Materials: Any yarn; crochet hook C-F depending on size of yarn; embroidery floss or heavy button thread in highly contrasting color; needle.
Method: Chain 70 (exact number not important--earthworms do not
need to be perfect!) Beginning in second chain from hook, double
crochet twice in second chain, then double crochet three times in each
of the next 11 chains, for a total of 35 double crochet. Then single crochet
in the next chain, slipstitch in the following chain, and finish off. Weave
in the tail ends. The worm
will naturally curl as you work. You will have a head, three
twists and a long tail. With 3 strands of embroidery thread or contrasting
heavy thread, place 2 French knots on the "head" for eyes. (Or you can
use boughten eyes that move--just be sure they are FIRMLY glued on.)
With sport/baby weight, these make good bookmarks for paperbacks; with worsted they will do for hardcovers. You could make them smaller, too--you don't HAVE to start out with chain 70. Try beginning with 40 or 50, if you are pressed for time, and correspondingly fewer double crochets.