Lovies are a combination of a cuddly toy and a comfort cloth
that are suitable for babies from birth.
The Fox Lovey is my first ever design which I worked back in
January 2019 because I’d just heard that my fox-mad daughter was expecting our
first grandchild (our best Christmas present!). The head and arms are basic
amigurumi shapes and the “skirt” is effectively a treble stitch doiley.
Since then, I have created the No-Sew Fox Hoodie, available
in my Ravelry shop https://www.ravelry.com/designers/granny-lawlor-crafts
It seems a good time to write this up as
a freebie to go with it.
If you're not a Ravelry user then use this link to BUY NOW for £2.39
As with all my designs, I aim to have as little sewing as
possible due to my dislike of seam-sewing. The ears and arms are joined in as
the head is worked. A small chain loop is added as part of round 15 to make an
easy, secure starting point for the skirt.
The eyes are worked when the head is half done to make
access easy. I’m not good at embroidery on crochet so I keep it as simple as
possible. I recommend looking at the many examples online and copying the one
you prefer. Adding a mouth is another option. As this is for a baby, I do not
recommend using “safety” eyes.
Although I’ve chosen
the rather vibrant Jaffa in the Stylecraft Special DK range, you might prefer
the more subdued Spice. If you want a softer pastel look, go for the Apricot
and exchange the Black for Silver.
If you make this lovey, I hope the
baby who gets this will enjoy snuggling it. If you have any questions or
comments, they are welcome.
The pattern may not be shared or sold, but products made
with this pattern may be sold, please let customers know that the pattern is
from Granny Lawlor Crafts
I’d love to see your finished lovies! Do share your photos
with me on Instagram @grannylawlorcrafts and tagging them #foxlovey
#grannylawlorcrafts
Material & Tool Requirements
Stylecraft Special DK in:
Jaffa – 40g
White – 10g
& a small amount of Black
Stuffing
3.50mm & 4.00mm hooks
Tapesty needle
Stitch markers
Sizes
Point to point measures: 30cm
Tension
4.00mm hook: 8 tr x 6 rows to 5cm
Abbreviations
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UK terms
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Equivalent US term
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ch
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chain
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dc
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double crochet
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Single crochet
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Dc2tog
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Double crochet 2sts together
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Single crochet 2sts together
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htr
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half treble
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Half double crochet
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sk st
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Skip stitch
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slst
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slipstitch
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tr
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treble crochet
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Double crochet
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tr2tog
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Treble crochet 2sts together
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Double crochet 2sts together
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Instructions
Ears (make 2)
In white, 3.5mm hook
Row 1: ch 2, 1dc in 2nd ch from hook; turn (2
– 1st ch counts as 1dc)
Row 2: ch 1; 1dc in same st; 2dc in last st; turn (4)
Row 3-5: ch 1; 1dc in same st; 1dc to last but one st; 2dc
in last st; turn (10)
Fasten off yarn
Repeat in Jaffa
Make 2 in each colour
Arms (make 2)
With 3.50mm hook and black:
Ch3; slst join to start
Round 1: ch1 (counts as 1st st); 5dc into
ring; slst to join (6)
Round 2; ch1; 1dc into same st; 2dc into each st; slst to
join (12)
Fasten off black
Join jaffa
Rounds 3-7: ch1; 1dc in every st to end; slst to join
(12)
Round 8: ch1; dc2tog; *1dc; dc2tog; repeat from * to end;
slst to join(8)
Rounds 9-14: ch1; 1dc in every st to end; slst to join
(8)
Fasten off jaffa
Make 2
I don’t stuff these but you can
push a small amount of stuffing in, using a knitting needle or something
similar, to make the arms firmer.
Head
With 3.50mm hook and black
Ch3: slst join to start
Round 1: ch1 (counts as 1st st); 5dc into
ring; slst to join (6)
Fasten off black
Join in white
Round 2-3: ch1; 1dc in each st to end; slst to join (6)
Round 4: ch1; 1dc in same st; 2dc in each st to end; slst
to join (12)
Round 5: ch1; 1dc in same st; dc; * 2dc in next st; 1dc
in next st; repeat from * to end; slst to join (18)
Round 6: ch1; 1dc in same st; 1dc in next 2 sts; * 2dc in
next st; 1dc in next 2 sts; repeat from * to end; slst to join (24)
Fasten off white
Join in jaffa
Round 7: ch1; 1dc in same st; 1dc in next 3 sts; * 2dc in
next st; 1dc in next 3 sts; repeat from * to end; slst to join (30)
Round 8: ch1; 1dc in same st; 1dc in next 4 sts; * 2dc in
next st; 1dc in next 4 sts; repeat from * to end; slst to join (36)
Round 9: ch1; 1dc in same st; 1dc in next 5 sts; * 2dc in
next st; 1dc in next 5 sts; repeat from * to end; slst to join (42)
Round 10-13: ch1; 1dc in each st to end; slst to join
(42)
Adding the ears & arms
Round 14: ch1; * hook through first sts on first
the jaffa and then the white ear pieces then through 1st head st;
yarn round hook and pull through the 3 layers (2 loops on hook); yarn round
hook and pull through both loops (this makes a dc through both ear pieces and
the head); repeat for all 10 sts on ear pieces; 1dc in each of next 4 sts;
repeat from * for 2nd ear pieces; 1dc in the next 7 sts; join in the
arms in the same way – 3sts through both sides of the open ends on each, adding
a stitch marker between them; 1dc in remaining sts to end; slst to join (42)
Use a stitch marker to secure the working stitch while
you add details
Adding Black Details
With white side facing you, join black to bottom right
corner of one ear; ch1; dc up one side of ear, through both layers.
In top st of both layers: (dc; ch2; tr; ch2; dc); dc down
the other side of ear through both layers, tucking any orange/white ends inside
to give a little padding.
Fasten off black, sewing in ends along the black edges
Repeat on other ear
Using a tapestry needle and black yarn, embroider eyes.
(I’m not good at this so I keep it as simple as possible. I recommend looking
at the many examples online and copying the one you prefer.)
Remove the stitch marker and continue with head
Picking up from the stitch marker…
Round 15: ch1; 1dc in each st to the stitch marker
between the arms; ch4 and dc in same st; 1dc to end (fastening off and keeping
any ends to wrong side); slst to join (42)
Round 16: ch1; 1dc in next 4sts; dc2tog; * 1dc in next 5
sts; dc2tog; repeat from * to end (skipping the 3ch loop, leaving it on the
right side of work); slst to join (36)
Round 17: ch1; 1dc in next 3sts; dc2tog; * 1dc in next 4
sts; dc2tog; repeat from * to end; slst to join (30)
Round 18: ch1; 1dc in next 2sts; dc2tog; * 1dc in next 3
sts; dc2tog; repeat from * to end; slst to join (24)
Round 19: ch1; 1dc in next st; dc2tog; * 1dc in next 2
sts; dc2tog; repeat from * to end; slst to join (18)
Use a stitch marker to secure the working stitch.
Stuff the head as firmly as possible, easing the stuffing into to nose to get a
nice point. Remove stitch marker and continue.
Round 20: ch1; dc2tog; * 1dc in next st; dc2tog; repeat
from * to end; slst to join (12)
Round 21: dc2tog all round; slst to join (6)
Cut the yarn leaving a long end. Add more stuffing to
get a firm head. Use a tapestry needle to thread the yarn end around the
opening and pull tight. Fasten off securely.
Skirt
Using 4.00 hook and jaffa:
Round 1: join into chain loop at
bottom of head; ch2; 11dc into loop; slst join to start. (12)
Round 2: ch3; 1tr into same st;
1tr in next st; * 2 tr in next st; 1tr in next st; repeat from * to end (18)
Round 3: ch3; 3tr into same st;
2tr2tog; * 4tr in next st; tr2tog; repeat from * to end (30)
Round 4: ch3; 1tr; 4tr in next
st; * 1tr; tr2tog; 1tr; 4tr; repeat from * to last 2 sts; 1t; sk 1st; (42)
Round 5: ch3; 1tr in next 2sts;
4tr in next st; * 1tr in next 2 sts; tr2tog; 1tr in next 2sts; 4tr; repeat from
* to last 3 sts; 1tr in next 2sts; sk 1st; (42)
Round 6-12: continue working in
trebles, doing 4 trebles in each centre of 4 sts on the previous round and
tr2tog over the each of those on the previous round, thus adding 12 sts on each
round
You can do more or less rounds
here, if you want a different sized skirt.
Fasten off jaffa; join in
white
Work 1 round in white,
maintaining the increases and decreases; slst to join.
Fasten off white; join in
black
Work 1 round of dcs in black,
maintaining the increases and decreases; slst to join.
Fasten off black
Finishing
Sew all ends in securely.
Block carefully: pin out on a blocking mat and, using a
steam iron, hover just above your work, being careful not to scorch it. This does
improve the look of the finished work but is optional.
I’d love to see your finished lovies! Do share your
photos with me on Instagram @grannylawlorcrafts and use #foxlovey
#grannylawlorcrafts
Here is a picture of what a lovey is not for but someone always has to put everything on his head!
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