Linda Permann - Stripe the Giraffe: E-Pattern from Little Crochet

This banded creature is unlike any youll find in the wild, as crocheted stripes are substituted for spots of color. Stripes skinny legs and neck are easy for small hands to hold and hug. He would look extra charming in a multitude of colors, but if you prefer a more traditional giraffe, make the body in a solid color and then use a contrasting yarn to embroider spots.

SKILL LEVEL Intermediate

YARN 200 yds (183m) of worsted-weight yarn

Sample Knit with Lion Brand Cotton Ease (50% cotton, 50% acrylic; 3 oz/ 100g, 207 yds/188m): 1 skein each #186 Maize (A) and #134
Terra Cotta (B)

CROCHET HOOK Size F-5 (3.75mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

GAUGE Gauge is not critical for this project, but be sure to create a tightly crocheted fabric to keep stuffing contained.

OTHER MATERIALS Yarn needle Polyester stuffing or wool roving 1 yd (.9m) scrap worsted-weight yarn (for eyes) Embroidery needle Stitch marker

NOTES Make all four legs first, then work the body up to the indicated point. Attach the legs to the body, stuff the body, and continue to work the neck, stuffing it as you go. Once the body is completed, you may want to readjust the leg position slightly by sewing the edge of the legs to the body as desired.

Pieces are worked in a continuous spiral; do not join rounds and do not turn at the end of rounds. To keep track of your work, mark the end of the round with a stitch marker and move it up at the end of each round. The two colors will not match up at the beginning and end of each round, due to the nature of crocheted colorwork in the round. If you prefer, try staggering your color changes, but always be sure to mark the first stitch of the round (regardless of the color of the stitch).

With A, make an adjustable ring.

Round 1 (RS): Ch 1, 6 sc in ring6 sc.

Round 2: Work 2 sc in each sc around12 sc.

Round 3: [Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 4 times; change to B in last stitch16 sc.

Rounds 4 and 5: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch of round 516 sc.

Round 6: [Sc2tog, sc in next 6 sc] twice; change to B in last stitch14 sc.

Round 7: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch.

Round 8: [Sc2tog, sc in next 5 sc] twice12 sc.

Rounds 9 and 10: Sc in each sc around.

Round 11: [Sc2tog, sc in next 4 sc] twice; change to B in last stitch10 sc.

Round 12: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch.

Round 13: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch.

Rounds 14 and 15: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch of round 15.

Rounds 1618: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch of round 18.

Round 19: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc] twice; change to A in last stitch12 sc.

Rounds 20 and 21: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch of round 21.

Rounds 22 and 23: Sc in each sc around.

Round 24: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc] twice14 sc.

Note: Stuff the leg before continuing.

Round 25: Sc in each sc around.

Round 26: Working in the back loops only, [sc2tog] around7 sc.

Round 27: [Insert hook in next sc and draw up a loop] 7 times, yarn over and draw through all 8 loops on your hook.

Fasten off.

Work through Round 2 as for Back Leg; change to B in last stitch of Round 212 sc.

Round 3: Work as for Round 3 of Back Leg; change to A in last stitch16 sc.

Rounds 46: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch of Round 616 sc.

Rounds 730: Work as for Rounds 427 of Back Legs.

Fasten off.

Work through Round 2 as for Back Legs12 sc.

Round 3: [Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times18 sc.

Round 4: [Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times24 sc.

Round 5: [Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times30 sc.

Round 6: [Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times36 sc.

Round 7: [Sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times42 sc.

Round 8: [Sc in next 6, sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times; change to B in last stitch48 sc.

Round 9: [Sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times; change to A in last stitch54 sc.

Round 10: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch.

Round 11: [Sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times60 sc.

Round 12: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch.

Rounds 1315: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch of Round 15.

Rounds 16: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch.

Rounds 1719: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch of Round 19.

Rounds 20 and 21: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch of Round 21.

Round 22: Sc in first 22 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next 7 sc] 4 times, sc2tog55 sc.

Round 23: Sc in first 21 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next 6 sc] 4 times, sc2tog; change to B in last stitch50 sc.

Round 24: Sc in first 20 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next 5 sc] 4 times, sc2tog45 sc.

Round 25: Sc in first 19 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next 4 sc] 4 times, sc2tog40 sc.

Round 26: Sc in first 18 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next 3 sc] 4 times, sc2tog; change to A in last stitch35 sc.

Round 27: Sc in first 17 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next 2 sc] 4 times, sc2tog30 sc.

Round 28: Sc in first 16 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next sc] 4 times, sc2tog25 sc.

Note: At this point, remove the hook from your work and place a stitch marker in the working loop to keep it from coming loose. Stuff the body and use yarn to sew the legs to the body. Remove the body stuffing so that you can secure the yarn ends inside the body. Re-stuff the body, remove the marker, and continue crocheting.

Round 29: [Sc2tog, sc in 3 sc] 5 times; change to B in last stitch20 sc.

Rounds 30 and 31: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch of Round 31.

Rounds 3234: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch of Round 34.

Round 35: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch.

Round 36: Sc in each sc around; change to B in last stitch.

Round 37: Sc in each sc around; change to A in last stitch.

Round 38: [Sc2tog, sc in next 8 stitches) twice; change to B in last stitch18 sc.