This pair of crocheted dolls will make fabulous playmates for the kids in your life, big and small.

Finished size

Pig: 16-1/2 x 8-3/4 ins (42 x 22 cm)
Piglet: 6 x 3 ins (15 x 8 cm)

Materials

• Karabella Aurora Bulky: One ball of Shell Pink 9 (MC)
• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran: Small amount of Pink 04-04 (A)
• GGH Velour: Small amount of Chocolate 05 (B)
• Rooster Almerino DK: One ball of Strawberry Cream 203 (C); small amount of Caviar 206 (D)
• Grey, blue and cream yarn for eyes
• Dark brown yarn for mouth
• Hook sizes: L-11 (8mm), K-10-1/2 (6.5mm) and G-6 (4mm)
• Polyester toy fibrefill or batting
• Yarn needle

Gauge

7 sts and 6 rows measured over 2 ins (5cm) working single crochet in MC and using K-10-1/2 (6.5mm) hook.

Take a look at a larger image of the finished pig and piglets

Note: Before beg the second rnd in each section, place a marker or short length of contrasting yarn across your crochet and up against the loop on the hook and above the working yarn. Work Rnd 2 then slip the marker out and place it at the beg of the next rnd and so on. The marker will indicate where each subsequent rnd starts.

Pig

Head & body

1. Foundation row: Using yarn MC and L-11 (8mm) hook, beg at the snout, make 2ch.
2. Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
3. Rnd 2: 2sc in each of next 6sc (12 sc).
4. Rnd 3: *1sc in next sc, 2sc in next sc, rep from * around (18 sc).
5. Rnd 4: 1sc in each of next 18 sc.
6. Change to K-10-1/2 (6.5mm) hook, rep last rnd 4 times more.

Shape top of head

1. Rnd 9: 2sc in each of next 9sc, 1sc in each of next 9sc (27 sc).
2. Rnd 10: [1sc in next sc, 2sc in next sc] 9 times, 1sc in each of next 9sc (36 sc).
3. Rnd 11: 1sc in each of next 36sc.

Shape chin

1. Rnd 12: 1sc in each of next 27sc, [2sc in next sc, 1sc in next sc] 4 times, 1sc in last sc (40 sc).
2. Rnd 13: 1sc in each of next 40sc.
3. Rep last rnd 3 times more.

Shape head

1. Rnd 17: [1sc in each of next 4sc, skip next sc, 1sc in each of next 3sc, skip next sc] 4 times, 1sc in each of next 3sc, skip next sc (31 sc).
2. Rnd 18: [1sc in each of next 6sc, skip next sc] 3 times, 1sc in each of next 10sc (28 sc).
3. Rnd 19: 1sc in each of next 28sc.
4. Rep last rnd twice more.
5. Rnd 22: [1sc in each of next 2sc, skip next sc] 6 times, 1sc in each of next 10sc (22 sc).
6. Rnd 23: 1sc in each of next 4sc, 2sc in each of next 14sc, 1sc in each of next 4sc (36 sc).
7. Rnd 24: 1sc in each of next 36sc.
8. Rep last rnd until the head and body measure 13 ins (33cm) from snout to back end.
9. Stuff the snout, head and body.
10. Next rnd: *1sc in each of next 2sc, skip next sc, rep from * around until the gap closes.
11. Make 15ch for the tail, twist it to curl it a little, fasten off.

Large spot

1. Foundation row: Using yarn D and G-6 (4mm) hook, make 2ch.
2. Rnd 1: 6sc in 2nd ch from hook.
3. Rnd 2: 2sc in each of next 6sc (12 sc).
4. Rnd 3: *1sc in next sc, 2sc in next sc, rep from * around (18 sc).**
5. Rnd 4: *1sc in each of next 2sc, 2sc in next sc, rep from * around (24 sc).
6. Rnd 5: *1sc in each of next 3sc, 2sc in next sc, rep from * around (30 sc).
7. Rnd 6: *1sc in each of next 4sc, 2sc in next sc, rep from * around, ending with sl st in top of next sc (36 sc).
8. Fasten off.

Small spot

1. Work as for large spot up to **, ending with sl st in top of next sc.
2. Fasten off.

Ears

1. Make 2 alike.
2. Foundation row: Using yarn A and L-11 (8mm) hook, beg at the top of the ear, make 17ch.
3. Row 1: 1sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each of next 12ch, skip next ch, 1sc in last ch, turn (14 sc).
4. Row 2: 1ch, skip first sc, 1sc in each of next 11sc, skip next sc, 1sc in last sc, turn (12 sc).
5. Row 3: 1ch, skip first sc, 1sc in each of next 9sc, skip next sc, 1sc in last sc, turn (10 sc).
6. Row 4: 1ch, skip first sc 1sc in each of next 7sc, skip next sc, 1sc in last sc, turn (8 sc).
7. Row 5: 1ch, skip first sc, 1sc in each of next 5sc, skip next sc, 1sc in last sc, turn (6 sc).
8. Row 6: 1ch, skip first sc, 1sc in each of next 3sc, skip next sc, 1sc in last sc, turn (4 sc).
9. Fasten off.

Hind legs

1. Make 2 alike.
2. Foundation row: Using yarn MC and K-10-1/2 (6.5mm) hook, beg at the base of the trotter, make 2ch.
3. Rnd 1: 6sc in 2nd ch from hook.
4. Rnd 2: 2sc in each of next 6sc.
5. Rnd 3: 1sc in each of next 12sc, sl st in top of first sc (12 sc).
6. Join in yarn B to same place as sl st was worked.
7. Rnd 4: 1 tr in each of next 12sc (12 tr).
8. Rnd 5: 1tr in each of next 12tr, sl st in top of first tr.
9. Rnd 6: Join in yarn MC in same place as sl st was worked, 1sc in each of next 12tr (12 sc).
10. Rnd 7: 1sc in each of next 12sc.

Shape front of leg

1. Rnd 8: 1sc in each of next 3sc, [1sc in next sc, 2sc in next sc] 3 times, 1sc in each of next 3sc (15 sc).**
2. Rnd 9: 1sc in each of next 4sc, 2sc in each of next 7sc, 1sc in each of next 4sc (22 sc).
3. Rnd 10: 1sc in each of next 22sc.
4. Rep last rnd twice more.
5. Fasten off.

Forelegs

1. Make 2 alike.
2. Work as for hind leg up to **.
3. Rnd 9: 1sc in each of next 15sc.
4. Rep last rnd once more.
5. Fasten off.

To finish

1. Sew the ears in place with a decreasing row edge over-sewn onto the top of the head. Around the top edge of the snout, between rows 2 and 4, sew a backstitch line to shape the rim of the snout.
2. Sew four short rows of grey yarn together to create the eyes. Onto this, sew a French knot in a small length of cream yarn. Make 10ch in a short length of blue yarn and sew around the grey. Sew a mouth across the bottom of the snout using a length of dark brown yarn.
3. Sew on the spots with WS facing up.
4. Sew on the hind legs with front facing forward, leaving a gap for stuffing. Stuff the legs then sew up the gap. Sew on the forelegs with front facing you, stuff as before.

 

Piglet

1. Make in all one piece.
2. Foundation row: Using yarn C and G-6 (4mm) hook, beg at the snout, make 4ch.
3. Row 1: 2sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in next ch, 2sc in last ch, turn (5 sc).
4. Row 2: 1ch, 2sc in first sc, 1sc in each sc to last sc, 2sc in last sc, turn (7 sc).
5. Rep last row 4 more times (15 sc).
6. Row 7: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 15sc, make 7ch for first front leg, turn.
7. Row 8: 1sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each of next 5ch, 1sc in each of next 15sc, make 7ch for 2nd front leg, turn.
8. Row 9: 1sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each of next 5ch, 1sc in each of next 21sc, turn (27 sc).
9. Row 10: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 27sc, turn.
10. Rep last row twice more.
11. Row 13: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 21sc, turn.
12. Row 14: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 15sc, turn.
13. Rep last row 3 times more.
14. Row 18: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 15sc, make 7ch for first back leg, turn.
15. Row 19: 1sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each of next 5ch, 1sc in each of next 15sc, make 7ch for 2nd back leg, turn.
16. Row 20: 1sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each of next 5ch, 1sc in each of next 21sc, turn (27 sc).
17. Row 21: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 27sc, turn.
18. Rep last row twice more.
19. Row 24: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 21sc, turn.
20. Row 25: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 15sc.
21. Fasten off.

Ears

1. Make 2 alike.
2. Foundation row: Using yarn C and G-6 (4mm) hook, beg at the base of the ear, make 6ch.
3. Row 1: 1sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1sc in each of next 4ch, turn (5 sc).
4. Row 2: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 5sc, turn.
5. Rep last row twice more.
6. Row 5: 1ch, skip first sc, 1sc in each of next 2sc, skip next sc, 1sc in last sc, turn (3 sc).
7. Row 6: 1ch, 1sc in each of next 3sc, turn.
8. Row 7: 1ch, skip first 2sc, 1sc in last sc.
9. Fasten off.

To finish

1. With RS facing and using matching yarn and backstitch throughout, fold in half across short row ends, sew around each leg, turn the legs out. Place body and head RS facing, sew along the bottom. Sew along the snout and under the chin, up to first pair of legs. Turn out. Stuff the legs a little, stuff the head and body, sew up the belly.
2. Using yarn C, make 10ch, join into a ring with a sl st in first ch, fasten off. Sew onto the edge of the snout.
3. Sew the ears in place with base edge sewn onto the top of the head.
4. Using yarn C, make 10ch, twist the length of crochet, fasten off. Sew one end onto the back of the piglet for the tail.
5. Using grey yarn, sew the eyes onto the head with straight stitches.

Love crocheted animal toys? Take a look at our easter craft: felt rabbits and garden play mat!

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Excerpted from Toys to Crochet: Dozens of Patterns for Dolls, Animals, Doll Clothes, and Accessories by Claire Garland. Copyright 2007 by Collins & Brown. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.