Giraffe Toy Pattern #551

Materials: J. & P. Coats Knit-Cro-Sheen, 1 ball. Clark's O.N.T. or J. & P. Coats Six Strand, 3 skeins of a contrasting color for mane, mouth and tail. Milward's Casein knitting pins, 1 pair No. 3 (3 mm. size). Milward's steel crochet hook No. 1. 2 glass eyes and cotton batting.

Gauge: 7 sts make 1 inch; 13 rows make 1 inch.

Use thread double throughout.

Starting at one leg, cast on 13 sts and work in garter st (k each row) for 2¾ inches. Break off and slip these sts onto a stitch holder. For the other leg, cast on 13 sts and work another piece same as first leg, then cast on 13 sts at end of next row and continue working across first piece (39 sts on needle). Work straight for 2¾ inches. Then decrease 1 st at one edge every other row (this is back of giraffe), keeping opposite edge straight (inner edge), until 30 sts remain on needle. Then decrease 1 st at back edge (decreased edge) every row until 24 sts remain. Then increase 1 st at inner edge every other row, continuing with decreases of back edge, until 16 sts remain. Next row: Decrease 1 st at back edge and increase 1 st at inner edge. Following row: Work straight. Repeat these last 2 rows until neck (measuring at inner edge) measures 3 inches long. Break off and slip these 16 sts onto a stitch holder.

Starting at mouth, cast on 7 sts and work, increasing 1 st every row at one end only, until there are 9 sts on needle. Work straight until piece measures 2 inches from beginning. Mark with a pin the edge with increases (this is forehead which is kept straight hereafter). On next row, cast on 11 sts on inner edge (edge opposite pin mark), and continue across first piece (36 sts on needle). Hereafter, work over these 36 sts, decreasing 1 st every row at back edge (keeping forehead straight) until 21 sts remain. Then bind off 7 sts at beginning of each row at back edge until all sts are bound off. This is one side of giraffe. Make another one same as this.

Sew the two pieces together, leaving 6 inches (starting at forehead) open on back edge to stuff giraffe and also to sew mane in place. Stuff firmly and sew up opening, leaving 4 inches open ¾ inch from forehead for mane to be sewed in.

Mane: With 4 full strands of thread, make a chain about 4 inches long, turn. 1st row: S c in 2nd ch from hook. * Pull loop which is now on hook out to measure about 1½ inches, thus making a long loop. Then, holding this loop on hook, with forefinger of right hand so that it will not draw back, insert hook in next st, thread over hook and draw loop through, thread over, draw through loop just made on hook. Repeat from * across. Fasten and break off. Sew mane in place between the seam.

Tail: With 4 full strands of thread, make a chain 1½ inches long, turn and sl st in each ch across. Ch 1, turn and work another row of sl st. Fasten and break off leaving a 1 inch length of thread. Sew tail on.

Mouth: Work shape of mouth in satin stitch to give solid effect.

Sew eyes in place as in illustration.