Triops Crochet Pattern

A yellow and orange yarn crocheted and stuffed model of a freshwater crustacean called a Triops. Text labeling body parts reads caudal furca, thorax and abdomen, telson, compound eyes, naupliar eyes, endites, endopods, exopods, carapace, and gills.

NPS/L.Carter

Triops are a type of freshwater crustacean that live in temporary pools of rainwater throughout the world. Their eggs can survive being dry in the dirt for up to 30 years. In the summer of 2021 a hatching of Triops eggs occurred in the ballcourt of the Wupatki Pueblo after almost 5 inches in 10 days. They grew and lived in the water for about three weeks until the water dried up and they became food for other animals like ravens. Hopefully enough of them laid eggs for the next big rain.

What you need:

• Two colors worsted weight yarn (for this example we used yellow and salmon)

• Crochet hook size H/8 (5.0mm)

• Two brown medium safety eyes (10mm)

• one small black safety eye (8mm) *You can also use black or brown yarn and sew the eyes on.

• Yarn needle

• Stitch marker

• fiber fill or cotton stuffing

• Scissors

Terms:
sc = single crochet
st = single stitch
sts = stitches
slst = slip stich
ch = chain
[ ] = repeat
Rnd = Round

The finished thorax and abdomen and the two finished pieces of the carapace that will be sewn together at the center line.

NPS/L.Carter

Body (thorax and abdomen):
Worked in the round. Start by making a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts)
Rnd 2: (Increase) 2 sc in each st around (12 sts)
Rnd 3: (increase) [2 sc in 1 st, 1 sc in next st] around (18 sts)
Rnd 4: (increase) [2 sc in 1 st, 1 sc in next st] around (27 sts)
Rnds 6-9: sc around (27sts) *place eyes – two compound eyes go between rnds 2 and 3 about three stitches apart, naupliar eye goes in the middle between rnds 3 and 4.
Rnd 10: (decrease) [decrease x 1, 1 sc in next 2 sts] around (20sts)
Rnds 11 -12: sc around (20 sts) *stuff head lightly
Rnd 13: (decrease) [decrease x 1, 1 sc in next 2 sts] around (15 sts)
Rnds 14 – 18: sc around (15sts) – add stuffing
Rnd 19: (decrease) [decrease x 1, 1 sc in next 2 sts] around (11sts)
Rnds 20 – 25: sc around (11 sts) – add stuffing
Rnd 26: (decrease) [decrease 1, sc in next 3 sts] x 2, decrease1 (7sts)
Rnd 27 – 31: sc around (7sts)
Rnd 32: (decrease) [decrease, 1 sc in next st] x 2, slst to tie off, sew end closed.




Carapace:
Row 1: ch 6, then starting in 2nd st from hook 5 sc, ch 1 and turn (5sts)
Row 2: 3 sc, 2 sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and turn (7sts)
Row 3: 5 sc, 2 sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and turn (9sts)
Row 4: 7 sc, 2 sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and turn (11sts)
Row 5: 5 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc, 2 sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and turn (14sts)
Row 6: 5 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and turn (18sts)
Row 7: 18 sc, ch 1 and turn Row 8: 9 sc, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, slst to tie off (20sts) – leave yarn tail long for sewing.
*Repeat to make two pieces for the carapace.

The finished pieces of the carapace which will be sewn together at the center line.

NPS/L.Carter

Sewing and attaching the carapace to the body:

• The end of Row 8 of your carapace pieces will be the side that is closest to the Triops’ eyes.
• Using your yarn needle sew the Row 1 stitches to each other in a line. The carapace will now look like wings.
• Sew the carapace to the head of the Triops body by wrapping the V shape around the top of the eyes.
• Sew the corners of the other side of the carapace to the sides of the skinny part of the abdomen.

The finished caudal furca piece sewn onto the telson.

NPS/L.Carter

Caudal Furca:
1. Ch 21, starting in 2nd st from hook, slst back 20 sts, repeat this for second piece making a continuous V shape.
2. Sew the caudal furca onto the telson (end of the abdomen).

The two finished endite pieces which will be sewn onto the head of the Triops.

NPS/L.Carter

Front Endites:
*The endites consist of 3 sequential pieces of one chain row and one row of slip stitches each. You will not tie off or disconnect the yarn between the three steps.
1. Ch 13, starting in 2nd st from hook slst 12 across
2. Ch 8, starting in 2nd st from hook slst 7 across
3. Ch 5, starting in 2nd st from hook slst 4 across
*repeat steps 1-3 to make two pieces

NPS/L.Carter

Sew the endites onto the sides of the head with the shortest pieces just under the end of the carapace that is closest to the eyes.

The underside of the Triops showing the placement of the endopods, exopods, and gills.

NPS/L.Carter

Endopods, exopods, and gills:
*These consist of sequential pieces of one chain row and one row of slip stitches each. You will not tie off or disconnect the yarn between the steps.
1st: ch 26, starting in 2nd st from hook slst 5 across
2nd – 9th: [ch 6, starting in 2nd st from hook slst 5 across, slst into main ch] x 8
10th – 15th: [ch 5, starting in 2nd st from hook slst 4 across, slst into main ch] x 6
16th – 20th: [ch 4, starting in 2nd st from hook slst 3 across, slst into main ch] x 5 – tie off

*Repeat these steps to make two pieces. Sew both pieces onto the underside of the body in an S shape. Now your Triops is complete!