Skill level: Easy to Intermediate (you will change colours for the tail). Finished size: about 10 cm (4 in) tall. Size will vary with your yarn and tension.
Materials
- DK or 8-ply cotton yarn: orange, white and a small amount of black
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- 6 mm safety eyes, or black thread to embroider the eyes
- Polyester stuffing
- Tapestry needle, stitch marker and scissors
Abbreviations
- MR: magic ring
- sc: single crochet
- inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec: single crochet 2 together (invisible decrease)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- FO: fasten off
Work in continuous rounds without joining. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round. The number in brackets at the end of a line is your stitch count.
Head
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Round 2: inc in each st (12)
- Round 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
- Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
- Rounds 6 to 11: sc in each st (30)
- Round 12: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
- Round 13: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18). If you use safety eyes, add them between rounds 8 and 9 before you stuff.
- Round 14: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12). Stuff firmly.
- Round 15: dec x 6 (6). FO, thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts and pull tight.
Body
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Round 2: inc in each st (12)
- Round 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
- Rounds 5 to 8: sc in each st (24)
- Round 9: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
- Round 10: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12). Stuff firmly.
- Round 11: dec x 6 (6). FO and close the hole.
Ears (make 2)
Use orange.
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Round 2: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)
- Round 3: sc in each st (9)
- Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)
- Rounds 5 to 6: sc in each st (12)
FO and leave a long tail. Do not stuff. Flatten the ear into a triangle before sewing.
Muzzle
Use white.
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Round 2: inc in each st (12)
- Rounds 3 to 4: sc in each st (12)
FO and leave a long tail. Stuff lightly.
Tail
Start with orange and change to white at round 7.
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Round 2: inc in each st (12)
- Round 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Rounds 4 to 6: sc in each st (18)
- Round 7 (white): (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
- Round 8: sc in each st (12)
- Round 9: dec x 6 (6)
Stuff lightly, FO and close.
Arms (make 2)
Use orange (for little white paws, work rounds 1 to 2 in white).
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Rounds 2 to 6: sc in each st (6)
FO and leave a long tail. Stuff very lightly.
Legs (make 2)
Use orange. For little white socks, work rounds 1 to 3 in white.
- Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Round 2: inc in each st (12)
- Rounds 3 to 4: sc in each st (12)
- Round 5: dec x 6 (6)
FO, stuff lightly and close the hole. Leave a long tail.
Assembly
- Sew the closed end of the head to the closed end of the body.
- Sew the ears to the top of the head, about 5 stitches apart.
- Add the safety eyes around rounds 8 to 9, about 7 stitches apart, then sew the muzzle between and just below them.
- Embroider a small black nose on the muzzle.
- Sew the arms to the sides of the body near the top, the legs to the bottom sides and the tail to the back.
Finishing tips
Use pins to place every piece before you sew. Pull your yarn tails inside the toy to hide them. Spot clean with a damp cloth and let your little friend air dry. If the toy is for a baby or small child, embroider the face instead of using safety eyes.