Crocheted Arctic Fox

With unsettled weather this past long weekend, we only fit in one short 50 km bike ride Saturday afternoon leaving lots of time and energy for doing other things like mowing grass, pulling weeds, opening the pool, laundry and crocheting ... lots and lots of crocheting.

I started working on this Crocheted Arctic Fox Saturday afternoon finishing just two days later on Monday night.

This Crocheted Arctic Fox is the sixth thing I've made from Vanessa Mooncie's Crocheted Wild Animals book. 

The pattern calls for DK weight dark orange yarn. Although I do have some yarn appropriate for foxes amongst my stash, it was not nearly enough. I decided to substitute light weight silver grey yarn to make a small Crocheted Arctic Fox wearing her summer coat instead. 

Take a look at the photos below where I have included a photo of a real Arctic Fox found on the internet. I think grey was a perfect substitution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the fourteen different animals featured in the Crocheted Wild Animals book with the ones I've completed so far marked "Made It". 

• Camel
• Elephant
• Polar Bear - Made It #4
• Deer
• Fox - Made It #6
• Monkey
• Rabbit - Made It #2
• Snake
• Lion - Made It #5
• Giraffe
• Owl - Made It #1
• Frog - Made It #3
• Flamingo
• Chameleon 

Six done ... only eight more to go. I wonder how long it will take to finish all fourteen?

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Reddy Fox Pattern

Update June 14, 2016: This pattern has been removed and is no longer available. Read Copycats? post for explanation. 

Update September 21, 2018: After receiving many supportive comments on my Copycats? post regarding design inspiration versus copying, I am 'reddy' to share this pattern again. Happy crocheting!!

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REDDY FOX PATTERN

PDF Version

Materials used:

1 ball (3.5 oz) of Vanna's Choice yarn in terracotta (red)

1 partial ball (3.5 oz) of Vanna's Choice yarn in crisp white

1 partial ball (3.5 oz) of Vanna's Choice yarn in black

Hook size = 3.25 mm
stitch marker

yarn needles to join pieces

Polyester Fiberfill for stuffing

Small amount of white DK weight yarn (for ear 'fluff')

Stitches used:

ch - chain stitch

ss - slip stitch

sc - single crochet
inc - sc increase
dec - sc decrease (sc2tog - single crochet 2 together)

Magic Circle - see how here (start each piece with magic circle)

Time to Complete - 16 hours (approximately)
Finished size - 14 inches tall

Legs (x2)

Start with black yarn. Work from the bottom up, starting with a magic circle, use stitch marker to mark end of rows (work in continuous rounds with no joining)

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5-R6 - sc around (24)

R7 - sc2tog x4 + 16 sc (20)

R8 - sc2tog x4 + 12 sc (16)

R9-R16 - sc around (16)

R17 - (3 sc inc) x4 (20) 

[Change to red yarn at end of R17]

R18-R20 - sc around (20)

R21 - (4 sc inc) x4 (24)

R22 - sc around (24) Finish off and stuff leg.

Body

Join legs on middle 2 stitches as shown in this tutorial. The instructions are in German but the video alone is enough to understand the technique. Once the legs are joined continue crocheting around both legs to form the body.

R23 - sc around (49)

R24 - sc around (49)

R25 - (5 sc inc) x 7 + 7 sc (56)

R26 - sc around (56)

R27 - (9 sc inc) x 5 + 6 sc (61)

R28 - sc 24 + (sc inc + 2 sc) x6 + 23 sc (67)

R29 - sc around (67)

R30 - sc around (67)

R31 - sc around (67)

R32 - sc around (67)

R33 - (8 sc dec) x6 + 5 sc dec (60)

R34 - sc around (60)

R35 - sc around (60)

R36 - sc around (60)

R37 - (8 sc dec) x6 (54) 

R38 - 14 sc dec dec + 23 sc dec dec + 10 sc (50)

R39 - sc around (50)

R40 - 14 sc dec + 23 sc dec + 9 sc (48)

R41 - sc around (48)

R42 - 15 sc dec + 21 sc dec + 8 sc (46)

R43 - sc around (46)

R44 - 14 sc dec + 20 sc dec + 8 sc (44)

R45 - sc around (44)

R46 - 13 sc dec + 19 sc dec + 8 sc (42)

R47 - sc around (42)

R48 - 12 sc dec + 18 sc dec + 8 sc (40)

R49 - sc around (40)

R50 - 13 sc dec + 17 sc dec + 6 sc (38)

R51 - sc around (38)

R52 - 12 sc dec + 17 sc dec + 5 sc (36)

R53 - sc around (36)

R54 - sc around (36)

R55 - (4 sc dec) x6 (30)

R56 - sc around (30)

R57 - sc around (30)

R58 - sc around (30)

R59 - (3 sc dec) x6 (24)

R60 - sc around (24)

R61 - (2 sc dec) x6 (18)

R62 - sc around (18)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail to attach the head. Stuff body firmly.

Arms (x2)

Start with black yarn

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - sc around (18)

R5 - (4 sc dec) x3 (15)

R6 - sc around (15)

R7 - (3 sc dec) x 3 (12)

R8 - sc around (12)

R9 - (4 sc dec) x 2 (10)

R10-R26 - sc around (10) [Change to red yarn at end of R26]

R27-37 - sc around (10)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff only hands and part way up arm. Optional: Add thumbs by winding black yarn around stitches on hand where thumbs would normally go (R5 facing forward or toward body). 

Head

Use white yarn.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)

R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)

R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)

R8 - (6 sc inc) x6 (48)

R9 - (7 sc inc) x6 (54)

R10 - (8 sc inc) x6 (60)

R11 - sc around (60)

R12 - sc around (60)

R13 - sc around (60)

R14 - sc around (60)

R15 - sc around (60)

R16 - sc around (60)

R17 - sc around (60)

R18 - sc around (60)

R19 - sc around (60)

R20 - sc around (60)

R21 - (8 sc dec) x6 (54)

R22 - sc around (54)

R23 - (7 sc dec) x6 (48)

R24 - (6 sc dec) x6 (42)

R25 - (5 sc dec) x6 (36)

R26 - (4 sc dec) x6 (30)

R27 - (3 sc dec) x6 (24)

R28 - (2 sc dec) x6 (18)

R29 - (2 sc dec) x3 + 6 sc (15)

R30 - sc around (15)

R31 - sc around (15)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff head and neck firmly to hold shape.

Hood

Use red yarn and follow pattern for Head up to Row 24. Check to make sure hood fits head adjusting tension based on fit. You may have to move up a hook size if the hood is too tight.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)

R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)

R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)

R8 - (6 sc inc) x6 (48)

R9 - (7 sc inc) x6 (54)

R10 - (8 sc inc) x6 (60)

R11 - sc around (60)

R12 - sc around (60)

R13 - sc around (60)

R14 - sc around (60)

R15 - sc around (60)

R16 - sc around (60)

R17 - sc around (60)

R18 - sc around (60)

R19 - sc around (60)

R20 - sc around (60)

R21 - (8 sc dec) x6 (54)

R22 - sc around (54)

R23 - (7 sc dec) x6 (48)

R24 - (6 sc dec) x6 (42)

R25 - ss loosely around (42)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Position on head as shown in photos above. After attaching head to body, I like to wrap the tail from the hood around the neck to cover joining stitches.

Ears (x2)

Start with black yarn.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - (sc inc) x3 (9)

R3 - sc around (9)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x3 (12) [Switch to red yarn at end of row.]

R5 - sc around (12)

R6 - (3 sc inc) x3 (15)

R7 - sc around (15)

R8  - (4 sc inc) x3 (18)

R9 - sc around (18)

R10 - sc around (18)

Finish off leaving 8" tail for joining.

Fold ear in half to form a natural curve before adding ear 'fluff'. With long strand (~18") white yarn (DK weight) embroider ear 'fluff' on one side (inside) of fox ear. Strands should point away from head, so work in opposite direction for each ear. Start and finish working strand from inside the folded ear so it can be knotted securely with the knot hidden from view. Refer to photo below for desired look.

Tail 

Start with white yarn.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - (sc inc) x3 (9)

R3 - sc around (9)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x3 (12)

R5 - sc around (12) [Switch to black yarn at end of row.]

R6 - (3 sc inc) x3 (15)

R7 - sc around (15) [Switch to red yarn at end of row.]

R8  - (4 sc inc) x3 (18) 

R9 - sc around (18)

R10 - (5 sc inc) x3 (21)

R11-19 - sc around (21)

R20 - dec + sc around (20)

R21 - dec + sc around (19)

R22 - dec + sc around (18)

R23 - dec + sc around (17)

R24 - dec + sc around (16)

R25 - dec + sc around (15)

R26-28 - sc around (15)

Finish off leaving 10" tail for joining. 

Stuff tail lightly before weaving yarn in opening stitches to pull tighter.

Attach to backside with colour changes and decreases facing down.

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Refer to photos of Reddy Fox above before joining ears, head, arms and tail. I like to pin pieces in place before attaching. A few more photos of Reddy Fox are included in previous posts here and here.

Have fun and share photos if you make one too. I'd love to see them.

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Reddy Fox Tah-Dah!

Last week after making two fox hats to send to our grandchildren, I was inspired to make a fox. I started with the head, hood and ears. Making a foxy-looking ear was challenging, but I finally figured it out. 

Over the weekend, I finished and attached the ears, legs and body. 

I have also been busy preparing for a month-long vacation in Cuba, so didn't expect to have time to finish until my return. My long to-do list included laundry, packing, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, toilet scrubbing and re-packing yet again. Packing for a month with bikes plus lots of extra things to donate to a school cycling program in Las Tunas takes extra care and planning. Happily, I made it through my list so I could crochet Monday night. Phew, I actually finished. 

Allow me to introduce the newest addition to my crochet critters collection of free patterns... Reddy Fox Tah-Dah! 

 

Reddy Fox loved posing for photos this morning before I left for work.

I'm so pleased I finished Reddy Fox in time to share photos and a pattern before we leave. If you would like to make one too, you can find my Reddy Fox pattern here.

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Making a Fox

I started a new crochet critter this week after making fox hats for our grandchildren. The hats provided inspiration for Making a Fox. 

I am using my Boo Bear pattern with fox colours, different ears and a tail. Making more fox-like ears has presented a challenge. 

The first set looked great until they were securely attached. When they didn't look right, I cut them off and started over.

Next I tried a red triangular ear with white 'fluff' sewn on the inside. This was better, but still not quite right. It was too big and lacking the black bits found on red foxes.

I made a third version slightly smaller than the second incorporating a black tip before sewing white "fluff' on the inside. With the ear pinned in place, you can see I finally got it right. I'll make a matching ear before sewing them in place and finishing the face.

Next I'll make the body and arms saving the tail for last. Let's hope tails are easier to figure out than ears. Making a Fox is fun. 

As always, I will be sure to share the pattern when I finish.

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