Knit a giant huggable tortoise with a hexagon-motif shell for the animal-lovers in your world. Mimi Seyferth designed her toy to honor British conservationist and author Gerald Durrell (1925–1995). Durrell began collecting pets as a child, and his household “zoo” in Corfu included a tortoise named Achilles.

Difficulty Intermediate

Finished Size 19” long and 17” wide, stuffed.

Yarn Universal Yarn Bamboo Pop (50% cotton, 50% bamboo): #203 golden seas (variegated green and yellow; A), #113 sunny (yellow; B), #117 emerald (green; C), 1 ball each; small amount of black yarn.

Needles Sizes 1.5 (2.5 mm) and 3 (3.25 mm): straight and set of double-pointed. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Size C/2 (2.75 mm) crochet hook; markers; stitch holders; tapestry needle; plastic straw; polyester fiberfill.


Gauge 24 sts and 34 rnds = 4” in St st on larger needles; 15 sts and 30 rows = 4” in garter st on larger needles, blocked (see Notes).

Notes This tortoise is worked in separate pieces and seamed; the sections are stuffed as you go. The garter-stitch hexagons are stretched substantially in the blocking and stuffing process.