Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days: November 2025

Saturday, 1 November 2025

Knitted Worry Worms

Knitted Worry Worm

'Worry Worms' are small, wiggly worms that are used as a tool for emotional support, stress relief, and to help children or adults cope with their worries.

They are often given with a poem - and are designed to be held when a person is feeling anxious or upset.

The trend started in the UK and spread through social media, particularly through online crafting groups like Random Acts of Crochet Kindness on facebook.

Most Worry Worms are crocheted - but I have been asked to write a version for those who prefer to knit.

So........ I accepted the challenge ........ I am always happy to have a go!

These are fiddly to knit - I admit it.

To get the curly body, you have to kfbfb into each stitch.

That is ~ knit into the front, the back, the front and the back of the stitch - making 4 stitches out of each stitch.

It is a bit slow, but if you are as determined as I am - why not have a go!?

Knitted Worry Worm

Requirements:

DK yarn – cotton or cotton blend DK works especially well (I do not recommend hairy or fuzzy yarn)

4mm needles

Googly eyes (optional) – you can embroider on the eyes if you prefer

Instructions:

Loosely, but evenly, cast on 35sts

Kfbf, into every stitch across the row

Cast off all the stitches until you have 20 stitches left – knit these 20 sts (this forms the head)

Cast off the remaining stitches

Using the cast on tail on a sewing needle – join the head into a circle with a couple of small stitches

Darn away ends

Add 2 little eyes – either googly eyes or embroider just a couple of short stitches for each eye with a length of dark coloured yarn - and a mouth too if you like!

If your Worm is being unruly and not a neat spiral - then wrap it around a pencil to get it into a good shape !

If you want to add a message ~ There are loads of short poems available online to print or write out - an internet search will give you loads of ideas.

Crochet Worry Worms

'Worry Worms' are small, crocheted worms that are used as a tool for emotional support, stress relief, and to help children or adults cope with their worries.

They are often given with a poem - and are designed to be held when a person is feeling anxious or upset.

The trend started in the UK and spread through social media, particularly through online crafting groups like Random Acts of Crochet Kindness on facebook.

There are lots of different ways of making Worry Worms – some start at the head, others the tail.

They can be different lengths and some are more curly than others.

There is no right or wrong – why not experiment a little, then make the version that pleases you most.

This is the version I often use ~

Crochet Worry Worm

This pattern uses UK crochet terms:

dc = double crochet

tr = treble crochet

htr = half treble crochet

Requirements:

DK yarn – cotton or cotton blend DK works especially well (I do not recommend hairy or fuzzy yarn)

3.5mm hook

Googly eyes (optional) – you can embroider on the eyes if you prefer

Instructions:

Chain 38

1dc, 2htr into the first chain stitch

3htr in every chain stitch (until the last chain stitch)

into the last chain stitch – work 1htr, 12tr, 1htr, and close with a slip stitch (this makes the head)

Fasten off

Darn away ends

Add 2 little eyes – either googly eyes or embroider just a couple of short stitches for each eye with a length of dark coloured yarn

Alternatives to try:

~ work 4hr in each chain stitch for a fuller longer effect

~ make the starting chain a different length

~ use a different thickness of yarn

If you want to add a message ~ There are loads of short poems available online to print or write out - an internet search will give you loads of ideas.