The Grounded Groundhog

Groundhogs are usually not very serious animals. Well this one is - how so? Find out at the end of the article!

Here's how you crochet it:

1 ball of fluffy brownish / beige wool
1 crocheting needle
a black yarn
a beige yarn

Body

Begin by tying a slip knot. Make sure not to close the knot completely and close the sling with a sling crochet. Cover the result, a ring, with 5 single crochets (SC) into the hole. When you are done, make sure to draw the loose string tight so that no hole remains. Increase the number of crochets in the next row by doubling them in each previous crochet (=10 crochets). Row three is continued with one single crochet and one doubled crochet per previous crochet in turns (=15 crochets), row four with two crochets per previous two crochets and a doubled crochet per previous crochet in turns (=20 crochets) and row five with a 3 per 3, double per one pattern (=25 crochets).

Continue with 25 crochets per round for the next 10-20 rounds. Then decrease accordingly and do not forget to stuff the ball that you create with batting. 

Head

Start by crocheting a disc. Complete the first round and second round, then slowly decrease in the next round for the snout. Continue normally for two more rounds, then sew the mouth shut. Sew on the eyes in black and the snout in beige. Sew the head onto the body.

Feet (2x)

Start by crocheting a disc. Complete the first round and second round, then slowly decrease in the next rounds until you have have two thumb-sized balls. Sew the feet onto the body.

Arms (2x)

The arms can be done more easily. You start with a simple row of 4-6 stitches, depending on the size of the body. Decrease in the following rounds until you have an edged tip. Sew both parts onto the body.

Tail

Start with a row of two stiches. Continue in rounds until you have a long, flat shape. Sew this onto the body. 

By flexing the tail and pushing it downwards in the middle, you stabilise the groundhog and it can sit up. It is thus grounded (as in sitting on the floor). 

Niles the Purple Hippopotamus

What you need:

1 ball of purple wool
2 plastic eyes (can be replaced by buttons or stitched on)
1 crocheting needle (size 3)


Body
Start by crocheting a flat disc (see previous tutorials), but this time with a twist. Instead of starting with a sling, you crochet a small row of slip stitches. Crochet the first row normally, then put several stitches in the last one. By doing this, you turn the row "around" and you can now crochet in continuous rows. Repet the same at the other end, until you have an oval concave shape. Voilà, this way, you will have a more "square" shape for your hippo!

Legs
Start with a sling and 5 single crochets in it. Continue in rounds until the legs are long enough.

Tail
Crochet a row of four stitches and reduce until you end up with one. Don't sew up the remaining thread, but fuzz it out with a needle. That way, you will have the "typical" hippo tail.

Head
This is the trickiest part. Crochet a first round into the body. Then, in the susequent rounds, you will need to increase on one side and stick to the pattern on the other. Following that, you will need to decrease again to form the snout. Continue for a couple of rounds. Then, crochet a triple crochet - 2x single crochet - triples crochet pattern on the top snout. Attach this to the lower part and add teeth if you are so inclined ;-)

Ears
This is easy. You will need a slip stitch and then you can put a couple of single crochets in it. Press together on the lower side and attach to the head.