Homemade Halloween Muffins

Special Abbreviations sc2tog = draw up a loop in next 2 sts, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook. hdc2tog = [yo and draw up a loop in next st] twice, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook. inc (increase) = 2 sc in next sc.

With A (spider) or C (skull) or B (eyeball and pumpkin, ch 13. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across; turn 12 sc. Row 2: Ch 1, sc in back loop of each sc across changing to E (spider and skull) or D (eyeball) or A (pumpkin) in last sc; turn. Rows 3 and 4: Ch 1, sc in back loop of each sc across changing to A or C or B in last sc of Row 4; turn. Row 5: Ch 1, sc in back loop of each sc across; turn. Rows 6-34: Repeat Rows 2-5 seven more times, then Row 2 once more. Fasten off A, C and B. Row 35: Repeat Row 3. Join Sides-Row 36: Ch 1, working through both layers, sc in back loop of each sc of last row AND remaining loop of beginning ch across; turn. Liner Bottom-Round 37: Ch 1, working in row ends, 2 sc in first stripe, [2 sc in next stripe, 1 sc in next stripe] 9 times; join with a slip st in first sc 28 sc. Round 38: Ch 1, sc in back loops of each sc around; join. Round 39: Ch 1, [sc in 5 sc, sc2tog] 4 times; join 24 sc. Round 40: Ch 1, [sc in 2 sc, sc2tog] 6 times; join 18 sc. Round 41: Ch 1, [hdc, hdc2tog] 6 times; join in first hdc 12 sts. Cut yarn and weave through sts to close hole. Set aside.

CUPCAKE (Spider, Pumpkin, Skull) With D or A, ch 2; 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Do NOT join but work in continuous rounds. Place marker in first sc and move up each round. Round 1: [Inc] 6 times 12 sc. Round 2: [Sc in next sc, inc] 6 times 18 sc. Round 3: [Sc in next 2 sc, inc] 6 times 24 sc. Round 4: [Sc in next 3 sc, inc] 6 times 30 sc. Round 5: [Sc in next 4 sc, inc] 6 times 36 sc. Round 6: [Sc in next 5 sc, inc] 6 times 42 sc. Round 7: [Sc in next 6 sc, inc] 6 times 48 sc. Rounds 8-12: Sc in each sc around. Fasten off at end of Round 12. Round 13: Join H or J or I in back loop of any sc; working in back loops only for this round, sc in each sc around. Round 14: [Sc in next 6 sc, sc2tog] 6 times 42 sc. Rounds 15 and 16: Sc in each sc around. Round 17: [Sc in next 5 sc, sc2tog] 6 times 36 sc. Rounds 18-20: Sc in each sc around. Round 21: [Sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog] 6 times 30 sc. Round 22: Sc in each sc around. Round 23: Working in back loops only, sc in each sc around. Round 24: [Sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog] 6 times 24 sc. Stuff firmly adding pellet packet last. Trace around the bottom of the stuffed cupcake to make cardboard cutout then insert cardboard cutout. Round 25: [Sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog] 6 times 18 sc. Round 26: [Hdc in next sc, hdc2tog] 6 times 12 sts. Cut yarn and weave through sts to close hole. Set aside. EYEBALL CUPCAKE With B, ch 2; 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; join with a slip st in first sc. Round 1: [Inc] 6 times; join 12 sc. Fasten off. Round 2: Join F in back loop of any sc; ch 1, [sc in sc, inc] 6 times; join 18 sc. Round 3: Ch 1, [sc in 2 sc, inc] 6 times; join 24 sc. Round 4: Ch 1, [sc in 3 sc, inc] 6 times; join 30 sc. Fasten off. Round 5: Join A in back loop of any sc; ch 1, working in back loops, [sc in 4 sc, inc] 6 times 36 sc. Do not join but work in continuous rounds. Place marker in first sc and move up each round. Rounds 6-12: Work same as Cupcake Rounds 6-12. Rounds 13-26: Join H and work same as Cupcake Rounds 13-26.

Simple embroidery is done using 2 plies of yarn and a yarn needle. To prepare yarn for embroidery, cut an 18 (46 cm) length of yarn and carefully pull the yarn apart into 2 separate lengths with 2 plies each. Eyeball Bloodshot Eye Split G. With yarn needle, embroider blood vessels in random jagged lines. Make highlight on pupil with A. Insert yarn in pupil and bring needle out about 18 (0.3 cm) from beginning. Fasten off. Skull Eye Socket (Make 2) With B, ch 4. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across; turn 3 sc. Row 2: Ch 1, skip first sc, sc in next 2 sc. Fasten off. Referring to photograph, place eye sockets and attach using matching thread and hand sewing needle, for best results. Embroider nose and mouth with B. Pumpkin Eye Cutouts (Make 2) With B, ch 5. Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, sc2tog over last 2 ch; turn 3 sc. Row 2: Ch 1, skip first sc, sc in next sc, slip st in last sc; turn. Row 3: Sc in next sc. Fasten off. Set aside. Attach eyes using matching sewing thread and hand sewing needle. Embroider mouth cutout with B. Begin by outlining the mouth using long sts. Fill in what would be the mouth cutout using shorter sts placed side by side. Spider and Web With B, ch 2; 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook; do not join. Round 1: [Sc in next 2 sc, inc] twice 8 sc. Round 2: Sc in each sc around. Round 3: [Sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog] twice 6 sc. Rounds 4 and 5: Sc in each sc around. Stuff. Fasten off using yarn end to weave through sts and close hole. Embroider hourglass symbol on back of spider with G. Legs Cut four 10 (25 cm) lengths of B. Do not split plies. With one of the lengths, shape the neck by tying the yarn tightly and evenly around the indentation at Round 3. Leave long ends, these will become legs. Insert the remaining 3 lengths of yarn, side by side through the underbelly of the spider, leaving equal amount of yarn on each side. Set aside. Web Embroider spider web design with A. Begin embroidery by making an asterisk over the entire frosting portion of the cupcake, using the center of the first 6 sc as the center of the web. Complete the cross webs by making long sts from one horizontal st to the next, following the horizontal lines (from the asterisk) around entire cupcake. Repeat these cross lines for 2 more complete rounds. Place spider on cupcake in desired location and sew in place using a separate yarn end and just one st (legs will hold spider on cupcake). Thread yarn needle with one of the yarn ends hanging from the spiders underbelly. Insert needle in cupcake about 1 (4 cm) out from the spiders side. Do not pull tightly; bring needle back out about (2 cm) from point of insertion and about 18 (0.3 cm) below the line caused by the yarn. Stitch loop over the leg yarn to create a leg joint. Repeat for remaining legs. Glue 2 red 7mm gem stones on head to form eyes. All Cupcakes Weave in ends. Insert finished cupcake into cupcake liner.