A cute squirrel to brighten up anyone's day!!!

Worsted weight yarn in squirrel color and black (I USED RED HEART SOFT)
Size G (4.00mm) hook
Animal Eyes--you can also embroider them
Stuffing
Yarn Needle

About 9" tall

Keep stitches tight so that stuffing doesn't show through.

*All is worked right side out. You may want to use a smaller hook, which will make the stitches tighter.*

Key:
ch: chain
st: stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
inc: increase
dec: decrease
fo: fasten off

Head
1. Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook~ 6
2. *inc*~ 12
3. *Sc in 1st st, inc in the next* around~ 18
4. Sc in first 2 sts, inc in next* around~ 24
5. *Sc in first 3 sts, inc in next* around~ 30
6-9. Sc around~ 30
10. *Sc in first 4 sts, inc in next* around~ 36
11-13. Sc around~ 36
14. *Sc in first 4 sts, dec* around~ 30
15. *dec* around~ 15
16. *sc in first st, dec* around~ 10
17. *dec* around~ 5
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ears (Make 2)
1. Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook~ 6
2. *inc* around~ 12
3-7. Sc around~ 12
Sl st, FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Body
1. Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook~ 6
2. *inc*~ 12
3. *Sc in 1st st, inc in the next* around~ 18
4. *Sc in first 2 sts, inc in next* around~ 24
5. *Sc in first 3 sts, inc in next* around~ 30
6. *Sc in first 4 sts, inc in next* around~ 36
7-12. Sc around~ 36
13. *Sc in first 4 sts, dec over next 2* around~ 30
14. Sc around~ 30
15. *Sc in first 3 sts, dec over next 2* around~ 24
16. *Sc in first 2 sts, dec over next 2* around~ 18
17. *Sc in first st, dec over next 2* around~ 12
18-21. Sc around~ 12
Fasten off, weave in the end.

Arms (Make 2)
1. Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook~ 6
2-8. Sc in each sc around~ 6
(The arms have a total of 42 sts around)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Legs (Make 2)
1. Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook~ 6
2-9. Sc in each sc around~ 6
(The legs have a total of 48 sts around)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Tail
1. Ch 7. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, and in next 4 sts; 3 sc in last, turning to the underside of the ch; sc in last 5~ 13
2-23. 1 hdc in each st around~ 13
Make sure to stuff along the way! Leave 1-2” un-stuffed-this will be sewn to the body.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly
Using the pictures as a guide, sew ears to head. Sew head to body. Add on arms and feet to appropriate areas. Looking at picture, sew tail to body.
SPECIAL TAIL NOTES: Sew the smallest amount of the top of the tail down, so it looks like it is curling down. Sew that part to the head w/ only one or two sts. The un-stuffed part will be sewn to bottom/back of body.

NOTE: You can make this squirrel any way you want!!! The ears could be made longer, tail bigger, eyes larger, ect. Feel free to be creative!