The OX: Chinese Zodiac Animals Pattern #2

The OX is our second pattern!  Our first one, the RAT can be found HERE.  Those born as an Ox can be quite stubborn and even have somewhat of a temper.  However, they are hardworking, good with their hands, quiet and patient.  They have a great memory.   My little sister is an ox and yes, that is definitely her to a tee!

This little guy is made with a round head and two colours of yarn.  Please visit the main pattern page first for more tips and important information.  With worsted yarn and size A hook, the ox will be approximately 7 inches in circumference.
  

You will need:

brown yarn, cream/beige yarn in worsted weight
stuffing (polyfill or wool)
safety eyes
crochet hook (I love using the size A to get a tight fabric but any hook up to size G will work.  You will just get a much bigger animal!)

tapestry needle


Key:

Ch = chain

INC = 2 sc into one stitch

#INC = do # increases in a row

DEC = invisible decrease turns the next 2 sts into one st

# or sc# = separate sc stitches (no increasing or decreasing) 

hdc = half double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up a stitch, yarn over and pull thru all stitches on hook)

dc = double crochet (yarn over, insert hook, pull up a stitch, yarn over, pull thru two stitches on hook, yarn over, pull thru remaining stitches)


Begin here: 


Work in continuous rounds.  Don't join rounds for this section.

R1  With brown yarn, do a magic circle (if you need help with this, please check the intro blog post!) with 6 stitches into the loop.

R2  INC around. (12)

R3  (1, INC) around (18)

R4  1, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2 (23)

R5  INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4 (28)

R6  3, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 3 (32)

R7  5, INC, 9, INC, 9, INC, 6 (35)

R8  3, INC, 10, INC, 11, INC, 8 (38)

R9  12, INC, 25 (39)

R10  INC, 38 (40)

R11  sc around inserting eyes between R6/7 six sts apart

R12  38, DEC (39)

R13  25, DEC, 12 (38)

R14  8, DEC, 11, DEC, 10, DEC, 3 (35)

R15  6, DEC, 9, DEC, 9, DEC, 5 (32)

R16  3, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 3 (fill with stuffing leaving some room at the top) (28)

R17  4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC (23)

R18  2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 1 (18)

R19  (DEC, 1) repeat around (12)

R20  (DEC, 1) repeat around. Fasten off. Weave loose end through each stitch in the opening. Fill completely with stuffing.  Pull tightly to close.  Sew in your ends.

Muzzle (using cream coloured yarn):

You will be joining the rounds for the muzzle.

Ch 5.  3sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc2 across the chain, 5 sc in the last chain.

Turn work and work back across with sc2 and INC in the last chain.  Sl st to first sc. (14)

Ch 1, INC in same stitch as hook, INC in nx st, sc 4, INC in nx st, 3 sc in nx st, INC in nx st, sc4, INC in last stitch.  Join to first sc.  (22)

Ch1, sc in back loops around.  Join with a sl st.

Ch 1, sc around.  Join with a sl st.  Finish off.  Leave tail for sewing.  Notice how your work has two little holes that look like nostrils?  Place some scrap brown yarn inside the muzzle so the “nostrils” are dark (see picture below).  Place some stuffing inside to the hold the yarn and then place onto the head centred between the eyes and over initial rounds of the head.  Stitch into place using a whipstitch and right before closing off, stuff completely.  Finish off.

Ears (make 2 with brown yarn):

R1  Magic circle with 6 sts into the loop.

R2  INC around (12)

R3  (1, INC) around (18).  Finish off leaving tail.  Fold in half with the wrong sides facing in and attach to the head (round 13 in the example).

Horns (make 2 with cream yarn):

R1  Magic circle with 3 sts into the loop.

R2  2, INC (4).

R3  3, INC (5).

R4  1 hdc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 2dc in next st, 1 hdc in next st, 1 sc (7).

R5  1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st. 1 sc (9) 

R6  1 dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 st. 1 sc 

(11).  Bind off.  Leave tail for sewing, stuff and attach to head.  I let the horns curl towards each other.  They were attached between rounds 12-14 in the example.

Yay!  You have finished your Ox!  Stay tuned for the next animal....the TIGER!

PS.  As always, please let me know if there are any issues with the pattern and I will fix it up!