The PIG: Chinese Zodiac Animals #12

The Pig is my favourite zodiac :)  I'm a pig and some of the zodiac write ups are so creepy true that I have to quote this one page directly for you:

Kind, caring, and good natured describe those born during the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of the Pig. Those of this sign are pleasant to be around and enjoy socializing, hosting parties, and learning new things. Pigs are typically easy going to a surprising extent. They take it upon themselves to serve up self-punishment when they make mistakes, and they are highly aware of the comfort level of those around them. Pigs are intelligent, but in a specific way. They are very curious and don’t like to be left out of conversations due to a lack of understanding of the topic at hand. Pigs will investigate all of the topics they don’t know about in order to get at least a general understanding of that topic. Once this is achieved, though, Pigs tend to stop digging into one topic, preferring to know a little about many subjects rather than know much about a single subject.

Those born during the Year of the Pig believe that everyone is essentially good at heart and that those who exhibit bad behaviors are just confused souls acting out in negative ways. Since Pigs admire their own awareness of peaceful understanding and compassion, they can also be manipulated easily. They are indeed naive and could avoid heartache and material losses by trusting others less, but this would destroy a great deal of what makes them so wonderful for others. Pigs inherently understand this and choose to maintain a childlike fascination with the possibilities of the world, even if it leaves them vulnerable. 

[from http://www.primalastrology.com/pig.html]

Please visit the main pattern page first for more tips and important information.  With worsted yarn and size A hook, the dog will be approximately 7 inches in circumference.

You will need:

light pink and dark pink yarn in worsted weight
stuffing (polyfill or wool)
safety eyes
crochet hook (size A recommended but any hook up to size G will work)

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) 

Begin Here:

R1  With light pink yarn, magic circle 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        (INSERT EYES NOW BETWEEN R6-7, nine 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 (28)        (FILL WITH STUFFING)

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 end.

Nose (use dark pink):

R1  Magic Circle with 6 stitches in the loop (6)

R2  INC around (12)

R3  Sc in the backloops around.  Bind off.  Leave tail for sewing.  Sew onto your first few rounds of the head/body.

Ears (make 2 in dark pink):

R1  Magic Circle with 4 sts in the loop

R2  (1, INC) around (6)

R3  (2, INC) around (8)

R4  (3, INC) around (10)

R5  (4, INC) around (12).  Bind off leaving a tail to sew on the top of the head.  Squish flat.  Sew shut.   Make another one and attach to the head.

Tail (light pink):

Chain 10 leaving a tail at the beginning.  INC in every ch back across your tail.  Finish off leaving a 6” tail.  Tie this tail and the beginning tail to the piggy’s bum (where you finished off your sphere) and sew in the ends.

Well there you have it!  All 12 Chinese zodiac animals!  Just in time for you to display for Chinese New Year coming up on the 19th.  Wishing you all the best in the Year of the Goat 2015.  Kung Hei Fat Choi!  Look forward to more patterns to come!