I have a sweater with a Fox on it — I love this sweater.
Every time I wear it my husband comments “Well, you’re looking foxy today!” A nice boost of confidence before I leave the house and get the inevitable and dreaded “What does the Fox say?” It’s like when something doesn’t scan at a cash register and the customer says “I guess it’s free!” These are my least favorite platitudes.
But like I said. I love this sweater- so I wear it all the time.
I wore it when I was pregnant until I was bigger than it. That’s when I bought big, fluffy fox socks to wear instead.
After my son was born I began wearing the sweater with the socks all the time.
Of course, it was one of these days that I decided to try designing patterns. I didn’t need to look past my feet for my inspiration. Over the course of a few nights, fueled by coffee and excitement, Fiona was created.
For a while she came everywhere with my son and I. While he lovingly snuggled her, I made silent critiques to her pattern. Then, as life does, things got busy. Those changes stayed in my mind for over a year, just like this blog did. But those changes are made, the pattern is tested, and I can’t wait to see how you make her. If you do, be sure to tag #hookedandleft on Instagram!
What’s the strangest place you’ve found inspiration? Let me know in the comments below.
Fiona the Fox
level: easy
Materials
3.25 hook
Caron simply soft persimmon
Caron simply soft charcoal heather
Caron simply soft white
Finishing needle
Black embroidery floss
Stuffing
Terms (US)
MR magic ring
SC single crochet
SC2TOG single crochet two together (decrease)
SS slip stitch
DC double crochet
BLO back loop only
SK skip
CH chain
SP space
Head
In persimmon
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: (2 SC in next stitch, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC in next stitch, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: (2 SC in next stitch, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 6: (2 SC in next stitch, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
Round 7: (2 SC in next stitch, 5 SC) repeat 6 times (42)
Round 8: (2 SC in next stitch, 6 SC) repeat 6 times (48)
Round 9-15: SC in all 48 stitches (48)
Round 16: (SC2TOG, 6 SC) repeat 4 times, SC in next 16 (44)
Round 17: (SC2TOG, 5 SC) repeat 4 times, SC in next 16 (40)
Round 18: (SC2TOG, 4 SC) repeat 4 times, SC in next 16 (36)
Round 19: SC 18, (SC2TOG, 4 SC) repeat 3 times (33)
Round 20: SC 18, (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 3 times (30)
Round 21: (SC2TOG, 8 SC) repeat 3 times (27)
Round 22: (SC2TOG, 7 SC) repeat 3 times (24)
Round 23: (SC2TOG, 6 SC) repeat 3 times (21)
Switch to white, begin stuffing
Round 24: (SC2TOG, 5 SC) repeat 3 times (18)
Round 25: (SC2TOG, 4 SC) repeat 3 times (15)
Round 26: (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 3 times (12)
Round 27: (SC2TOG, 2 SC) repeat 3 times (9)
Round 28: (SC2TOG, 1 SC) repeat 3 times (6)
Switch to charcoal heather
Round 29: (SC2TOG) repeat 3 times (3)
Fasten off
Embroider Eyes on both sides.
Body
In persimmon
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: (2 SC in next stitch, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC in next stitch, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: (2 SC in next stitch, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 6: (2 SC in next stitch, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
Round 7: (2 SC in next stitch, 5 SC) repeat 6 times (42)
Round 8: (2 SC in next stitch, 6 SC) repeat 6 times (48)
Round 9: (2 SC in next stitch, 7 SC) repeat 6 times (54)
Round 10: (2 SC in next stitch, 8 SC) repeat 6 times (60)
Round 11-20: SC in all 60 stitches (60)
Round 21: (SC2TOG, 8 SC) repeat 6 times (54)
Round 22: SC in all 54 stitches (54)
Round 23: (SC2TOG, 7 SC) repeat 6 times (48)
Round 24: SC in all 48 stitches (48)
Round 25: (SC2TOG, 6 SC) repeat 6 times (42)
Round 26: SC in all 42 stitches (42)
Round 27: (SC2TOG, 5 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
Round 28: SC in all 36 stitches (36)
Round 29: (SC2TOG, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 30: SC in all 30 stitches (30)
Round 31: (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 32: SC in all 24 stitches (24)
Round 33: (SC2TOG, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 34: SC in all 18 stitches (18)
Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing
Attach to bottom of the head between rounds 9 and 15, the nose should point up, and the decreases from rounds 19 and 20 on the head should be on the bottom
Belly patch
In white
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: (2 SC in next stitch, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC in next stitch, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: (2 SC in next stitch, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 6: (2 SC in next stitch, 4 SC) repeat 6 times (36)
SS to fasten off, leave long tail for sewing
Attach between rounds 9 and 20
Ears
In charcoal heather
Round 1: SC 4 in MR (4)
Round 2: (2 SC in next stitch, 1 SC) repeat 2 times (6)
Round 3: (SS and SC in 1, DC and SC in 1) repeat 3 times (12)
Round 4: (SS, SC, DC, SC) repeat 3 times (12)
Change to white
Round 5: (SS and SC in 1, SC, DC and SC in 1, SC) repeat 3 times (18)
Change to persimmon
Round 6: (DC, SC, SC, SS, SC, SC) repeat 3 times (18)
Round 7-10: SC in all 18 stitches (18)
Round 11: (SC2TOG, SC) repeat 6 times (12)
Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing
Flatten and stitch ears closed, do not stuff. Attach the ears between rounds 11-13.
Leave 3 stitches on the inside of the ear and 6 in between the ears.
Legs
In charcoal heather, stuff as you go
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: (2 SC in next stitch, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC in next stitch, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: (2 SC in next stitch, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 6: SC BLO in all 30 stitches (30)
Round 7: (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 4 times, SC in next 10 (26)
Round 8: (SC2TOG, 2 SC) repeat 4 times, SC in next 10 (22)
Round 9: (SC2TOG, 1 SC) repeat 4 times, SC in next 10 (18)
Round 10: (SC2TOG, 1 SC) repeat 3 times, SC in next 9 (15)
Round 11: (SC2TOG, 1 SC) repeat 3 times, SC in next 6 (12)
Change to persimmon
Round 12-32: SC in all 12 stitches (12)
Fasten off and sew closed with toes pointing up
Leave long tail for sewing
Attach legs on round eight with 9 stitches in between them.
Arms
In charcoal heather, stuff as you go
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3-8: SC in all 12 stitches (12)
Change to persimmon
Round 9-23: SC in all 12 stitches (12)
Fasten off and sew closed
Leave long tail for sewing
Attach arms on round 30 on the side of the body
Tail
In black
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: 2 SC in each (12)
Round 3: SK (SC, CH 2, SC in next) repeat 6 times (12)
Round 4: SC (SC, CH 2, SC in space) SC in next, repeat 6 times (24)
Round 5: SK (SC (SC, CH 2, SC in space) SC, SK 2) repeat 5 times SC (SC, CH 2, SC in space) SC, SK (24)
Round 6: 2 SC (SC, CH 2, SC in space) 2 SC (36)
Round 7-11: SK, 2 SC (1 SC, CH 2, 1 SC in CH 2 space) 2 SC, SK (36)
Change to white
Round 12-13: repeat last step (36)
Change to persimmon
Round 14: Repeat last step (36)
Round 15: (SC2TOG, SC, SC in SP, SC, SC2TOG) repeat 6 times (30)
Round 16-18: SC in all 30 stitches
Round 19: (SC2TOG, 3 SC) repeat 6 times (24)
Round 20-22: SC in all 24 stitches
Round 23: (SC2TOG, 2 SC) repeat 6 times (18)
Round 24-26: SC in all 18 stitches
Round 27: (SC2TOG, 1 SC) repeat 6 times (12)
Round 28-30: SC in all 12 stitches
Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing
Attach tail on round nine
Thank you to @twocraftyhearts for testing Fiona and giving such wonderful feedback!