UPDATE: This CAL has ended, you can find their free pattern here!

Welcome to Part 1 of our Crochet Horse and Donkey CAL! I'm so excited you're here and joining in!

Today we will make the legs and body. The legs will be made separately and then joined together to make the body. By the end it will all be in one piece without any sewing required!

I'm so excited to see all of the colors you've picked out! And to see if you'll be making a horse, donkey or both! Or even a zebra or unicorn version, this pattern has many options!

If you are just learning about the CAL head over here to find out all the details, it's never too late to join in. Each part will remain free here on the blog so you crochet at your own pace.

Be sure to share your photos in the Grace and Yarn Crochet Group on Facebook, we'd love to see them. This is also a great place to ask any questions you have along the way!

Pattern

PIN Part 1 to your crochet board here!

You can also find the full pattern (an ad-free PDF version) in my Etsy and Ravelry shop!

Some of you have shared that this will be your first CAL, yay! If you have any questions feel free to share them in the group or send me a message. I hope you enjoy making your own farm friend!

If amigurumi is new to you, I have a Tips to Learning Amigurumi page that I think will come in handy. I've also brought over some of the main tips below as a refresher if needed!

If you're ready for Part 1 now, feel free to scroll down. Otherwise, keep reading and I'll go through the materials and how to get started with a magic circle and color changes!

This CAL will be split into 3 parts:

Part 1 - March 1 - Legs and Body (this post here!)

Part 2 - March 4 - Head, Ears, and Arms

Part 3 - March 6 - Bandana, Mane and Tail

Don't want to miss any new patterns? Sign-up for my newsletter and I will send an email for each part of the CAL plus keep you updated when new patterns are released!

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You may make and sell items made from this pattern but please do not sell, share or reproduce the actual pattern. If you sell finished items online (Etsy, etc) please provide a link to the pattern and credit to me as the designer, thank you. I hope you enjoy this pattern!

Magic Circle

A magic circle (also called an adjustable loop) is the most common way to start amigurumi.

1. Leaving about a 4 inch tail wrap the yarn into a circle as in the photos below.

2. Hold the loop by placing your fingers over the part where the working yarn crosses over the tail.

3. Insert your hook into the circle, yarn over, pull through and chain 1.

4. You're magic circle is complete and ready to begin as pattern instructs (ex: if round says 6 SC you will complete 6 SC around the loop).

5. Pull your tail tight to close.





Invisible Decrease

This is the preferred way to decrease in amigurumi, it keeps the decrease tight and avoids the 'bump' of a regular SC decrease.

An invisible decrease happens over two stitches, insert your hook into the front loop of the first stitch and then into the front loop of the next stitch (you will have 3 loops on your hook), yarn over, pull through two loops (you will have 2 loops left on your hook), yarn over again and pull through all loops on the hook.

You're invisible decrease is done!




Invisible Color Join

When changing colors it can give a jagged look because we are working in rounds. This method will help the colors change more smoothly!

When you are completing the last stitch before you are instructed to change colors you will complete the first half of the stitch with your old color and finish the stitch with your new color.

Insert your hook into your stitch, yarn over with the old color and pull through, now drop your old color and use your new color to yarn over and finish the stitch by pulling through all loops on your hook.

You now have your new color on your hook, I like to tie off my old color here.

As you start your next round, complete the first stitch as a slip stitch instead of a SC. When you come back around to start your next round be sure to SC into your slip stitch just as you would a regular stitch.









Legs and Body-

Legs: Make 2 – Using your accent color

Round 1: Create a magic circle with 6 SC

Round 2: SC INC in each st (12)

Round 3: SC in the first st, SC INC in the next, repeat around (18)

Round 4: SC in the first 2 sts, SC INC in the next, repeat around (24)

Rounds 5-9: SC around (24)

Change to white

Rounds 10-11: SC around (24)

Change to main body color

Rounds 12-21: SC around (24)

Fasten off (when you finish the 2nd leg do not fasten off, proceed to round 22) *Round 22 joins the legs together and starts the body.

Round 22: Chain 3 and attach to the first leg with a SC, SC in the remaining sts around the leg. When you reach the chain make a SC across each of the 3 chains, SC in the remaining sts of the next leg and SC across each of the 3 chains again. You will have crocheted on each side of the chain. (54 SC) 

This completes your join and is where your next round will start.




Rounds 23-38: SC around (54)

Round 39: SC in the first 7 sts, INV DEC in the next, repeat around (48)

Round 40: SC around (48)

Round 41: SC in the first 6 sts, INV DEC in the next, repeat around (42)

Round 42: SC around (42)

Round 43: SC in the first 5 sts, INV DEC in the next, repeat around (36)

Round 44: SC around (36)

Round 45: SC in the first 4 sts, INV DEC in the next, repeat around (30)

Rounds 46-47: SC around (30)

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing





Part 1 is complete! I'll see you back on Monday for Part 2 where we'll make the head, ears and arms!

If you're done and waiting, feel free to head over to our One More Row link party to check out the free patterns shared from various designers around the web. Your clicks help us determine the top 5 that will be featured in the next party!