Crochet Squirrel Motif

As the Woodland Blanket is being made for Little Bro aged 5, I wondered if he would like a few leaves and squirrels.

He would!

and so it seems would some of you!

I was pleasantly taken aback by the squirrel-love that poured in when I posted a picture on Facebook and Instagram, with lots of people asking for the pattern.

Oh my goodness – creating a squirrel is relatively quick and easy compared with creating a pattern for others to follow.

These mischievous little creatures have led me a merry dance, but at last I have arrived at a pattern.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Pattern for the Squirrel Motif

Stylecraft Double DK

4.5mm hook

US crochet terms. I am left-handed so the photos will show work from a LH perspective, but the pattern should work just fine for right-handers. Working with the right hand the squirrels will face the other way.

Starting with the back leg

Make a magic loop, Ch1, 8sc into the loop, pull loop together, sl into the 1^st ch. to join.                                                  8 sts

2^nd Round

Ch1, 2sc into each st, sl into the first ch. to join.                                          16 sts

3^rd Round

Ch1, 2sc, 2sc into next st,

(back foot) ch4,

sc into 3rd and 4th st from the hook, sc into same st as the 2scs

sc into the next 4sts.

2sc into each of the next 3sts, sc, 2sc into next st, 2hd into next st, 2dcs into next st, 2 tr into next st.

(neck) Ch4 

work 4dc into the 4^th ch from the hook

** please note that is between the bottoms of these stitches that you will work scs in Round 4. See Picture 6 in Round 4**

sl into same st of Round 2, 2sl, sl to join.

4^th Round

Sl into next 3sts. sl into next 2 loops (back foot)

Picture 1

2sl into next st, which takes you round the end of the ‘foot’,

Sl into next 9sts, 4sc,

Picture 2

(tail) 4sc into back loops (if you can find another loop lower down, at the back of the work, to work into as well this stabilises the back loop stitches), 2hd into back loops, ch7,

Picture 3

3hd in 3^rd ch from hook,

2dc, 2tr, dtr (yarn 3 times round the hook)  in next ch,

miss 1ch,

Picture 4

2dtr, tr in next ch

2tr, dc, in next ch, sl into next st of Round 3

Picture 5

2sl, Work 5 sc in the gaps between the next sts. (also covering the thread at the base)

Picture 6  **

Here are a few more photos to explain where the single crochets go

and in a different colour for clarity

Hope that helps.

Picture 7

At last it begins to look like a Squirrel

(head) ch3, sl in 3^rd ch from hook,

sl into one of the ch3 (into, not over), sl into first dc of the neck,

Working into the gap between: 4sc, hd, sc.

Picture 8

2sl, hd.

Picture 9

(front foot)

2sl, ch2, sl in 2^nd from the hook, sl into the body at base of front foot . Cut yarn and pull through to the front, then take the end to the back (leave a long tail of thread if you will be sewing this on as applique), or sew in the ends.

Pin to shape and block.

How did you get on? I’d love to know. 🙂

See the finished blanket here: Squirrel Nutkin and Old Brown