For bodies, heads, legs and ears you will need to start off by following the standard increase pattern below. For a more detailed explanation of the techniques, including how to start, how to work the stitches and changing colours, please refer to the Technicals section.
The standard increase creates a circular piece of crochet, worked in a spiral from the centre outwards. This forms the base of the bodies and the feet, and the backs of the heads. The crochet pieces are then worked from the base upwards (for bodies and feet) or from the back forwards (for the heads).
When you have completed a part, unless it is otherwise stated, thread the yarn through the stitches that are left, tie off, pull tight and secure. When making each part, ensure that when you start or finish you leave yourself a length of yarn to sew that part onto the others to make your life easier when making up the animal.
In the patterns I have not stated when you should stuff the animals’ heads. My advice is to stuff when you reach six stitches left in a round, as the hole is big enough to poke the bottom of a crochet hook into. All legs and bodies are stuffed after completion of the parts; it is only the pointy-nosed animals you need to keep an eye on to make sure you stuff them before you get to the final round. See also the Stuffing and Sewing section and the Topknots and Tails in Technicals for further advice on this.
Begin by dc6 into foundation ring (see Technicals).
Rnd 1 (Dc2 into next st) 6 times. (12)
Rnd 2 (Dc1, dc2 into next st) 6 times. (18)
Rnd 3 (Dc2, dc2 into next st) 6 times. (24)
Rnd 4 (Dc3, dc2 into next st) 6 times. (30)
Rnd 5 (Dc4, dc2 into next st) 6 times. (36)
Rnd 6 (Dc5, dc2 into next st) 6 times. (42)
Work as for Standard Increase, then:
Rnd 7 (Dc6, dc2 into next st) 6 times. (48)
Rnds 8–12 Dc. (5 rnds)
Rnd 13 Dc30, (dc4, dc2tog) 3 times. (45)
Rnd 14 Dc.
Rnd 15 (Dc1, dc2tog) 15 times. (30)
Rnds 16–20 Dc. (5 rnds)
Rnd 21 (Dc3, dc2tog) 6 times. (24)
Rnds 22–26 Dc. (5 rnds)
Rnd 27 (Dc2, dc2tog) 6 times. (18)
Rnd 28 Dc.
Rnd 29 (Dc2tog) 9 times. (9)
Begin by dc6 into foundation ring.
Rnd 1 (Dc2 into next st) 6 times. (12)
Rnd 2 (Dc1, dc2 into next st) 6 times. (18)
Rnds 3–6 Dc. (4 rnds)
Rnd 7 (Dc1, dc2tog) 6 times. (12)
Rnds 8–22 Dc. (15 rnds)
Fold these 12 sts flat and dc across the top, first stuffing the feet (see Finishing the Feet and Legs under Stuffing and Sewing in the Technicals section).
