Hello creatives! I am Erin of ekayg designs. I consider it my maker mission to come up with new and unique ways of making toys. I love challenging the norms, and combining ideas. You may remember my Pig Lovey Puppet from earlier this year. I also have a Duck Lovey Puppet on my own blog. This giraffe is the latest design with this concept in mind, and The Hook Nook yarn! I love the simplicity of this pattern. It works up perfectly in just two colors, with the spots mapped out for your convenience. Create a unique baby gift for both comfort and play, as little fingers grab and grow!
***Note: Grab all of the materials for this project in THNLife Shop! Click here.
Materials
The Hook Nook, Main Squeeze - Mustard Yellow - approximately 160 yds
The Hook Nook, Main Squeeze - Marigold Fields - approximately 25 yds
The Hook Nook, Small Stuff - Tattoo Ink - for eyes and nostrils
Scissors
Terms and Abbreviations to Know
magic ring
rnd, rnds - round, rounds
ch, chs - chain, chains
sp, sps - space, spaces
st, sts - stitch, stitches
sl st - slip stitch
sc - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
dc - double crochet
inc - make 2 sc together into same st (only used in reference to sc sts)
invsc2tog - invisible single crochet 2 together; this is essentially a decrease, but done in such a way as to make the continuous stitching smoother, and the decrease not as noticeable.
Insert hook into front loop only of next stitch, DO NOT yarn over.
Insert hook into front loop of second stitch.
Yarn over. Pull through 2 loops.
Yarn over and pull through last 2 loops.
Notes
This pattern is worked from the head down through the blanket in one piece, with the arms, ears, and snout sewn on separately. The head is worked up in sc, in continuous rnds, with no joining. The blanket portion is worked up in dc, with joining. Chs do not count as sts. Gauge is provided for both sections, and is only important if you wish to keep this to a one-skein project. It is designed to be both a lovey and a puppet for little ones to play and snuggle with! There is no stuffing, so they are easily washed.
Gauge
Gauge for head: 7 sts and 7 rnds = 2 inches
Gauge for blanket: 6 sts and 4 rnds = 2 inches
Finished Size
Approximately 11 inches tall, corner to corner = 18 inches
Pattern
Giraffe, beginning with head, Mustard Yellow
Begin with magic ring. Work in continuous rnds, no joining.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring; 6 sts
Rnd 2: inc in each st around; 12 sts
Rnd 3: (inc, sc in next st)6x; 18 sts
Rnd 4: (inc, sc in next 2 sts)6x; 24 sts
Rnds 5-10: sc in each st around; 24 sts
Rnd 11: (invsc2tog, sc in next 2 sts)6x; 18 sts
Rnd 12: (invsc2tog, sc in next st)6x; 12 sts
Beginning with the blanket portion, you will now be joining rnds. Chs will not count as sts.
Rnd 13: FLO this rnd only (2 dc in next st, ch 3, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st)4x, sl st in first st to join; 20 sts, 4 ch-3 sps
*Beginning with rnd 14, you will be using color B for every other corner, just the (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) parts. In the even rnds (in bold), use B for the 1st and 3rd corners. In the odd rnds, use B for the 2nd and 4th corners. Carry color A under your stitches for those corners, but do NOT carry color B. Always cut, knot, and weave in the ends, either as you go, or all at once at the end. Each corner takes approximately 27 inches of color B, and it is used on 16 corners total, so I cut all 16 strands first, and then added them as I needed them.
Rnd 14: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next st, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-3 sp, dc in next 5 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-3 sp, dc in next 3 sts, sl st in first st to join; 36 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
Rnd 15: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next 3 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 9 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 5 sts, sl st in first st to join; 52 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
Rnd 16: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next 5 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 13 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 7 sts, sl st in first st to join; 68 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
Rnd 17: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next 7 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 17 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 9 sts, sl st in first st to join; 84 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
Rnd 18: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next 9 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 21 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 11 sts, sl st in first st to join; 100 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
Rnd 19: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next 11 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 25 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 13 sts, sl st in first st to join; 116 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
Rnd 20: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next 13 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 29 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 15 sts, sl st in first st to join; 132 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
Rnd 21: ch 2, dc into same st as joining, dc in next 15 sts, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 33 sts]3x, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 17 sts, sl st in first st to join; 148 sts, 4 ch-1 sps
*The last rnd is entirely in color A
Rnd 22: ch 1, hdc into same st as joining, sl st in next st, (hdc in next st, sl st in next st)8x, 3 hdc in ch-1 sp, [sl st in next st, (hdc in next st, sl st in next st)18x, 3 hdc in ch-1 sp]3x, sl st in next st, (hdc in next st, sl st in next st)9x; 160 sts
Fasten off, and weave in ends.
Arms, Make 2
Begin with magic ring. Work in continuous rnds with no joining.
Beginning with color B.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring; 6 sts
Rnd 2: (inc, sc in next st)3x; 9 sts
Rnd 3: sl st around each st; 9 sts
*Pull color A through to finish last sl st of rnd 3, and fasten off color B. Continue the rest of the arm in A.
Rnd 4: work this rnd behind the sl sts, into rnd 2, sc in each st around; 9 sts
Rnds 5-9: sc in each st around; 9 sts
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew into the ch 3 sps to each side of the head, as the finger holes for the puppet.
Snout, in B
Ch 7
Row 1: turn and beginning in the 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across; 6 sts
Row 2: ch 1 and turn, inc, sc in next 4 sts, inc; 8 sts
Row 3: ch 1 and turn, inc, sc in next 6 sts, inc; 10 sts
Row 4: ch 1 and turn, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts; 10 sts
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. With black yarn, sew the nostrils over the posts of rnd 3, under the hdc sts on each side. Sew the snout onto the front of the face of your giraffe.
Eyes in black
Place the eyes at about rnd 6, spanning 4 stitches each, about 1 st apart.
Horns, Make 2
Begin with color B in a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring; 6 sts
Rnd 2: (inc, sc in next 2 sts)2x; 8 sts
Pull color A through to finish last st and complete horn in color A.
Rnd 3: (invsc2tog, sc in next 2 sts)2x; 6 sts
Rnds 4-5: sc in each st around; 6 sts
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the horns to the top of the head, about 1 rnd from the center.
Ears, Make 2
Ch 6
Work rnd around the ch.
Rnd 1: sl st in 3rd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, 5 dc in last ch, turn to work on the other side of the ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in next ch and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the ears on the top sides of the head, around rnds 3-5, just to the sides, and slightly in front of the horns.
I hope you have enjoyed this lovey puppet design! Follow me on my social media accounts for more designs like this to come! If you make one, don't forget to tag @ekaygdesigns so I can see your beautiful work!
