A Butter Tub Turtle With A Secret!

[Shebop]

Hi! I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of the pattern of the "butter tub turtle". I've been intrigued by this pattern since I saw it discussed here on the 'ville. I, however, didn't think making a rattle sounded like much fun.
I have 2 boys; 5 and 7 years old, and I thought of how much they'd love a toy with a secret hiding place. I wondered if it'd be possible to adjust the pattern so that you could put important "valuables" inside the butter tub but make in not noticable.
Well, here is what I came up with. The boys weren't terrible impressed with a crocheted turtle until I showed them what made it special. Now they are fighting over it and I believe I'll be making another one this weekend.
As I fell asleep last night I pictured making something similar for my daughter, but if the top was red and the bottom black it would look like a lady bug........ hmmmmmm

Thanks for looking! There are more pics of it on my blog.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e246/sgust/th_turtle2.jpg (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e246/sgust/turtle2.jpg)
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e246/sgust/th_turtle.jpg (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e246/sgust/turtle.jpg)

[wiz3283]

What a clever idea!

[kidget29]

I absolutely love that .. What a fabulous idea.

My nephew would love that.

Was this a free pattern or in a publication?

Great job!!:yay

[oliveoil]

So cute and what a great idea!! :)

[Donna's crochet Designs]

I love it!

[KarenW]

Great idea! That is really cute.

[LaurieE]

What a great idea!

[champygirl]

Very neat.

[cher49]

that's neat

[amhmsh]

Too Cute!!

[Mom w/a Motif]

I love turtles! And a lady bug would work, too. Very cute! :turtle & :ladybug :hook

Tina

[clare]

thats a really cute idea !!!

[tobybob]

He's cute!

[SHERYL]

What a cool turtle ~ a ladybug would be even cooler. :cheer

[diane gladys]

That is a great idea,and the lady bug too,also an octipus would also work,where could one get a pattern like that ,is it free or can we buy one somewhere.I have some grandchildren that would love one of them.

[CrochetLiving]

Good pattern for recycling!

[yarncat]

Very creative!

[TIFF705]

That is a great idea!

[Shebop]

A couple of you have asked about the pattern. I originally was interested in this when I read a thread here on the ville about the "butter tub turtle". http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=43297&highlight=butter+tub+turtle
I think the pattern comes from a 1974 Woman's Day Magazine. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a pattern and I made a few adjustments myself because the pattern calls for crocheting the bottom and the top together completely. I left it about 1/2 open along the back and use the tail through a little gap to keep him closed.
Of course we all know that widbit has made the cutest turtle/tortoise (http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/2008/01/tortoise-power.html)ever! But since there isn't a pattern for it .........(widbit are you reading this???) this is what I did.
The pattern is really very simple, just a basic expanding cirlce until it covers the bottom of the tub, then sc in each sc until long enough then close by putting hook through sc in top and sc in bottom and making a shell ( 5 dc in one sc). In the space I left open I just made the shell in the top layer.
I hope its ok I posted this this way, if not, I guess the "powers that be" can remove it.
Hope this helps!

[luvredsox]

Really cool idea. I love it!

[LaurieE]

Thank you for sharing how you made it.

[Momcrochets]

What a cute idea! Thanks for the tips and inspiration...now I'm going to have to buy butter in little tubs! :lol

[trulyhooked]

I think that was a great idea. That turned out really cute. And a ladybug would be even better (for a girl anyway). You did great. TFS

[cupcake]

That is clever. WHat a fun idea

[darski]

I might just have to try one of these. I wonder what I could use as inspiration... :think

it is kinda obvious to most of us about how to do this so I don't think you are selling valuable secrets or anything :rofl

[Simply Hooked]

I had this exact pattern in a Woman's Day magazine that my husband threw out..I still haven't forgiven him for that :(

[jlybly1]

that is sooo cool! great job!

[Monique39]

very cute and clever too

[craziebunny]

Cute!!

[The Crochet Fanatic]

This is a cute idea!
I have a lot of 8 oz. frozen whipped topping containers. I may try to do the turtles over them for my 2 sons.

[angelsmith52]

That is to cool! My son would love it!

[SmoothFox]

Is the lid attached to the body somehow? Is the tub attached to the turtle shell? Inquiring minds wanna know LOL.

Donna

[gbabesmom]

That's a super cute idea. Turtles are awesome! :turtle

Laura

[brenoreo]

I'm interested also in how the parts fit together. Same questions as SmoothFox. Thanks.

[The Crochet Fanatic]

I was looking at the photos that were posted and it looks like the top part isn't attached. The bottom doesn't look like it's sewn, but maybe she has it glued to the bottom (?). I would think that the bottom, at least, would have to be attached.

[crochet-addict]

I would love to make one of these, if anyone knows how please let me know! =)

[Mom w/a Motif]

I know there is a very similar pattern on the Maggie's Crochet site. If you type in 'turtle' in the search box it should come up. (That's what I did, and it came up for me.) I think it's in with a baby washcloth pattern set or something... :hook I am tempted to buy it, I think that's so cute! Here is a direct link (http://www.maggiescrochet.com/maggies-crochet-baby-washcloths-and-rattles-p-270.html).

Tina

[CrochetinMama]

What a neat idea..Can't wait to see your ladybug..

[MaryPat]

That's very cute. The ladybug idea is good as well.

[tobybob]

If you go to post 19 she tells you where the pattern came from and how she keeps hers closed. Also follow the link she gives and go to post 23 she gives you some info to that may be what you want.

[yellowrose]

Cute Cute Cute

[JoBug]

I LOVE that, what a GREAT hidding spot it would make too!!! WHo would think mom is hidding her moeny in there?!?!?! Hehehehe

[anoramaxsis]

adorable!