Horse Toy Pattern

Materials Required: AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY "DELUXE" CROCHET COTTON, Article 346 — 3 balls Pink, 1 ball each Lt. Blue and Black. Steel crochet hooks No. 4 and No. 8. Cotton or kapok for filling. Horse is worked with a double strand of thread throughout.

BODY —With Pink and No. 4 hook ch 38, sc in 2nd st from hook, 1 sc in each remaining st of ch. Ch 1 to turn each row.

2nd and 3rd Rows—2 sc in first sc, 1 sc in each remaining sc.

4th and 5th Rows—1 sc in each sc.

6th Row—Increase 1 sc at beginning of row and work 2 rows even.

9th and 10th Rows—Increase 1 sc at beginning of each row.

11th Row—Increase 1 sc at beginning of row and work 4 rows even.

16th, 17th and 18th Rows—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of each row.

19th Row—Start Neck—Work 1 sc in each of the first 17 sc, ch 1, turn.

20th Row—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of row, 1 sc in each remaining sc of neck.

21st Row—1 sc in each sc. Repeat the 20th and 21st rows 5 times.

28th Row—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of row, 1 sc in each remaining sc, ch 12 for head, turn.

29th Row—11 sc on ch, 1 sc in each sc of neck.

Next 14 Rows—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of each row, cut thread.

LOWER SECTION OF FACE—Attach thread at neck edge in the 28th row and in the first st of the ch 12 and work 1 sc in each of the next 10 sts of ch, 2 sc in last st, ch 1, turn and work 3 more rows even.

5th Row—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of row and work 1 row even.

Next 4 Rows—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of each row, cut thread. Attach thread in first sc of 18th row and work 1 sc in each of the next 14 sc, ch 1, turn. Decrease 1 sc and work 1 sc in each of the next 13 sc, ch 1, turn, decrease 1 sc and work 1 sc in each of the next 12 sc, then work 1 sc in each sc across back, 1 sc in each row of neck, 11 sc in each sc at top of head, continue working around head and down the front to the first row without cutting thread.

START FRONT LEG—2 sc in first sc of opposite side of ch 58, 1 sc in each of next 8 sts, ch 1, turn.

2nd Row—Decrease 1 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 9 sc.

3rd Row—Increase 1 sc at beginning of row.

4th Row—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of row. Repeat the 3rd and 4th rows 3 times.

11th Row—1 sc in each sc.

12th Row—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of row. Repeat 11th and 12th rows 3 times, then work 6 more rows even, cut thread.

HIND LEG—Attach thread in 13th st from end of row, work 1 sc in each of the next 12 sts, ch 1, turn, and work 2 rows even.

4th Row—Increase 1 sc at beginning of row, 1 sc in each remaining sc.

5th Row—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of row, 1 sc in each remaining sc. Repeat the 4th and 5th rows once and work 1 row even.

Next 8 Rows—Decrease 1 sc at beginning of each row and work 10 more rows even, cut thread. Attach thread at top of head at face, work 1 sc in each of the sc of top of head to back of neck, ch 1, turn. Work 1 sc in each sc across top of head, down front of face, around mouth and up to under neck, ch 1, turn. Work 1 more row of sc all around head, then work about 5 sc down back of neck, cut thread. Work another section in the same manner.

UNDER SECTION—Work 2 under sections following the first 5 rows of body. Then work front and hind legs on each section.

EARS—With Blue ch 2, 1 sc in 2nd st from hook, ch 1 to turn all rows.

2nd Row—2 sc in sc.

3rd Row—2 sc in first sc, 1 sc in next sc. Work 8 more rows increasing 1 sc at beginning of each row, then work 1 sc in each row down one side, 3 sc in the first st, 1 sc in each row up opposite side, cut thread.

TAIL—Wind Blue over a 5½ inch cardboard 100 times, tie one end. Trim opposite end.

MANE—With Blue ch 71, sc in 2nd st from hook, 11 sc in each remaining st of ch, ch 1, turn.

Next Row—Sc in 1st sc, * pull up a loop about 1½ inches on hook, drop loop from hook, insert hook in next sc, pull loop through, yarn over and pull through loop just made, repeat from * across row, cut thread.

TO ASSEMBLE HORSE—Lay the under sections on body sections matching legs. Sew around both legs and to body, then place both body sections together, leaving center of under section open for filling. Fill and sew together. Sew Tail and Ears in position. Fold Mane in half, cut loops and sew in position. Embroider eyes as illustrated.

BRIDLE AND REINS are made to fit. Using a single strand of Black, make a ch long enough to fit around mouth, join and work a row of sc on ch. Work a band around head and mouth as illustrated. Decorate with sequins as illustrated.

TASSEL—Wind Black over a 2½ inch cardboard 100 times, tie at one end. Tie again about ½ inch from 1st tying. Trim opposite end. If desired, brush with glue and decorate with sequins. Sew to top of head.

This free pattern originally published in The Big Top in Crochet