Abbreviations
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
dec: invisible decrease
ch: chain
BLO: back loop only
slst: slip stitchAttaching with thread vs. yarn tail
For a cleaner look on the belly patch, I opted to weave the tail into the back of the work and trim it short, then attach the belly patch to the body with a sewing needle and matching thread.Stitch markers
Note: The photos above show a fox, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns.The pattern indicates to insert 5 different stitch markers in various places besides the one you use to track the beginning/end of each round.I recommend using strands of yarn in 4 different colors as your stitch markers: One strand in color 1 (purple) to mark where you will start attaching the nose, two strands in color 2 (blue) to mark where you will place each eye, two strands color 3 (pink) to mark where you will start attaching each ear, and one long strand in color 4 (green) to track the beginning/end of each round.The photos above demonstrate how to mark a stitch while crocheting a round: lay your strand of yarn acting as a marker over your working yarn and the stitch you'll be working into, then complete the stitch as normal.You'll essentially be weaving the long strand in color 4 through your work with each round. On odd rounds you'll be laying the strand back-to-front, and on even rounds you'll be laying the strand front-to-back.The advantage of using this technique is you'll have the beginning of every single round marked, which makes it much easier to find your place if you make a mistake. That said, It's perfectly fine to use a regular ol' safety pin-like marker to keep track of your rounds instead. :)How to attach the tip of the nose to the snout
Note: The photos above show a raccoon, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns.Step 1 – Cut a strand of yarn approximately 18" long. Tie a large, secure knot in one end and thread the other end through your yarn needle.Step 2 – Insert your needle through the back opening of the head and exit the needle through the starting magic ring on the snout.Step 3 – Next, thread your needle through the starting magic ring of the nose, then insert your needle back through the starting magic ring on the snout.Step 4 – Flip the head over. Secure the two black strands with a large knot on the inside of the snout, then trim the excess.How to attach the top of the nose to the snout
Note: The photos above show a raccoon, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns.Step 1 – Take the yarn tail from the top of your nose and thread it through a yarn needle. Thread your needle through the stitch marked with color 1. Then attach the remaining 5 stitches across the top of your nose to the next 5 stitches following your marked stitch on the snout.Step 2 – Tighten down your stitches, secure the end with a knot, and hide the yarn tail inside the head.How to indent the eyes
Note: The video above shows a unicorn, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns.Step 1 – Cut a strand of yarn approximately 18" long. Tie a large, secure knot in one end and thread the other end through your yarn needle.Step 2 – Insert your needle through the back opening of the head and sew between the two spots where you'll be placing your safety eyes (marked with your color 1 stitch markers).Step 3 – Pull your strand of yarn taut, which will create indents.Step 4 – Fasten off with a knot and hide your yarn tail inside the head.How fold the ears and sew them closed
Step 1 – Close the top opening of each ear with a slip stitch, leaving a long yarn tail.Step 2 – Fold the slip-stitched edge in half and sew closed with a running stitch using your yarn tail and a yarn needle, leaving the tail intact.Step 3 – Your ears should now look like figure 3 above and are ready to attach to the head at a later step!How to attach the ears to the head
Step 1 – Line up your ear with your color 3 stitch marker on the top of the head.Step 2 – Using a yarn needle and your yarn tail, attach the ear to the head stitch-for-stitch, leaving your stitches slightly loose in case you need to undo them. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the second ear.Step 3 – Examine the head from multiple angles to make sure your ears are symmetrical and look the way you want them, then remove your stitch markers. Tighten down your stitches, secure the end with a knot, and hide the yarn tail inside the head.
Instructions
Be sure to read the "notes" section before proceeding.
With cream yarn:
01. Chain 3 start: ch3, inc in 2nd ch from hook, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the chain base, 3sc in the last ch [10]
02. inc, sc 2, *inc* 3 times, sc 2, *inc* 2 times [16]
03. inc, sc 4, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 4, *inc* 2 times, sc [22]
04. inc, sc 6, *inc, sc* 2 times, inc, sc 6, *inc, sc* 2 times [28]
05. *sc 13, inc* [30]
06 - 08. sc in each st around [30]
Now sc 7 additional stitches. This ensures your color join will be on the bottom of the head. These stitches are not included in the stitch count for round 8 nor for round 9. Move your stitch marker to the last of the 7 additional stitches and continue on with round 9 as normal.
Switch to tan yarn (tutorial):
09. BLO: slst in each st around [30]
10. BLO: sc 2, inc, sc 4, inc, sc 4, inc and insert marker color 1 into the first stitch of the increase (15th stitch from start of round; the second stitch of the increase is the 16th stitch from start of round), *sc 4, inc* 3 times, sc 2 [36]
11. *sc 5, inc* [42]
12. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
13. *sc 7, inc* 2 times, insert marker color 2 into the next sc (19th st from start of round), sc 6, inc, sc 7, inc, sc, insert marker color 2 into the next sc (38th st from start of round), sc 5, inc, sc 7, inc [54]
14. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
15 - 18. sc in each st around [60]
19. sc 25, insert marker color 3 into the next sc (26th st from start of round), sc 13, insert marker color 3 into the next sc (40th st from start of round), sc 20 [60]
20 - 24. sc in each st around [60]
25. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
26. *sc 7, dec* [48]
27. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
28. *sc 5, dec* [36]
29. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
Attach the nose to the snout by following the steps below:
With cream yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
Switch to tan yarn (tutorial):
04. BLO: slst in each st around [18]
05. BLO: sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
06. BLO: sc in each st around [24]
07 - 09. sc in each st around [24]
10. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
11. sc in each st around [23]
12. sc 21, dec [22]
13. sc in each st around [22]
14. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
15. sc in each st around [21]
16. sc 19, dec [20]
17. sc in each st around [20]
18. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
19. sc in each st around [19]
20. sc 17, dec [18]
21. sc in each st around [18]
22. sc 8, dec, sc 8 [17]
23. sc in each st around [17]
24. sc 15, dec [16]
25 - 26. sc in each st around [16]
27. *sc 2, dec* [12]