamy Off-White) - Make 2
Rnd 1: Start 5 sc in a MR. (5)
Rnds 2-3: Sc in each st around. (5)
Rnd 4: In the first st, make a 3-hdc bobble stitch ([yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop] x 3 times in the same stitch, yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on the hook). Sl st into the same stitch to secure.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Strawberry Shell (in AC1 - Strawberry Red)
Rnd 1: Start 4 sc in a MR. (4)
Rnd 2: [Sc in next st, inc] x 2. (6)
Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. (6)
Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] x 2. (8)
Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc] x 2. (10)
Rnd 6: [Sc in next 4 sts, inc] x 2. (12)
Rnd 7: [Sc in next st, inc] x 6. (18)
Rnd 8: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc] x 6. (24)
Rnd 9: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc] x 6. (30)
Rnd 10: [Sc in next 4 sts, inc] x 6. (36)
Rnds 11-14: Sc in each st around. (36)
Rnd 15: Working in the back loops only for this round, [sc in next 4 sts, dec] x 6. (30)
Rnd 16: [Sc in next 3 sts, dec] x 6. (24)
Rnd 17: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] x 6. (18) - Now is the perfect time to embroider the seeds. See Assembly section. After embroidering, begin to stuff the shell firmly.
Rnd 18: [Sc in next st, dec] x 6. (12)
Rnd 19: Dec x 6. (6)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Close the hole as you did for the body. Weave in the end.
Calyx Leaves (in AC2 - Leaf Green) - Make 5
Ch 6. Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work the following down the chain: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, 6 dc in the last ch. Now, working along the opposite side of the starting chain: dc, hdc, sc, sl st.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail on each leaf for sewing.
Assembly Instructions for Your Fraise
This is where your sweet snail truly comes together! Take your time and enjoy the process.
- Embroider the Seeds: Before stuffing the shell completely, use your golden yellow embroidery floss to add the seeds. I find making small, vertical satin stitches in a scattered but even pattern works beautifully. This is much easier to do before the shell is fully stuffed and closed!
- Attach the Calyx: Arrange the five green leaves in a star shape on the top/flat base of the strawberry shell (the end where you started with Rnd 15 in BLO). Use the long tails on each leaf to sew them securely in place.
- Position the Shell: Place the fully stuffed and decorated strawberry shell onto the snail's body. It should sit centrally, covering the back two-thirds of the body, from about Rnd 8 to Rnd 22 of the body piece.
- Pin and Sew: Use plenty of pins to hold the shell exactly where you want it. This is my number one tip! Once you're happy with the placement, use a length of red yarn and your darning needle to sew the shell securely to the body. I recommend using a whip stitch, catching loops on the base of the shell and the surface of the body.
- Facial Features: If you haven't already, secure the safety eyes. With your blush pink embroidery floss, embroider two small 'V' shapes for cheeks just under and slightly to the outside of the eyes.
- Attach Antennae: Sew the antennae to the top of the head, roughly above the eyes, around Rnds 39-40.
Tips & Tricks for Your Fraise
Here are a few extra thoughts to ensure your Fraise is as perfect as can be!
Troubleshooting Tips
- Wobbly Shell? If the shell feels unstable, you may need more stuffing or more stitches to secure it. Don't be afraid to add extra stitches underneath the shell for stability.
- Uneven Seeds? It can help to use a disappearing ink fabric marker to place tiny dots on the shell before you embroider. This gives you a guide for perfectly random-looking seeds!
- Head Flopping? This is a sign of not enough stuffing in the neck area. You can sometimes carefully add more with forceps, or if you're starting over, be sure to pack that neck curve very firmly.
Customization Corner
- Fruity Friends: Who says snails only love strawberries? You could make this pattern with a blue shell for a blueberry snail, or purple for a grape snail!
- Add a Flower: For an extra touch of cottagecore charm, embroider or crochet a tiny flower and attach it to the calyx.
- Change the Season: Use autumnal colors like orange and brown to create a "Pumpkin Spice" snail for the fall!
Gifting Your Fraise
- This snail makes an absolutely perfect and unique gift for gardeners, foodies, or anyone who adores the cottagecore aesthetic.
- Pair it with a packet of strawberry seeds or a jar of homemade jam for a themed gift basket.
Frequently Asked Pattern & Finishing Questions for Fraise
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My shell looks more like a cone than a strawberry. What went wrong?
- This is usually a matter of stuffing! Be sure to stuff it very firmly, especially at the wider parts, to push the shape out and give it that plump, rounded berry look. The increases in Rnds 7-10 are what create the 'shoulders' of the berry.
-
Can I use a bigger yarn and hook?
- Absolutely! Fraise would be adorable in a larger size. Just remember that you will need to use a proportionally larger hook and larger safety eyes to keep the look consistent. Your finished snail will be bigger and use more yarn.
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How do I make the 'V' shaped cheeks look neat?
- My little trick is to use just a single strand of embroidery floss. Make two small, straight stitches that meet at a point. Think of it like drawing the letter 'V' with your needle. This keeps it delicate and sweet.
A Final Word & Caring for Your Adorable Fraise
You've done it! You have brought the sweetest little garden friend to life. Seeing your finished Fraise come to life is the greatest reward, and I hope creating her has brought you as much joy as designing her brought me. Your engagement with these patterns—your visits, your shares, your beautiful finished projects—is what makes it possible for me to continue offering these detailed designs for free. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
For care, a gentle spot clean is best. Your Fraise is a handmade treasure, meant for gentle cuddles and happy display.
Happy stitching, my dear friend!