I think it’s time for a new little Doodle Zoo animal don’t you.  This next little gal is the sixth animal I’ve made this year.  For details about the other Doodle Zoo characters; see my posts about Doodle Duck, Rowan Rabbit, Finlay Frog, Ezra Elephant and Peggy Panda. If you haven’t heard about Doodle Zoo it’s my mini challenge to myself this year to design 12 free little animals for you all built on one simple base design so they all look related.

So without further ado let me introduce Petunia the Pig!

Petunia is a great little stash buster using roughly 30g / 90 yards of light pink and dark pink yarn. All the Doodle Zoo animals are designed to work up in less than an hour and because they are just the right hand size they become very steal-able so be prepared to make a few!  Petunia the Pig would make a cute additional gift for family and friends or an quick addition to a craft stall.

This is an easy pattern suitable for beginners looking to learn some new crochet techniques. Click here to add this pattern to your favourites / queue on Ravelry or click here to access on Craftsy or scroll down for the pattern.

Don’t forget to look out for the next addition to the Doodle Zoo next month!

Petunia the Pig

Yarn: (8ply / yarn weight #3 or #4)

• 25g / 85 yards of light pink double knit yarn
• 5g / 15 yards of dark pink double knit
• Scraps of white and yellow yarn

Hook: 4mm (US size G)

You will also need:

• Yarn needle
• Stitch marker
• 2 x 9mm blue or black safety eyes
• Polyester toy stuffing

Gauge: 4 dc/sc = 1 inch / 2.5 cm

Size: Finished pig measures = 3.25 inches / 8.3 cm

These measurements are approximated, and actual subjects may vary. Pattern will work in other yarns though gauge/size will be  different.

Abbreviations:

• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sp = space
• sl st = slip stitch
• ch(s) = chain  
• dc/sc = UK double / US single crochet
• dc/sc2tog = UK double Crochet / US Single Crochet 2 sts together
• popcorn (PC) = see specialist stitch guidance

Stitch Guidance:

• Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and pull through all loops.
• Double Crochet/Single Crochet (dc/sc): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
• Half Double Treble / Half Double Crochet (htr/hdc): Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.
• Treble / Double Crochet (tr/dc): Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.

• Popcorn Stitch (PC): Work 5 tr/dc in st indicated, remove hook completely, insert hook in 1st tr/dc (1st tr/dc of the 5), insert hook in loop that you just removed your hook from (5th tr/dc of the 5), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.
• Double Crochet/Single Crochet 2 sts together (dc/sc2tog): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), Insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook.

Pattern Guidance:

Working without joining:

All the parts of Petunia are worked without  joining using a stitch marker to keep track of the rounds.  Place the stitch marker in the top of the first st to mark start of round.

Pattern:

Tail:

With dark pink yarn ch 5, 3 dc/sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st along until end, the tail should curl up on it’s own, finish off and weave in ends but leave a length of yarn for sewing.

Ears (Make 2):

• The ch 1 does not count as a st

Row 1: Using darker pink yarn ch 2 then work 2 dc/sc in the 2nd ch from hook, turn (2 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 dc/sc in the same ch as ch 1, 2 dc/sc in the next st, turn (4 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, 2 dc/sc in the same ch as ch 1, 1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc/sc in the next st, turn (6 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, 1 dc/sc in each st until end, finish off and weave in ends but leave a length of yarn for sewing (6 sts)

Nose: 

Rnd 1: With darker pink yarn; either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or ch 2, crochet 6 dc/sc into the ring / 2nd ch from hook, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary (6 sts).

Rnd 2: * 3 dc/sc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts * repeat from * to * once more (10 sts).

Rnd 3: 1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts, 3 dc/sc in the next st, 1 dc/sc in the next 4 sts, 3 dc/sc in the

next st 1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts, sl st to the next st to join, finish off but leave a long tail to sew your nose into place (14 sts).

Mini Flower:

With white yarn ch 4, sl st to first ch to form a ring, then work * ch 2, 1 tr/dc, 1 htr/hdc, sl st * into the ring 5 times to make 5 petals, finish off and weave in ends but leave a length of yarn for sewing; add some yellow embroidered lines to the centre of your flower with a scrap of yellow yarn and your yarn needle.

Body:

Rnd 1: With light pink yarn; either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or ch 2, crochet 6 dc/sc into the ring / 2nd ch from hook, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary (6 sts).

Rnd 2: 2 dc/sc in each st around (12 sts).

Rnd 3: *1 dc/sc in next, 2 dc/sc in next st *    repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (18 sts).

Rnd 4: * 1 dc/sc in next 2 sts,  2 dc/sc in next st, * repeat from * to *  until the end of the rnd (24 sts).

Rnd 5: * 1 dc/sc in next 3 sts, 2 dc/sc in next st, * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (30 sts).

Rnd 6 – 12: 1 dc/sc in each st around (30 sts).

• Add your safety eyes in between rows 7 and 8 about 8 stitches apart.

• Sew ears onto the top of the body on either side of the head, curve them slightly as you attach. The top corner of each ear should start on row 2.

• Sew your mini flower into place beside one ear.

Rnd 13: * 1 dc/sc in the next 3 sts, 1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat from * to * until end of rnd, begin to stuff your pig (24 sts).

Rnd 14: *1 dc/sc in the next 2 sts, 1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat from * to * until end of the rnd (18 sts).

• Sew nose into place between the eyes with the top edge of the nose just below row 9.

• Sew the curly tail onto the rear of Petunia

Rnd 15: *1 dc/sc in the next st, 1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat from * to * until end of the rnd (12 sts).

• Finish off stuffing the body

Rnd 16: *1dc/sc2tog over next 2 sts * repeat

from * to * until end of the rnd, cut thread leaving a long tail (6 sts).

• Using your tail end and using your yarn needle sew the last 6 stitches closed, finish off and weave in ends.

Feet (Make 4):

Rnd 1: With darker pink yarn; ch 6, 1 dc/sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st along until end (5 sts), then working down the other side of your sts work 1 dc/sc until end (10sts).

Rnd 2: 1 dc/sc in each st around (10 sts).

Rnds  3-5: Change colour to lighter pink yarn (finish off the darker pink yarn), 1 dc/sc in each st around, sl st to the next st to join but leave a long tail for sewing. (10 sts).

• Sew the sides of the feet together then sew onto the front of your pig on rnd 13 approximately 0.25 inch / 1.5 cm apart.

And that’s it!  Simple, cute and addictive!