Updated 4-8-2008

I'm pretty new to crochet toys so this is my first written pattern for the ones I do make. I've been into an animal fetish lately and this is just one of the animals I am in love with. I made this squirrel from a picture I found in a Nature Photography Book. I am really bad at enhancing my creations 'personality' so don't feel you have to use exactly what I did. You can embroider, cut out felt features, use buttons, or whatever you feel with bring out your Squirrels personality.

Cocoa Caron Yarn 1 skein(150 yds) WW 4ply
Size G hook
Stuffing (fiberfill stuffing)
Google eyes (2)
Felt (for features)
Pipe Cleaner (for legs and arms)
Hot glue gun and glue
Tapestry needle

4inches tall (not including ears)
2inches wide

Not important for this pattern.

Back Loop (bl) - The stitch is worked into the back loop

Marck Stitch (ms) - Move stitch marker

Weave in any loose ends

Use tight stitches

Decrease Single Crochet (dec sc) - insert in first stitch, yo, pull up a loop,insert in second stitch, yo, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook, pull through all three loops dec sc made.

Stuffing - It is better to take a little stuffing at a time and stuff instead of taking big pieces. When you think you've stuffed enough, stuff a bit more. Tight.

Head:
Chain 2
1: Single crochet 6x's into the first chain(ms)circle made
2: 2 Single crochet in each stitch around(12sc)(ms)
3: 1 single crochet in first stitch, 2 single crochet in next stitch repeat around 6xs (18sc)(ms)
4: 1 single crochet in first 2 stitches, 2 single crochet in next stitch repeat around 6x's. (24sc)(ms)
5 - 6: single crochet in each stitch around (24sc)(ms)
7: Dec sc in first two stitches, single crochet in next stitch, repeat around 8x's. (8decsc, 8sc) (ms)
8: 1 single crochet in each stitch around.(16sc)
stuff firmly
9: Decrease single crochet around to last 3 stitches. Fasten off. Leave at least a 12" tail to sew closed.

Body:
Chain 2
1: 6 single crochet in first ch. Circle made. (ms)
2: 2 single crochet in each stitch around. (12sc)(ms)
3: 1 single crochet in first stitch, 2 single crochet in next stitch. Repeat around.(18sc)(ms)
4: 1 single crochet in first 2 stitches, 2 single crochet in next stitch. Repeat around.(24sc)(ms)
5: 1 single crochet in the bl of each stitch around.(24sc)(ms)
6 - 10: single crochet in each stitch around.(24sc) (ms)
7: 1 dec sc in first 2 sts, 1 single crochet in next stitch, around.(8x's) (ms)
8: 1 single crochet in each stitch around. (18sc) (ms)
9: 1 dec sc in next two stitches, 1 sc in next stitch (5x's), 1sc in last st.(11sc)(ms)
Stuff firmly
10: dec sc in each stitch around to the last 3 sts.
Fasten Off leaving a long tail.

Sew head to body.

Ears:(make 2)
chain 5 (Leave a long tail so you can sew to head later)
1: 1 single crochet in each stitch across, ch1 turn (4sc)
2. dec sc 2x's (2 dec sc, 2sc) ch, 1 turn
3: dec sc over last 2 stitches
Fasten off

Sew Ears to head.

Tail:
chain 30 (leave a tail for latter)
1: 1 single crochet in the 5th stitch from the hook, [chain 5, 1 sc in next stitch]Repeat across to the end. Fasten off, leave a long tail 12" - 18" to sew to body.

Take the beginning tail and weave into the foundation row and then pull. This will scrunch up the tail. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Take the other tail and sew to the back of the body.

Arms: (Make 2)
ch 6
1: 1sc in each stitch across. ch1 turn (5sc)
2 - 4: repeat row 1
5: fold in half length wise and matching up stitches sl st each stitch across and around corner. (5 sl st + 2sl st)
Finish off. weave in ends. Sew to body.

Feet: (Make 2)
ch 5
1: 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in next 3 st. Finish off

Sew to body.

Personality:
(Original)
I just hot glued some google eyes on as well as a felt nose and teeth. On the ears and the belly I put some felt accents. The arms I just took a chenelle pipe cleaner and stuck it into the body. The legs are a half circle chenelle pipe cleaner hot glued to the bottom.

New:
Add some safety eyes. Embroider nose and mouth.

(C) Momwithahook
You are free to use the product you make from this pattern for fun or profit just note a link to this pattern with 'Momwithahook'.

This pattern Was created for my grandmothers Birthday. She had a much loved pug when she was newly married and has collected pug things ever since it passed away all those years ago.
She was feeling down on her birthday and I wanted to cheer her up. I made her two and she loved them!
The best kind of dog is the kind you don't have to feed, or clean up after!

Worsted weight yarn (I used simply soft)
Crochet Hooks in size H and E
Stuffing
Amigurumi eyes (or buttons)
Scraps of Black Felt
Pink embroidery Floss
6 Inch Pipe Cleaner
Embriodery needle
Black thread
Darning needle
Pattern Piece:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/MrsHallsCrafts/tinypuugpattern-1....

About 4 inches tall and 4-5 inches long.

Not important. This is a toy so if it comes out slightly bigger than my finished size that's ok! Changing the hook to a larger size and using a bigger yarn will also make the toy bigger.
You can also change the hook to a smaller size and use thread if you are really ambitious.

The Head and Body are made using the Magic Adjustable ring. If you do not wish to do this simply Chain 2 and make the amount of single crochets into the second stitch instead of the ring.

Head:
With H hook

Using magic Ring method Single Crochet 5 Times into ring, Pull tail and join with a slip stitch. (5 sc)

I did this project for my husband's aluminum canister. I did some searching of different kinds of stitches and decided to use a raised/relief stitch, it is a kind of textured stitch which I believe is good if I want to not just to have a carrier but also protect my DH's aluminum from dent and scratch.

The stitches is adapted from 300 Crochet Stitches, hence used their definition and instructions on how to make the TR/RF stitches. I also posted the diagram from a chinese crochet stitches book to illustrate the instructions. Hope this will clear some of the confusion. Sometimes it helps to have a diagram together with instructions.

Yarn: Scheepjeswol Superwash Zermat or you can use any worsted weight yarn
Hook: 5mm
Tapestry Needle for weaving

depends on how tall is your aluminum

did use any gauge

Definition: Raised relief - inserting the hook around the whole stem of a stitch
TR/RF2tog - treble/raised (relief)
TR/RF - treble/raised (relief)

Base:
make an adjustable ring or ch 5 and sl st on the first ch. to form a ring.
rnd 1: make 8 sc

My daughter Selma is in Peace Camp this week and she has a very
favorite counselor named Ariel who, I'm guessing, is about 15. She
wanted to give her a little present on the last day, so I quickly made
her this kerchief using some flag yarn I got from the Crochetville Sea of Yarn Swap.

1 oz. or less worsted weight yarn (I used some vintage Dupont Orlon I
snagged at Value Village, the orlon made the kerchif a bit heavy, it
would also be nice in a lighter-weight cotton, but I went with it
because I liked the color combination)
1 ball carrying weight novelty yarn--I used Red Heart Tiki in "Aruba".

Size H/5mm crochet hook

Yarn needle

About 10" across the widest part.

As the kerchief is crocheted to fit, gauge is not essential for this pattern.

Note, Main yarn and carrying yarn are held together throughout.

Instructions:

Chain 4, DC in 4th chain from hook. Chain 3, turn.

Its 2 days before Christmas and I haven’t started the scarf for my mother in-law.  Its 2 days before my niece’s birthday and I haven’t started her purse.  OR its 2 days before my best friend’s baby shower and I haven’t started the baby afghan.  Am I worried?  Not at all, because I have mastered the art of STASH DIVING.  Here’s how:

1. First things first, you have to realize that with only 2 days you have your limits on what you can create.  I always opt for small projects like scarves or purses. 
2. Second, you must accept the actual time you have to complete the project and choose a stitch pattern that you can complete fast.  For me, it’s always openwork lacy patterns.  The more holes the quicker it goes.  That is one huge advantage we have over knitters.  Crocheting openwork is so easy, and looks so gorgeous.  So at this point, I go to my 300 Crochet Stitches book, by the Harmony Guides.  Flip to the openwork, and choose a stitch pattern.  You can do this too, or use my example below.
3. Now comes the hard part.  Go to your stash pile and close your eyes.  Put out your hand.  And without peeking, choose a yarn.  Open your eyes, and start crocheting.   I know, I know it sounds risky, but trust me.  If you keep your eyes open, you are going to start thinking about the choice of yarn and the color and such for hours.  This is no good; you have got to just get moving. 
4. Crochet at least three pattern repeats with this yarn.  And if after that, it is not what you think will work, go back to step 3, and pick again.
5. After trying two or three yarns, you are going to have a lot of swatches, and know exactly what yarn you need to complete the project.  (You controlling types are just going to have to have faith in me that this really does take less time then planning out a yarn.)

And that’s it.  That is really that is all there is to mastering your stash.  It is all about trying different yarns (that you normally would not use) with the same pattern until you are so familiar you could rattle off the pattern.  At this Zen level, no thinking is needed, and your whole being just knows the exact yarn for your project.  What’s the great upside?  You now have 3 half way finished projects for your next last minute gift.  Below you will see my latest dive and the four very different and yet very gorgeous scarves it produced.  One is perfect to keep warm, one is perfect for dressing up, one is perfectly funky, and one is MINE!  Good luck and may the Zen be with you.

1. Light Pink Scarf (pictured at right): 2 Skeins, Sirdar Primavera Double Knitting #840, (65% Cotton, 35% Acrylic), 250 yards, F hook
2. Fuchsia Scarf: 2 Skeins, Berroco Mohair Classic Heather #9543, (78% Mohair, 13% Wool, 9% Nylon), 180 yards, I hook
3. Orange Scarf: 2 Skeins, Spectrum Cotton DK Classics Panache, Color: Manderin, (100% Cotton), 250 yards, E hook
4. Light Blue Scarf: 2 Skeins, Berroco Glace, Color: Work Shirt, (100% Rayon), 150 yards, I hook

Not critical. I would suggest a hook one size smaller then recommended on label.

CH 26.