by 
Zane the Zebra is the third pattern in my series of six matching safari amigurumi animals. Check out the other two I currently have completed, Harriet the Hippo and Laurence the Lion! I will be releasing the fourth pattern, a giraffe, next Wednesday. 🙂 Be sure to subscribe if you want to be notified via email when I post new patterns.
I am nothing if not a perfectionist, so creating this free zebra amigurumi pattern really challenged me to perfect my color changes without having to cut the yarn in between. I tried a variety of techniques and my favorite ended up being Planet June’s no-cut join method.
As you’ll see in the slideshow below, the stripes are almost perfect! You can still see a bit of a seam up the back of the zebra if you look closely, but it sure beats having a “stair step” with each color change, or having to cut the yarn and do a standing start on every other row.
Zane the Zebra
Skill level: Intermediate
Ravelry: Zane the Zebra
Supplies
- 3.5mm (E) hook
- 15mm safety eyes (buy here)
- Yarn needle
- Fiber fill
- Disappearing ink marker (optional – buy here)
Yarn (acrylic, weight 4)
- Dark purple (I used RHSS – Dark Orchid)
- Medium purple (I used RHSS – Medium Purple)
- Light purple (I used RHSS – Pale Plum)
Notes
Abbreviations
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
BLO: back loop only
dec: invisible decrease
Changing colors
When changing colors, I recommend using Planet June's no-cut join method. See the last photo in the slideshow toward the beginning of the post to see what the inside of your work will look like as you switch colors.
How to Indent the Eyes
How to add hair for the mane and tail
Note: The photos above show a horse, but the technique is the same. 🙂
Step 1 – Cut 10" long strands of yarn. How many depends on your personal preference, but I ended up using well over 100. As you can see in the 4th photo above, I only rooted hair on every other round, but filled in the gaps with one strand of yarn on each side.
I recommend finding a book or DVD case to wrap your yarn around several times, then cut along the top – it makes the process of cutting yarn strands much faster and it’s easier to produce a consistent length.
Optional: Use a ruler and a disappearing ink marker to draw a rectangle on the head as a guide for where to root the mane. You can do the same for the tail by tracing something circular (about 1.5" in diameter) on the rear.
Step 2 – Fold a strand of yarn in half, insert your hook under a stitch in the head or body. Use your hook to catch your yarn strand and pull through a loop, then pull your tail ends of the strand through the loop.
This video illustrates the technique perfectly, except I insert my hook front-to-back instead of side-to-side.
Step 3 – If giving your creation to a small child, be sure to secure each strand of hair with a knot so it can't easily be pulled out.
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
BLO: back loop only
dec: invisible decrease
Changing colors
When changing colors, I recommend using Planet June's no-cut join method. See the last photo in the slideshow toward the beginning of the post to see what the inside of your work will look like as you switch colors.
How to Indent the Eyes
Note: This video shows a unicorn, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns.
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.
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 strands of yarn).
Pull your strand of yarn taut, which will create indents. Fasten off with a knot and hide your yarn tail inside the head.
How to add hair for the mane and tail
Note: The photos above show a horse, but the technique is the same. 🙂
Step 1 – Cut 10" long strands of yarn. How many depends on your personal preference, but I ended up using well over 100. As you can see in the 4th photo above, I only rooted hair on every other round, but filled in the gaps with one strand of yarn on each side.
I recommend finding a book or DVD case to wrap your yarn around several times, then cut along the top – it makes the process of cutting yarn strands much faster and it’s easier to produce a consistent length.
Optional: Use a ruler and a disappearing ink marker to draw a rectangle on the head as a guide for where to root the mane. You can do the same for the tail by tracing something circular (about 1.5" in diameter) on the rear.
Step 2 – Fold a strand of yarn in half, insert your hook under a stitch in the head or body. Use your hook to catch your yarn strand and pull through a loop, then pull your tail ends of the strand through the loop.
This video illustrates the technique perfectly, except I insert my hook front-to-back instead of side-to-side.
Step 3 – If giving your creation to a small child, be sure to secure each strand of hair with a knot so it can't easily be pulled out.Instructions
- Be sure to read the "notes" section before proceeding.
Head
- With dark purple yarn:
01. Chain 5 start: ch5, inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the chain base, sc 2, 3sc in the last ch [14]
02. inc, sc 4, *inc* 3 times, sc 4, *inc* 2 times [20]
03. inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc [26]
04. inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times, inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times [32]
05. inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc [38]
06. inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times, inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times [44]
07. *sc 10, inc* 4 times [48]
Now sc 9 additional stitches. Consider this the official end of round 7. This ensures the color joins will be along the bottom of the head and won't be as visible. Continue with round 8 as normal.
Switch to medium purple yarn:
08. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
09. *sc 5, dec* [36]
Switch to light purple yarn:
10. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
11 . sc in each st around [30]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
12. sc in each st around [30]
13. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
Switch to light purple yarn:
14. *sc 5, inc* [42]
15. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
16. *sc 7, inc* [54]
17. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
18 - 19. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
20 - 21. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
22 - 23. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
24 - 25. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
26 - 27. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
28. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
29. *sc 7, dec* [48]
Switch to light purple yarn:
30. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
31. *sc 5, dec* [36]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
32. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
Stuff head ¾ full. Decide on placement of eyes, sew between the two spots to sculpt the head. Insert eyes and secure backings.
33. *sc 3, dec* [24]
Switch to light purple yarn:
34. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* 5 times, sc [18]
35. *sc, dec* [12]
Finish stuffing.
Switch to medium purple yarn:
36. dec in each st around [6]
Close with an ultimate finish.
Ears (make 2)
- With light purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. *sc, inc* [9]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
03. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 2 times, sc [12]
04. *sc 3, inc* [15]
Switch to light purple yarn:
05. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 2 times, sc 2 [18]
06. *sc 5, inc* [21]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
07. sc in each st around [21]
08. *sc 5, dec* [18]
Switch to light purple yarn:
09. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 2 times, sc 2 [15]
10. *sc 3, dec* [12]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
11 - 12. sc in each st around [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
Body
- With light purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
Switch to light purple yarn:
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
07. *sc 5, inc* [42]
08. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
Switch to light purple yarn:
09. *sc 7, inc* [54]
10. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
11 - 12. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
13 - 14. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
15 - 16. sc in each st around [60]
Switch to light purple yarn:
17. sc in each st around [60]
18. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
19. sc in each st around [54]
20. *sc 7, dec* [48]
Switch to light purple yarn:
21. sc in each st around [48]
22. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
23 - 24. sc in each st around [42]
Switch to light purple yarn:
25. *sc 5, dec* [36]
26. sc in each st around [36]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
27. sc in each st around [36]
28. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
Switch to light purple yarn:
29 - 30. sc in each st around [30]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
31. *sc 3, dec* [24]
32. sc in each st around [24]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill.
Arms (make 2)
- With dark purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. BLO: sc in each st around [24]
06 - 07. sc in each st around [24]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
08. sc in each st around [24]
09. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
Switch to light purple yarn:
10. sc in each st around [23]
11. sc 21, dec [22]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
12. sc in each st around [22]
13. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
Switch to light purple yarn:
14. sc in each st around [21]
15. sc 19, dec [20]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
16. sc in each st around [20]
17. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
Switch to light purple yarn:
18. sc in each st around [19]
19. sc 17, dec [18]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
20. sc in each st around [18]
21. sc 8, dec, sc 8 [17]
Switch to light purple yarn:
22. sc in each st around [17]
23. sc 15, dec [16]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
24 - 25. sc in each st around [16]
Switch to light purple yarn:
26. *sc 2, dec* [12]
27. sc in each st around [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
Legs (make 2)
- With dark purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. BLO: sc in each st around [30]
07 - 08. sc in each st around [30]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
09. sc in each st around [30]
10. sc 14, dec, sc 14 [29]
Switch to light purple yarn:
11. sc 27, dec [28]
12. sc 13, dec, sc 13 [27]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
13. sc 25, dec [26]
14. sc 12, dec, sc 12 [25]
Switch to light purple yarn:
15. sc 23, dec [24]
16. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
17. sc 21, dec [22]
18. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
Switch to light purple yarn:
19. sc 19, dec [20]
20. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
21. sc 17, dec [18]
22. *sc 7, dec* [16]
Switch to light purple yarn:
23. *sc 2, dec* [12]
24. sc in each st around [12]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
Tail
- Cut 12 strands of dark purple yarn, approx. 6” long
With light purple yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. sc around [6]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
03 - 04. sc around [6]
Switch to light purple yarn:
05 - 06. sc around [6]
Switch to medium purple yarn:
07 - 08. sc around [6]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed. Root in strands of dark purple yarn to flat end, secure and trim as desired.