Crochet Rhinoceros Toy
Materials:
One ball worsted weight yarn in colour of your choice ( I used pink acrylic yarn from my stash).
Contrasting coloured yarn for horn – I used light grey yarn with a slight sparkle from my stash.
Size G /6 – 4.25mm crochet hook.
Stitch marker or contrasting yarn to mark beginning of rounds.
Safety eyes or buttons and yarn for eyes, nostrils and mouth.
Large eye needle, thread cutters or scissors.
Tape measure.
Fibre filling.
Row counter.
Abbreviations & terms:
All instructions in U.S terms.
Sc – single crochet
Slp stitch – slip stitch
Magic ring – a technique that is commonly used in crochet toy making in the round. Instructions on how to master this technique can be found here:
http://www.crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx
Instructions:
Instructions between * are to be repeated.
Head and Body:
Round 1: 6sc in magic ring or chain two, 6 sc in second chain from hook.
Round 2: Join to first sc with sc in first stitch and place marker at beginning of round. *2sc in second stitch (sc increase), sc in next stitch* to end of round. [10 stitches].
Continue in spiral, move marker up each round.
Round 3-4: sc in each stitch around Round 5: * sc, 2sc in next stitch (sc increase), * to end of round. [15 stitches].
Round 6 – 7: sc to end of round.
Round 8: * sc in first two stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [20 stitches].
Round 9: * sc in first three stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [25 stitches].
Round 10 - 11: sc in each stitch to end of round.
Round 12: * sc in first three stitches, sc decrease in next two stitches * to end of round. [20 stitches].
Round 13: sc in each stitch around. Round 14: sc in first stitch, * sc decrease in next two stitches* twice , sc in next 10 stitches, *sc decrease in next two stitches* twice , sc in last stitch. [16 stitches].
Round 15: *sc in first 3 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [20 stitches].
Round 16: *sc in first 2 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [26 stitches].
Round 17: *sc in first 2 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to last 2 stitches, sc in last two stitches. [34 stitches].
If using safety eyes, turn the head to face you and place these between the 9th and 10th rows roughly in line with the stitch marker on the left side and about 10 stitches apart. Stuff head firmly do not overstuff. Refer to pictures for guide.
Round 18 – 30: sc to end of round.
Round 31: *sc in first 3 stitches, sc decrease in next 2 stitches* to last 4 stitches, sc in last 4 stitches.
Round 32: sc in each stitch around.
Round 33: *sc in first 3 stitches, sc decrease in next 2 stitches* to last 3 stitches, sc in last 3 stitches.
Round 34: *sc in first 2 stitches, sc decrease in next 2 stitches* to last three stitches, sc in last 3 stitches.
Begin stuffing body as close as possible to opening.
Round 35: *sc in fist sc, sc decrease in next 2 sc* to end of round.
Round 36: *sc decrease in each two stitches* to end of round.
Finish stuffing, cut thread and bind off, leaving a 12inch/30cm long tail. Weave this tail through each stitch and pull tight, then pull a loop through at the top of the closure you have just made with the crochet hook.
Tail:
Chain 5, sc in second chain from hook, sc to end of chain, sl st to body and fasten off.
Use a needle to pass remaining yarn through tail and cut about 1inch/2 ½ cm from end of tail. Add more tassels to the end of the tail and trim to an even length.
Legs:
Make four.
Round 1: 7 sc in magic ring.
Round 2: Join with sc to first sc, sc again in first sc, 2sc in each stitch around. [14 stitches].
Round 3: sc in back loops to end of round.
Round 4-6: sc through both loops to end of round.
Round 7: *sc in first 3 sc, sc decrease in next stitch* to last four sc, sc in last four sc. [12 stitches].
Round 8-9: sc in each stitch to end of round.
Slp stitch to first stitch of next round, cut yarn and bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing to body. Stuff firmly and flatten bottom of foot with thumb.
Sew legs to body.
Horn:
Round 1: 2sc in magic ring
Round 2: Join with sc to second sc, 2 more sc in same stitch. [3 stitches].
Round 3: 2sc in each of the 3 stitches just made. [6 stitches].
Round 4: 2sc in each of the 6 stitches just made. [12 stitches].
Round 5: sc in each stitch around. [12 stitches].
Cut yarn and bind off, leaving a tail for sewing onto the head. Stuff horn firmly and sew on top of the nose.
Ears:
Make two. Ears are made from the bottom up.
Round 1: 2sc in magic ring.
Round 2: Join with sc to first sc , 2 more sc in same sc. [3 stitches].
Round 3: 2sc in each of the 3 sc just made. [6 stitches].
Cut yarn and bind off, thread yarn tail onto a needle and pass through the centre of the ear to the bottom. Attach each ear to sides of head in position shown in the pictures below. When attaching ears, sew onto head at the bottom point of the ear, then pass needle through loops on ear as shown in second picture below and attach to head for added firmness. Sew these points until ears are firmly attached then weave in any loose ends.
If you are using buttons/embroidery for eyes you may do this after the head is stuffed or when the rhino is finished. You may embroider features such as nostrils and a mouth on your rhino if you prefer.
One ball worsted weight yarn in colour of your choice ( I used pink acrylic yarn from my stash).
Contrasting coloured yarn for horn – I used light grey yarn with a slight sparkle from my stash.
Size G /6 – 4.25mm crochet hook.
Stitch marker or contrasting yarn to mark beginning of rounds.
Safety eyes or buttons and yarn for eyes, nostrils and mouth.
Large eye needle, thread cutters or scissors.
Tape measure.
Fibre filling.
Row counter.
Abbreviations & terms:
All instructions in U.S terms.
Sc – single crochet
Slp stitch – slip stitch
Magic ring – a technique that is commonly used in crochet toy making in the round. Instructions on how to master this technique can be found here:
http://www.crochetme.com/forums/t/28917.aspx
Instructions:
Instructions between * are to be repeated.
Head and Body:
Round 1: 6sc in magic ring or chain two, 6 sc in second chain from hook.
Round 2: Join to first sc with sc in first stitch and place marker at beginning of round. *2sc in second stitch (sc increase), sc in next stitch* to end of round. [10 stitches].
Continue in spiral, move marker up each round.
Round 3-4: sc in each stitch around Round 5: * sc, 2sc in next stitch (sc increase), * to end of round. [15 stitches].
Round 6 – 7: sc to end of round.
Round 8: * sc in first two stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [20 stitches].
Round 9: * sc in first three stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [25 stitches].
Round 10 - 11: sc in each stitch to end of round.
Round 12: * sc in first three stitches, sc decrease in next two stitches * to end of round. [20 stitches].
Round 13: sc in each stitch around. Round 14: sc in first stitch, * sc decrease in next two stitches* twice , sc in next 10 stitches, *sc decrease in next two stitches* twice , sc in last stitch. [16 stitches].
Round 15: *sc in first 3 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [20 stitches].
Round 16: *sc in first 2 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to end of round. [26 stitches].
Round 17: *sc in first 2 stitches, 2sc in next stitch* to last 2 stitches, sc in last two stitches. [34 stitches].
If using safety eyes, turn the head to face you and place these between the 9th and 10th rows roughly in line with the stitch marker on the left side and about 10 stitches apart. Stuff head firmly do not overstuff. Refer to pictures for guide.
Round 18 – 30: sc to end of round.
Round 31: *sc in first 3 stitches, sc decrease in next 2 stitches* to last 4 stitches, sc in last 4 stitches.
Round 32: sc in each stitch around.
Round 33: *sc in first 3 stitches, sc decrease in next 2 stitches* to last 3 stitches, sc in last 3 stitches.
Round 34: *sc in first 2 stitches, sc decrease in next 2 stitches* to last three stitches, sc in last 3 stitches.
Begin stuffing body as close as possible to opening.
Round 35: *sc in fist sc, sc decrease in next 2 sc* to end of round.
Round 36: *sc decrease in each two stitches* to end of round.
Finish stuffing, cut thread and bind off, leaving a 12inch/30cm long tail. Weave this tail through each stitch and pull tight, then pull a loop through at the top of the closure you have just made with the crochet hook.
Tail:
Chain 5, sc in second chain from hook, sc to end of chain, sl st to body and fasten off.
Use a needle to pass remaining yarn through tail and cut about 1inch/2 ½ cm from end of tail. Add more tassels to the end of the tail and trim to an even length.
Legs:
Make four.
Round 1: 7 sc in magic ring.
Round 2: Join with sc to first sc, sc again in first sc, 2sc in each stitch around. [14 stitches].
Round 3: sc in back loops to end of round.
Round 4-6: sc through both loops to end of round.
Round 7: *sc in first 3 sc, sc decrease in next stitch* to last four sc, sc in last four sc. [12 stitches].
Round 8-9: sc in each stitch to end of round.
Slp stitch to first stitch of next round, cut yarn and bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing to body. Stuff firmly and flatten bottom of foot with thumb.
Sew legs to body.
Horn:
Round 1: 2sc in magic ring
Round 2: Join with sc to second sc, 2 more sc in same stitch. [3 stitches].
Round 3: 2sc in each of the 3 stitches just made. [6 stitches].
Round 4: 2sc in each of the 6 stitches just made. [12 stitches].
Round 5: sc in each stitch around. [12 stitches].
Cut yarn and bind off, leaving a tail for sewing onto the head. Stuff horn firmly and sew on top of the nose.
Ears:
Make two. Ears are made from the bottom up.
Round 1: 2sc in magic ring.
Round 2: Join with sc to first sc , 2 more sc in same sc. [3 stitches].
Round 3: 2sc in each of the 3 sc just made. [6 stitches].
Cut yarn and bind off, thread yarn tail onto a needle and pass through the centre of the ear to the bottom. Attach each ear to sides of head in position shown in the pictures below. When attaching ears, sew onto head at the bottom point of the ear, then pass needle through loops on ear as shown in second picture below and attach to head for added firmness. Sew these points until ears are firmly attached then weave in any loose ends.
If you are using buttons/embroidery for eyes you may do this after the head is stuffed or when the rhino is finished. You may embroider features such as nostrils and a mouth on your rhino if you prefer.
