Any yarn weight can be used, but the hook size should be chosen a few sizes smaller than recommended for the yarn. This prevents the stuffing from showing through.

Pattern is worked amigurumi style in the round in a continuous spiral. I recommend using a progress keeper to mark the last stitch of each round.

The round of slip stitches when changing colours does two things. It lessens the size of the jog when changing colour, and it gives a slight recess which helps make it look like a worm segment.

The eye stalks are the most challenging part. Play around a bit until you’re happy with the position of the 8 picked up stitches.

Sl st = slip stitch: push hook through stitch, yarnover, pull loop through to front of work, pull loop through loop on hook
Sc = single crochet: push hook through stitch, yarnover, pull loop through to front of work, yarnover, pull loop through both loops on hook
Scinc = single crochet increase: work two single crochet stitches into the one stitch
Dec = Invisible decrease (google it, it’s quite easy)

Colours used: Mulga (tail, head and pupils), Rose Pink, Deep Rose, Holly, Brick Red (lips), Chilli, Burnt Orange, Harvest Gold, Marigold, Celery, Guava, Broadleaf, Viridian, Indian Blue, Ensign, Blackberry Nip, Prussian, Magnolia (eye stalks).

Tail

R0: Make magic loop, 4 sc in loop (4)
R1: Scinc, sc repeat (6)
R2-4: Sc all st (6)
R5: Scinc, sc 2 repeat (8)
R6-8: Sc all st (8)
R9: Scinc, sc 3 repeat (10)
R10-12: Sc all st (10)
R13: Scinc, sc 4 repeat (12)
R14-16: Sc all st (12)
R17: Scinc, sc5 repeat (14)
R18-20: Sc all st (14)
R21: Scinc, sc6 repeat (16)
R22-24: Sc all st (16)
R25: Scinc, sc7 repeat (18)
Change colour at the last yarnover of the last stitch

Body segment

R1: Sl st all stitches (18)
R2-6: Sc all st (18)
Change colour at the last yarnover of the last stitch

Work as many body segments as you like, stuffing as you go. I recommend using a chopstick.

Head

R1: Sl st all stitches
R2-16: Sc all st
Break yarn, place last stitch on a stitch holder

Eye stalks

Using head colour, pick up 8st through the head, in a circle, near the open end of the head, then cut a long tail and pull cut end through to outside of worm, but not through last stitch. This will be your working end.
R1: Sc all st (8)
R2: Scinc, sc, repeat (12)
Join white by working it as the last yarnover of the last stitch. Knot ends together on wrong side.
R3: Sl st all st (12)
R4: Scinc, sc2, repeat (16)
R5-6: Sc all st (16)
R7: Dec all st (8)
Break yarn, darn through front loops but don’t pull tight yet.
Embroider pupil (sew a small square, then a cross over the top), knotting the ends together on the wrong side and stuffing them in with the stuffing.
Stuff eye stalk and eye.
Pull yarn end tight to close eye.
Knot the ends of each eye stalk sitting inside the worm head together.

Work a second eye stalk directly next to the first one.

Lips

Return to last head stitch sitting on the stitch holder. Pull out the last yarnover and replace it with the lip colour.
R1: Sl st all st
R2: Sc all st
Break yarn, with long tail
Finish stuffing head
Sew mouth closed using long tail of lip yarn, between R1 and R2.

Ends

Tie pairs of ends together then use a darning needle bury ends in the stuffing, pulling tightly to pop the knot through to the inside.