JAMES THE MIXED-TRAFFIC ENGINE

Crochet Pattern by Weebleflip, made available December 2012

Copyright for images of Thomas the Tank

Engine (and Friends) belongs to HiT
Entertainment.

http://weebleflip.wordpress.com/

Feel free to pass my pattern on to people

interested in trying it, but it is not to be sold,
nor should credit for this pattern be assigned
to anyone else.
MATERIALS:
These yarns are what I used, but any yarn of similar weight would be fine.

Stuffing (bag)
Eyes x2
One ball each of...
Black yarn
(Olympus double knitting, 100g, Acrylic, Shade 852)
Red yarn
(Olympus double knitting, 100g, Acrylic, Shade 869)
Yellow yarn (scraps of yellow would be sufficient if you have them)
(Olympus double knitting, 100g, Acrylic, Shade 853)
Grey yarn
(Olympus double knitting, 100g, Acrylic, Shade 936)

EQUIPMENT:
Crochet hook size: 3.5mm
Cotton thread for sewing parts together.
Needle with a wide enough eye for chosen yarn.

DESIGN/PATTERN:
Explanations of terms and abbreviations I use are given here, with links to instructional videos for each stitch:

http://weebleflip.wordpress.com/crochet-quick-reference/

Note that I am using American notation. Numbering of rows/rounds resets to one after a colour change.

LOCOMOTIVE:
1-CYLINDRICAL SECTION (SMOKEBOX AND BOILER ):
Grey face at front (rounds 1-5 below): Circle with bobbles for nose and cheeks (googly eyes to be added later,
and mouth and eyebrows with stitches in white and black respectively)

Round 1: Animaguri style "magic ring" starting loop with3sc, bobble

[across 5 dc], 2sc, close loop after tightening (6 stitches around)
Round 2: 2sc, 2sc, bobble [across 3 dc]+sc,sc+ bobble[across 3 dc], 2sc,
2sc (12 around)
Round 3: 2sc, 2sc, sc+ bobble [across 2 dc], bobble [across 2 dc]+sc, 2sc,
2sc, sc+ bobble [across 2 dc], bobble [across 2 dc]+sc, 2sc, skip 1, sc, sc
(20 around – asymmetrical to make up for how the bobbles pull)
Round 4: 2sc, sc around
Round 5: 2sc, sc around
[Finish off and start with black on any edge stitch. To get crisp edge for
the black cylinder, go through the back loops only on the grey face
piece]
Round 1: Sc in each sc around, slip stitch to start of row,
Round 2: (Sc in next sc, sc2tog over next two sc)* around
Round 3-10: sc in each sc around
[Finish off black, switch to yellow, change direction around cylinder]
Round 1: sc in each sc around, using back loops only, slip stitch to join to start +
finish off.
[Switch to red, go back to original direction around cylinder]
Round 1-10: sc in each sc around
[Finish off red, switch to yellow, change direction around cylinder]
Round 1: sc in each sc around, using back loops only, slip stitch to join to
start + finish off.
[Switch to red, go back to original direction around cylinder]
Round 1-10: sc in each sc around
Finish off red, switch to yellow, change direction around loop.
Round 1: sc in each sc around, using back loops only, slip stitch to join to
start + finish off.
[STUFF]
[Close end]
Round 1:( dec, sc) around in inside loops only
Round 2: dec around
Round 3-finish: dec around

CHIMNEY:
Black: cylinder with widened edge/lip. Rigid enough
not to need stuffing, although a bit of
stuffing/"steam" poking out is good!

Round 1: Magic starting loop with 6sc (base of

chimney - sew to cylinder)
Round 2: 2sc in each sc around
Round 3: sc in each sc around (inner loops only to
get a corner)
Round4-8: sc in each sc around
Round 9: reverse direction and sc in each sc around
Round 10: sc in outer, lower loop of each sc around
to make lip
[Tuck yarn back through to Round 9]
Round 11: Original direction, sc in each sc of upper,
inner loop of Round 9

DOME:
Yellow yarn: Cylinder with domed top. Same
diameter as chimney but shorter

Round 1: Magic starting loop with 4sc (top)

Round 2: 2sc in each sc around
Round 3: (2sc in next, sc in next)*around
Round 4-8: 1sc in each sc around
Finish off

4 - PLATFORM:
Light grey rectangles for the upper and lower faces of the platform,
with red vertical edges. At front only: extra protrusion of the red, and
two picots to allow for black detailing later.

Row 1: Chain 23
rd
Row 2: sc in 3 chain from hook and in every chain until end (20 sc
across)
Row 3-68: sc in each sc (or ch2 space at end), ch 2, turn
[Switch to red for Front:]
Row 1: 20sc across in lower loops only to give a corner
Row 2: ch 2,20 sc across, through both loops
th
Row 3: ch 2, 3sc, picot of 4 chains in 4 sc, 5sc, ch 2 (between sc 10 and 11), 5sc,
picot of 4 chains, 4sc
[picots and ch2 give small lumps for black detailing to be attached later]
Rows 4-5: sc in each sc and in back of picot

[Finish off and restart at the other end of the grey rectangle for the Back: ]
Row 1: 20sc across in lower loops only to give a corner
Rows 2-3: ch2, sc in each sc

[Finish off and restart at back corner of grey rectangle for long sides - do both sides]
Row 1: Sc-chain-sc-chain repeat with scs in easily accessible lower loops
Row 2: ch2, Sc in each sc and ch space
Row 3: ch2, sc in each sc
Row 4: ch 2, 4sc, slip stitch, turn (slope to meet longer front piece)
Row 5: slip stitch, 3sc

[Switch back to grey - Start in back loops of red front piece ]

Row 1: sc in 19 sc across (slightly smaller as grey should not be visible around red edges from the side)
Rows 2-68 (additional slope counteracts row shortening due to being “inside” red edging): ch 2, sc in each sc.

Hoop at back to attach coal tender: picot of 5ch in centre of bottom side of base
[Stuff and sew along seams. I used two thin plastic sheets inside the assembled platform to make it more rigid]

2 - SUPPORT FOR CYLINDRICAL SECTION (CYLINDER, PIPES AND PISTONS ETC.):

Red yarn:

Row 1: ch 12
Row 2: Sc in each ch from 3rd ch in hook (10 across)
Row 3-23: sc in each sc, ch 2 on turning (all in both loops)
Row 24: Turn for back – sc in each sc back loops only
Row 25-28: sc in each sc (both loops)
Row 29-30: ch 3, tr, dc,sc,slip st, slip st, sc,dc,tr,tr
Row 31: Extra sc at each end of row 30.
[Switch to black and restart from starting chain in other
direction.]
Row 1-7: sc in each sc (both loops)
Row 8: Go to Row 24 of above section for red and continue
to end. (Rows 24-31)

Sides (make 2):

Row 1: ch 8 with red

Row 2: sc in each ch from 2nd from hook (7 sc across)
Row 3-23: sc in each sc, ch 2 on turning (all in both
loops)
[Switch to black]
Row 24-31: sc in each sc, ch 2 on turning (all in both
loops)

Sew together to make “trough” for cylinder and attach

to base. I added some stitches to help it keep its shape.
Detail: On the front of this, ch5 in red on the sc 2 up and 2 left from the bottom right corner, and likewise from
the sc 2 up and 2 right from the bottom left corner. Sc in black below this and secure to base.

5 - BLOCK BEHIND CYLINDRICAL SECTION (FIREBOX):

Faces - red (make 2):

Row 1: chain 12
nd
Row 2: sc in each chain from 2 from hook until end (11 across)
Row 3-21: turn, ch 2, sc in each sc across
Row 22: turn, ch1, sc, sc, half dc, half dc, dc, half dc, half dc, sc, sc,
slip stitch

Join faces:

Row 1: sc in back loops only of starting chain (11 across)

Row 2: ch 2, sc in each sc
Row 3: ch 2, sc in each sc, catching loops of starting chain of other face

Sides - red (make 1):

Row 1: ch 46
nd
Row 2: sc in each chain from 2 from hook until end (45 across)
Row 3: ch 2, sc in each sc to end
[Switch to yellow:]
Row 4: ch 2, sc in each sc to end

6 - CAB:
Three sides in red and roof in black

Sides (make 2):

Row 1: Make a magic loop with just 3 sc. *Don't* do a slip stitch from the last to the
first, turn:
Row 2: ch 2, 2sc in each sc, turn
Row 3: ch 2, 2sc in each sc, finish off
[Restart from point (A), the right-angle corner - see diagram.]

Row 1: Chain 9
Row 2: Turn, ch2 (first sc), sc in each ch from third from hook, catch a loop on
the side of the quadrant when you turn
Row 3-15: Turn, ch2, Sc in each sc
Row 16: Turn, ch 2, 6sc, dec across 2 sc.
Row 17: Turn, dec (treat ch1 as first part of dec), 5sc
Row 18-19: Turn, ch2, 4sc
Row 20: Turn, ch2, sc in same, sc in each to end
Row 21: Turn, ch2, sc in each, 2sc in last
Row 22: Turn, ch2, sc in each sc to end
[Black stitching as wished - see pictures.]

Back of cab:

Row 1: Chain 18
Row 2: sc in third ch from hook, sc to end (15 across)
Row 3-19: Turn, ch 2, sc in each sc to end
Row 20: Turn, ch1, sc,sc,sc, half dc, half dc, dc, dc,dc, half dc, half dc, sc, sc, sc, slip stitch in
last sc (gives the curve)
Row 21: Turn, ch 6 (2 for first sc, 4 for window - skip 4 scs), sc in each of
next 5 sc, ch 4 (skip 4 sc), sc in final sc
Row 22: Turn, ch2, sc in each sc across, finish
[Yellow stitching around windows - see pictures.]

Roof of cab:

Black yarn.

Row 1: Ch 18
Row 2: Turn, ch2, sc in each ch to end (18 across)
Row 3-9: Turn, ch2, sc in each ch to end
Finish
Sew cab together.

3 - WHEEL ARCHES:
Make 4 semi-circles, and two strips.

Semi-circles (make 4):

Row 1: Animaguri loop with 6sc, but DON'T do a slip stitch to the first sc.
Row 2: Turn, ch2, sc in each and in the loop at the end (7 around)
Row 3: Turn, ch2, 2sc in each sc around (14 around) Finish.

Strips:

Row 1: Ch 38
Row 2: Turn, ch2, sc in each ch to end
Row 3: Turn, sc into top loops of semi-circles
and quadrant, finish.

8 - WHEELS:
Black: Four cylinders, slightly shorter than the short length of the platform.

Row 1-2: Magic loop, 6sc

Row 3: 2sc in each sc (12 around)
Row 4: 2sc in each sc (24 around)
Row 5: Inner loops of last row only, 1sc in each sc around
Row 6-22: 1sc in each sc around (both loops)
Row 23: (sc, dec) repeat around (inner loops only)
[STUFF]
Row 24-25: Dec around + finish off

Edging (2 per wheel-cylinder):

Row 1: magic loop with 6sc

rd
Row 2: ch3 (~dc), ch 3,dc, ch3 in each sc around, slip stitch into 3 chain of first ch3
Row 3: sc around, catching loops on edge of cylinder

7 - COAL TENDER:
BASE:
Make two. Grey yarn - as for engine platform but shorter
Row 1: Chain 23
rd
Row 2: sc in 3 chain from hook and in every chain until end (20 sc across)
Row 3-26: sc in each sc (or ch2 space at end), ch 2, turn

Hoop at back to attach engine: picot of 5ch in centre of bottom piece for base
Switch to red

Vertical edge of base at the back:

Row 1: 20sc across in lower loops only to give a corner

th
Row 2: ch 2, 3sc, picot of 4 chains in 4 sc, 5sc, ch 2 (between sc 10 and 11), 5sc, picot of 4 chains, 4sc (allows
for black trim, as on the front of the engine)
Row 3: ch 2,20 sc across, through both loops

Vertical edge of base at the front:

Row 1: 20sc across in lower loops only to give a corner

Row 2 - 3: ch 2, sc to end, through both loops

Vertical sides to base:

Row 1: 26sc across in lower loops only to give a corner

Row 2 - 3: ch 2, sc to end, through both loops
[Sew together - I used two thin plastic sheets inside the
assembled platform to make it more rigid]

SIDES
Long sides of coal tender (Make 2):

Row 1: Chain 23
rd
Row 2: sc in 3 chain from hook and in every chain until end
(20 sc across, or until it is long enough for the base if your
tension/yarn is different)
Row 3-14: sc in each sc (or ch2 space at end), ch 2, turn
Row 15: sc in each sc (or ch2 space at end), turn WITHOUT
chaining
Row 16: slip stitch in second sc from hook, sc in each sc until 2
from the end, slipstitch in next sc, turn
Row 17: Ch 2, sc in each sc to end
[Black and yellow stitching as wished.]

Short sides of coal tender (Make 2):

Row 1: Chain 21
rd
Row 2: sc in 3 chain from hook and in every chain until end (18 sc across,
or until it is long enough for the base if your tension/yarn is different)
Row 3-17: sc in each sc (or ch2 space at end), ch 2, turn(/finish on Row 17)

COAL:
Row 1: Chain 21
Row 2(and following even-numbered rows): make bobbles of varying sizes
and scs, dcs and trs etc. as you wish; try to do this “randomly”, but make
sure that over a few rows you are keeping a rectangular shape rather than
skewing it too much.
Row 3(and following odd-numbered rows): sc in each loop across
Finish once it covers the base.
WHEELS:
Three wheels, as for main engine (with trim, again)

FINISHING:
Whistle: Ch 3 in yellow, then tuck ends through chain to
thicken it. Attach to centre front of cabin roof, facing
forwards.

Buffers (front of engine and back of coal cart):

Ch3 in black in the ch2 space in the centre of each , tuck ends
through as for whistle

Make 4:

Magic loop with 4 sc, sc in each, finish off.

Attach to picots (2 at front, 2 at back)

Black bits:

Ch3 in black at the centre front of the platform top, tuck ends
through as for whistle

Likewise to each side (3 prongs in total)

Bar between wheels (make 2):

Grey yarn.

Row 1: Ch enough to reach between where you have placed the centre of the
2nd wheel from the front and the centre of the 4th wheel from the front.
Row 2: Turn, ch2, sc in each ch to end, finish.

Sew on