Free Crochet Patterns from Crochet N More

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http://www.crochetnmore.com/afghanstitchdog.htm

This seems to be an awfully long pattern for such a little dog, but everything is explained carefully and repeated when necessary so that even the beginning crocheter will understand. If you don't know how to cast on extra stitches for afghan crochet, check with someone who knows how to cast on knitting stitches. It's done the same way. The dog is about 3 inches high and 5 inches long. I've made a teeny, tiny dog with this same pattern, using crochet cotton and a size 1 hook.

Starting at the head end, using 4-ply yarn, and a size J crochet hook, make an 8-stitch chain. In the second chain from the hook, pull through a loop and leave it on the crochet hook. Continue with the other chain stitches. There are 8 stitches on the hook. *Yarn over, and pull it through the first stitch on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 2 stitches on the hook. Continue pulling it through 2 stitches until there is only 1 stitch on the hook. Put the hook through the first vertical strand, yarn over, and pull it through that strand. Continue until there are 8 stitches on the hook.** (The directions from the * to the ** are considered 1 'row'.) Continue until there are 15 'rows'. Yarn over, and pull it through the first stitch on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 2 stitches on the hook. Continue pulling it through 2 stitches until there is only 1 stitch on the hook. Chain 8.

This is the beginning of one of the front legs. In the second chain from the hook, pull through a loop and leave it on the crochet hook. Continue along the chain and across the body of the dog. There are 16 stitches on the hook. Cast on 8 stitches (as with knitting cast-on.) Now, there are 24 stitches on the crochet hook. Do the row sequence on those 24 stitches as from the * to the **. Repeat until you have done 4 'rows' in all.

Yarn over, and pull it through the first stitch on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 2 stitches on the hook. Continue pulling it through 2 stitches until there is only 1 stitch on the hook. Put the hook through the first vertical strand, yarn over, and pull it through that strand. Continue, but only until there are 8 stitches on the hook. (Don't go across the body.) Crochet back and forth on those 8 stitches until there are a total of 8 rows from the beginning of the leg. Break the yarn, and tie it on the other side to finish the other leg. (See the little bow on the diagram.) Put the hook through the first vertical strand, yarn over, and pull it through that strand. Continue until there are 8 stitches on the hook. Finish this leg, as you did the other leg. Break the yarn, and tie it on as indicated in the diagram.

Crochet 3 'rows' across the 8 stitches of the back of the dog. Yarn over, and pull it through the first stitch on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 2 stitches on the hook. Continue pulling it through 2 stitches until there is only 1 stitch on the hook. Chain 8. This is the beginning of one of the back legs. In the second chain from the hook, pull through a loop and leave it on the crochet hook. Continue along the chain and across the body of the dog. There are 16 stitches on the hook. Cast on 8 stitches (as with knitting cast-on.) Now, there are 24 stitches on the crochet hook. Do the row sequence on those 24 stitches as from the * to the **. Repeat until you have done 4 'rows' from the beginning of the leg.

There are 24 stitches on the hook. Yarn over, and pull it through the first two stitches on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 3 stitches on the hook. Continue pulling it through 3 stitches until there is only 1 stitch on the hook. Put the hook through the first 2 vertical strands, yarn over, and pull it through those strands. Continue all along the row, putting the hook through the next 2 vertical strands, yarn over, and pull it through those strands. There are 12 stitches on the crochet hook. Make 4 'rows' on those 12 stitches. Break the yarn. Tie the yarn on as indicated in the diagram, on the fifth stitch from the indicated side. Crochet 4 'rows' on those next 4 stitches.

Yarn over, and pull it through the first stitch on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 2 stitches on the hook. Continue pulling it through 2 stitches until there is only 1 stitch on the hook. Now, on this next part of the row, you need to increase 2 stitches so that there are 6 stitches on the hook. I find the best way to do this is to yarn over and pull it through the first vertical strand. Then put the crochet hook through a chain stitch of the previous row, and pull a loop through. Pull a loop through each of the next 2 vertical strands, increase another stitch as before. Pull a loop through the next vertical strand. There should be 6 stitches on your crochet hook.

Crochet 3 'rows' on those 6 stitches. Now, you need to decrease down to 4 stitches. I find the best way to do this is to yarn over, and pull it through the first stitch on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it
through the next 3 stitches on the hook. Again, yarn over, and pull it through the next 3 stitches on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 2 stitches on the hook. Continue until there is only 1
stitch on the hook. Now you have 6 vertical strands. Put the hook through the first vertical strand, yarn over, and pull it through that strand. Put the hook through the next 2 vertical strands, yarn over, and
pull it through those strands. Again, put the hook through the next 2 vertical strands, yarn over, and pull it through those strands. There are 4 stitches on the hook. Crochet 3 'rows' on those 4 stitches. Yarn over, and pull it through the first stitch on the hook. Yarn over again, and pull it through the next 2 stitches on the hook. Continue until there is only 1 stitch on the hook. Tie off, and break yarn.

Either side of the dog can be used for the outside. Sew both sides of the face, as indicated in the diagram, leaving an opening for the stuffing on the underside of the dog's neck. When sewing the leg seams, notice that the final row of crocheting is not good to use, because there are spaces that the stuffing could get through, sew use the second to the last row instead of that row. Sew the foot and side seam of each of the front legs. Sew the foot and side seam of the back legs, gathering, as indicated in the diagram. Sew the tummy to the legs and sides of the dog. The 4-stitch part is between the legs, the 6 stitch part is the tummy.

Tail: In afghan stitch, cast on 3 stitches, and crochet 8 'rows'. Sew the beginning edge to the ending edge, and attach firmly to the appropriate place on the dog.

Ears (make 2): In afghan stitch, cast on 4 stitches, and crochet 3 'rows'. There are 4 stitches on the hook. Pull a strand through all 4 stitches, gather, and tie off. Attach firmly as indicated in the diagram.

Turn right-side-out, and stuff lightly. Sew the opening together, bending the front of the dog's face, as you sew the 4 stitches of the tummy to the 8 stitches of the neck, in order to make a nose part that looks like a dog. Pull any loose strands to the inside. If there are any gaps where the stuffing can come through, close them. Using black yarn, make a knot for each of the eyes and the front of the nose. Make sure they are secure.

Tie a triple strand of yarn tightly around the dog's neck. Tuck the ends inside the dog. Cut a thin piece of leather for the dog's collar. I use old check book covers. Glue together firmly.

Woof! Woof!

If you have any trouble, email me at heuschel@pilot.msu.edu. Since my husband is retired, we are sometimes gone as long as 6 weeks, but I will get back to you.