Crochet Sideblog

Young Chirin stands about 20cm (8in) tall and can stand without support.

You will need DK yarn in the following colours:

- white (less than one ball)

- tan or light brown (less than half a ball)

- black (less than half a ball)

- yellow (small amount)

You will also need:

- a 3.5mm hook

- pins

- a darning needle

- stuffing

- scissors

This pattern was developed for DK yarn and a 3.5mm hook. It will probably work with other sizes, so long as the hook is a size smaller than the yarn label calls for to give the best amigurumi tension.

The parts are made separately and attached to the body by sewing. Assembly will be explained. The head and body are made in one piece.

There is some simple line embroidery later to add the nose and mouth.

Head

Start in white, keep tan handy

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. 6inc [12]

3. (sc, inc) x6 [18]

4. (sc, inc, sc) x6 [24]

5. (3sc, inc) x6 [30]

6. (2sc, inc, 2sc) x6 [36]

7. (5sc, inc) x6 [42]

8. 42sc [42]

9. 42sc [42]

10. 6sc, (dec, sc) x3, (sc, dec) x3, 18sc [36]

11. 6sc, change to tan in the last stitch, 12sc, change to white, 18sc [36]

12. 6sc, tan: 12sc, white: 18sc [36]

13. 6sc, tan: 12sc, white: 18sc [36]

14. 6sc, tan: 12sc, white: 18sc [36]

15. 7sc, tan: 10sc, white: 19sc [36]

16. 7sc, tan: sc, 3inc, 3sc, 3inc, sc, white: 18sc [42]

17. 7sc, tan: 17sc, white: 18sc [42]

18. 7sc, tan: 3dec, 5sc, 3dec, white: 18sc [36]

You're now finished with the tan yarn.

19. (2sc, dec, 2sc) x6 [30]

20. (3sc, dec) x6 [24]

21. (sc, dec, sc) x6 [18]

Stuff the head.

22. (sc, dec) x6 [12]

23. 12sc [12]

24. 12sc [12]

25. (3sc, inc) x3 [15]

26. (2sc, inc, 2sc) x3 [18]

27. (sc, inc, sc) x6 [24]

28. (3sc, inc) x6 [30]

Round 29 will comprise of short rounds.

29.a 23sc. Turn, don't chain.

29.b Skip 1. 16sc. Turn, don't chain.

29.c Skip 1. 14sc. Turn, don't chain.

29.d Skip 1. 12sc. Turn, don't chain.

29.e Skip 1. sc, dec, 4sc, dec, sc.

Now you'll go around in full rounds again. Move your stitch marker to your new starting point.

30. 3sc down the slope. Across the open stitches, (2sc, inc) x4, sc. 3sc up the slope. Across the open stitches at the top, 3sc, dec, 3sc. [30]

31. 5sc, (2sc, inc) x3, 7sc, (sc, dec) x3 [30]

32. 6sc, (2sc, inc) x3, 6sc, (sc, dec) x3 [30]

33. 7sc, (2sc, inc) x3, 7sc, (sc, dec) x2, sc [31]

34. dec, 7sc, (2sc, inc) x3, 7sc, (sc, dec) x2 [31]

35. sc, dec, 7sc, (2sc, inc) x3, 7sc, dec, sc, dec [31]

36. sc, dec, 13sc, inc, 12sc, dec [30]

37. (3sc, dec) x6 [24]

38. (sc, dec, sc) x6 [18]

Stuff the body to fill out the shape.

39. (sc, dec) x6 [12]

40. 6dec [6]

Finish off. Sew the tail through the outer loops of the remaining stitches and pull to cinch the hole shut. Knot and hide the end.

He may look like a strange swan now, but after assembly he'll look like Chirin the lamb.

Front Legs x2

Start in black, have white handy

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. 6inc [12]

3. In the back loops only, 12sc [12]

Change to white. Continue in both loops.

4-14. 12sc (11 rounds) [12]

15. 11sc. Chain and turn, 5sc.

Finish off and leave a tail for sewing. Stuff.

Back Legs, Lower x2

Start in black, have white handy

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. 6inc [12]

3. In the back loops only, 12sc [12]

Change to white. Continue in both loops.

4-12. 12sc (9 rounds) [12]

13. 6dec [6]

Finish off, leaving a long tail. Stuff then cinch the end shut, and leave the tail out for sewing.

Back Legs, Upper x2

In white

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. (sc, inc) x3 [9]

3. (2sc, inc) x3 [12]

4-8. 12sc (5 rounds) [12]

9. 6dec [6]

Finish off, leaving a long tail. Stuff then cinch the end shut, and leave the tail out for sewing.

Tail

In white

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. (sc, inc) x3 [9]

3. 9sc [9]

4. 9sc [9]

Slip stitch and finish off. Stuff lightly.

Ears x2

In white

1. 8sc into a magic ring [8]

2. 8inc [16]

3. (sc, inc) x8 [24]

4-6. 24sc (3 rounds) [24]

7. (sc, dec) x6 [16]

8. 16sc [16]

9. (2sc, dec) x4 [12]

10-11. 12sc (2 rounds) [12]

Slip stitch and finish off. Don't stuff, squish the ears flat.

Bell

In yellow

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. (sc, inc) x3 [9]

3. 9sc [9]

4. 9sc [9]

5. (inc, 2sc) x3 [12]

Slip stitch. Finish off and hide the tails. The chain will be made after assembly for the best idea of how long it should be.

Eyes x2

Start in black, have white at hand

1. 4sc into a magic ring [4]

2. Change to white. sc, inc, slip stitch.

Leave the last stitch unworked and finish off.

The legs overlap their ends. Done and pinned, see the breakdown below. Note the angled connection of the rear legs to the hips.

Assembly breakdown:

The front legs should be attached with their flaps at the shoulders so the openings fit into the curves. Attach high on the shoulder; there should be space beneath for both front legs.

The rear leg pieces should be assembled with the magic rings pointing downwards and the tail ends pointing up. The upper leg attaches atop the end of the lower leg, forming a familiar animal leg joint. Use the lower leg's tail to connect the pieces of the legs together and leave the upper leg's tail free for the hip joint.

To attach the rear legs, pin both legs firmly to the hips at an angle and check whether all the legs are level. It should be able to stand at this point if you place them correctly. If the legs are too floppy to stand, they may need more stuffing. When satisfied with the balance, sew them on.

The tail should be attached at the very end of the body, angled backwards and slightly upwards.

Bell Chain

In black/grey

Make a slip knot. Chain approximately 21, so you have a chain that loosely fits around Chirin's neck. Try it on before you attach it, because everyone's chains are a different tension.

When it looks okay, cut the yarn. Thread the ends into the bell, secure with knots, and hide the ends. The bell can be sewn down to keep it from swinging, if desired.

Now all that's left is the head!

If the ears flap too much or stick out, secure the middle of the ear to the head. Some flapping of Chirin's ears is expected.

The ears should be pinned horizontally along their open edge. The edge of the ear that is closest to the face should be pinned one stitch below and one stitch away from the corner of the tan. See photo.

The eyes should be attached one stitch away from the top edge of the face, approximately 4 stitches between them. For best results, sew on the white edge with a white tail, and the black edge with a black tail.

Make sure the eyes are looking in the same direction! Otherwise he'll end up looking quite dazed...

The embroidery is simple: using black yarn, sew a small and shallow V between the bottom of the eyes for the nose, and a curved line below for a gentle smile.

January's pattern is here! ❄️ (Just in time for all the snow to be gone... typical.) I now have 4 snowy-coat stoats occupying my desk.

To make one of your own, you will need:

- DK yarn in white (less than 50g / 150m)

- DK yarn in grey/black (less than 25g / 75m)

- a 3.5mm hook

- a darning needle for its face embroidery

- stuffing

- scissors

PARTS

We start with all the little pieces, and attach them with single crochets as we make the head & body piece.

They don't need long tails.

Ears x2 (white)

1. 5sc into a magic ring. Chain and turn

2. 5sc

Finish off.

Front Legs x2 (white)

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. 3inc, (triple crochet, sc in same stitch) x3 [12]

3. 12sc [12]

4. 6sc, 3dec [9]

5. 6sc, sc3tog [7]

6-9. 7sc (4 rounds) [7]

Slip stitch and finish off. Stuff.

Back Legs x2 (white)

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. 3inc, (triple crochet, sc in same stitch) x3 [12]

3. 12sc [12]

4. 6sc, 3dec [9]

5-7. 9sc (3 rounds) [9]

8. sc, 2dec, 2sc, 2inc [9]

9. sc, dec. slip stitch, leave rest unworked. [8]

Finish off and stuff.

Head & Body (white)

1. 6sc into a magic ring [6]

2. (sc, inc) x3 [9]

3. (sc, inc, sc) x3 [12]

4. 12sc [12]

5. (3sc, inc) x3 [15]

6. 15sc [15]

7. (2sc, inc, 2sc) x3 [18]

8. 18sc [18]

9. (5sc, inc) x3 [21]

The next round adds the ears. Each ear will be attached with 4 single crochet, going into the corners and across the bottom edge.

10. 3sc. On the outside of your work, place an ear frontside down with its bottom against the next few stitches, and put your hook through both. See photo. 4sc through both the ear and the head, hide the tails inside. 2sc, 4sc through the other ear, 8sc. [21]

Ensure the ears face forwards so they are nicely curved.

11. 3sc, 5dec, 4sc, 3inc, sc [19]

12. (sc, dec) x3, 2sc, (sc, inc) x3, 2sc [19]

(If you want to use safety eyes, add them now, see end of post for placement. Otherwise keep going.) 👈

Stuff the head, and continue to stuff as you go.

13. sc, sc3tog x2, 4sc, (inc, 3sc) x2 [17]

14. 2dec, 5sc, inc, sc, inc, 5sc [17]

15. 2dec, 5sc, inc, sc, inc, 5sc [17]

16. dec, 5sc, 3inc, 5sc, dec [18]

17. dec, 5sc, 4inc, 5sc, dec [20]

18. 20sc [20]

The next rounds attach the front legs with single crochets. Make sure the legs are stuffed.

19. inc, 7sc. Place the leg frontside down, feet pointing to the neck, and 3sc through both the back of the hole and the body to connect it. Then, the same way, 3sc the other front leg to the body. 6sc. [21]

Check and make sure the toes point towards the snout.

This row doesn't attach any front leg stitches.

20. sc, inc, (6sc, inc) x2, 5sc [24]

This next one involves a slightly different attachment of the leg stitches: the middle stitch is a sort-of decrease.

21. 11sc. 1sc through the leg and body. Pick up the front loops of the next two leg stitches, and 1sc through the body with them. 1sc again through the last leg stitch and the body. Repeat for the other leg over the next 3 stitches. 7sc. [24]

22. 24sc [24]

23. 24sc [24]

24. 2sc, inc, 21sc [25]

25. 2sc, inc, sc, inc, 8sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 6sc [25]

26. 14sc, dec, 2sc, dec, 5sc [23]

27. 23sc [23]

28. 4sc, inc, 10sc, dec, 6sc [23]

29. 23sc [23]

30. 5sc, inc, 10sc, dec, 5sc [23]

31. 23sc [23]

32. 6sc, inc, 10sc, dec, 4sc [23]

33. 23sc [23]

34. 7sc, inc, 10sc, dec, 3sc [23]

35. 23sc [23]

36. 23sc [23]

The body will now start curving down again. Remember to stuff as you go.

37. 7sc, dec, 10sc, inc, 3sc [23]

38. 23sc [23]

39. 7sc, dec, 10sc, inc, 3sc [23]

The next round starts attaching the back legs, similar to how the front legs were attached. Claws point forwards.

40. 16sc, 3sc through one leg and the body, 3sc through the other leg and the body, sc [23]

The next round doesn't attach any leg stitches.

41. 7sc, dec, 10sc, inc, 3sc [23]

You might want to locate and mark the 5 remaining stitches of each leg to make it easier to tell which stitches haven't been worked already.

42. 16sc, pick up front loops of next two leg stitches, sc to the body. sc through next leg stitch and body. pick up two front loops of the final two leg stitches and sc to the body. (You have attached 5 leg stitches in 3 single crochets.) Repeat for the other leg. sc. [23]

43. 7sc, dec, 8sc, inc, 3sc, inc, sc [24]

44. 7sc, dec, 15sc [23]

45. 6sc, dec, 15sc [22]

46. 6sc, dec, 14sc [21]

47. (5sc, dec) x3 [18]

48. (sc, dec) x6 [12]

49. 4dec, 4sc [8]

Now we make the tail. Keep stuffing.

50. 8sc (6 rounds) [8]

51. 7sc, inc [9]

52. 9sc (6 rounds) [9]

53. 8sc, inc [10]

54. 10sc [10]

55. 10sc [10]

The next round will contain a colour change to grey/black for the tailtip.

56. 2sc. Change to grey/black. inc, 7sc. [11]

57. 11sc [11]

58. 11sc [11]

59. 9sc, dec [10]

60. 4sc, dec, 4sc [9]

61. 7sc, dec [8]

62. 3sc, dec, 3sc [7]

63. 5sc, dec [6]

64. 2sc, dec, 2sc [5]

Stuff tail and finish off. Pull the tail through the front loop of all 5 stitches using your hook or a needle and pull the tail to cinch the hole shut. Knot and hide the end.

Only the face is left!

To add a nose and a pair of eyes, take your grey/black yarn and a darning needle, and sew on lines repeatedly.

The nose goes on the top half of the magic ring. The eyes are placed between rounds 6-7, spanning two stitches in size, with 3-4 stitches between. Go over several times until satisfied.