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Happy Monday friends! I'm super excited to share all of the details for our Zebra CAL (crochet-a-long)! This project was inspired by my January theme of working through my stash. I often end up with small amounts of yarn that aren't quite big enough for a whole project.
With the color changes for these zebras it's the perfect way to use them up. I had some extra Lion Brand Jeans yarn from our Mini Berry Patch Bunnies last year and decided it would be perfect paired with a white yarn for some super cute zebras.
For my zebra I used Lion Brand Jeans yarn in Bermuda (for the girl) and Denim (for the boy). Because Jeans yarn is on the thinner side of a weight 4 yarn I paired it with some Feels Like Butta yarn I had on hand (which also runs on the thin side) and they worked perfectly together!
I'm so excited to see the colors you'll chose for your zebras. Feel free to bring some variegated yarn or mix up the striping with more colors!
We will make our mini zebras in 2 parts which I will go over below. While there are set days that each part will be released, you are welcome to crochet at your own pace. There is no date your creation has to be started or finished. Each part will remain on the blog as a free pattern!
A CAL is a fun event where a group of crocheters come together and work on each part of the pattern together. This CAL will be split into 3 parts and is FREE here on the blog.
Where does it take place?
The best place is in the Grace and Yarn Crochet Group on Facebook!
With everyone being in different time zones and having different schedules everyone will be crocheting at different times. The group atmosphere allows you to share photos, comments, and questions whenever you'd like!
While the Facebook group is the easiest place to interact with others participating in the CAL, it's not necessary to join. You can also grab a friend to crochet each part together or work on your own as well.
If you prefer to work with an ad-free printable PDF version, one will be available in my Etsy and Ravelry shop starting on February 8th!
How do I find each part?
Each part will have it's own post here on the blog!
Each link will also be shared on the Grace and Yarn Facebook page and group page.
If you'd like the link sent straight to your inbox, you can sign up for my newsletter here! I'll also keep you updated when new patterns are released so you won't miss them!
When will each part be posted?
The CAL will start on Saturday, February 8th and will have 2 parts.
Part 1 - Saturday February 8th - Legs, Body and Head
Part 2 - Tuesday - February 11th - Arms, Ears, Mane, and Tail
I've used a 3.5mm hook for this pattern but it's definitely negotiable! Everyone crochets with a different tension and the hook you want to use for amigurumi can vary. If you've made amigurumi before chances are you have your favorite go to hook and are ready! If you're new to amigurumi try a small part to crochet and get a feel for how loose or tight your tension is.
Start with the 3.5mm hook (or a similar size if you don't have one on hand), if your stitches are so tight you have trouble getting your hook in you want to go up in size (try half a size at a time until you find what works for you). If your stitches are very loose you will want to go down in size.
Tight stitches help your amigurumi to be strong structurally and help reduce the chance of your stuffing showing through.
Keep in mind if you do end up using a different size hook your finished zebra may be slightly smaller or bigger depending on the size and your tension.
Other Helpful Tips
If you are new to amigurumi, this is a fun pattern to start on. I will break down each part and provide helpful photos along the way. Feel free to ask questions at any time!
Be sure to check out the Tips to Learning Amigurumi page as it will go over color changes, making magic circles and other tips to get you started!
Materials You Will Need -
- Size 4 worsted weight yarn (25g of white; 25g of accent color)
- 3.5 mm crochet hook (These are the hooks I use and love!)
- 12mm safety eyes
- Black crochet/embroidery thread for eyelashes/eyebrows (optional)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle (Bent tips work wonders for amigurumi!)
- Stuffing
- Stitch markers
- Sewing Pins (these are super helpful when it comes time for sewing)
Abbreviations (US terminology)
MC- Magic circle
SC- Single crochet
SC INC- Single crochet increase
INV DEC- Invisible decrease
St(s)- Stitch(es)
Now the fun part, picking out your colors! Once you have them ready share a picture or comment with us in the group! I'll see you back next week for Part 1!
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